Our Team
Sam Piha
Founder and Co-Director
Sam Piha is the founder and principal of Temescal Associates, a consulting group dedicated to building the capacity of leaders and organizations in education and youth development who are serious about improving the lives of young people. Sam began his career in 1974 as an afterschool worker, an experience that led to 10 years of classroom teaching, and later work as a child and family counselor and school social worker. Between 1989 and 2001, Sam developed and managed school-based youth programs at the regional and national levels.
In 1996, Sam joined the Community Network for Youth Development, to help launch and serve as Managing Director of the San Francisco Beacon Initiative, a large public and private partnership dedicated to transforming public schools into vibrant community centers serving youth in the afterschool hours. When California began it’s unprecedented expansion of state-funded afterschool programs, Sam help shape the growing afterschool movement in California. He chaired and served on several key state committees and joined with others to build a state-wide system of support for new programs, align state afterschool policies with youth development principles, and successfully support the launch of the state’s After School Safety and Education for Teens, a large state-wide high school afterschool initiative.
Sam has served as editor and contributing author of several important practice guides and journal articles on afterschool programming. He has received several awards including California Afterschool Network's Innovation in High School After School Leadership and Vision (2010), being named by NAA as One of 25 Most Influential People in the Afterschool Community (2014), and Region 2's Trailblazer Award (2019) Sam holds a Masters Degree in Social Welfare, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the father of Max.
Founder and Co-Director
Sam Piha is the founder and principal of Temescal Associates, a consulting group dedicated to building the capacity of leaders and organizations in education and youth development who are serious about improving the lives of young people. Sam began his career in 1974 as an afterschool worker, an experience that led to 10 years of classroom teaching, and later work as a child and family counselor and school social worker. Between 1989 and 2001, Sam developed and managed school-based youth programs at the regional and national levels.
In 1996, Sam joined the Community Network for Youth Development, to help launch and serve as Managing Director of the San Francisco Beacon Initiative, a large public and private partnership dedicated to transforming public schools into vibrant community centers serving youth in the afterschool hours. When California began it’s unprecedented expansion of state-funded afterschool programs, Sam help shape the growing afterschool movement in California. He chaired and served on several key state committees and joined with others to build a state-wide system of support for new programs, align state afterschool policies with youth development principles, and successfully support the launch of the state’s After School Safety and Education for Teens, a large state-wide high school afterschool initiative.
Sam has served as editor and contributing author of several important practice guides and journal articles on afterschool programming. He has received several awards including California Afterschool Network's Innovation in High School After School Leadership and Vision (2010), being named by NAA as One of 25 Most Influential People in the Afterschool Community (2014), and Region 2's Trailblazer Award (2019) Sam holds a Masters Degree in Social Welfare, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and the father of Max.
Stacey Daraio
Co-Director
Stacey Daraio brings over 25 years of experience working in the field of youth development as a facilitator, trainer, and coach. She has experience training and coaching diverse audience groups, from afterschool practitioners and parents to funders and technical assistance providers.
As a Temescal Associate, Stacey has conducted high school trainings and learning communities based on Temescal’s Bedrock to Rooftop framework. Prior to her work with Temescal Associates, Stacey was the Deputy Director at the Community Network for Youth Development and a consultant for the Institute for Research and Reform in Education. She holds a BA in Theater and Psychology and a MA in Drama Therapy.
Co-Director
Stacey Daraio brings over 25 years of experience working in the field of youth development as a facilitator, trainer, and coach. She has experience training and coaching diverse audience groups, from afterschool practitioners and parents to funders and technical assistance providers.
As a Temescal Associate, Stacey has conducted high school trainings and learning communities based on Temescal’s Bedrock to Rooftop framework. Prior to her work with Temescal Associates, Stacey was the Deputy Director at the Community Network for Youth Development and a consultant for the Institute for Research and Reform in Education. She holds a BA in Theater and Psychology and a MA in Drama Therapy.
LIAS Executive Committee
Katie Brackenridge
Katie Brackenridge is a Non-Profit and Philathropic Consultant. Experienced education leader focused on equity and social justice, with proven success in project design and delivery,policy analysis and development, strategic decision-making, advocacy, collaboration and communication.
Katie Brackenridge is a Non-Profit and Philathropic Consultant. Experienced education leader focused on equity and social justice, with proven success in project design and delivery,policy analysis and development, strategic decision-making, advocacy, collaboration and communication.
Bill Fennessy
Bill is Director of High School Programs at THINK Together and is an expert on all aspects of afterschool programs. Prior to joining THINK Together, Bill created and grew model after-school programs at middle and high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District.
Bill is Director of High School Programs at THINK Together and is an expert on all aspects of afterschool programs. Prior to joining THINK Together, Bill created and grew model after-school programs at middle and high schools in the Pasadena Unified School District.
Brad Lupien
Brad Lupien is President and CEO of arc. Brad began his career as a teacher and social worker in the juvenile justice system and as a special education teacher in Boston, MA. He taught middle and high school young people identified as having “behavioral and emotional disabilities.” To address his student’s multiple risks, Brad began an after school Outdoor Education Club for his gang-involved students; he modeled the method after his experience serving as a summer guide for teens, leading month-long adventures in the Rocky Mountains. At arc, Brad is responsible for business development and new programs. He is also co-Founder and Chairman of the Board for CORE Educational Services.
Brad Lupien is President and CEO of arc. Brad began his career as a teacher and social worker in the juvenile justice system and as a special education teacher in Boston, MA. He taught middle and high school young people identified as having “behavioral and emotional disabilities.” To address his student’s multiple risks, Brad began an after school Outdoor Education Club for his gang-involved students; he modeled the method after his experience serving as a summer guide for teens, leading month-long adventures in the Rocky Mountains. At arc, Brad is responsible for business development and new programs. He is also co-Founder and Chairman of the Board for CORE Educational Services.
Dr. Michelle Perrenoud
Dr. Perrenoud is Project Coordinator at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Expanded Learning Technical Assistance Unit. She is recognized as an educational leader and is particularly renowned for her work in the fields of expanded learning, education and youth development. She has extensive experience with research and program design for older youth programs serving middle and high school students. Her scholarly research at UCLA focused on understanding interests of middle school youth in expanded learning programs and youth and practitioner perceptions of the conditions that foster young people’s desires to attend and participate. Michelle is a published author and frequent conference speaker.
Dr. Perrenoud is Project Coordinator at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Expanded Learning Technical Assistance Unit. She is recognized as an educational leader and is particularly renowned for her work in the fields of expanded learning, education and youth development. She has extensive experience with research and program design for older youth programs serving middle and high school students. Her scholarly research at UCLA focused on understanding interests of middle school youth in expanded learning programs and youth and practitioner perceptions of the conditions that foster young people’s desires to attend and participate. Michelle is a published author and frequent conference speaker.
