Our Team

Jasmine Adams is a Director on SchoolKit's Content and Training team and a former middle school principal with over a decade of experience leading instructional improvement. She partners with districts and school leaders to design curriculum-aligned professional learning, strengthen PLC/GLM systems, and coach for high-leverage practices that make rigorous math accessible for all students. Jasmine’s work has supported measurable gains in teacher practice and student outcomes, with a focus on lesson-level preparation, productive discourse, and coherence across units. She has been featured in Teach Like a Champion resources and frequently models live lessons and planning protocols to translate vision into daily instruction. Based in Memphis, TN, Jasmine insists that lesson planning and vacation planning use the same playbook and she loves both.

Jessica develops training and materials for teachers and leaders focused on high-quality instructional materials and standards-aligned instructional topics in elementary ELA/literacy and K-2 foundational reading skills. Prior to her role at SchoolKit, Jessica was a staff developer as well as an elementary teacher and team leader with Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. Jessica has several years of experience coaching teachers, designing and delivering professional development, and creating instructional frameworks for anti-racist teaching and learning best practices. Jessica has an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with emphases in Teacher Leadership and Minority and Urban Education and a B.S. in Elementary Education, both earned from the University of Maryland, College Park. In her free time, Jessica loves to exercise outdoors, travel, and try new restaurants.

Michael Beare is a Special Educator at heart, having started his teaching career as a high school ELA special education teacher in Washington, DC over 17 years ago. Since then, he's worked in classroom-, school-, and network-level roles in Washington, DC and South Carolina where he has led districts with change management large and small. He is particularly passionate about supporting students on their early reading and math learning journeys, developing adult leaders, and building systems that ensure that all kids feel like they "belong" in school. Michael has worked with districts on curriculum adoption and implementation, creating and developing MTSS systems and services, and implementing social-emotional learning supports that benefit all kids inside and outside of school. Outside of work, Michael loves to explore the world with his family and friends, learn new cooking techniques, and spending as much time interacting with nature as possible.

Maya supports state, district, and school leaders to improve student outcomes through strategic planning, coaching, and training. Maya has 17 years of experience in the field of education, with emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction and Instructional Leadership Coaching. She has served as a teacher and district curriculum coordinator. She has also led instructional improvement in her roles as Managing Director of Program Continuum for Teach For America St Louis and Senior Director of School Support for the Achievement Network. Maya earned her Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, her M.S. in Postsecondary Education and English from Troy University Montgomery and B.S. from Florida A&M University.

In addition to her passion for pursuing educational equity for all students, Maya enjoys being a football and golf mom and enjoys all things Mardi Gras, given her Gulf Coast roots.

Two decades ago, Rachel fell in love with teaching kids. Since, she has spent her career teaching and leading literacy efforts in K-12 settings, including in schools, nonprofits, and the Tennessee Department of Education. At SchoolKit, Rachel directs projects and designs adult learning for teachers, coaches, and leaders of all altitudes. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in English and an Instructional Leader Certificate from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, Rachel is mom to two elementary-aged children and a bouncy bernedoodle.

Vikki (she/her/hers) is a K-8 math specialist at SchoolKit. In this role, Vikki designs and delivers mathematics professional learning for teachers and leaders and provides teacher and leader coaching and support. She is passionate about empowering educators with knowledge, resources, and best practices so that they, in turn, can empower our students. Vikki has extensive experience coaching educators and designing and facilitating school, district, and state-based professional learning for K-8 math educators and leaders across the United States. Vikki has a MAT in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. from Syracuse University. She began her career teaching second grade in New Orleans, Louisiana. Vikki went on to teach first, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade math and was nominated in 2016 for the New Schools for New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Award. She has also supported teachers as a third and fourth-grade math interventionist. Over the past five years, she has supported curriculum implementation, designing and delivering professional learning, and creating curricular materials.

Vikki lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her two dogs and spends her free time reading, trying new restaurants with friends and family, and playing kickball.

As a Director of Content and Training for Schoolkit, Melanie Sala Brown supports states, districts and schools in providing students with strong instructional experiences, high quality instructional materials, and sound research-based practices. She has led and supported HQIM adoption projects across multiple states by designing and facilitating professional learning experiences, coaching, and providing strategic planning support for district and school leaders. Over Melanie's 20 years of experience in education, she has held school and district based roles that include middle and high school ELA and Special Education teacher, instructional and literacy coach, district curriculum specialist, head of school and graduate instructor for new and aspiring teachers.

Melanie is a New Englander and lover of all things related to the sea. When she's not working, you can find her searching for sand to play in with her family, even in the winter.

Dr. Bridgette Brown Green serves as Director of Program Implementation. She supports state and district leaders with improving student outcomes through planning, training and coaching around high-quality instructional materials. Dr. Green has over 18 years of teaching and instructional leadership experience. She has passionately served as a teacher, assistant principal of instruction, and as a PK-12 school principal. Additionally, Dr. Green has engaged in leading and supporting instructional improvement in her role as a NIET District-Executive Master Teacher, a Louisiana Department of Education Consultant, a school turnaround consultant, and as the Director of Teaching and Learning for a large, urban school district. She is committed to supporting educators in improving student outcomes through her passion of instructional leadership development and coaching and strategic planning around curriculum, instruction and assessments.

Sharika Buckle is a strategic and innovative educational leader with over a decade of experience in program development, educational leadership, and professional development within the K-12 sector. Known for designing impactful initiatives that emphasize equity and inclusion, she excels in fostering leadership development and creating transformative learning opportunities for educators and school leaders. Sharika has a proven track record in building meaningful relationships with stakeholders, managing large-scale programs, and driving continuous improvement through data-driven strategies.

She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and brings a passion for advancing educational equity through thoughtful and effective leadership. When not working she loves to spend time with her family and friends, traveling and shopping online.

Elizabeth leads on the creation and oversight of internal systems for SchoolKit, as well as project management of professional learning programs for states, districts, and cohorts of educators. She has designed and managed programs for educators in large urban districts, including Denver Public Schools and she is the project lead for the Louisiana Department of Education’s ELA Content Leader Initiative. Prior to her current role, Elizabeth managed the programming and operations for a $1.2 million, 13-school Race to the Top grant consortium focused on implementation of the Common Core Standards and trained new teachers on pedagogy, classroom management, and diversity and inclusiveness with Teach for America. A former 11th and 12th grade teacher, Elizabeth taught chemistry and physics at an alternative placement charter school in Stamford, Connecticut. Elizabeth has an M.S. in Education from Southern Connecticut State University and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary. When she’s not working with leaders and teachers, she loves hiking and enjoying the Colorado sunshine.

Tirza manages the financial well-being of SchoolKit. With a background in K-12 education, EdTech, and FemTech, she has served as a Chief of Staff, playing a pivotal role in establishing and formalizing processes. Tirza has led numerous mid-to-large-scale strategic projects, showcasing expertise in strategic project management, operations, data management, and school district turnaround support. She brings a discerning eye and a sustainability mindset to systems development and continuous improvement.

Tirza holds a Master of Arts in special education from Ball State University, a Bachelor of Science from New York University, and is a Certified Scrum Master.

Nazo works with state, district, and school leaders to improve student outcomes through training, coaching, and strategic planning. She was previously principal of the Petworth Campus of Center City Public Charter Schools in Washington, DC, where, over an eight-year period, she led the campus to becoming a Tier 1 school. She began her career in education as a Teach For America elementary classroom teacher in Miami, Florida. Nazo earned her Ed.S. in Early Childhood Special Education from The George Washington University, her Ed.M. in School Leadership from The Harvard Graduate School of Education, and B.A. from Washington and Lee University. When she’s not supporting the work of teachers and leaders, she enjoys playing tennis and finding the best new restaurant in any city.

Michele heads up business development strategy at SchoolKit, where she closely partners with school systems to ensure they have the tools they need to bring high-quality instruction to students. Prior to SchoolKit, she managed K-12 partnerships at both large companies and high-growth start-ups, and taught 6th-grade Math & Science as a classroom teacher in Chicago Public Schools.

Michele earned her Masters in Teaching from the University of Chicago's Urban Teacher Education Program and her B.A. from Stanford University. When not collaborating with state and district leaders, you can find her playing with her high-energy pup Moana or searching for her next reality TV addiction. She currently resides in D.C., but loves to visit family and friends back home in Southern California.

Crystal is a passionate math educator and coach who believes all students deserve joyful, engaging, and inclusive math experiences. As a Math Specialist at SchoolKit, she designs and facilitates professional learning that empowers teachers and leaders to bring high-quality instructional materials to life in their classrooms. With over 14 years of experience in education, Crystal began her career as a high school math educator in Chicago, IL, where she created programs to increase the representation of marginalized students in AP math courses, developed a new geometry curriculum, and served as team lead. Later, she transitioned into coaching roles where she supported educators and leaders in strengthening math instruction, deepening content knowledge, and building capacity across schools and districts. Crystal holds a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education from DePaul University and is driven by her commitment to helping educators believe all students are capable and curious mathematicians.

Ryan Colón is an experienced educator and project leader with a diverse background, including classroom teaching, curriculum development, instructional coaching, and program management. She has managed large-scale projects, leading professional learning and coaching sessions for educators and leaders. Her expertise lies in culturally responsive teaching, as well as creating and implementing inclusive math curricula. She has also contributed to conversations on equity in mathematics education through presentations at national conferences.

Julia leads the development and delivery of standards-aligned professional learning for ELA and disciplinary literacy teachers. Prior to her role with SchoolKit, Julia helped to design and implement a new Common Core-aligned curriculum as the English Language Arts Curriculum Manager for Center City Public Charter Schools, a network of six schools in Washington, DC. In this role, she developed curricular materials for literacy in grades 4 - 8, and provided content and curriculum-specific professional development and coaching to teachers and leaders. An experienced teacher, Julia taught middle school ELA for 6 years in South Louisiana, Washington, DC, and was a founding staff member of KIPP Whittier Middle School in Camden, NJ. A Philadelphia native, Julia left the City of Brotherly Love to study English at the University of Virginia, but has since returned. Outside of leading teacher training, Julia’s an avid cook and loves taking road trips to explore new cities.

Julia Dezen (she/her) is a math specialist dedicated to disrupting the exclusionary culture of mathematics through her work with teachers, leaders, and communities. She joins the SchoolKit team with a background in K-12 mathematics and special education. She is the former Senior Director of Special Projects for SELF (Special Education Leader Fellowship) and Director of Mathematics at Instruction Partners. Prior to Instruction Partners, Julia worked at FirstLine Schools in New Orleans as the Math Director. In addition, Julia is a facilitator for UnboundEd’s Standards Institute, a representative on Louisiana’s Believe and Prepare Math Collaborative, a former Teaching Ambassador Fellow with the US Department of Education under Secretary Arne Duncan and Secretary John King, and an educator representative for the National Center of Education Statistics.

Julia resides in New Orleans, Louisiana where you can find her playing games with friends, reading a book by the bayou, or planning her next travel adventure.

Jessica designs and facilitates professional learning content and provides coaching support to teachers and school leaders in K-5 mathematics. Jessica has wide-ranging experience facilitating school and district-based professional development that equips educators in achieving more equitable learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds. Jessica began her career as an upper elementary teacher in Detroit, Michigan before transitioning into a math instructional coaching role. Her love of learning led her back to Georgia for graduate school, where she most recently served as a Teacher Leader for KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools. Jessica has a M.Ed in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia and a B.A. from Spelman College. When not working, Jessica loves to travel, spend time with her family, and cross new Atlanta brunch spots off of her bucket list.

Dr. Renée Giles is an ELA Specialist at SchoolKit, where she designs and delivers content-specific training for educators, focusing on high-quality, standards-aligned materials and instructional practices. With a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Learning, Renée has built a career supporting educators and school leaders to create equitable and inclusive learning environments. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Maryland, where she led early childhood education initiatives to enhance school readiness. She has served as an Assistant Principal in Austin, Texas, where she developed a high-quality Pre-K program and led professional development for instructional staff. Prior to that, Renée worked in Washington, D.C., supporting curriculum implementation and executive leadership coaching for schools nationwide. In addition to her work at SchoolKit, Renée is an adjunct professor, teaching courses in curriculum development, leadership, assessment, and child development.

Outside of work, Renée enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and going on walks with her husband, son, and daughter.

Chriscendia Guillory, Ed.D., is a dedicated educator with experience as an ELA teacher, instructional coach, school leader, and district leader. She earned her doctorate in Performance Improvement Leadership, which deepens her commitment to developing effective systems and fostering sustainable growth in schools. Throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening teaching and learning by supporting educators, building leadership capacity, and creating structures that lead to meaningful outcomes. Her expertise includes instructional leadership, systemic performance analysis, strategic planning, and professional learning—all grounded in a dedication to improving student achievement. At the heart of her work is a passion for helping schools thrive and ensuring both educators and students have what they need to be successful. When she is not working, Chriscendia enjoys spending time with her family, serving in ministry, and traveling.

Erica Gurrieri has devoted nearly 20 years to building expertise in partnerships, marketing, and proposal development. Inspired by her family of educators, she began her career in nonprofit child services and mentoring in Allentown, PA. She later developed her diverse skill set with B2B and B2C companies in Tennessee, where she supported a variety of business development and marketing goals and tactics.
In recent years, Erica has focused her professional career on proposal development, supporting partnerships across multiple sectors, with a strong emphasis on K–12 and higher education clients. As Senior Manager of Partnerships and Proposals at SchoolKit, she supports organizational growth by combining her writing savvy and strategic mindset to advance the SchoolKit’s mission and impact through partnership proposals and key business development initiatives.

Amanda is a Director of Content and Training at SchoolKit. In her role, she supports state, district and school leaders to improve experiences and outcomes for students through professional learning, high-impact coaching, and strategic planning support. Her partnerships include state-level math implementation support in Tennessee, support of Worcester County Public Schools in Maryland to introduce play-based learning in early childhood classrooms, and work with the Texas Education Agency to develop and refine Pre-K research based instructional strategies (RBIS). Amanda formerly served as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Uncommon Schools Public Charter School in Camden, New Jersey, and began her teaching career in New York City, where she worked as an early childhood grade team lead and content coach at Success Academy Charter Schools in Brooklyn.

Amanda holds a Master of Arts in Childhood Education (grades 1-6) from Relay Graduate School of Education, a Certificate of Early Childhood Education from Portland State, and both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Interior Architecture and Design from Drexel University. She is passionate about educational equality and supporting both teachers and leaders in delivering a world class education to ALL students.

Katrina serves as the Operations Specialist at SchoolKit, where she oversees the
design and implementation of internal operational systems that support SchoolKit in
delivering services to our clients.

Prior to joining SchoolKit, she served as the Director of Operations and Strategy for a
charter school network, where she led an operations team and spearheaded the
curriculum, assessment, and data reporting strategy for the “Greenfield pilot —an
innovative middle school program designed to empower students with personalized
learning experiences. With a background in operations, program management and
strategy development, Katrina has led numerous impactful initiatives, showcasing
her expertise in aligning cross-functional efforts to optimize operational efficiency
and educational outcomes.

Katrina holds a Master of Education in Education Policy and Management from
Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of
Florida.

Stephanie Jackson is a passionate educator, specializing in strategic planning, accelerated academic growth, leadership development, and data-driven decision making. She has dedicated her career to supporting students to reach their highest potential and ensuring educational equity and opportunity for all students. For the last 18 years she has served in multiple capacities, including as a Chief Academic Officer, school-based administrator, instructional coach, and teacher. During her career she has been named Teacher of the Year and a state Principal of the Year semi-finalist. When she is not focused on moving the educational needle, she is a dedicated mother who can be found on the football field cheering on Austin, 10, on the golf course getting in swings with Carlis, Jr., 12, or on the beach relaxing with a book with her husband of 13 years, Carlis, Sr.

Jess is a purpose-driven professional whose journey has been guided by a profound commitment to meaningful work. With nearly a decade of experience in nonprofit project management, business, community partnerships, and nutrition, her career path is firmly rooted in the pursuit of positive change. At SchoolKit, Jess provides strategic administrative support to the President, advances business development efforts, and helps the organization maintain a strong operational foundation. She is dedicated to supporting and advancing SchoolKit's mission of improving instruction and closing the opportunity gap for underserved students.

Off the clock, you'll find Jess sipping tea, listening to nutrition podcasts, and enjoying live music and stand-up comedy.

Kaylah is an Operations and HR professional with over five years of experience strengthening organizational systems, managing HR functions, and supporting mission-driven teams. They serve as SchoolKit’s Operations Coordinator, where they provide operational and technical support for SchoolKit and its clients.

Previously, as Future Coalition's Operations Coordinator, Kaylah co-led HR initiatives and produced large-scale creative and grant-based projects, including Tokala, featured in Vogue. She began her career in youth-led climate organizations, serving as Zero Hour National’s Director of Operations, where she managed logistics for national events like the Youth Climate Summit and maintained its fiscal sponsorship relationship. Skilled in organizational development, compliance, and project operations, Kaylah is passionate about building equitable operational systems that empower teams to thrive.

Meredith is a Literacy Content Specialist at SchoolKit. In this role, Meredith designs and delivers literacy professional learning and provides teacher coaching and support. Prior to joining SchoolKit, Meredith worked with schools across the nation on aligning curriculum and assessments to Common Core and supporting teachers and leaders with successful curriculum implementation. She supported New York City Public Schools as an ELA coach through content-specific professional development, data inquiry cycles, and leadership team development. She also served as a Literature Curriculum Specialist for a national charter network where she crafted Common Core-aligned curriculum for grades 6-8. Meredith began her career in DC Public Schools, serving for 9 years as a middle school ELA teacher and instructional coach. Each educational capacity in which Meredith has served has cultivated her interest in supporting educators to deliver equitable, high-quality instruction in classroom environments that are both challenging and supportive. Meredith lives in Washington, DC, and spends her free time exploring her favorite city and traveling to see her family on the Jersey Shore.

Autumn serves as the Project Manager for the Program Team at SchoolKit. In this role, she works closely with the Program Team and directly with clients to ensure that large-scale, high-visibility projects run smoothly and efficiently. Autumn has a diverse background in education through teaching, operations, and program management. Before her current role, she worked as an Operations Specialist at Brainly for their Community Tutor Program. In this role, she ensured continuous engagement through effective management strategies to oversee the hiring, onboarding, engagement, and program management for a community of 30+ online tutors. Autumn’s journey in education began as a 1st-grade Teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, where she maintained 100% of students on grade level for ELA and Math.

She has a M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A from Temple University. Outside of work Autumn enjoys exploring NYC and finding the hidden gems, listening to true crime podcasts, and trying new recipes.

Two decades ago, Rachel fell in love with teaching kids. Since, she has spent her career teaching and leading literacy efforts in K-12 settings, including in schools, nonprofits, and the Tennessee Department of Education. At SchoolKit, Rachel directs projects and designs adult learning for teachers, coaches, and leaders of all altitudes. Rachel has a Bachelor of Arts in English and an Instructional Leader Certificate from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Master of Education from Vanderbilt University. Outside of work, Rachel is mom to two elementary-aged children and a bouncy bernedoodle.

Marquita McCullum is an experienced educator with 19 years in public education, including 13 years in leadership roles at the school, district, and consulting levels. She began her career as a technology facilitator, supporting teachers in integrating digital tools, before becoming a classroom teacher and later advancing into leadership as a dean of students, assistant principal, principal, director of elementary education, and school leadership coach. She has established systems, managed complex projects, coached and developed educators, and strengthened instructional programs to meet diverse student needs, always guided by a commitment to serving, elevating others, and creating lasting impact.

Marquita earned her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with research focused on principal retention. She is passionate about empowering leaders and building instructional systems that translate into meaningful outcomes for both students and communities. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, engaging in community service, recruiting for her undergraduate university, exploring adventurous activities like skydiving, and mentoring and coaching others.

Ethan leverages his prior experience as a teacher and principal to help schools, districts, and states meet the expectations of college and career ready standards. He advises educational leaders at all levels to build innovative systems that drive school improvement and student success. In previous roles, he has led highly successful school turnaround projects, helped new schools open, and led a three-year Race to the Top grant for consortium of DC public and charter schools that focused on deepening implementation of the Common Core Standards. Prior to SchoolKit, Ethan was a principal of elementary and high schools in Brooklyn, New York. As a school leader, he led rigorous academic programming that resulted in significant improvements in student outcomes on state assessments and AP exams. Ethan started his career as a New York Teaching Fellow in a bilingual middle school classroom in the Bronx and then worked as a resource room teacher in a Brooklyn high school. He has an Ed.D. in Administration of Special Education Programs from Teachers College, Columbia University and a BA from Dartmouth College. When he’s not supporting school leaders, Ethan can be found running through Rock Creek Park with his dog, Zola.

Nancy Moncada is a proud, first-generation Mexican American educator who has devoted the past 13 years to helping students, teachers, and leaders succeed. She started her journey as a math teacher, served as an assistant principal/instructional coach, and eventually led as a Math Content Lead at Instruction Partners. During this time, she had the privilege of supporting different school districts in the state of Texas and Tennessee. What she is most proud of is the number of times she heard, "I get it. I CAN do this!" Helping others realize their full potential is her biggest passion.

In her free time, Nancy enjoys family time, cooking, and planning her next trip!

Heather (she/her) is a results-driven education leader with over fifteen years of experience in teaching, instructional leadership, curriculum development, and coaching. She has previously served as a curriculum developer for Uncommon Schools and Dream Academy and has had the privilege of teaching in Boston, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. Heather earned her Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College as a Donovan Urban Teachers Scholar and holds a Bachelor's degree from Tulane University. Passionate about increasing equity and breaking down opportunity barriers for learners and educators, Heather is dedicated to making a positive impact.

In her free time, Heather enjoys cooking with her spouse, creating ceramics, playing flag football, game nights with friends, anything related to the ocean, and going on adventures with her family, including her dog Gilbert.

Shilpa (she/her/hers) is a secondary math specialist dedicated to empowering leaders, educators, and students as mathematicians! With a background in elementary education and mathematics, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role, designing and delivering effective math professional learning, coaching, and support. Shilpa holds double majors in elementary education and mathematics from The College of New Jersey, along with a master's degree in Middle School Mathematics from Relay. She began her career as a Summer Teaching Fellow with Uncommon Schools and continued to excel as a Math for America fellow and middle school Algebra 1/mathematics teacher. Her students achieved an impressive 90% passing rate on the Algebra 1 regents, nearly double the NYC average. Shilpa's leadership experience spans roles as a curriculum creator, math content specialist, grade level chair, department chair, and assistant principal in schools across NYC, California, and Texas. Outside of work, Shilpa finds joy in bowling, cooking, playing games (especially Catan!), dancing, and cherishing quality time with her family, including two dogs, five chickens, her spouse, and son.

Ednah designs and implements data systems that empower leaders to transform information into actionable insights. She is an experienced educator, researcher and data analyst with a background that spans social science research, evaluation, and teaching. Prior to Schoolkit, she supported large-scale research initiatives, coordinated publications, and helped shape policy recommendations for education leaders in academia and nonprofit organizations. Her strengths lie in building practical data tools and turning complex analyses into insights that drive equity-centered decisions. She combines her technical skills with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for historically marginalized youth, ensuring that data systems effectively support the mission of building stronger educational communities for educators, students, and families.

A Double Jumbo (Tufts University), with a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology and Masters’ in Child Study and Human Development, Ednah has contributed to the conversations on equity in education and student wellbeing.

John is a math specialist who is dedicated to empowering educators to provide high quality instruction so all students can see themselves as mathematicians. John has 18 years of experience in public school education, having served as a mathematics teacher for grades 5-12, as well as an instructional leader for K-12 mathematics and STEM education. Additionally, John has held contract positions with BirdBrain Technologies as a curriculum developer, and with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture as a STEM Master Teaching Fellow. These experiences have developed John's passions for curriculum implementation, professional learning, and advocating for equity and inclusion within mathematics education.

John holds a doctorate in educational leadership, a master's degree in mathematics education, and a bachelor's degree in mathematics, all from the University of Florida. Outside of work, John enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling with friends and family.

I like to say I put the “Lit” in Literacy because it captures both my passion and my purpose, creating joyful, equitable literacy opportunities for all students, especially those from historically marginalized groups. Born and raised in Memphis, TN, I’ve spent my 13-year career here as an ELA; Creative Writing; and Social Studies teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum specialist, and I’m excited to bring my learnings beyond my city limits with SchoolKit. For me, literacy is about more than decoding words on a page; it’s about equipping students to think deeply, form their own opinions, build empathy, challenge the status quo, and ultimately use their voices to make this world better than they found it.

An unapologetic extrovert, I’m happiest surrounded by people (or pets, I’m a proud dog mom of 2!). When I’m not nerding out about literacy, you can find me reading a book (or 4), laughing with friends over trivia or bingo (bonus if it's music bingo), scream-singing at a concert, dancing, playing tennis, or planning my next getaway.

Patti supports the development and delivery of literacy professional learning. Prior to her role at SchoolKit, Patti was an independent educational consultant supporting schools, CMOs, and national organizations with the implementation of high quality curriculum, ELA curriculum development, and the development and delivery of ELA professional learning opportunities at the local and national level. Through her decades of experience in the field of education across the nation as an elementary school teacher, Special Education teacher, ELL teacher, Literacy Specialist and Literacy Coach, Patti has successfully impacted students’ literacy at all elementary grades levels. Patti also supported leaders and teachers in Arkansas and Tennessee with the implementation of high quality, standards aligned instruction as a Director of School Support for a national partner organization. Patti received her Elementary Education License and B.A. in Social and Rehabilitative Services at Assumption College and her M.S. in Education at University of Wisconsin at Steven Point. Patti enjoys reading, gardening, playing with her dog, and visiting her children.

Brian leads the design and delivery of standards-aligned professional learning in Mathematics. A former upper elementary teacher, Brian was driven to find innovative ways to help teachers grow their practice. This led him to instructional coaching and designing and facilitating professional learning as a Staff Development Coach in Phoenix. At the district level, he created an instructional coaching program across 21 schools and helped build a Teacher Induction Program to strengthen supports for new teachers. In this role, Brian also helped design and support the roll-out of the Common Core State Standards, including professional learning design, facilitation and follow-up coaching. Brian served in other school support and school leader roles in Phoenix before moving to Denver Public Schools to become Principal of an Innovation School. Brian has an M.A. in Educational Administration & Supervision from the University of Phoenix, an M.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, and a B.S in International Relations & Diplomacy from Seton Hall University. When not supporting the work of teachers and leaders, he enjoys the Colorado outdoors, playing volleyball, and spending time with his dog, Bentley.

Amanda oversees the content team and leads the design and delivery of professional learning for SchoolKit. She previously served as the Director of Curriculum for Center City Public Charter Schools in Washington, DC where, over a three year period, she spearheaded the teaching and learning turnaround of the district. This work included the development of a standards-aligned ELA and math curriculum for over 1,400 students in six schools. In this role, she created systems and led a team of coaches to support successful use of these resources, including providing district-wide content and curriculum-specific professional learning. Amanda has presented on standards-aligned content and pedagogy for Student Achievement Partners, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and schools and districts across the country. She began her career in education as a Teach for America elementary classroom teacher in Washington, D.C., before serving as an instructional coach and assistant principal. Amanda earned her Masters in Teaching from American University and B.S. from the University of Mary Washington. An experienced equestrian, Amanda loves spending time at the barn with her horse, Otis.

Nicole Shivers began her career as an elementary special education teacher in the Bronx, NY. She has since held roles as both a school and district administrator, serving educators and students across elementary, middle, and high school settings in Washington, DC. Prior to joining SchoolKit, Nicole was a senior curriculum developer, specializing in creating English Language Arts lessons for multilingual learners. Nicole is passionate about supporting diverse learners and earned her Doctor of Education degree in Special Education from the George Washington University. When she is not working, Nicole enjoys reading, traveling, and randomly singing or quoting lines from Hamilton!

Andrea Smith taught in Washington, D.C. public schools for more than seventeen years. During her time as a middle school math teacher at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School, Ms. Smith was a founding member of the LearnZillion Dream Team, a group of teachers who began creating a library of Common Core aligned interactive math and language arts lessons, and videos to support teachers, students, and parents. She later served as a Math Curriculum Specialist and Staff Developer at E.L. Haynes where she helped lead the school’s transition to Common Core State Standards of Mathematics. In 2014 she joined the LearnZillion staff full-time as a Math Content Specialist where she collaborated with math instructional coaches and teachers from across the country to design a companion curriculum of rich mathematical task based lesson plans. Ms. Smith has also worked as a Common Core Advocate with Student Achievement Partners. As an EPIC award-winning teacher, she was part of the first cohort of America Achieves teaching fellows where she partnered with education leaders nationwide to raise teacher voice in matters of curriculum, assessment, and policy. Prior to entering the classroom, she worked as a legislative assistant at the Education Trust, advocating for expanding excellence and equity in education for all students. Ms. Smith holds a M.A.T. degree from Trinity University.

Meghan is a dedicated education professional with more than 15 years experience in literacy, curriculum design, and professional development. Leveraging her experience as a classroom teacher and district leader, she designs and facilitates high-quality resources and training to support educators in implementing evidence-based instructional practices.

Prior to joining the SchoolKit team, Meghan was an Associate Partner at Education Elements where she led district partnerships across multiple states, focusing on improving academic outcomes for all students through school redesign, personalized learning, and curriculum design and adoption. Her work included scaling literacy initiatives, developing professional learning plans for K-12 educators, and advising districts on strategic academic planning.

In her earlier roles at Memphis-Shelby County Schools and TNTP, Meghan developed districtwide professional learning plans grounded in high-quality instructional materials, created data-driven progress monitoring systems, and oversaw the implementation of high-impact literacy programs. She is passionate about driving student success through innovative, research-backed approaches to literacy instruction.

Rachel has been serving students, families, and educators in New York City,
Washington, DC, and beyond over the past two decades as a teacher, coach,
administrator, and consultant. Prior to SchoolKit, Rachel was the principal of the Center
City PCS Brightwood campus in Washington, DC. During her tenure, the school was
consistently rated as a Tier 1 school by the DC Public Charter School Board
and received various accolades, including the National Title 1 Distinguished School
Award, “All Star School” designation from the Office of the State Superintendent of
Education, and most recently, having been named by TNTP as a "trajectory-changing
school.” Rachel, a nationally recognized educator and leader who was awarded the
2018 Milken Educator award, began her career in education as a New York City
Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary and middle school students in the Bronx,
NY. Rachel earned her B.S. from New York University, her M.S. from Mercy College,
and recently completed her studies in the Education Policy and Leadership doctoral
program at American University with a focus in early literacy interventions. Outside of
work, Rachel’s passions lie in the arts, enjoying great food and music, and experiencing
exciting travel adventures with her family.

Sarah designs and delivers math professional learning and provides coaching and support to teachers and leaders. As an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, Sarah participated in the Americorps program Jumpstart that sparked her passion for educational equity and social justice initiatives. She began her career as a TFA corps member, where she had the opportunity to be a founding member of a first-of-its-kind elementary school in South Carolina focused on providing students and teachers with access to high quality curriculum and reshaping the state’s approach to public education. As a teacher, Sarah supported her students in achieving their goals and was recognized by NWEA for her high level of student growth in mathematics. Sarah has served as a teacher leader, department chair, and instructional coach. She has also worked with Great Minds to support the facilitation of professional learning for teachers and leaders across the country implementing Eureka Math. Sarah lives in Charleston, South Carolina, and enjoys spending her free time out in nature with her dogs, Avery and Sophie, or curled up with a good book.

As Managing Director of Program at SchoolKit, Tammy manages and executes professional learning and strategy partnerships with states, districts and schools across the country focused on High-Quality Instructional Materials and equitable instructional practices. She spent the first 15 years of her career working to close the opportunity gap for students in Washington, DC, as a Teach For America corps member in D.C. Public Schools and then as a founding teacher, instructional coach, and district leader at E.L. Haynes, an award-winning public charter school. Since then, Tammy has worked with organizations including UnboundEd, Student Achievement Partners, and Learnzillion supporting teachers and leaders with the design and implementation of standards-aligned instructional programs and resources.

Tammy holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Masters in Teaching from American University and was a National Board Certified Teacher. A native Coloradan, Tammy loves spending time connecting with and learning about nature.

Staci is an accomplished educational leader with extensive experience in curriculum design, instructional coaching, and strategic planning. In her current role as Director of Content & Training at SchoolKit, she oversees project teams and collaborates with educational leaders to drive initiatives that improve instruction and student learning. She is deeply passionate about providing instructional support that empowers educators to grow and succeed, helping schools and districts achieve excellence through innovative solutions and data-driven strategies. Staci has dedicated her career to improving literacy and student outcomes, supporting diverse learners, and fostering equitable practices in education. Her unwavering commitment to instructional support ensures that teachers and leaders have the tools and guidance they need to create meaningful and lasting change.

Outside of work, she treasures time with her husband and children, finding joy and inspiration in her family life.

Ernesto (he/him/él) is a math specialist dedicated to empowering others through equitable math instruction. With a background in teaching, school leadership, and education advocacy, he brings a wealth of experience to his role, developing professional learning, coaching, and supporting the implementation of high-quality instructional practices.

Ernesto holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University and a B.A. in Political Science from UC Riverside. He began his career as a math teacher in Richmond, California with Teach for America and later served as Dean of Culture & Instruction at Summit Public Schools. Outside of work, Ernesto enjoys traveling and trying new foods.

Sarah designs high quality professional learning experiences in Math and RLA in support of schools, districts, and states implementing high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). She partners with clients to create systems and structures that support their specific context and lead to equitable outcomes for all students. Sarah joins SchoolKit with 15 years of experience in NPOs and schools. As a school leader, Sarah led multiple initiatives, including HQIM implementation for Math and RLA, supporting new teacher cohorts, and supporting the ML instructional program at elementary and middle schools.

Outside of school, Sarah is a mommy of two. You can find her spending quality time with her family, enjoying delicious meals together (she’s a foodie and Yelp Elite!), or exploring a new playground.

In his role, Greg sets the vision for SchoolKit’s instructional services with districts and state education agencies across the country. Greg brings over 20 years of experience in education and an extensive background in curriculum and instruction to the SchoolKit team. Prior to his work with SchoolKit, Greg served as Chief Schools Officers with Independence Mission Schools (IMS) in Philadelphia. In this role, Greg supervised 15 PK-8 schools and oversaw Academics for the network. During his tenure, Greg led a comprehensive refresh of the IMS’s academic strategy that resulted in the adoption of high-quality curriculum in both math and ELA, resulting in a 10% improvement in student grade level proficiency. Prior to his experience with IMS, Greg spent over 13 years with TNTP, including eight (8) years as Vice President and Partner. During that time, Greg led the scaling of TNTP’s Teaching Fellows Programs and oversaw a range of consulting engagements with school districts across the country, including some of TNTP’s earliest academic service offerings. Greg started his career as a high school math and science teacher in New York City. When he’s not working with leaders and teachers, he enjoys cooking for his spouse and following the directions of his two children, Annabelle and Quinn, and dog, Daisy.

Rebecca Ward is a passionate educator with experience as a teacher, coach, consultant, and systems-level leader. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in North Carolina and later became a teacher-leader in Boston Public Schools. She has since partnered with schools and districts nationwide to strengthen literacy instruction and implement professional learning that drives lasting change. Over time, her work has expanded from individualized coaching to leading large-scale initiatives that support district-wide improvement and instructional equity. She joins SchoolKit after serving as Associate Director of Partnership Development at Teaching Learning Alliance, where she focused on building partnerships and supporting strategic growth. Rebecca holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Rebecca has presented at national and regional conferences, balancing joy and justice in her approach. A southern transplant to Boston, she is a proud mother of two and enjoys cooking, reading and spending time outdoors with her family.

Jayson Wilkinson currently serves as Director of Program. He supports state and district leaders with improving student outcomes through planning, training, and coaching around high-quality instructional materials. Jayson has over 17 years of experience both in the classroom and out. After graduating from The Ohio State University with a B.A. in History and African American Studies, he started his teaching career in Columbus City Public Schools, Ohio. Over the following years, Jayson held leadership roles in urban school districts in Ohio, New Jersey, and Washington, DC before finally coming back home to Montgomery County, MD. Additionally, Jayson served as a cohort member in the following organizations: National Urban Fellowship’s America’s Leaders of Change and Education Pioneers as a Fellow. He also supported pre-service educators as an Adjunct Professor of Elementary Social Studies Methods both at Johns Hopkins University and American University.

Before joining the Program Team at SchoolKit, Jayson served as Senior Manager of Professional Development for Gates Ventures, working out of Bill Gates’ personal office, overseeing professional development strategy and implementation for their education initiatives. In his downtime, Jayson enjoys traveling with his wife, sons, and dogs anywhere warm and sunny.

As Director, Ali works with state, district, and school leaders to improve instruction and student achievement by building and strengthening instructional systems, practices, and capacity. She has more than 18 years of experience working in both charter and traditional public schools and education non-profit organizations. As a learner first and foremost, Ali seeks ways to develop those around her to achieve excellence in their roles and support our most critical partners in this work – teachers, students, and families.
Prior to joining SchoolKit, Ali spent ten years as a literacy coach, literacy director, and Head of Academics with a charter school network. In these roles, she supported the ongoing development of school-based teams through curriculum adoption, comprehensive professional development, data analysis, and instructional coach development.
Ali received her B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Illinois and her M.Ed. in Reading Education from Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of Education. When she’s not at work, she’s enjoying food, family, and friends – preferably outdoors. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her elementary-aged daughters, her husband, and a Bernedoodle named August.