• Executive Team

• Advocacy Team

• Opinion Leaders

• Affiliations

• Annual Art Contest

• home
• about us
• opinion leaders

Kevin Gordon President	Widely viewed as among the top education advocates in California, Mr. Gordon is President of School Innovations and Advocacy. Along with CEO Jeff Williams, Gordon leads our company's efforts to provide the very best services available to school agencies across budget and finance, curriculum and instruction, categorical programs, human resource management, school facilities construction and education technology. The longtime Executive Director of the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), Mr. Gordon previously served as the Chief Lobbyist and Assistant Executive Director of the California School Boards Association (CSBA). He has also served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Robert T. Matsui and as a legislative advocate for the California Building Industry Association. He holds a master's degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco. Prior to that, while completing his undergraduate degree in communication studies at University of California, Davis, he was recruited by the IBM Corporation and served three years in its national marketing division for large systems.
Peter Birdsall Executive Director -- Advocacy and Association Management	With over 30 years experience in state level education policy, Mr. Birdsall is a widely respected analyst and speaker on K-12 issues ranging from school finance to curriculum, assessment and accountability. For 25 years, he owned and operated Birdsall and Associates, a California lobbying firm specializing in K-12 education policy. Prior to that Mr. Birdsall served as chief of the California Department of Education's Legislative Office and chief of staff of the Department's education program branch. Mr. Birdsall began his career in public service as a budget analyst with the California Department of Finance. He has a B.A. in Political Science and Economics and a M.A. in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Scott Hill Vice President, Education Policy	Scott Hill is known at both state and national levels for his experience in establishing and implementing standards-based reforms in K-12 schools. He has worked with SI&A since 2004, with the exception of 2007-08, when he served in a public role as California's Undersecretary for the Office of Education. Prior SI&A, Mr. Hill was a partner at Camelot Consulting LLC, providing strategic planning, business-to-government, and advocacy services. In other service as the Chief Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction, he directed daily operations of the California Department of Education, including school Districts and school finance. He directed the statewide revision and implementation of School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) called for in California Senate Bill No.1400. Also the former Executive Director of the California Academic Standards Commission and Curriculum Commission, Mr. Hill worked as Communications Director for the George Lucas Educational Foundation and as a Senior Policy Analyst for the California School Boards Association. He earned his undergraduate degree in political science from George Washington University, and holds an M.A. in government from the University of Virginia.
Abe Hajela Chief Counsel	Mr. Hajela served as the Lead Counsel for the California School Boards Association in the precedent-setting Williams v. State of California legislative settlement. He brings more than a decade of experience in the field of education law, including stints as Special Counsel to the California School Boards Association, Legal Counsel for the San Francisco Unified School District, and as a litigation attorney for the Sacramento firm of Olson, Hagel & Fishburn. He earned his juris doctorate in 1994 at the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
Terry Bradley, Ed.D. Vice President - School Facilities	Dr. Terry Bradley joined SI&A after retiring as Superintendent with 33 years of service in the Clovis Unified School District, including 26 years as chief business official. During his tenure, students and schools in Clovis Unified attained an impressive list of accomplishments, including the highest API score of any unified school district in California testing more than 25,000 students. Dr. Bradley is also respected in the field for his leadership in professional organizations; including the Association of School Business Officials, the California Association of School Business Officials and the Association of California School Administrators. He served as Chair and held memberships on the board for both Californians for Schools and the Coalition of Adequate School Housing, and was active in the California Association of School Business Officials' mentoring program. Dr. Bradley received his doctorate degree in school management from the University of LaVerne in 1986.
Jeri Wenger Executive Director of Education Consulting Services	Jeri Wenger is known and respected among school business officials and personnel for her expertise and state-wide professional development programs on categorical program compliance, attendance accounting, school finance and internal controls. In her recent position as a Principal/Partner with the accounting firm Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP, she developed excellent relationships with state and federal agencies and professional associations dedicated to school business and education. Ms. Wenger's 30 years of school business and education experience also includes the positions of Director of Fiscal Services for Chino USD, Management Information Systems Manager for San Bernardino COE and Fiscal Services Director for Chaffey JUHSD.
Cindy Toews, Ed.D. Director-Special Education	With a well-established background in Pupil Personnel Services and education leadership, Dr. Cindy Toews works on behalf of School Innovations & Advocacy clients to develop and implement Special Education Review service recommendations. Dr. Toews experience includes fifteen years in administrative roles including Director of Pupil Personnel Services at Sanger USD, with oversight of Special Education programs, and Director of Special Education at Central USD. She has also served in the higher education through Fresno Pacific University and California State University, Fresno, and the University of California Education Research Center. She earned both a Pupil Personnel Services and a Professional Administrative Credential. Dr. Toews also holds a B.A. and M.S. in Psychology from CSU, Fresno as well as a Doctorate of Education from CSU Fresno-UC Davis Joint Program in Educational Leadership.
Rick Carder Director-Categorical Support	Rick Carder, who has had 33 years of education experience with certificated, classified, managerial and executive personnel, is responsible for SI&A’s categorical planning program division. He brings to SI&A a strong background in school and program management, budgetary oversight, instructional assessment and leadership. Mr. Carder is a past president of CAASFEP (California Association of Administrators of State and Federal Education Programs), the current president of NAFEPA (National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators), and is also a respected speaker on state and federal categorical compliance issues. Prior to working with SI&A, Mr. Carder was the Director for Categorical Programs for Grant JUHSD and worked in many additional positions throughout his long tenure in public education. He holds a Masters of Education from the University of La Verne and a B.A. in Physical Education and Communication Studies from California State University, Sacramento.
Vance Kirklin Director-Education Planning	Vance Kirklin’s thirty years in education, management and consulting provide a unique blend of knowledge and experience. As Director of Education Planning for SI&A, Mr. Kirklin designs and presents professional development related to strategic planning for school improvement. He has a BA in Sociology and an MBA, both received Summa Cum Laude, and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership and Change.
Tom Chorneau Managing Editor, Cabinet Report® and Categorical Connection	Mr. Chorneau was until recently senior capitol correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle. He has spent more than twenty years as a political and government reporter for a number of news organizations including the Associated Press and the Los Angeles Daily News. He has received a number of awards over the years including first prizes from the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Best of the West regional journalism competition. Mr. Chorneau is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach.