Board Members

Debbie Gross has lived in Davis since 2008 and is a Patwin Elementary Parent.  She and her husband run a small business called Leafbird Consulting which provides services in the areas of commercial and utility scale solar power, water resource management, and climate change.  Debbie has a Master’s degree in Natural Resource Management and Planning.  She and her family enjoy making music and art together – the amateur family band includes violin, guitar, piano, cello, and singing.  Debbie’s daughter is an enthusiastic birder and bird photographer.  When life seems difficult, or sad, or boring, or too serious, art in all its forms is what makes it better.  Arts exposure at the elementary level is when students realize “I can do this!” and they learn about history and diverse cultures by experiencing art and music from across time and around the world.

Lacey Boatman received a Bachelor of Arts from San Diego State University in Studio Art, with an emphasis in Graphic Design. She also received a Multiple Subject teaching credential from UC Davis and taught Digital Design at New Tech High School in Napa, creating a 4-year program while she was there. Students in the advanced course ran and managed their own graphic design company. She is now working as an educational administrator at the Napa County Office of Education in addition to lecturing at UC Davis as part of the Teacher Education program she found so much value in. Lacey teaches Integrating Movement and the Arts in the Elementary Curriculum for Multiple Subject preservice teachers in and around the Davis area and is a fierce advocate for arts education. Her personal art is ever-evolving. Inspired by nature, experiences, and her own emotional state of being, she enjoys painting with mixed mediums in an abstract expressionism style.

Binuta Sudhakaran (they/them) wears a few different hats in the community. They are a trauma-informed somatic coach and a yoga teacher who teaches at the Davis Yoga Collective. Binuta also works at the Davis Forest School where they facilitate self-guided nature exploration for children and families. Binuta has a degree in Architecture and Sustainable design and is a retired visual artist. They have two children in the Davis Schools and are passionate about infusing early childhood with the joys of art-making.

Longtime Davis musician/songwriter Bill Fairfield has always been an avid supporter of the arts, and recognizes the inspirational and creative importance of artistic exposure to our young students.  As founder of the band Mumbo Gumbo, he has helped spread the uplifting message of joy through music, and loves the family atmosphere of festivals and outdoor concerts.  For the last 21 years, he has gathered top regional musicians to perform for the Home for the Holidays concert which benefits DSAF.  Many of these pro musicians attended Davis schools, and are giving back to DSAF for the inspiration they received as students.  As Bill said: “We love to see the creative cycle continue and expand, and we always have a youth group or two perform on each show.”   Bill’s musical journey started at UCD where he majored in Musicology/American Studies, and performed in various groups.  His primary goal with DSAF is to inspire kids to find an artistic release, be it music, dance, painting, etc.  Find something through which they can express themselves and enrich their life, and possibly the lives of others.

Michael Rumery is a middle school math teacher in the Vallejo Public Schools.  He attended San Francisco State for a teaching credential and Cal Poly SLO for a bachelors and masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering.  Michael went to Valley Oak Elementary, Harper Junior High, and Davis Senior High School (2012) as a student.