ABOUT US
Board of Directors
The Winston School is a private non-profit institution governed by an independent board of directors. Its dedicated members include entrepreneurs, physicians and educators.
Laura Cunitz, President
Laura Cunitz has a background in both business and accounting. As a CPA in New York City, she specialized in non-profit organizations, including hospitals, long-term healthcare facilities and charitable organizations. She spent six years in the public accounting field as an audit manager and financial consultant to large hospitals, interpreting new federal laws. Laura was hired by IBM as a healthcare consultant before she moved over to IBM Credit Corp., focusing on financial sales. She finished her 20-year IBM career in a marketing role as the Worldwide Brand Manager for PC Leasing. Laura is a proud parent of a Winston alumni student who graduated college with a Bachelor's degree and enjoying a successful career in hospitality.
Mary Balo, Vice President
Mary Balo has 20 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices areas. She has held positions in sales, outsourcing and budgeting of clinical trials and working for the regulatory agency FDA, which oversees these industries. Mary has worked for the largest CRO, Contract Research Organization, as well as pharmaceutical company Pfizer, and currently has her own business as a sales consultant. Mary is from Massachusetts and has an MPH in Epidemiology from UMASS Worcester. She has resided in nearby Carmel Valley for over 16 years with her husband and two sons.
Patrice Mulvaney, Treasurer
Patrice Mulvaney is a personal injury attorney at Mulvaney Law APC where she and her husband represent injury victims throughout San Diego and the state of California. Prior to working at Mulvaney Law, Patrice served as a student-side special education attorney for seven years in San Diego. During her time practicing special education law, Patrice helped several students attend The Winston School and saw the tremendously positive impact Winston has on its students. Before attending law school at the University of San Diego, Patrice served as a Teach For America corps member in Los Angeles, where she taught special education and AVID. During her time as a teacher, Patrice served as special education department chair and earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Loyola Marymount University. Prior to teaching, Patrice earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California. Patrice feels lucky to live in San Diego with her husband and two sons.
Tasha K. Taylor, M.D., Board Member
Tasha Taylor is both a General Pediatrician and a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician providing care to underserved communities throughout San Diego. She also works in private practice in Carmel Valley, serving patients with a variety of conditions, including learning disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism. She grew up in Del Mar and recalls spending many sunny weekends playing on the now Winston fields! She migrated to the East Coast for her education, attending Yale University for undergraduate and the University of Rochester, New York for Medical School. After attending pediatric residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, she returned to San Diego to practice and later to complete her Developmental-Behavioral Fellowship at University of California, San Diego. Tasha also enjoys international travel, both for work and pleasure. While working for Doctors of the World in Chiapas, Mexico in 2002, she met her husband, a native of Puebla, Mexico. They now live in Del Mar together with their son.
Ann Buckingham, Board Member
Ann Buckingham is a partner at the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, a full-service law firm with 30 offices around the globe. She practices corporate law, specializing in joint ventures, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions, as well as advising numerous local and national companies on general corporate matters. Ms. Buckingham has an LLB (Hons) and B.A. in English literature from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, as well as a BCL (Master of Laws) from Oxford University. Ms. Buckingham lives in Carmel Valley with her husband and son.
Laura Lemos, Board Member
Laura Lemos is an experienced educator and advocate for inclusive, student-centered learning environments, dedicated to ensuring that every learner’s unique strengths and cultural identity are celebrated in the classroom. With a background in teaching, strategic communication, and extensive experience in K–12 education management, she brings a collaborative and creative approach to problem-solving and school leadership. Skilled in literacy, classroom management, lesson planning, and educational technology, Laura holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) in K–12 Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.
