Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
St. Francis Catholic High School, with Bishop Soto’s approval, adopted Policy Governance®, an integrated board leadership paradigm created by Dr. John Carver. In the words of Dr. Carver, “This is a groundbreaking model of governance designed to empower boards to fulfill their obligation of accountability for the organizations they govern. The model enables the board to focus on the larger issues, to delegate with clarity, to control management’s job without meddling, to rigorously evaluate the accomplishment of the organization; to truly lead its organization.” We are pleased that our Board of Trustees has embraced this new model and our members are looking forward to advancing the mission of St. Francis Catholic High School.
Mary Ellingson ‘67
Board Chair
Mary is a fourth generation Sacramentan and number six of seven children in her family, all of whom attended the Catholic schools K-12. As a St. Francis graduate from the class of 1967, Mary has been active on the reunion committee since her graduation and remained involved with the school both as a class contact and as the mother of two alumnae daughters (Amy ’94 and Sarah ’97). During her time as a St. Francis parent, Mary chaired the Father-Daughter dance for 2-3 years and was the Parent Club president.
Jennifer O’Brien Cooley ‘89
Board Member
Jennifer O’Brien Cooley, a St. Francis graduate of the class of 1989, joined the Board of Trustees in 2019 with a desire to give back to her community and support an organization that creates strong, independent, intelligent women. Her vision includes planning to help St. Francis grow into a fiscally, educationally, faithfully, and emotionally strong high school to serve all young women in the Sacramento area.
Melissa Svetich DeNigris ‘00
Board Member
Melissa is a St. Francis graduate of the class of 2000 and earned a B.S. in Business Administration (Financial Services) and a minor in Public Administration from San Diego State University in 2006. She also has a Construction Management Certificate from Auburn University. Melissa has worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) since 2008 in both the Baltimore and Sacramento offices. She works in procurement supporting local levee infrastructure projects on the Sacramento and American Rivers as well as Military bases from California to Utah.
Diane Henderson
Board Member
Diane Kindermann Henderson is the mother of St. Francis twin alumnae Lillian and Vivienne Henderson (2021). As a Troubie parent, Diane was able to experience the unparalleled faith-driven, stellar education provided to young women at St. Francis.
Dr. Caron Houston
Board Member
Dr. Caron Houston is a concierge physician whose practice provides in home care for frail elders in the Sacramento community. She loves being a doctor and caring for people in need. Her career highlights are working for the Indian Health Service, teaming up to open premier senior health clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and directing a community health Center in New York City. Since moving to Sacramento, she has been on staff at Sutter since 2007.
Margot Hunt
Board Member
Margot is committed to Catholic education for young women and supporting efforts to teach the faith of the next generation in a way that inspires female leaders in our community. As the founder and president of a local non-profit, PINC (Philanthropy Inspired by the needs of our Community), Margot’s work revolves around helping the most marginalized in our greater Sacramento community. PINC’s work, led by Margot and a group of motivated and impassioned women, has raised over $2 million dollars for local area non-profits.
Frank Leinert
Board Member
Frank Leinert comes from a family of St. Francis alumnae and he is an alum of Jesuit High School Sacramento and Loyola Marymount University. He is a lifetime East Sacramento resident and as the father of a daughter, he is committed to ensuring the success of all girls’ Catholic education in Sacramento and continuing the St. Francis legacy of being a leader and model in Catholic education. The legacy he hopes to leave at St. Francis is a legacy of service, respecting and building upon tradition and leaving things in a better state than when he started.
Rena DeNigris Zellars ’95
Board Member
Rena is a St. Francis graduate of the class of 1995 and earned a B.S. in Economics from Saint Mary’s College in 1999. She has spent the majority of her career in management and is now owner of The (A)Lyst Group — a boutique talent acquisition firm specializing in helping founders of early stage venture backed companies and hyper growth companies retain talent and manage existing talent and human resources. Rena joined the Board of Trustees in 2020 with a desire to help guide and support those responsible for carrying out the mission of St.
Trish Ziegler
Board Member
Trish Ziegler, parent to alumna Helen ’08, has been a liturgical salesperson for the past twelve years with F.C. Ziegler Co., visiting Catholic Churches all over the Sacramento diocese and beyond. She earned a B.S. in Plant Science from Washington State University and a master’s degree in Plant Pathology from Iowa State University.
Bishop’s Representatives on the Board
The Very Rev. Christopher R. Frazer
Vicar General of the Diocese of SacramentoNoel Hesser
Regional Director of Catholic SchoolsKatie Perata
Executive Director of Catholic Schools