Annie Holmes is CCSSO’s Chief Equity Officer tasked with leading the Council's internal efforts to achieve its goal of becoming a more diverse, equitable and inclusive organization and supporting chiefs to deliver on each of CCSSO’s ten equity commitments. Prior to joining CCSSO, Annie led the equity and diversity initiatives at multiple institutions of higher education. She is currently completing her doctoral work in adult education and lifelong learning from The Pennsylvania State University.

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.

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.

Grace Kiboko is an advocate for learner agency and education transformation. As a former learner of Iowa BIG, she was exposed to how education can be shaped and transformed to benefit not only learner minds but community needs. Grace has spoken at many national conferences on the importance and value of learner agency within the classroom and hopes to continue her work and studies as a student at Texas Christian University.

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 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.

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 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.

Dr. John H. Jackson is the President and CEO of The Schott Foundation for Public Education. Previously, John served in leadership roles with the NAACP, served as an Adjunct Professor of Race, Gender, and Public Policy at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and served in William Jefferson Clinton’s administration as Senior Policy Advisor in the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education.

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.

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 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.

Julie joined Oak Foundation as a Programme Officer with the Learning Differences Programme in November 2019. She came to Oak from a career spanning local, state, and federal education policy in the United States, with a particular focus on advocacy, teacher and principal leadership, early literacy, and students who are not well-served in traditional public schools.

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 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 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 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 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.

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.

Nick is the former President and CEO of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. Previously, Nick was a Special Master at Hope High School in Providence, Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Education in New Hampshire, and a trustee of the University System of New Hampshire and the New Hampshire Community Technical College System.

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 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 is currently a board member for Big Picture Learning, 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 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, 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.

Sam Chaltain is a partner at 180 Studio, a global design collaborative dedicated to advancing people’s understanding of the future of learning—and what it requires. Sam is a published author, producer, and creator. Sam’s writings about his work have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, and USA Today. Sam is a former speechwriter for each of President Obama’s U.S. Secretaries of Education, has written for Oscar and Grammy Award winning artists, and is a periodic contributor to CNN.

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 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 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.

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.

Anya Smith-Roman is the Program Assistant for Education Reimagined. Since high school, she has been striving to forward the Learner-Centered Education Movement by co-founding a student-driven education magazine, speaking and coaching at international education conferences, and being a leader of innovative education practices. Anya’s personal mission is to transform the U.S. education system into a more learner-centered, equitable, and socially-embedded paradigm.

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 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.

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.

Demi Edwards is the CEO and Co-Founder of Education Reimagined. Her work focuses on the joyful, inclusive invention of a transformed public education system that equitably and powerfully honors every child. Serving as Chief Strategy Officer from 2020 to 2023, Demi led Education Reimagined’s strategy development, financial management, and mobilized key players for our R&D acceleration initiative. She graduated from Georgetown University and lives in Washington, DC with her husband and dog.

Dr. Domonique Edwards is a Research Fellow at Education Reimagined. Her current work is centered around researching learner-centered ecosystems. Her previous research and community involvement has facilitated storytelling and learning, and also contributed to informed and responsive decision-making. As an adjunct professor, she has lectured courses on adolescent development and equity in organizations. Domonique has a PhD in Human Development & Family Studies.

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.

Curl is Education Reimagined’s Senior Creative Director. Over the last 15 years, she has worked as a design lead in non-profit, agency, and technology settings for both local and global organizations. She is passionate about inclusive design practices and highly prioritizes accessibility in her work. With formal graphic design and psychology training, Curl approaches her creative projects as a people-focused leader. Outside of work, she spends her time in her most important role as “Mom.”

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, Ed.D., is Education Reimagined’s Chief Innovation 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 is Education Reimagined’s Senior Manager of Content Development. As a life-long learner, 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.

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.

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 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 is the President Emeritus 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 is the Director of Field Research for Education Reimagined. 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 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.

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.

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 is the Director of Operations 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.

Peter McWalters is currently a board member for Big Picture Learning, 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.

Ryhen Miller-Hollis, Education Reimagined’s Communications Coordinator, is not only a visionary but also an advocate for inclusivity and belonging. Driven by creativity, she passionately champions young learners through strategic creative initiatives within non-profit communities. At Education Reimagined, Ryhen is committed to ensuring that every learner feels a sense of belonging in any space they aspire to be in. Outside of work, Ryhen is all about eccentric fashion, frogs, and flowers.

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 is the Director of Development 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 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.

Sofia Teytelman is the Operations Coordinator for Education Reimagined. She is passionate about using her financial acumen and business expertise to maximize efficiency and support the team in any way possible. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for streamlining processes, she ensures smooth operations to fuel the organization’s success. In her free time, she enjoys studying history through film, designing elaborate builds in The Sims 4, and cooking delicious meals for family and friends.