Mentor Me Staff

 

 

Deborah Dalton, Executive Director

Deborah has served in many capacities with Mentor Me since December 2006.  She is a mentor to two young people, has been the Valley Vista Elementary School Site Coordinator, the Program Director, chaired the 2011 and 2014 Mad Hatter Balls, and is the trainer for all new Mentor Me mentors.  Deborah became Executive Director in August 2012.  She has a BA in English from Sonoma State University.

 

Darlene Barrett-Garrahan, Program Director

Darlene has served as administrative staff for Mentor Me since September 2008.  She became the Office Manager in 2009 and the Program Director in August 2012.  Darlene attended UC Berkeley, majoring in Psychology.  She served two years on the Valley Vista PTA board & was a Valley Vista Enrichment Coordinator from 2008-2013.  Darlene continues to teach Baking with the Valley Vista Enrichment Program.

 

Nanci Ryan, SIte Coordinator

Nanci has served as Site Coordinator for Grant Elementary School and McNear Elementary School since August 2007, and in 2013 became the Site Coordinator at Valley Vista Elementary School.  In 2014, she piloted a peer mentoring program at Grant Elementary with Petaluma High School students for community service hours and students who are presently waiting for adult mentors.  Nanci is also a campus supervisor for Petaluma City Schools. She is an integral part of Mentor Me's Holiday Giving Tree program, and her husband John, is a member of the Mentor Me Petaluma Board of Directors and mentor to two boys.  

Lyn Romstad, SIte Coordinator

Lyn has been a Site Coordinator with Mentor Me since 2007.  She is presently the the Site Coordinator at Casa Grande High School, Kenilworth Junior High School, and San Antonio High School.  She is a mentor to a Petaluma High School girl and is also the coordinator of our Holiday Giving Tree program.  Lyn attended Sonoma State University.  She worked as an Off Price Sales Manager for ESPRIT for 7 years and for The United Way for 2 years. She has also served 5 years as a volunteer on the Board of Directors for Waugh School District PTA and 4 years on the board of Petaluma Youth Lacrosse.

 

Fidaa Shaheen, SIte Coordinator

Fidaa has been on the staff of Mentor Me Petaluma since 2006 as the site coordinator for Petaluma Junior High School and Petaluma High School.  She is also a mentor and sees the impact our mentoring program has on a child's life,

 

Beki Long. SIte Coordinator

Beki has been with Mentor Me since 2009.  She is presently the Site Coordinator at La Tercera Elementary School.  Beki has a BA in Psychology and an MA in Counseling from Sonoma State University.  She is also Pupil Personnel Services Credentialed, a school counselor with Old Adobe Union School District, and a private swim instructor.  Beki has also been a school counselor with Santa Rosa City Schools and the Rohnert Park Unified School District. Her husband, Mike, is a mentor and they love being a part of an organization that strives to make positive changes in the lives of the youth in our community.

Kathy O'Sullivan, Site Coordinator

Kathy has been a part of Mentor Me since 2007. She is currently the Site Coordinator at McKinley Elementary School, McDowell Elementary School and Corona Creek Elementary School. Kathy holds a dual appointment with the Petaluma City Schools District in Special Education.  She was part of the Early Mental Health Initiative at McDowell Elementary, as well as being a Physical Education Specialist at Penngrove for many years. During the summer she runs a tutoring program for children with special needs.  Kathy is also a certified Medical Assistant with Kaiser.  She is proud to be associated with a program that is so essential to our community.

Linda Dunwoodie, MA, MFT, Program advisor

Linda brings over 35 years of experience in the field of psychotherapy, both in non-profits and in private practice. Having specialized in working with teens, children, and parents, she has brought her expertise to MMP.  Linda has been a mentor since 2005 and served on our Board of Directors for 5 years.  She is the facilitator of our monthly Mentor Roundtable discussions and a consultant to our site coordinators and mentors.

KIM HOSPODAR, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR      

Kim served as a volunteer for Mentor Me in the administrative office from 2011-2013. She became the Marketing & Communications Coordinator in 2013. Kim has a BA in Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has worked for RHL Design Group and Mugshots School Photography. She has served on the Wilson Elementary School PTA board for six years.  She is happy to be a part of an organization that champions youth.

 

KIM behen, site coordinator

Kim is a new Site Coordinator this year at Mary Collins Charter School at Cherry Valley and Penngrove Elementary School. Kim received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Santa Barbara and has taught third grade, fourth grade and Art Appreciation/Art History at the elementary school level. She spent many years volunteering for Liberty School Foundation, Sonoma County Alliance Soccer Club and the Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue. She loves being a mentor and is looking forward to being part of such an amazing team.

 

chris bell, cavanagh recreation center site coordinator

Chris Bell has been a mentor almost as long as Mentor Me has been in existence.  Upon graduating Sonoma State in 1994 with a B.A. in Creative Writing and a Film Minor, he has dedicated his life to working with the children of Petaluma. He has served as Student Advisor at McNear Elementary School and as Program and Athletic Director for Boys & Girls Clubs, where he has coached over 100 teams in baseball, basketball and volleyball over the past 20 years.  He is thrilled to be back at the Cavanagh Center, where he served as Boys & Girls Club Program Director from 1997-2000.