Erica Boas, PhD serves as a Core Contributor for the California Center for School Climate.

Erica is an Improvement Specialist with the Improvement Science team at WestEd. Using improvement science methods, she supports K-12 schools and districts as well as university-based teacher preparation programs in their equity-centered improvement efforts. She holds expertise in qualitative methods, educational equity, K-20 pedagogies, and improvement science methodologies. Erica has served as a K-5 teacher, faculty member in teacher preparation programs, and most recently worked in a county office of education to support districts and schools in their continuous improvement efforts. In this role, she served as lead author for the California Ways 2 Equity Playbook, a resource to help guide schools, districts, and county offices in their equity efforts.

Reginald (Reggie) Thomas serves as a Core Contributor for the California Center for School Climate.

Reggie is an Improvement Associate with the Improvement Science team at WestEd. He works with K-12 schools and districts as well as higher education teacher preparation programs to support efforts towards systems improvement, bringing capabilities in developing improvement analytics infrastructure. He holds expertise in quantitative methods, data analytics, mathematics education, and improvement science. Reginald has been a high school mathematics teacher, adjunct faculty professor in technical colleges, and most recently worked with an organization using healthcare predictive analytics to accurately coordinate benefits as a business and data analyst.

Tran Keys (she/her) serves as a Senior Advisor for the California Center for School Climate.

Tran is a Senior Research Associate with the Region 15 Comprehensive Center (R15CC) and the Regional Educational Laboratory West (REL West) at WestEd. With REL West, she supports the development and dissemination of research-based, user-friendly products and events that aid policymakers and practitioners in understanding research that informs decision-making and education practices. Within both R15CC and REL West, Tran provides analytic technical assistance and coaching to state education agencies and other key stakeholders in myriad state- and region-specific projects, supporting improved education and student outcomes through evidence-based research. She has extensive experience as a professional development provider for district and state leaders and more than 20 years of experience working with school districts and educational organizations.

Christina Pate (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Christina is Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Education’s Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety and the Director of the Equity Accelerator funded by the Bechtel Family Foundation. She previously served as the Technical Assistance Lead for the National Institute of Justice’s Comprehensive School Safety Initiative in Atlanta Public Schools and was a Project Director and TA Liaison for SAMHSA’s Project AWARE at the Now is the Time TA Center. Christina has extensive experience in education, public health, wellness services, and service systems and brings a range of expertise in strategic planning, systems thinking, social–emotional development and mental health, educator well-being, leadership and collaboration, and organizational climate and culture.

Maria Paredes (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

Maria is a Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd in the Quality Schools and Districts content area. Maria developed the Academic Parent Teacher Teams (APTT), a strengths-based model of family engagement designed to strengthen the capacity of teachers and families and transform family participation in their children’s education. This model has been adopted by over 2,000 schools in 26 states and has been the subject of multiple studies asserting the positive outcomes for students, families, and schools. She has partnered with state departments, districts, and schools to support program development, professional learning, and integration of effective family engagement practices into all areas of school improvement. Her areas of expertise include family and community engagement; organizational development; needs assessments; and design of high-impact family engagement programs for state departments, districts, and schools.

Natalie Walrond (she/her) serves as a Senior Advisor for the California Center for School Climate.

Natalie serves as the director for the Resilient and Healthy Schools and Communities content area at WestEd. She also serves as Director of the national Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety housed at WestEd. The Center works nationally to build state and local capacity to integrate evidence-based approaches to social and emotional development and school safety with academic teaching and learning, school climate, and all the ways that children and youth experience school. Natalie speaks and writes on social and emotional well-being, education excellence, alignment and coherence, and equity. Natalie brings to her work over 25 years of experience in K–12 education, finance, and strategy, for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.