Our Team
Jamie A. Cutter, M.Ed. (she/her)
Executive Director
jamie.cutter@safeschoolsproject.org
Jamie Cutter is a health educator and advocate who has been supporting youth in Santa Cruz County since 2007. She attended the University of California, Santa Cruz where she earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing with a minor in sociology and a master’s degree in education. Jamie joined the Safe Schools Project in 2014 and served as Director of Health Curriculum through 2026, where she took on the additional role of interim Executive Director. Jamie is the author of Inclusive Sex Education, a comprehensive sexual health education curriculum, which is taught in schools across the country. She was a 2019 United Way Community Hero, the 2018 Ally to Youth Awardee, and a 2015 Teacher of the Year nominee. In addition to her work with the Safe Schools Project, Jamie is a lecturer at UCSC in the Master of Arts in Education and Teaching Credential Program and teaches ethnic studies, English, and health at Delta Charter High School. Jamie is passionate about supporting youth in making healthy choices for themselves, their communities, and their futures.
Ron Indra, JD (he/him)
Director Emeritus
ron.indra@safeschoolsproject.org
Ron has a BA in Philosophy and Political Science with a minor in Business as well as a JD in Law. Currently, he is a former teacher and advocate at Harbor High School where he taught social studies for over 32 years.
In the past, he has worked as a financial consultant, director of Kennolyn Camps, Board Member of the Western Association of Independent Camps and American Camping Association.
Ron served as the first Director of the Safe Schools Project from 2004 until his retirement in 2026. He was the Director of the Middle Schools Project, Chair of Santa Cruz City School’s LGBT Task Force and co-author of the AB 537 policy for SCCS. He was the adviser to the oldest Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) in the county and also served as the LGBT consultant to PVUSD, SCCS, COE, UCSC and Santa Cruz County Greater Federation of Teachers. Awarded Outstanding Teacher of California, Eddy Award winner, Santa Cruz City Schools and the Good Times Outstanding teacher awards, and was honored with the Queer Youth Leadership Award as an Outstanding Adult Ally.
Jen Salinas-Holz (she/her/ella)
Safe Schools Project Team
jen.salinas-holz@safeschoolsproject.org
Jen Salinas-Holz (she/her/ella) is a bilingual queer parent and educator based in Watsonville, at the south end of Santa Cruz county. She has worked in various elementary and middle schools within the Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) since 2014, has been a member of the PVUSD LGBTQ Task Force since 2019, and is passionate about advocating for queer and trans students at all grade levels. Jen founded the first elementary school GSA club in Santa Cruz county in 2019, and has founded and advised 6 elementary and middle school GSA clubs in PVUSD, as well as PRISM, a community GSA club for middle and high school students at the Raíces y Cariño family center in Watsonville. In 2019, Jen co-founded the Understanding Gender summit in collaboration with the Safe Schools Project and TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County, an annual event for parents, educators and adult allies to learn about gender and supporting trans, nonbinary and gender diverse youth. In 2023, after she organized the first Drag Story Time event in Watsonville which was targeted by hate speech, Jen co-founded the Rainbow Defense Coalition of Santa Cruz County, providing brigades of trained volunteers to help keep events safe for queer youth and other community members. Jen is currently in graduate school at CSUMB for a Master of Social Work degree, in order to become a school counselor. As part of her master’s program internship, she has started two more GSA clubs for elementary and middle school students at a Spanish immersion school in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Jen feels honored to have so many opportunities to support queer and trans youth, and hopes to be the adult she wishes had been there for her when she was a queer youth in need of help.
Zak Keith (they/them)
Safe Schools Project Team
zak.keith@safeschoolsproject.org
Zak Keith (they/them) is a queer educator, researcher, and advocate committed to creating safe, affirming environments for LGBTQIA+ communities. Originally from rural Appalachia, Virginia, Zak brings both lived experience and professional expertise to their work, blending academic research with grassroots community action. They hold bachelor’s degrees in sociology, criminology, and psychology from Virginia Tech, a masters degree in Developmental Psychology, and are currently pursuing a PhD at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where their research explores LGBTQ+ identity development. Their work bridges research and real-world advocacy, ensuring that school communities have the tools, understanding, and confidence to stand with and support LGBTQIA+ students. Whether in the classroom, at community events, or through their creative work as a drag artist, Zak centers queer voices and experiences to drive institutional change and strengthen networks of care for young people.
Tyra Williams (she/her)
Coordinator of the Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast
tyra.williams@safeschoolsproject.org
Tyra Williams (she/her) is the coordinator of the Queer, Trans, and Allied Student Summit of the Central Coast as a part of the Queer Youth Task Force. She currently attends UCSC and is working toward earning a degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. As coordinator of the Student Summit, she oversees the event and works closely with the student planning committee to put the Summit together. Coming to Santa Cruz to attend UCSC, Tyra discovered the Summit and was astonished to see such an event put together in order to support Queer Youth. It was like nothing she had ever seen before and she immediately wanted to be a part of it. She joined the Queer Youth Task Force and has now worked to help make the Summit happen every year.
Stuart Rosenstein (he/him)
Director of Programs
stuart.rosenstein@safeschoolsproject.org
Stuart Rosenstein has worked on queer youth issues for the last 25 years. He has also served on several boards that address the needs of the general LGBTQIA2S+ community including PFLAG-Santa Cruz County and the Diversity Center of Santa Cruz County. He is an alumni of UCSC, Kresge ’99, where he studied American Studies. Before moving to Santa Cruz in 1997, while living in Los Angeles, he was a board member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, Western Region. The homophobia he faced growing up in Texas feeds his hopes in creating a safer space for queer youth and the community at large. Stuart also serves as the director of the Queer Youth Task Force of Santa Cruz County.