Meet Our Board
Paul Wilson
President
Paul O. Wilson is president and founder of the Kathy Wilson Foundation. Mr. Wilson established the Foundation after his wife of 31 years passed away due to an unexpected heart attack in 2005. Because Kathy was a long-time advocate for children with disabilities, and had even directed a pre-school for 11 years, Mr. Wilson sought to honor her life and work through a foundation that would continue her legacy. Mr. Wilson assembled a team of friends and family to create the Kathy Wilson Foundation.
Along with overseeing the Foundation, Mr. Wilson is also a Chairman and CEO of Wilson Grand Communications, an advertising agency in Alexandria, Virginia. Furthermore, Mr. Wilson has devoted more than 40 years of volunteer service to the American Legion Boys State of Missouri, a youth government program. Mr. Wilson resides in Alexandria with his wife Marjorie.
Casey & Fletcher Wilson
Vice Presidents
Casey and Fletcher Wilson are the children of Kathy and Paul. They were both impacted by their mother's fierce inclusionary mindset and her encouragement for them to achieve their dreams.
Casey Wilson is an actress, writer, director and podcaster who was last seen starring in Showtime’s Black Monday and Apple TV+’s The Shrink Next Door. Casey was a featured player on SNL for two seasons and starred in ABC’s cult classic series Happy Endings. Her film roles include Gone Girl and Bride Wars in which she also served as screenwriter. For the last seven years, Casey has co-hosted the hit podcast B*TCH SESH. Her collection of essays, The Wreckage Of My Presence made last year’s New York Times bestseller list. Casey says "there's no greater work" than serving on the board. She lives in California with her husband David, thier two sons Henry and Max, and daughter Frankie Rose.
Fletcher has served on the board of the Kathy Wilson Foundation since its start, but his involvement in helping children with special needs goes back to high school. Fletcher strives to continue his mother’s legacy and celebrate her values as a member of the board. Fletcher has founded companies in the medical technology and public infrastructure industries, and currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife Kathleen, and their three children.
Marjorie Kline
Treasurer
Marjorie Kline serves as Treasurer for the Kathy Wilson Foundation. She supports donor outreach for the foundation, creates giving analysis and strategic planning. Marjorie taught ethics and communications at the college level for almost 20 years while running her own corporate speechwriting and coaching business in Washington. She believes that education and learning are lifelong pursuits and credits her parents for their early and enduring encouragement. Marjorie earned her Masters degree from Harvard University in politics and business. She studied journalism and art as an undergraduate. She is a native of Pennsylvania and is married to Paul Wilson.
Sissy Walker
Secretary
Sissy Walker has been an Advisory Board member of the Foundation since its start over 15 years ago. A friend and early childhood colleague of Kathy Wilson’s, Sissy has been involved in the early care and education field for twenty-five years as a teacher, program director, mentor and consultant. Now retired from her professional life, Sissy is able to devote herself more fully to community initiatives that benefit young children in and around Alexandria. Sissy has been able to serve with the Advisory Boards of Children Together and the Kathy Wilson Foundation, and as a Program Coordinator and Tutor with the Reading Readiness program of the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium.In her free time, Sissy is an avid gardener, amateur family genealogist with membership in the DAR, and an officer with Virginia Chapter G of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.). She lives in Alexandria with husband Derek and is “Grammy” to three very special grandchildren.
At Large Board Members
Courtney Robinson
Director
Courtney has been involved in the early care and education field for nearly 20 years as a Camp Counselor, Pre-school Teacher, Pre-Kindergarten Educator, Pre-school Director, Mentor and Quality Ambassador for the state of Georgia. Courtney has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashford University (earning that degree with two young children in her household!). She is currently in her third year as Director of the Abracadabra Childcare and Development Center in Alexandria, where children with atypical development are fully included. Originally from Savannah, Georgia, Courtney has worked for Nonprofit organizations for close to 20 years. She was a Georgia Certified trainer and an ambassador for the state, where her primary focus was to provide
training and educate teachers and Directors on inclusion and high-quality care and educational experiences for children. This, in turn ensured the success of the organizations and the children they served. Courtney has worked alongside families and clinical support services to ensure that all children can be fully included in the pre-school/childcare setting. Courtneys passion is to help preschools in our area to become more inclusive. A member of the Alexandria Preschool Directors’ group, Courtney is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable advocate for universal early childhood developmental and social-emotional screening, a primary focus of the Kathy Wilson Foundation. Courtney brings a passion for promoting early childhood inclusive practices and values in our Alexandria community; serving on the Kathy Wilson Foundation Board is a fantastic fit for both Courtney and the Board! Courtney lives in Waldorf, Maryland with her husband and three very active children.
Kelley Organek
Director
Kelley Organek is a STEM Specialist in the Alexandria City Public Schools, where she facilitates interdisciplinary learning experiences for students in preschool through grade 5. Kelley is also co-founder of UpCycle Creative Reuse Center, a nonprofit organization that inspires all people to explore and create with reuse materials. Through UpCycle, Kelley has inspired teachers and parents to incorporate open-ended materials into school curricula and creative activities through workshops, teacher training, demo lessons and materials memberships. Kelley received her Masters of Teaching in Special & Elementary Education and Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Virginia. She also holds an endorsement in Administration & Supervision from UVa. After college, Kelley began working in the Alexandria City Public Schools as a special education teacher. Since then, she has also worked as a first and fourth grade teacher and as an assistant principal in three ACPS schools. Kelley also directed the Beverley Hills Church Preschool for four years and worked as a Book Buddies School Coordinator for the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium.Kelley lives in the Clover-College Park neighborhood of Alexandria with her husband, Danny, and their three children who attend ACPS schools. Kelley is chair of the UpCycle Board, Vice President of the Titan Lacrosse Boosters, and a member of the Alexandria Arts Alliance.
Jen Halpern
Director
Jen Halpern has been an educator for almost three decades. She has taught and led programming for students of all ages: preschoolers, tweens, teens, and adults. In her current role as preschool director of Agudas Achim Preschool in Alexandria, Jen most enjoys helping families navigate the joys and challenges of early childhood.
Beginning her career while still in college, Jen worked at George Mason University Child Development Center and later at Keshet Child Development Center. After completing her master's degree in education at Marymount University, she began teaching third grade in Arlington Public Schools.
In 2002, Jen chose to become a stay-at- home mom. Her son attended Beverley Hills Church Preschool where Jen volunteered. In 2009, Jen joined the faculty of Gesher Jewish Day School where she taught fourth and fifth grades. She also served as the interim elementary school director during the 2013-2014 school year and the curriculum coordinator from 2013-2016.
In addition to serving as preschool director, Jen has been the director of young family engagement at Agudas Achim since 2020. In 2022, her first children's book was published. Called The Stars Will Be My Nightlight: A Sukkot Story (https://www.byjenhalpern.com/), it is based on an experience she shared with her son when he was young. Jen recently earned a second master’s degree in Jewish education from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Jen and her husband live in Alexandria. They are very proud of their son who currently serves as a paratrooper in the US Army.
Meet our Staff
Rees Kirkorian, PhD
Program Manager &
Staff Consultant
Rees began his education and work with children over 34 years ago learning from his Mother who was a special education teacher, administrator and leader in California. Her passion for equality in education led Rees on a mission to serve and protect children around the world, whose voices are often not heard. Rees has served on numerous non-profit boards and task forces with a focus on universal access to education and foster care reform. Rees’ work in the DC area began over 20 years ago in collaboration with Whitman Walker Health. In 2014 Rees developed and founded the non-profit Explorers Preschool Programs & Camps, in partnership with St. Paul’s in Old Town Alexandria. In 2019 Rees founded The Kirkorian Group consultancy. Through his early childhood advocacy in the DC Area, Rees met The Kathy Wilson Foundation. In 2019 Rees joined the Foundation in their work to provide universal access to developmental screening for families in Alexandria. Rees and the Foundation embarked on a multi-year project with the City of Alexandria DCHS- Early Childhood Division. During the pandemic Rees assisted the Foundation in providing uninterrupted virtual screening solutions to both public agencies and private programs in Alexandria. Rees is proud to continue to support and assist the Foundation in their work to improve the lives of early childhood families in the City. In his free time Rees advocates for foster kids as a National CASA, helps direct a kids community theatre program, runs trail and road races with his RAGNAR team, explores new cities through adventure travel, and spends quality time with family and friends.
Lizzett D. Uria
Development and Special Events Consultant
Lizzett Uria received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University along with a minor in International Social Justice. Through her professional experience, Lizzett has dedicated her years supporting nonprofits in the area of Development and Community Outreach and has worked for several statewide and nationwide organizations grow. Lizzett currently provides support to PEATC (Parent Education Advocacy Training Center) by providing bilingual information to Virginia’s Latino community in the area of Special Education. In the past she also served as the Executive Director for the Dream Project, an statewide organization that supports immigrant families and students by providing them scholarships to access higher education. She worked as a Counselor for the Center for Children and Family through Florida International University during which time, she had the opportunity to work and do research with children diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. As a counselor, her job was to reinforce positive behaviors such as academic, recreational, behavioral, and social skills that would prepare them for the next grade. Lizzett has always been involved with the community and supports Latinos in many aspects and believes in the importance of providing information and educational resources to the parents of children with disabilities. Lizzett loves volunteering for her community, but she also enjoys traveling, dancing, trying different foods, and spending time with family and friends.
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Kathy Wilson Foundation, our mission, or donations.
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Kathy Wilson Foundation
429 N Saint Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, US
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