- Anne E. Campbell, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools
- Linda Darling-Hammond, Ed.D., Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education, Stanford University School of Education
- Karen Leong Clancy, former Trustee, Belmont Redwood Shores School District; President, University of California Alumni Association
- Pat Gemma, former Superintendent, Sequoia Union High School District
- Faye McNair-Knox, Ph.D., Executive Director, One East Palo Alto
- Thomas Mohr, former President, Canada College
- Denise Pope, Ph.D., Senior Lecturer, Stanford University School of Education
- Philippe Rey, Psy.D., Executive Director, Adolescent Counseling Services
- Judy Rogers-Bianchi, former Superintendent, Menlo Park City School District
- June Thompson, Ph.D., Executive Director, California Association of Student Councils
- Karen Canty―former school board trustee, Menlo Park; former member of the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association (CSBA)
- Charlene Margot―owner of CSM Consulting, Menlo Park; founder and program director of the M-A and Woodside Parent Education Series; member, board of directors of Adolescent Counseling Services (ACS)
- Jerry Miller―manager at Deloitte & Touche, San Francisco; member, board of directors of the California Alumni Association (CAA), UC Berkeley’s independent alumni organization
- Lisa Rosenthal―former school board trustee, Burlingame; former president of the San Mateo County School Boards Association; communications consultant for the San Mateo County Office of Education
- Sarah D. Stewart―former school board trustee, Portola Valley and the Sequoia Union High School District; former president of the California School Boards Association
- Anna L. Waring―Executive Director of Foundation for a College Education (FCE) in East Palo Alto; former president of Josephinum Academy, Chicago; former faculty member at DePaul University
How much time do students spend in class, on a typical week? For most schools, students are in school Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (three days per week). This includes time spent in advisories and independent study time.
How many students per advisor-teacher? Do students meet one-on-one with their advisors? Ideally, we work to keep advisories small at about 20+ students. Students have regular meetings with advisors, parents and mentors.
What kind of courses will be taught at the school? Who does the teaching? In CA, courses are focused around the
A-G requirements. Credentialed advisors or teachers teach specific subject courses. Students often take courses at local community colleges or online.
Do students get grades? Are projects graded or given a narrative evaluation only?
This varies from school to school with some schools assigning grades every six weeks, others assigning grades at the end of each term. The narrative process is key as it provides students with a more comprehensive assessment of their strengths and weaknesses.
How does Big Picture help students attend the college of their choice? We focus on early college exposure through community college courses in high school, SAT/ACT prep, college visits, partnerships with community colleges, etc. Big Picture works hard to ensure that every student has a post-secondary pathway, whether or not they pursue college. Most of our schools require students to apply to at least three colleges, complete the federal/state financial aid process, and apply for private scholarships.
How much time do students spend in internships? For most schools, internships take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays (two days per week).
How do students get a chance to socialize and make friends if they are at internships? Because of the time that students spend with their advisory group over the course of four years, relationships among students and with advisors are very strong. 
How will students be prepared for test-taking if they are evaluated through written narratives? Although our focus is not to “teach to the test,” we understand the reality of tests. Our schools provide tutorials around the CAHSEE, CST, SAT, ACT, etc. Each school develops a program to meet the needs of its respective students.
How do students get good writing skills if they are doing project-based work? These are not competing interests. Our students are required to keep journals, write autobiographies, personal statements. Writing, oral skills and presentation are very key skills that we focus on at Big Picture.
How are students prepared to attend a UC or CA State University? Will they receive the curriculum they need to be competitive? Students are prepared to attend a UC or CSU through Big Picture’s focus on A-G requirements, campus visits, and partnerships with community colleges.