Board of Directors - Serendipity Center

Board of Directors 2020-2021

Serendipity honors the members of our Board of Directors for their commitment to our mission and their investment in the welfare of our students. They are our visionaries, our ambassadors, and our supporters. They continually create connections to the community and opportunities for our school. We are grateful for their time, talents, and generosity.

BOARD OFFICERS

Paul Fields
Board Chair
Managing Consultant
Point B

David Brandon
Board Vice-Chair
Partner
Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, LLP

Erika Schwartz
Board Secretary
Speech/Language Pathologist
Beaverton School District & Speak Read Write

Serendipity-board-Dan-Smith

Dan Smith
Board Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer
Shari’s Management Corp

Pedro Nuñez, CPA
Immediate Past Board Chair
Principle & CPA
People First Consulting

BOARD MEMBERS

Kim_LaFever-SerendipityBoard

Kim LaFever
Change Management Consultant
Positive Disruption

Melissa McDermott
Director of Primary Care Services
Salem Health Medical Group

Wendy Ricketts
Former Serendipity Parent
Autism Advocate

Lori Silverman
Director Student Services Centennial School District (retired)

Serendipity-board-Cynthia-Smith

Cynthia Smith
Education Site Manager for Head Start Programs
Mt. Hood Community College

Sidney Villanueva
Associate Attourney
Troutman Sanders

Nicole Zumwalt
Registered Nurse
Legacy Emanuel Hospital

Kat Hendrix
Statewide Partnerships Manager
Oregon Child Abuse Solutions

Michael Hsu
Chair
Oregon Parole Board

Click for more Serendipity Board Information

Board Member’s job description and what Serendipity looks for in Board Members.

Click for Serendipity Board Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding Serendipity and its Board.

Testimonials

“Serendipity helped me so much. I can better control my anger and Serendipity gave me more coping skills so that I know what to do.”

LukeStudent

“I carried Serendipity with me, in the form of this sense in the back of my mind that I had been cared for, listened to, and held accountable. I’d been give a place where I felt wanted, like I “fit”… “taken in” when that was just what I desperately needed.”

CindyStudent

“I cannot begin to count the number of times that the staff have gone above and beyond to make every effort to keep our son in school by continually altering and adjusting his school plan to accommodate for his needs.”

Parent

“By the time I graduated from Serendipity, I was a leader. I helped others and understood the importance of making responsible choices.”

William Student

“Serendipity offers consistent behavioral and emotional supports through carefully designed individualized plans that involve the student, parent, and district staff.”

Gresham BarlowProgram Director of Special Services

“The perseverance and dedication shown by the staff is second to none. We felt supported and encouraged by these folks in our daughter’s life. She has made a wonderful turn around and we know Serendipity played a major role in shaping her into the person she is today.”

Parent

“Serendipity provides more than just academic learning; it is a safe haven for children with extreme circumstances which would otherwise inhibit their social and learning skills which most of us take for granted.”

JosephStudent

“The classroom teacher, instructional aides, and case manager have endeavored to create sustainable change in the youths’ lives with whom we work… From cultural sensitivity, to empirically based, collaborative practices, I can’t say enough positive about my experiences with Serendipity staff.”

Consulting Behavior Therapist

“Serendipity has been such a blessing to our son and to our family. They have given my son confidence, self-esteem, life skills, peer relationship skills, and improved reading, writing, and speech.”

Parent

“Serendipity taught me… Coping skills to help handle my anger issues and help with thoughts of harming myself, Time management to help juggle multiple things at once, and more importantly; that I was smart enough. I was worth more than I could have imagined.”

TemariGraduate

“Serendipity is a trusted partner, a true innovator in the way they seamlessly blend learning and healing for severely troubled children. Students who have been failing for years will often turn their lives around at Serendipity, astonishing their families, teachers, and themselves.”

David DouglasSuperintendent

“Since he started at Serendipity, when asked about school, my son’s face lights up and he has nothing but positive things to share. He has never been excited about school before Serendipity.”

Parent

“Being held responsible for my own behavior at Serendipity prepared me to hold a job and to live in my group home. It was a good school to go to because it gave me a safe place to attend year round.”

WillStudent

“Because Serendipity provides developmentally appropriate curriculum and mental health services based on the individual needs of its students, innumerable youth have been afforded opportunities to experience academic and interpersonal success.”

Centennial SchoolSpecial Education Director

“My son gets one-on-one attention from staff. The classrooms are much smaller so he can receive help easier… He has learned more at Serendipity than in other school setting he has been in.”

Parent

“I know that Serendipity is a great place for kids that need a little extra help. I’ve never felt more safe and secure at any other school then I have at Serendipity. This school is a great fit for kids who have problems with school work, home issues, or just fitting in.”

JoanStudent

“Serendipity provides the essential environment and interventions for these children to begin to turn their lives around.”

ReynoldsSuperintendent

“Serendipity Center understands how important education with a mental health component is for someone like my son. By first healing his wounded emotional state, he gained the confidence to reach beyond his comfort zone, to try new things, to grow and learn.”

Parent