Arleana Waller

Founder

Arleana Waller, the Willie J Frink College Prep founder and lead petitioner, is an award-winning ShEO and community advocate and organizer who has been advocating for children in Kern County. Arleana leverages her power position to be the voice for the voiceless among the most influential, socially engaged and acclaimed leaders in effort to build the next generation of leaders. She has experience in youth, civic, and community engagement alongside equity and social justice work aimed to improve relationships and processes.

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Arleana attended Bakersfield College and California State University, Bakersfield. She brings more than twenty years of leadership experience and accomplishments. She has been recognized as a Valiant Leader by Congress. She has also received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Lifetime Achievement award for her community work in Kern County. She has received multiple leadership awards and recognition for her impactful leadership from Congress, Senate, Assembly, Board Supervisors, City Council, Mayors and Community partners for her dedicated service to building youth leaders in the Central Valley.  

In 2016, she founded ShePower Leadership Academy and has served as the ShePower Global Ambassador. This organization has touched the lives of more than 500 girls through mentorship, personal development and diverse leadership opportunities. She saw the need and 

developed a school hub during the pandemic, which offered students tutoring and power circles to help them succeed. 

Arleana has served in many different capacities which gives her diverse experience to lead Willie J Frink Leadership Academy. She has developed and actively contributed to ShePower’s free tutoring program for students in Kern County. As a member of the community, Arleana takes ownership and responsibility for making sure that young leaders in Kern County are reaching their full potential and achieving academic excellence. Arleana is determined to use her community work and relationships to make a lasting impact on the lives of students and families for future generations to further close the economic gap and position the next generation to lead in excellence.

Krissy Warren

Founder

Krissy Warren is an advocate for parents’ choice in education. She is a dedicated educator and community activist with real life experience as a classroom teacher, homeschooling parent, non traditional educational instructor, and social advocate.

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She is eager to utilize expert knowledge to provide high quality educational choices for parents.

She received her Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Fresno State University. She worked for a year as a counselor in a Los Angeles group home providing services for pregnant teens and young mothers. She then attended California State University Fullerton’s teacher credentialing  program and graduated with a multiple subject teaching credential. She taught 6th grade in the Anaheim Elementary School District.

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After the birth of her first child, she spent several years managing her home and motherhood while serving her community as an activist and volunteer. She went on to substitute teach at her neighborhood schools. She also served on boards and volunteered for various issues and events , including the following educational and political causes:  Parent Teacher Association Board Member at Olive Drive Elementary in Bakersfield California, Religion Education Teacher at Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield California, School Board Member of Valley Oaks Charter School in Bakersfield California, SELPA CAC - Kern County Superintendent of Schools, and Participant Principled Policing April Session conducted by Bakersfield Police Department. 

She most recently works as an educational guide at an environmental education program. She also volunteers her time and coaches college bound high schoolers with assistance in the application process. 

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Her continued activism is fueled by the empowerment of the historically excluded and amplifying their voices. She has over 25 years experience in both traditional and non traditional educational settings. Homeschooling her own children and working within progressive and innovative academia are her educational passions.