MEET THE
FACILITATORS
Lucy and Molly’s story began 15 years ago in the vibrant Mission district of San Francisco where they happened upon the same birth class. Bonding swiftly over the shared experience of motherhood, their connection deepened as they discovered the unique journey of raising sons.
Fast forward through the joys and chaos of parenting four boys, a decade long friendship and a powerful SEL training program at Argonaut School, Lucy and Molly were inspired to create something life-altering for boys. They launched True North Teen - an innovative online advisory program.
Lucy Van Horne
Co-Founder
Lucy brings over two decades of experience in working with adolescents in education. After obtaining a Bachelor's degree from Middlebury College and a California Teaching credential, her journey started in traditional classrooms, where she taught for numerous years as a public high school teacher. In addition, she pursued a position within the learning services department at The Urban School of San Francisco, gaining valuable insights into addressing diverse learning needs.
Inspired by the transformative impact of personalized attention, Lucy founded Vis-a-Vis a tutoring service tailored to individual learning styles. As a product of an all girls education, she has always felt strongly about bolstering girls and co-developed The Steady Hall, an organization dedicated to guiding teenage girls in achieving equilibrium. Now, as a mother to a tween and teen boy, and after numerous vulnerable conversations with boys about the overwhelming pressures and rigid expectations of masculinity, she has recognized the urgent and ever-present need to support this demographic. The lack of resources and emotional guidance for boys is striking, highlighting a significant gap in the support system.
Lucy is passionately committed to addressing this disparity and applying her expertise towards supporting the emotional health of tween and teen boys.
Molly Mekjavich
Co-Founder
Molly is a seasoned healthcare professional with a Master of Science in Nursing from UC San Francisco and 20+ years of experience supporting birthing families as a Certified Nurse Midwife, postpartum nurse, and nurse coach. Her time as a clinical preceptor and college-level nursing instructor inspired her to pursue work with young people.
Molly’s healthcare career took an unexpected turn in 2020, when a COVID-mandated school hiatus became a nearly four-year journey into alternative home learning for her now 14 and 16 year old boys. During this time, she was fascinated by the non-linear learning patterns especially present in adolescents and marveled at the meaningful learning that happens when adults decenter their own agendas.
The self-directed learning chapter of her family’s life coincided with the birth of the #MeToo movement and while it stoked deeply held feminist fires in Molly, she wondered where her own male children fit into the feminist future.
Driven by her passion to support boys, Molly completed a holistic nurse coaching program and attained her SEL advisory facilitator certificate through the Argonaut School in 2023. With a fresh understanding about adolescent learning, a new set of group facilitation skills, and a mission to create a world in which boys have ample opportunities to develop their full humanhood, Molly is thrilled to co-lead True North Teen Advisory. Molly hopes that holding space for boys leads to a world where people across the gender spectrum can thrive.
Rodney Kopish
Rodney Kopish earned his teaching degree from the University of Wisconsin after Phd work in Immunology and a BS in Bacteriology. Since 1996 he’s taught multiple sciences and varying ages, from high school seniors in AP Anatomy/Physiology to 6th grade math. Regardless of the content or level, Rodney believes in finding and fostering personal passions and utilizing curiosity to power learning. It is this mindset he tries daily to instill in his students.
These beliefs have been the guiding star in his classroom and in his life. They’ve led him to teach and inspire students for almost 30 years. Along the way Rodney has followed passions of his own, too. He took a short break from teaching to train for the Olympics as a speedskater, qualifying for the Olympic trials, and to work for the Utah Science Center, taking hands-on science exhibits to middle schools throughout the state of Utah.
After years of teaching high school, Rodney realized he was more interested in the idea of educating the “whole person” rather than just teaching content. It was then he switched to teaching middle school. This is a time of great turmoil and transformation; a time when adolescents can benefit greatly from a mentor. As a teacher and mentor, Rodney has always made a point to cultivate and nurture healthy relationships and genuine connections with every student he's taught. Knowing how important relationships and a sense of belonging are, he attended the Argonaut School training program and earned his certification in advisory facilitation and SEL. It’s as an advisor that Rodney finds the most meaning and reward; working with adolescents directly to navigate the obstacles of a turbulent time of life is the role for which he’s best suited. It is his true passion.
GRIFFIN CLINTON
Griffin Clinton, a native of the Washington D.C. area and the eldest of four siblings, recently completed his B.A. in English with a Spanish minor at Middlebury College. His passion for education and mentorship is evident in his long-standing commitment to tutoring, which began in high school, focusing on Spanish language and English writing. Currently, he extends his guidance to a diverse group of students, assisting them with everything from soccer college recruitment preparation to developing their creative writing skills.
The unique challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic led Griffin to establish his own small-group private soccer training sessions for middle and high school students. This venture proved to be more than just a coaching role; it became a profound learning experience. Griffin quickly recognized that "coaching" transcended the traditional boundaries of setting up drills and conducting fitness exercises. He found himself consistently challenged to support his players in navigating the complexities of online schooling, evolving friendships, and even burgeoning romantic relationships. Through these interactions, he was powerfully reminded of the invaluable guidance he himself sought from relatable figures during his own teenage years.
Driven by this insight and his personal experiences, Griffin is now dedicated to addressing a critical gap in the support system for teenage boys. He aims to help True North fill the emotional health void that often exists, fostering an environment where discussing feelings becomes normalized and embraced. He firmly believes that genuine clarity and understanding emerge only through thoughtful explanation and profound self-reflection, empowering young men to navigate their emotional landscapes with greater confidence and openness.