About

Words in the Wild offers strengths-based literacy programs to children and the adults who teach and love them. We provides evidence-based, responsive reading and writing support that is not just more school.

Literacy | Inquiry | Nature

the team...

Our whole team delights in watching children blossom as they build a love of learning through inquiry. It takes a village, in addition to the dedicated people below, we are grateful to our friends, collaborators, and supporters.

alexis filippini - Founder & CEO

Alexis started her career as a camp counselor, then taught reading in immigrant communities and supported families as a bilingual behavioral clinician for children with disabilities. She was a reading researcher and taught teachers at San Francisco State University, then became executive director of Mission Learning Center. After all those years indoors, her love of reading, nature, children, and community have come together in Words in the Wild. Dr. Filippini earned her PhD in special education with an emphasis in cognitive science from UC Santa Barbara, and also works as a consultant for schools, libraries, and other organizations. During the school year, when she's not teaching Words in the Wild after school, Alexis can be found facilitating parent programs and professional development for schools and districts on topics ranging from behavior, literacy and learning differences. She is also a certified word nerd, with a B.A. in linguistics, and is the happy mama of a loquacious little one.

Ryan Nepomuceno - Naturalist

As a Master Garden Teacher and Science Curriculum Advisor Ryan is key to integrating literacy and the outdoors using scientific observation as well as music, drawing, and cooking. He also teaches experiential environmental education at a school garden in Oakland with kindergarten through eighth-grade students, and has been part of the team since 2016. He earned his B.A. in Environmental Education from Warren Wilson College and has since been teaching in a variety of ecosystems from the sandy coast of North Carolina to the oak woodlands of the East Bay. He is excited to explore, read, and write with students this summer in the diverse gardens that Oakland has to offer.

Ella Holton-Mccoy - Teaching Fellow

Ella is currently attending Holy Names University, pursing her master's in Educational Therapy as well as her Educational Specialist credential in mild/moderate special education. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Literacy and a focus in Special Education as well as a minor in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University. Not just a scholar, she is also an experienced pre-school teacher, camp counselor and athlete.

Board and advisors

Annie Crangle
Board Secretary
Annie is a partner at Friday, leading projects in business, education, organizational strategy, and leadership development. Most recently, she managed the design and execution of the 2017-2018 pilot year of the Central Valley Leadership Program, preparing 13 new school principals from five organizations across the Central Valley. Annie serves as the Board Chairperson for Playworks in Oakland. She holds an MBA from Washington University, and a BA in Journalism and African American History.

Gretchen Macchiarella
Board Treasurer
Gretchen’s expertise is on emerging technologies in storytelling, digital journalism, and innovative business models. She is an assistant professor at CSU Northridge, where she teaches Design Thinking in her courses and through applied programs such as the Internal Entrepreneurship desk in student media. She is also one of our parents, with two curious kids who are huge fans of Words in the Wild, and holds a BA in Mass Communications and an MA in Digital Journalism and Design.

Tami Weiss
Operations Consultant
Tami supports a variety of wellness, education, and communication organizations with operations. With a background in international policy and experience as an environmental educator and curriculum developer, Tami uses her quantitative and qualitative skills to design, implement, monitor, and evaluate impactful programs. Basically, she keeps us together. She earned an MA in International Environmental Policy and a BA in Environmental Studies and Biology.

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