Advisory Council
Danique Dolly
Program Director, BPLiving
Big Picture Learning
Howard Rossman
Founder and President
Civic Leadership Foundation
Jemar Lee
Customer & Innovation Analyst
Xcel Energy
Jennifer Davis Poon
Fellow
Center for Innovation in Education
Jim Koshland
Former Partner
DLA Piper US LLP
John Wright
Director of Strategy
National Education Association
Joseph J. Cirasuolo
Former Executive Director
Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
Joshua Elder
Vice President and Head of Grantmaking
Siegel Family Endowment
Kara Bobroff
President
The One Gen Fund
Katherine Plog Martinez
Managing Partner
Knowledge to Power Catalysts
Maddie Fennell
Executive Director
Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice (2007 Nebraska Teacher of the Year)
Mark Wilding
Executive Director
PassageWorks Institute
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap
Assistant to the President for Educational Issues
American Federation of Teachers
Melanie Tavares
Director of the Nonprofit Support Program
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
Nik Namba
Partner
Transcend
Nora Flood
Education Rabble Rouser
Wend Collective
Peter McWalters
Program Leader
Former Rhode Island Commissioner Elementary and Secondary Education
Richard Alper
Mediator and Attorney
Robyn Brady Ince
Executive Director
Newark City of Learning Collaborative
Shruti Sehra
Managing Partner, Education Portfolio
New Profit
Stephan Turnipseed
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
Pitsco Education
Tom Sayer
Former Head of Global Adoption Programs
Google for Education
Danique Dolly
Program Director, BPLiving
Big Picture Learning
Dr. Danique Dolly serves as the Program Director, BPLiving at Big Picture Learning. A quiet leader who loves to write, Danique has served as a start-up school teacher, start-up school principal, school leadership coach, and partner in education and leadership endeavors. Danique Dolly is a graduate of Morehouse College, Brown University, and most recently earned a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University.
Howard Rossman
Founder and President
Civic Leadership Foundation
Dr. Howard Rossman is the Founder and President of the Civic Leadership Foundation, which promotes the principles and practices of positive youth development through well-researched, learner-centered, project-based programs. With a background in psychology, organizational leadership, and entrepreneurship, he previously served as Vice Chairman of Mesirow Financial Holdings Inc. and the founder of Mesirow Advanced Strategies, Inc.
Jemar Lee
Customer & Innovation Analyst
Xcel Energy
Jemar Lee graduated from Morningside University and currently works for Xcel Energy as a Customer & Innovation Analyst. Having experienced learner-centered education firsthand at Iowa BIG, Jemar has become a nationally respected advocate for it, which led him to previously serve as a Fellow with Education Reimagined. For several years, he has spoken and presented at conferences around the country about learner-centered education, including SXSW EDU, iNACOL, Education Reimagined, and many more.
Jennifer Davis Poon
Fellow
Center for Innovation in Education
Jenny’s mission is to impact social justice by modernizing the public education system to be more responsive to the needs of all learners, especially those most historically under-served. Currently, Jenny is consulting on projects of interest while serving as Center for Innovation in Education (CIE) Fellow. As a Fellow, Jenny supports sense-making for CIE’s Assessment for Learning Project.
Jim Koshland
Former Partner
DLA Piper US LLP
Jim Koshland served as a partner at DLA Piper US LLP law firm from 1983-2020, focusing on corporate law matters. He currently sits on the Boards of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, American Jewish World Service, Jewish Senior Living Group, Jewish Vocational Services of San Francisco, the Koshland Foundation, Opportunity Fund, Reboot, San Francisco Jewish Community Federation and the Taube-Koret Campus for Jewish Life and is a Trustee of the UC Berkeley Foundation.
John Wright
Director of Strategy
National Education Association
John Wright is the Director of Strategy for the National Education Association. Wright spent the majority of his teaching career in the Window Rock school district on the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona where he also served as NEA local association president. Wright served in various leadership roles within the Arizona education network and has been serving in various roles with the NEA since 2010.
Joseph J. Cirasuolo
Former Executive Director
Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents
Dr. Joseph J Cirasuolo has been an educator for 54 years, 23 as a superintendent of schools in Connecticut. Prior to being a superintendent, Joe worked as an administrator at the district and building levels and as a teacher. After retiring from the superintendency, he was a leadership development consultant and the Chief Operating Officer for the American Association of School Administrators and for nine years, the Executive Director of the CT Association of Public School Superintendents.
Joshua Elder
Vice President and Head of Grantmaking
Siegel Family Endowment
Joshua Elder is the Director of Grants Management at Siegel Family Endowment, which explores the impact of technology on society across learning, infrastructure, and workforce. Joshua oversees strategic investments and partnerships across each of SFE's portfolio areas. Prior to SFE, he was Director of Strategic Initiatives at CSforALL and spent 10+ years in domestic and international education. He is also co-founder of a network of low-cost private schools operating in South Africa and Kenya.
Kara Bobroff
President
The One Gen Fund
Kara Bobroff (Navajo/Lakota) leads The One Gen Fund where she focuses on identifying promising, early-stage innovations that build sustainable solutions for Indigenous communities, deepening national efforts in Indigenous Education, and supporting Indigenous Leaders poised to impact systems change. She has more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous Education, and was recognized by President Obama as one of 100 top social innovators in the nation. Kara is a citizen of the Navajo Nation.
Katherine Plog Martinez
Managing Partner
Knowledge to Power Catalysts
Katherine serves as the Managing Partner for Knowledge to Power Catalysts, a boutique consulting firm that increases the rate at which leaders transform knowledge into power so youth can thrive. Prior, she spent eight and a half years at Denver Public Schools serving in roles including Director of Extended Learning & Community Schools and Executive Director of Whole Child Supports. Katherine is the proud mom of three kiddos who regularly test all of her youth development theory and practices!
Maddie Fennell
Executive Director
Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice (2007 Nebraska Teacher of the Year)
Maddie is the Executive Director of Great Lakes Center for Education Research & Practice. She also serves as a Board member for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year and the EdTech Evidence Exchange. Prior to working at GLC, she served as the Executive Director of the Nebraska State Education Association, as a Teacher Fellow in Residence in the Office of the Secretary at the US Department of Education, and as an elementary teacher in the Omaha Public Schools for 27 years.
Mark Wilding
Executive Director
PassageWorks Institute
Mark Wilding is the Executive Director of PassageWorks, a nonprofit that supports K-12 educators and families to create transformative and inclusive school communities that empower and prepare young people to be resourceful and empathetic, to advocate for themselves, and to stand up for others. He is the co-author of The 5 Dimensions of Engaged Teaching. As core faculty, he teaches courses, facilitates conferences and dialogues, and presents keynotes and lectures.
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap
Assistant to the President for Educational Issues
American Federation of Teachers
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap is Assistant to the President for Educational Issues at the American Federation of Teachers. Previously, she was Director of District Redesign and Leadership at the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University and a senior program officer at the Rockefeller Foundation. Marla has also been an independent consultant in education policy, a political press secretary, and a reporter.
Melanie Tavares
Director of the Nonprofit Support Program
The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving
An equity advocate, Dr. Melanie Tavares honed her expertise in program design, funding and strategic management at a number of state and national organizations. Melanie recently completed her final year as a Dean's Fellow in the Doctor of Education Leadership Program at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. As an Ed.L.D. Candidate, her scholarship focused on system-level leadership, scalable impact, and organization sustainability.
Nik Namba
Partner
Transcend
Nik is a Partner at Transcend. He has spent his entire career in education as a teacher, academic coach, principal, and leader in school districts and charter organizations focused on personalizing learning using a competency-based systems approach. Prior to Transcend, he was the Director of 21st Century Learning for Lindsay Unified School District, where he was engaged in the system-wide transformative work of building a learner-centered, performance-based system.
Nora Flood
Education Rabble Rouser
Wend Collective
Nora Flood serves as Education Lead of Wend Collective. She supports research into learner-centered school designs; collaborates with Montessori pedagogues and practitioners; and explores partnerships with like-minded organizations. Before joining Wend, Nora was the President of the Colorado League of Charter Schools. co-founded The Classical Academy in Minneapolis, served as Head of School of Madison Country Day School, and served as Director of Sonoma Charter School.
Peter McWalters
Program Leader
Former Rhode Island Commissioner Elementary and Secondary Education
Peter McWalters is currently a board member and chairman elect of the Big Picture Learning Board, a trustee of the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment (NCIEA), and a consultant to Education Reimagined. Peter’s expertise in education is extensive, drawing from previously held positions including President of the Council of Chief State School Officers; board member of the National Center for Education and the Economy; and member of the Council of Great City Schools.
Richard Alper
Mediator and Attorney
Richard Alper is a retired environmental and land use attorney from the D.C. area. He moved to Colorado in 2011 and currently serves on the executive committee of the Colorado Education Initiative. Richard is a past Board member of Convergence Center for Policy Resolution where he worked with Kelly Young on Education Reimagined. As an experienced mediator and attorney, he teaches conflict resolution and environmental law and policy at the University of Northern Colorado.
Robyn Brady Ince
Executive Director
Newark City of Learning Collaborative
Robyn Brady Ince, Ed.M. is the Executive Director of the Newark City of Learning Collaborative and Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Urban Education at Rutgers University–Newark. Robyn joined the University from the National Urban League where, as vice president of education policy, advocacy, and engagement, she led the Equity and Excellence Project and the annual Youth Leadership Summit.
Shruti Sehra
Managing Partner, Education Portfolio
New Profit
Shruti is a Managing Partner at New Profit, where she co-leads both the Reimagine Learning and Early Learning Funds. Prior to that, she led New Profit's portfolio management practice. Shruti currently serves on the boards of ANet, New Teacher Center, and Peace First. Before joining New Profit, Shruti spent seven years working in the private sector, initially as an engineer at Honeywell and later in a series of quality management positions at Howmet Castings and Jabil Circuit.
Stephan Turnipseed
Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer
Pitsco Education
Stephan Turnipseed is a veteran of the United States Air Force and is the Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Pitsco Education. Stephan previously served as President of LEGO® Education North America; later serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships for LEGO® Education.
He holds two patents for the TETRIX robotic system and is the recipient of the National Instruments Engineering Impact Award for STEM Innovation.
Tom Sayer
Former Head of Global Adoption Programs
Google for Education
Tom Sayer previously served as the Head of Global Adoption Programs at Google for Education. Tom got committed to learner centered education when he realized we were losing so much potential in every single child by treating them as averages. His previous experiences in education and beyond include being a School Transformation and Change Management Program Manager at Google for Education, the Board Chair at Room to Talk, and an Intelligence Officer for the British Army.
Our Board
Carlos Moreno
Co-Executive Director
Big Picture Learning
Carole Basile
Dean
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University
Felicia Cumings Smith
President
National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)
John Fischer
Principal
Education Solutions, LLC
John R. Jacob
Partner
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Kalei Delovio
Young Learner
Kimo Kippen
(former) Chief Learning Officer, Hilton
Founder, Aloha Learning Advisors
Larry Leverett
Managing Director
New Jersey Network of Superintendents (NJNS)
Marc Porter Magee
CEO and Founder
50CAN
Robert Sherman
Consultant to Nonprofits & Foundations
Carlos Moreno
Co-Executive Director
Big Picture Learning
In his role as Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, Carlos Moreno is the visionary for all U.S. school and district-wide programs, leading a national team of phenomenal regional directors, School Design Coaches and coordinating leadership development & support services for school and district leaders. Carlos also leads Big Picture’s work with scores of non-Big Picture schools that wish to incorporate elements of the Big Picture Learning design.
Carole Basile
Dean
Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University
Carole G. Basile is the dean of the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Prior to joining ASU in 2016, Professor Basile was dean and professor in the College of Education at the University of Missouri St. Louis. Her academic career has included grants and research related to math and science education, teacher education, community engagement, and environmental education.
Felicia Cumings Smith
President
National Center for Families Learning (NCFL)
Felicia Cumings Smith is the President of the National Center for Families Learning (NCFL). Prior to joining NCFL, she served as senior Director of Global Delivery at the National Geographic Society, where she oversaw the domestic and global education strategy implementation and programming to transform classroom experiences. Felicia’s career in education spans more than two decades where she has served in a variety of leadership roles in P-12, higher education, non-for-profit, and philanthropy.
John Fischer
Principal
Education Solutions, LLC
John Fischer is the Principal at Education Solutions, LLC providing strategic direction and counsel in education and workforce issues to states and organizations. Previously, John was a senior program officer in Global Policy and Advocacy for U.S. Programs with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Transformation at the Vermont Agency of Education; and Provost/Vice President in the NH Community College System.
John R. Jacob
Partner
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
John R. Jacob is a Partner at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Washington D.C. where he has worked since 1992. He is the Practice Leader of the firm’s Health Care & Life Sciences Practice and a member of the Regulatory Practice Steering Committee. John represents major academic medical centers, cancer centers, device and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health technology companies on a wide range of reimbursement, compliance, and policy issues.
Kalei Delovio
Young Learner
Kalei Delovio is committed to making learner-centered education available for all learners. Kalei is a recent graduate from the Metropolitan Regional Career & Technical Center (The Met) in Providence, Rhode Island. Since graduating, she has begun pursuing a career in nursing.
Kimo Kippen
(former) Chief Learning Officer, Hilton
Founder, Aloha Learning Advisors
Kimo Kippen is an accomplished, visionary thought leader and sought-out international keynote speaker committed to making a difference in the world by inspiring business and civic leaders, as well as employees, to think outside the box and actualize what is truly possible. He is an aspiring “Citizen of the World.” Originally from Hawaii, for the past 20 years, Kimo has been on a lifetime journey to advance education, global labor force conditions, and economic empowerment internationally.
Larry Leverett
Managing Director
New Jersey Network of Superintendents (NJNS)
Dr. Larry Leverett’s career in education is driven by his passion for equity and social justice. From serving as a teacher's aide for Headstart to serving as Assistant Commissioner of Urban Education in the New Jersey DOE, Dr. Leverett has worked at all levels of the system. Before retiring in January 2017, Dr. Leverett served ten years as the Executive Director of the Panasonic Foundation. He currently serves as the Managing Director for New Jersey Network of Superintendents (NJNS).
Marc Porter Magee
CEO and Founder
50CAN
Marc Porter Magee is President and Founder of 50CAN. Previously, Marc has served as Chief Operating Officer at ConnCAN, research director of the Partnership for Public Service, founding director of the Progressive Policy Institute’s Center for Civic Enterprise, and as a contributing editor of the policy journal Blueprint.
Robert Sherman
Consultant to Nonprofits & Foundations
Robert works with education-focused nonprofits and foundations, helping build effective strategies for stronger impacts. He formerly served as director of the Initiative for Social and Emotional Learning at the NoVo Foundation. Prior to NoVo, Robert served as Executive Director of the Action Center to End World Hunger, founded and directed the national Effective Citizenry program at the Surdna Foundation in New York City, and served in New York City government for 8 years.
Our Team
Alin Bennett
Vice President of Practice and Field Advancement
Bobbi Macdonald
Senior Partner for Ecosystem Growth & Advancement
Colby Mills
Fellow
Demi Edwards
Chief Strategy Officer
Eddie Fuentes
Program Associate
Emily Bader
Chief Communications Officer
Emily Liebtag
Chief Programs and Partnerships Officer
Jason Krobatsch
Communications Manager
Julie Renkoski
Partner, ILX & Learning Lab
Karen Pittman
Senior Advisor
Kelly Young
President and Founder
Khara Schonfeld-Karan
Program Associate
Lindsy Ogawa
Senior Director of Practice and Field Advancement
Monica Snellings
Vice President of Communications
Nayan Bhula
Operations Manager
Portia Evans
Executive Assistant
Sarah Bishop-Root
Partner for Policy Leadership
Shajan Abusalih
Development Manager
Alin Bennett
Vice President of Practice and Field Advancement
Education Reimagined
Alin Bennett is Education Reimagined's Vice President of Practice and Field Advancement. He is a staunch advocate for national school transformation and creating an equitable education system. His previous work has included supporting curriculum development, leading advisories, and leading schools in ways that continuously advanced learner-centered, equity-based practices. Alin is based in Providence, RI where he lives with his wife and two young children.
Bobbi Macdonald
Senior Partner for Ecosystem Growth & Advancement
Education Reimagined
Dr. Bobbi Macdonald is one of the 28 original signatories on Education Reimagined's founding document, "A Transformational Vision for Education in the U.S." Her previous work as Executive Director of City Neighbors Foundation sought to provide an answer to the question, “What would it take for every student to be Known, Loved, and Inspired?” That question remains at the heart of her work today. Bobbi most recently completed her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Harvard University.
Colby Mills
Fellow
Education Reimagined
Colby Mills is an active leader and advocate for education transformation within his hometown of Pike Road, Alabama and nationally. Colby is the creator of Charge, a small learning environment startup within his alumnus district, Pike Road Schools. Colby has presented on learner-centered education at numerous national conferences, and remains deeply dedicated to providing voice to learners.
Demi Edwards
Chief Strategy Officer
Education Reimagined
Demi Edwards is the Chief Strategy Officer for Education Reimagined. In her role, she works to ensure the organization's ambitions, strategy, and goals are clear and aligned with its purpose and that the team has what it needs to operate with integrity and effectiveness. Demi is deeply committed to the realization of a learner-centered, socially just future for education—one that honors the uniqueness of every child and enables them to unleash their boundless potential to change the world.
Eddie Fuentes
Program Associate
Education Reimagined
Eddie Fuentes is the Program Associate for Education Reimagined. He has eight years of business management experience and has worked in music education for six of those years. Over the last four years, Eddie opened and operated a community-centric music school with an adaptable curriculum for each student. He has seen firsthand the impact learner-centered models can have on students and is committed to continuing the pursuit of a new, adaptive worldview with Education Reimagined.
Emily Bader
Chief Communications Officer
Education Reimagined
Emily is an integrated communications leader who’s counseled many of the world’s top brands to inspire action and business success, by sharing their most powerful stories in the right ways. Prior to Education Reimagined, she served as Vice President, Marketing Communications for LEAP Innovations. There, she elevated the organization’s thought leadership around critical issues in K-12 education, and reshaped its storytelling to underscore the critical impact of its learner-centered strategies.
Emily Liebtag
Chief Programs and Partnerships Officer
Education Reimagined
Emily Liebtag, Ed.D., is Education Reimagined's Chief Programs and Partnerships Officer. For two decades, she has supported the development of learner-centered practices in communities across the country as a leader of a global non-profit, working at the university level with educators, and as the Vice President of Advocacy for Getting Smart. She has written two books, over 100 blogs, and worked with countless educators to promote what is possible for all learners.
Jason Krobatsch
Communications Manager
Education Reimagined
Jason Krobatsch is Education Reimagined’s Communications Manager. As a life-long learner and passionate storyteller, Jason brings his experience in entertainment, LGBTQ+, and non-profit communications to the Education Reimagined team. In 2017, he earned a Master's degree in Professional Communication. Outside of the office, you can find Jason listening to a podcast, sitting around a campfire with friends, or at a Broadway show.
Julie Renkoski
Partner, ILX & Learning Lab
Education Reimagined
Julie Renkoski received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Master of Education degree in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Missouri. She has worked as an elementary teacher, literacy program coordinator, intervention specialist, and English as a Foreign Language instructor. Since 2014, Julie has contributed to Education Reimagined in various staff roles. Today, she is thrilled to be able to split her time between Education Reimagined and raising her two daughters.
Karen Pittman
Senior Advisor
Education Reimagined
Karen Pittman recently stepped down after 23 years leading the Forum for Youth Investment to dedicate her time to galvanizing the growing interest in using science-informed strategies to change the odds that all children and youth can succeed. As a partner with KP Catalysts, she focuses on amplifying ideas about how, where, when, why, and with whom learning and development happens and advising national organizations as they sharpen their focus on creating equitable, learner-centered ecosystems.
Kelly Young
President and Founder
Education Reimagined
Kelly Young is the President and Founder of Education Reimagined. Previously, she served as the Interim Chief of the Office of Family and Public Engagement for the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). From 1998-2007, Kelly served as the Executive Director of a national political organization. She is the mother of two young children and received her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Virginia.
Khara Schonfeld-Karan
Program Associate
Khara Schonfeld-Karan is the Program Associate for Education Reimagined’s Catalyzing Invention team. She was a K-12 educator for over a decade before working in higher education. With an interest in promoting alternative forms of education, Khara engaged in the academic study of unschooling and published a book on her research. Khara has a Ph.D. in Teacher Education & Professional Development from the University of Maryland and an M.Ed. in Art Education from Kutztown University.
Lindsy Ogawa
Senior Director of Practice and Field Advancement
Education Reimagined
Lindsy Ogawa is the Senior Director of Practice and Field Advancement for Education Reimagined. In this role, she leads the work in building and activating the Learning Lab and SparkHouse, national learning communities advancing diverse learner-centered systems and models. Lindsy is committed to having an education system that enables each learner to live fulfilling lives and stand from a place of contribution. She formerly taught in Chicago Public Schools and holds a M.S. in Education from JHU.
Monica Snellings
Vice President of Communications
Education Reimagined
Monica Snellings is Vice President of Communications for Education Reimagined. Monica was previously studio director at a communications design firm in Washington, DC. In this capacity, she worked with government agencies and nonprofit organizations in the development of behavior, policy, and strategic communication materials. She recently completed a Masters in Design for Social Innovation at the School of Visual Arts, New York in 2015.
Nayan Bhula
Operations Manager
Education Reimagined
Nayan Bhula is the Operations Manager for Education Reimagined. He has 20 years of business management experience, and has worked in a variety of industries including finance, retail, education, and hospitality. Over the last decade, he has worked on the ground level with students, seeing the need to develop a more learner-centered approach that focuses on the student. He is also a songwriter-musician, husband, Washington Nationals super-fan, and father of two.
Portia Evans
Executive Assistant
Education Reimagined
Sarah Bishop-Root
Partner for Policy Leadership
Education Reimagined
Sarah Bishop-Root is the Partner for Policy Leadership at Education Reimagined. She was formerly the Policy Director of Next Generation Learning at ExcelinEd and led the Network of State Innovation Partners, a community of practice supporting state education agencies. Prior to ExcelinEd, Sarah worked at Blackboard, focusing on open education and educators’ adoption of online best practices. Sarah earned an M.S.Ed. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University Bloomington.
Shajan Abusalih
Development Manager
Education Reimagined
Shajan Abusalih is the Development Manager for Education Reimagined. She has a Master's in International Relations and Black Politics from Howard University and is driven by her passion for education and deep devotion to social justice, social impact, and equity. She's delighted to be part of and share in Education Reimagined's firm commitment of the creation of a racially just and equitable education system where each every child is honored and supported such that their potential is unleashed.
Program Leaders
Allan Cohen
Program Leader
David Fairman
Program Leader
Julian Serrao
Program Leader
Michael Soguero
Program Leader
Milissa McClaire Gary
Program Leader
Peter McWalters
Program Leader
Allan Cohen
Program Leader
Strategy Consultant at Allan L Cohen Strategy Consulting
Allan Cohen is an interdisciplinary management consultant, transformational facilitator, entrepreneur, and executive. For the last 10 years, he has led transformational workshops for participants addressing a wide range of social and economic challenges. He has done this work in corporate boardrooms, public sector agencies, retreat centers in Northern Ireland and Israel, and the administrative halls of higher education.
David Fairman
Program Leader
Managing Director at the Consensus Building Institute
David Fairman is Managing Director at the Consensus Building Institute and Associate Director of the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program. For 28 years, he has built consensus and enhanced collaboration capacity on complex public and organizational issues internationally and in the U.S. His primary focus is building effective multi-stakeholder partnerships, organizational strategies, and dispute resolution systems to meet challenges of sustainable development.
Julian Serrao
Program Leader
Independent Education Consultant
Julian Serrao brings experience incorporating new blended learning models, and innovating and applying agile framework practices to math learning in underserved districts. A product of educational access programs himself, Julian is dedicated to expanding educational pipelines across the ecosystem. Most recently, Julian worked with a startup tackling low-income public school enrollment as a part of the LearnLaunch innovation cohort.
Michael Soguero
Program Leader
Director of Professional Development
Michael Soguero has been a leader in education reform since 1993 when he was a founding member of Eagle Rock School & Professional Development Center in Estes Park, Colorado. Since 2006, Michael has partnered with organizations and schools around the country to support high school re-engagement—facilitating projects including development of alternative assessments, integration of restorative practices, launching entrepreneurship-focused programs, and contributing to leadership development.
Milissa McClaire Gary
Program Leader
Managing Director of Secondary Partnerships at OneGoal
Milissa is an experienced educational leader, coach, consultant, and National Board Certified Teacher with an M.A. in Educational Research and Policy. She began her career as a high school teacher in Chicago and is a micro-school founder. She has since acted as a consultant and director for several national nonprofits, focused on instructional coaching, adult learning, leadership and program design. Her entire career has been driven by a deep desire for young people to have choice-filled lives.
Peter McWalters
Program Leader
Former Rhode Island Commissioner Elementary and Secondary Education
Peter McWalters is currently a board member and chairman elect of the Big Picture Learning Board, a trustee of the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment (NCIEA), and a consultant to Education Reimagined. Peter’s expertise in education is extensive, drawing from previously held positions including President of the Council of Chief State School Officers; board member of the National Center for Education and the Economy; and member of the Council of Great City Schools.