Meet the Board of Directors
Amanda Montoya
Chair
Amanda connects the Trellis vision with action. Her background is in education and working with nonprofits. Yet her soul is deeply connected to advocacy. In high school she had an instructor tell her she would be an amazing advocate one day, but asked her to focus more on the task at hand in the moment (a test on the constitution). Her drive to advocate led her to realize there is more than one way to tackle something and that if something is not making sense, question it, fight it and/or change it. She is active in many different causes that are near to her heart. Ensuring there are brave spaces for people in the neurodivergent and LGBTQIIA+ community are top on her list along with animal welfare.
She is a mama bear of three that started her children in the public school system because at that time, she thought that was “what was done”. She had always dreamt of homeschooling but was nervous to “take the leap”. Covid hit and along with that came distance learning. That experience almost destroyed her children and Amanda knew what was happening could not be the only way. She took the leap into homeschooling and has never looked back.
Amanda can now be seen brainstorming, creating, crafting and problem solving (while adding a touch of glitter or sparkle here and there).
Adrienne Blanton
Vice Chair
Many years of managing people and projects at a large pharmaceutical firm only modestly prepared me for the challenges of homeschooling 2 kids and running a household. I am currently a full time homemaker, mom to 1 homeschooled kid transitioning to college and 1 enrolled in private school. I'm always happy to share my experiences, both the highs and lows of our homeschooling adventure. In my free time I enjoy reading, hiking with my dogs (and husband & kids if I can talk them into it!), gardening and making pottery.
Jen Herzig Smith
Board Member
Jen guides and creates design that supports Trellis’ vision and values. She believes that beauty alongside function are at the heart of Trellis communications. Jen is always working on relationships and understanding that they are an essential part of homeschooling in a community that she holds near to her heart. Jen’s families homeschooling journey started after her oldest finished second grade in their local public school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Coming from a family of passionate public school advocates, Jen embodies this same passion for learning and experiences outside of a standard classroom and system.
While continuing to spark creativity and articulate the Trellis vision in words and images, Jen is a professional artist exploring her deepening relationship with this land and our responsibility to cherish that which nourishes us. In addition to owning a letterpress business where she designed invitations, stationery and artworks Jen has worked on collaborative print and bookmaking projects, has been a freelance graphic designer for individuals and small businesses and worked in corporate branding. Over 30 years alongside her design profession, Jen has continued to create work in mixed media painting, installation, printmaking and bookmaking.
Jen loves reading, writing, painting, tending plants, thinking and learning through experiences.