Board of Directors
Highlands Board of Directors
Chair Of The Board
Matt Levesque is a longtime educator who taught English and Career & Technical Education before serving as a Vice Principal and Principal at multiple school sites. His career has been defined by a commitment to supporting underserved and at-promise students, beginning with his work at a Continuation High School, where he later became Principal.
Matt helped expand student success pathways and played a key role in developing the Industrial Technology program at Highlands. He retired in 2024 and joined the Board in 2025 to support Highlands’ mission to “Build Back Better.”
Vice Chair
Symia Stigler is a national leader in K–12 program design, attendance improvement, and workforce pathways. She previously served as Executive Director of the Attendance Institute and Deputy Director of Sacramento READS, where she led regional literacy, attendance, and youth development efforts.
Her expertise spans K–12 and postsecondary education, workforce development, multi-sector partnerships, and community-driven program design focused on improving outcomes for young people.
Board Member
Crystal Yvonne Sheffield is a community leader, social worker, and advocate with expertise in human services, reentry, and community-based program development. She has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families navigating complex life transitions, particularly those impacted by incarceration.
She leads the Sacramento Area Reentry Collaborative, advancing access to housing, workforce development, and critical support services. Her work reflects a strong commitment to equity and opportunity, aligning closely with Highlands’ mission to help individuals build stable, self-sufficient futures.
Board Member
Suleiman Shetab is deeply passionate about the positive impact that Highlands has made, particularly in supporting Afghan students. His family is originally from Afghanistan and experienced many of the same hardships when first settling in the country. Because of this personal connection, he finds it especially meaningful to give back and support an organization that, in turn, provides valuable opportunities and resources to so many students and members of the community.