Dr. Louise Malandra | Founder
My journey in the world of education is deeply rooted in a passion that sparked at age 19, when I first stepped into a San Francisco classroom as a teacher. The foundation of my experiences was laid as I co-founded an alternative school, which was nurtured further by being selected as a Master Teacher at the UC Berkeley School of Education. For over 23 years, I've dedicated myself to working alongside teachers and administrators to build and maintain meaningful learning environments. These endeavors align perfectly with my current mission – to champion equity-centered strategies that empower organizations to thrive. I am committed to translating strategic visions into impactful realities, where purpose-driven leadership and collaboration lead to sustainable success.
Dr. Dewhanne Picou-Nyivih | Co-Founder
Dr. Dewhanne Picou-Nyivih is the founder of the Tall Poppy Academy.
Building on decades of work in leadership development and education, author and “extra-ordinary” educator, Dr. Dewhanne founded the Tall Poppy Academy in 2018. Dr. Dewhanne says, "We built the Academy specifically for teachers. Our goal is to cultivate critical and imaginative thinking within teachers and administrators so that they inspire students to tap into their unlimited potential." Dr. Dewhanne elaborates, "Our academy is a working model of whole student-centered teaching and learning with support by building community in the professional development space." The Tall Poppy Academy supports educators, parents, and school districts with state and federal compliance guidelines and pedagogical strategies geared to differentiating instruction and assessment, to suit each student's learning modality.
Sally Garretson | Director of Communications
Sally Garretson is a proud Oakland native who came up through the city's public schools, bringing a grounded, community-rooted perspective to her role as Director of Communications at Dr. Louise Malandra & Associates. She holds an Associate of Arts in Political Science from Berkeley City College and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Affairs from UCLA, with studies spanning social welfare, urban planning, and public policy. Sally is currently a legal assistant at the McGuinness Law Group, a law firm dedicated to advocating for disability rights. Her legal background also includes experience in tenant housing rights at the Tenant's Law Firm and sex discrimination policy through her work with the Title IX office at UC Berkeley. Her years of equity-focused community work — developing awareness campaigns to combat social isolation in schools and leading youth leadership initiatives across the Bay Area — have further sharpened her ability to craft communications that resonate across diverse audiences. At Dr. Louise Malandra & Associates, she channels this breadth of experience into strategies that connect educators, institutions, and families with the resources they need to drive lasting change in education.
David J. Marketing and Social Media Consultant.
David is an award-winning actor and former photojournalist for NBC and CBS, with a creative career spanning over 200 commercials and more than 3,000 hours on set. Originally from Chile and now based in Los Angeles, he is the founder of And Creativ, a digital marketing agency where he works as a creative producer and strategist. David specializes in storytelling, content creation, SEO/SEM, and social media campaigns that help brands and nonprofits grow. His work has supported community-driven organizations—from youth cycling programs to animal rescue groups—achieving major boosts in engagement, awareness, and fundraising. Versatile and visually-driven, David brings a sharp creative eye and deep storytelling experience to every project he leads.
