Board of Directors
Tanya Sheckley
Founder, President
UP Academy® was born of my quest to find the best education for my three children. My oldest, intuitive, curious and differently-abled with cerebral palsy, my middle, ambitious, fearless and creative and my youngest, observant, sweet, and athletic and all three of them brilliant (but every parent says that right?) This school is created as a legacy, in loving memory of Eliza Sheckley so every child, of every ability, can reach their potential. I hold a BA in Public Health and Dance and an MBA in Entrepreneurship.
Barry Sheckley, PhD
Board Member
Barry Sheckley, Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut, former Ray Neag Professor of Adult Learning, and former Head of the Department of Educational Leadership in the Neag School of Education, has devoted over 30 years to exploring through research and practice how experience enhances learning. His research suggests that engaging individuals in on-going inquiry about problems of practice is the most effective way to help them learn effectively. He has received a number of professional awards including the University of Connecticut Alumni Association’s Award for Excellence in Teaching; the Association of Continuing and Higher Education’s Marlowe Froke Award for Excellence in Professional Writing; the American Society for Training and Development’s Excellence in Research to Practice Award; a Doctor of Humane Letters, honorus causa, from the Board of Trustees University of New Hampshire; and, from the Council for Adult and Experiential Education, a lifetime achievement award in recognition to his insightful contributions to the field of adult and experiential learning.
Cathleen Brdlik Hartman, PhD
Board Member
Cathy is a Senior Director at Calico Life Sciences, an Alphabet company run and co-founded by Arthur Levinson, PhD (former CEO of Genentech). Calico is focused on aging and age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration and cancer, and her responsibility is to lead the development of the PTPN2 immuno-oncology program in partnership with AbbVie. Prior to Calico, she spent the majority of her career at Genentech where she developed, launched, and marketed products that changed the natural history of HER2+ breast cancer and various heme malignancies. Her passion for eradicating cancer is driven by her personal connection to the disease, having lost her mom, Helen, to colon cancer at age 5. Cathy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry from Oberlin College, her Master and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Genetics from Yale University, and completed post-doctoral training at Stanford University.
She is a proud mama to two UP Academy students: Colin who is 11 years old and in 5th grade, and Gavin, who is 9 years old and in 4th grade. Education is a key value for Cathy and her family, first instilled in her from a very young age by her father Otto - a man who became a heart surgeon despite his meager means and helped so many people in his lifetime. She has been committed to supporting and elevating the educational experience of children through her years of volunteering at the schools where Colin and Gavin have attended and is honored to serve in the fundraising leadership position on the UP Academy Board of Directors.
Susan Lin
Board Member
Susan Lin is a Sr. Portfolio and Program Manager with Cisco Systems. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Washington, School of Business. She is passionate about initiatives for women in technology, children’s early education and development as well as inclusion and diversity. She is also a proud mother of two, Amelia and Max; who continue to inspire her everyday.
Erin DeNola
Board Member
Erin DeNola is an Occupational Therapist and the founder/executive director of Skilled Therapy & Play Services. Erin has dedicated the past 15 years to working with the neurodivergent population and is passionate about tackling complex challenges, educating others, and mentorship. Erin has extensive experience supporting children and young adults with Autism, ADHD/ADD, Sensory Processing Differences, Learning Differences, coordination challenges, and physical differences. Before founding Skilled Therapy, Erin spent several years working in a Non-Public School and continues to enjoy advising and supporting schools as part of her line of work.
Jon Pettinelli
Treasurer
As the Owner and President of Pettinelli Financial Partners (PFP), Jon is responsible for the leadership, planning, and broad executive management of the firm’s strategic objectives. He oversees and coordinates the day-to-day administration, information systems, client service, human resources, training, processes, and overall client experience for PFP.
After completing a Bachelor of Science in Criminology from San Jose State University, Jon joined Pettinelli Financial Partners in 2005. His role has included streamlining day-to-day operations, implementing advanced financial planning software for advisors and clients, strengthening financial processes and procedures, and pursuing continued growth for the evolution of the firm.
Jon purchased the firm from his father, and founder, Dennis Pettinelli in January 2019. While Dennis remains an active contributor and ambassador for PFP, Jon has led the firm to implement structural and organizational changes to help provide greater customer satisfaction, advisor guidance and development, as well as operational efficiencies and productivity. Under his leadership, he and the entire PFP team have grown the firm to achieve a more robust and fulfilling team model. By combining the core of Dennis’ philosophy of building deep client relationships with new, experienced executive management, strong teams, financial planning expertise, innovative technologies, and enhanced client experiences, Jon believes that PFP has built a legacy of caring for our client family for many generations to come.
Jon holds his Series 7 license with LPL Financial and Series 66 license with LPL Financial and Stratos Wealth Partners, as well as his California Insurance License.
In his spare time, Jon enjoys meeting up with friends to watch or attend sporting events such as the San Francisco Giants, the Golden State Warriors, and the San Francisco 49ers. You can also find him barbecuing and attending Redwood City’s Music on the Square summer concert series.
Marni Berger
Board Member
Marni Berger is a User Experience expert with a degree in Human-Computer Interaction from Stanford University. She has experience leading and managing teams at both large and small companies, and she uses design thinking to influence the environments around her. By understanding and prioritizing her target audience, she is able to advocate for their needs.
She’s the proud mom of an UP Academy student and believes that whole-child education that fosters community is of increasing importance in today’s changing world. Marni feels fortunate to have found the unique environment that UP Academy provides its students and is excited to help shape the future of the school.