Elena Phleger rejoins the Sequoyah School community as director of advancement. Elena has been involved in progressive education for more than 20 years – at Pacific Oaks College as chair of the development committee and then chair of the board of trustees, and from 2006-2018 as director of development and communications at Sequoyah. Her two sons are proud alumni of both schools.

Elena graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in art history. and has done graduate work in poetry at the University of San Francisco. While in Vermont, Elena photographed native bees, read most of the books she should have read in college, and wrote poetry.

Recruited by Josh Brody to be the first full-time director of development at Sequoyah, Elena took on a range of advancement responsibilities. She worked closely with the community to celebrate Sequoyah’s 50th anniversary, launch the first capital campaign, expand the K-8 campus, establish the high school, and partner with local and national nonprofit organizations and civic leaders to secure the right to purchase the Pasadena Avenue campus from Caltrans.

In returning to Sequoyah, Elena is looking forward to working with the trustees, staff, faculty, students, parents, and alumni who have, over many years, generously dedicated their valuable time, expertise, and resources to create a school that truly fulfills its mission. She looks forward to raising additional investment to develop Sequoyah’s present and future opportunities.