Nia House Board Candidates

Meet the candidates hoping for your vote to serve on the Nia House Board of Directors for the 2026-2027 school year. 

 on Wednesday, June 17, 2026

HOW:

• Each family may submit 1 ballot. If two parents accidentally vote, the first submitted will be honored.

• Vote online. Submit your ballot on Wednesday, June by 5pm.

WHO:

• 4 Parent Representatives

• 1 Staff Representative

• 2 Community Representatives

MEET YOUR CANDIDATES

Parent Representatives

I’m the parent of two Nia House children (one has since graduated) and have been part of this community for over six years. Like many families, we came to Nia House looking for a school—and found something much bigger. It quickly became a place where both my children and I found real community and connection.

When I had my first child, I didn’t know many other parents, and the Nia House community quickly became anchor for me during that time. Over the years I’ve watched my children grow into themselves here, with confidence, curiosity, and a strong sense of belonging. And when our family went through a major transition last year, the Nia House staff and community were a steady grounding force of support and care.

 I’ve served on the Finance Committee for the past two years and have valued the opportunity to contribute behind the scenes. In my professional life, I work in the nonprofit sector and currently serve as Associate Director at The Asia Foundation.

I began my career as a teacher in South Central Los Angeles, including as a bilingual teaching assistant in a local elementary school, and later worked in international youth programs. After graduate school, I started working in international development and have spent the past two decades in the nonprofit sector (mainly foreign aid). Through this work, I’ve developed a strong understanding of the financial and operational realities of running a nonprofit organization.

Nia House has given so much to my family, and I would be honored to support it in return.

Adriana Penuela-Useche (Lucia and Emilia), Incumbent

Nia House Board of Directors: 2023-2026

Educational background: UC Berkeley MBA with Sustainable Business emphasis; University of Florida, BS Chemical Engineering

Current Employment: Climate Tech startup advisor and consultant for Aepnus Technologies, Mars Materials and Intropic Materials. My Climate Journey Community Organizer. UC Berkeley Haas School of Business Sustainability Alumni Group VP.

During Lucia's years at Nia House, we have seen her personality, secure attachment, and ability to flourish tremendously. This highlights how Nia House provides holistic education during formative years, cultivating individuals with diverse mindsets, equity lenses, and holistic visions of social and environmental sustainability. I am running to continue on the Nia House board because I value this opportunity to serve and support staff in nurturing our children. As treasurer, I have developed financial policies, invested funds, and ensured fiduciary responsibility.

In my day job, I run a climate tech consultancy for entrepreneurs, helping them turn scientific strategies into businesses that could reduce our carbon footprint, drawing on my background as a Chemical Engineer and Berkeley MBA.

As a passionate advocate for holistic education and equity, I am eager to continue serving on the Nia House Board as a parent representative. With expertise in business management, finance, and innovative thinking, I will challenge the status quo and explore how education can empower and shape our children's lives.

Gloria Gerngross (Finley and Kaia) , Incumbent

Nia House Board of Directors: 2025-2026

Educational background: UC Berkeley MBA, Master of Arts in International Business & Law, Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

Current Employment: BizOps Program Management at Chime

Hi! I’m a mom to my son Finley who joined Nia House at 18 months and is now thriving in Primary North with Nicole, and his little sister Kaia, who will be joining the Nia community this summer! From day one, I’ve been deeply grateful for the thoughtful, loving environment Nia House provides, and I’m excited for the opportunity to contribute more deeply as a finance board member.

Professionally, I bring a strong finance and operations background: I started my career as a financial auditor at Ernst & Young, earned my MBA from UC Berkeley, and went on to work in Strategy & Operations roles at Stitch Fix and DoorDash. These days, I wear many hats at a fast-moving early-stage startup, where I draw daily on both my financial toolkit and operational problem-solving chops.

What I hope to bring to the board is a balance of analytical thinking and pragmatic decision-making, with a dash of startup scrappiness. I believe in clear communication, thoughtful planning, and above all, supporting a community that’s as special as this one. Also, I take budgets seriously—but never myself.

Geechi Taylor (Briella and Jasiri), Incumbent

Nia House Board of Directors: 2025-2026

Educational Background: Bachelors of Arts at New England Conservatory of Music

Current Employment: Executive Director of Young Musicians Choral Orchestra

You are raising future (and current) leaders! How does Nia House impact this task? “While knowing and loving oneself as an individual and within your community with clarity, compassion, and confidence is not in the forefront of social media’s mission, it definitely is at Nia House. The experiences and skills gained at Nia House have proven to provide my two budding leaders with multiple ways to navigate their environment and connect with their community in an incredibly positive way.” 

Community Representatives

Monica Parran (Stephen) , Incumbent

Monica served on the Nia House Board of Directors from 2017-21 and 2025-2026

Educational Background: Doctor of Law (JD), American University Washington College of Law, Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Public Relations

Current Employment: Principal Analyst Superior Court

I am a former Board member who strongly believes in Nia House’s mission to bring together children of diverse backgrounds and I want to help it to operate in accordance with that mission and ensure its sustainability. My son Stephen attended Nia House from 2016 until 2021 when he headed to first grade. Nia House holds a special place in our hearts and I would love the opportunity to return to serve this community.

I am a management analyst for the Drug Courts in Alameda County. In that role, I review our operations, identify areas for improvement, and implement improved practices. I develop and monitor all budgets and ensure compliance with local and federal funding requirements. I also write and grant applications, implement grant activities, and report on progress towards the goals stated in our applications. I currently serve as the Parent Stewardship Committee co-chair at my son's current school. This group works to build and cultivate parent/family culture and community.

Staff Representative

Sambo Nhey (Sovann and Xolani) Incumbent

Nia House Board of Directors: 2024-2026

Educational Background: Bachelor of Science in Human DevelopmentUniversity of California, Davis, City College of San Francisco Early Child Development, and A.M.S Credential

Current Employment: Assistant Lead Teacher at Nia House

The Nia House community continues to inspire me daily, from the incredible children, the devoted parents, and to the talented staff. The invaluable experiences in the classrooms has given me the passion and the motivation to obtain my AMS Early Childhood credentials. Over my 9 years here at Nia House- from current teacher and parent to alumni parent, I have witnessed the importance of a strong community through the interconnectedness that we all share here at Nia House - which is the mission and traditions that is upheld in our school.  It would be an honor to represent the voice of staff, while contributing to upholding Nia House’s traditions and the development of its continued success.