Board of Trustees

About

Board of Trustees

Our Board of Trustees is entrusted with establishing policies and plans consistent with the mission of The Girls’ Middle School. The Board primarily focuses on ensuring fiscal sustainability and long-range strategic planning. We are incredibly grateful to the board members, whose time, expertise, and enthusiasm guarantee that GMS remains a place where girls take risks, expand their horizons, and realize their potential.

2025 - 2026 Voting Members of the Board

Board of Trustees

Archana Upadhyay, Chair
Daniela Gonzalez and Jennifer Smith, Co Vice-Chairs
Terry Lee, Treasurer
Megan Miller and Bethwyn Morris, Secretary

Bruce Arthur, Jeff Barnett, Ashley Carroll, Sivasankaran Chandrasekar, Liz Davis, Jennifer DiBrienza, Joyce Farnsworth, Terri Hamer, Ryan Harris, Wenxin Li, Monique Maddy, Mark Silver, Drew Teufel, Vidhya Thyagarajan, Karen Wang, Kelly Yeh

Non-Voting Members

Head of School: Christine Fairless
Parents’ Association Co-President: Alison Mellon

GMS Advisory Council

A distinguished group of educators and visionaries who support our mission and provide inspiration.

Advisory Council 2025-26

Kathleen Bennett, GMS Founder
Susan Charles, Ed.D
Larry Kramer, J.D.
Kathy Kwan
Debra Myerson, Ph.D
Denise Clark Pope, Ph.D

Meet Our Members

Melissa_Bamberg

Melissa Bamberg

Titles: High School Placement Advisor
Barlas_Andi

Andi Barlas

Titles: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Director Guidance Advisor
Degrees:

MA, College of Notre Dame ATR-BC, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist BA, University of California, Berkeley

Andi is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Art Therapist. She earned her BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and her Master's of Art Therapy/Behavioral Science from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont. Andi's experience includes over 20 years as a counselor in both public and private schools. She maintains a private practice in Palo Alto, and she is the parent of two daughters, both whom attended The Girls' Middle School.

Andi joined the faculty at GMS in 2000. Along with designing the curriculum for and teaching Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, she supports the girls' academic, social, and emotional growth. Andi is also a support for families and works to provide a positive experience for all students.

Batio_Hana

Hana Batio

Titles: 7th & 8th Grade Computer Science Teacher, 8th Grade Level Lead
Degrees:

BA, Boston University

Hana graduated cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science. During her time in college, she gained experience in education as a Teaching Assistant for several courses, including Algorithms and Data Structures. Prior to joining GMS, Hana worked as a Software Engineer at companies in the financial tech industry, like Capital One and Liberty Mutual Insurance. At GMS, Hana began her career as a Math and Computer Science Resident Teacher and then taught 6th and 8th Grade Computer Science.

Bindal_Shika

Shika Bindal

Titles: After School Program and Transportation Director
Degrees:

MPH, Tuoro University
BA, University of California, Merced

Bui_Hau

Hau Bui

Titles: 6th Grade Math Teacher
Degrees:

BA, University of California, San Diego
MA, University of California, San Deigo

Hau comes to GMS with over 15 years of teaching experience as our 6th Grade Math Teacher. Hau received his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics and his Master’s of Arts in Teaching, both from the University of California, San Diego; he also holds a single-subject teaching credential in Mathematics. Having taught pre-algebra through algebra 2 in independent and public schools, he is well equipped to support our 6th graders with their transition to middle-school math. In his most recent role at Northwest Academy in Portland, OR, Hau also supervised first-year teachers, helped to coordinate the advisory program, and served as the school’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director.

Caraccia_Gabriela

Gabriela Caraccia

Titles: Spanish Teacher
Degrees:

BA, MEd, University of Buenos Aires

Gabriela received her Masters in Education from University of Buenos Aires. Gabriela has taught a wide range of ages in a variety of schools in Argentina and the Bay Area. She joined the GMS community in 2003.

Castillo_Rodrigo

Rodrigo Castillo

Titles: Facilities Specialist
Chang_Allice

Alice Chang

Titles: 6th Grade Computer Science Teacher, Robotics Program Manager
Degrees:

BS, MS, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Alice received her BS in Computer Science with a minor in Psychology and MS in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alice has over ten years of experience at startup companies in the software industry. Her expertise is in user interaction design and cross disciplinary teams. She has also initiated training programs at the Cupertino Union School District in the area of critical thinking in mathematics, and worked closely in classrooms with teachers on various academic subjects. Alice joined the GMS faculty in 2012.

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I attend GMS events because it’s always fun to see old familiar faces and to hear what amazing things they are up to, which are usually so different from my day-to-day life as a high school teacher. I speak to two girls from [GMS] on a weekly basis and love that we share a history that stretches back to sixth grade. I don’t know that many other people who still talk to their middle school best friends.

GMS Alum ’03

I have always been proud to be a part of the GMS community. GMS events are a great source of insight into what GMS has been up to since my own graduation. They also offer me the opportunity to take time out of a busy Silicon Valley lifestyle and reconnect with the people who are a part of that beloved community.

GMS Alum ’02

These three years—in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades—are a crucial time to invest in a child’s education and to build fundamental skills. At GMS, students find their people, they learn to self-advocate, and they gain the confidence to raise their hands.

GMS Teacher

The academic rigor at GMS is purposeful and meaningful. The program is designed to help students continue growing through high school and college. We want our daughter to love learning all her life, and not get burned out, as is happening with so many children these days.

GMS Parent

Our students learn through seeing that everybody does things differently and understanding that there are a lot of right ways to do something. It’s about respecting those differences, learning from them, and learning from each other. That way, we build community as well as self-confidence.

GMS Teacher

The Entrepreneurial Program in seventh grade was a big factor in our decision to come here. Letting girls be leaders and change makers is very important to us.

GMS Parent

I attend GMS events because it’s always fun to see old familiar faces and to hear what amazing things they are up to, which are usually so different from my day-to-day life as a high school teacher. I speak to two girls from [GMS] on a weekly basis and love that we share a history that stretches back to sixth grade. I don’t know that many other people who still talk to their middle school best friends.

GMS Alum ’03

I have always been proud to be a part of the GMS community. GMS events are a great source of insight into what GMS has been up to since my own graduation. They also offer me the opportunity to take time out of a busy Silicon Valley lifestyle and reconnect with the people who are a part of that beloved community.

GMS Alum ’02

These three years—in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades—are a crucial time to invest in a child’s education and to build fundamental skills. At GMS, students find their people, they learn to self-advocate, and they gain the confidence to raise their hands.

GMS Teacher

The academic rigor at GMS is purposeful and meaningful. The program is designed to help students continue growing through high school and college. We want our daughter to love learning all her life, and not get burned out, as is happening with so many children these days.

GMS Parent

Our students learn through seeing that everybody does things differently and understanding that there are a lot of right ways to do something. It’s about respecting those differences, learning from them, and learning from each other. That way, we build community as well as self-confidence.

GMS Teacher

The Entrepreneurial Program in seventh grade was a big factor in our decision to come here. Letting girls be leaders and change makers is very important to us.

GMS Parent