PRESENTER PROFILES

2024 BOOST Conference Speakers & Presenters

John Acosta, MBA (he/him/his)

John is currently working at San Luis Obispo County Office of Education as the Homeless Innovation Program Coordinator. The majority of his responsibility works with the county’s wraparound service progra called S.A.F.E. (Services Affirming Family Empowerment) System of Care working with key leaders in bettering the services that are provided for the families within the couty. His work also includes educating, sharing, and training other local educational agencies and community-based organizations about the S.A.F.E. System of Care throughout the state of California .

Akilah Alleyne (she/her/hers)

Akilah Alleyne has been an advocate for quality out-of-school time programs and curriculum for over a decade. After matriculating through a K-12 education system outside of her own neighborhood, where she was bussed to schools to pursue a quality education, she has found purpose in creating and implementing high-quality OST programs in underserved and underrepresented communities. The efforts of these OST programs were to help reduce the achievement gap, prevent summer learning loss, and increase accessibility to educational opportunities that support diverse populations, center youth voice and allow youth to see themselves in the subject material. Akilah has led trainings in youth development,  social emotional learning and cultural representation and responsiveness. For the past year, in her role as the Science Action Club Education Program Coordinator, she has been thoughtful about best practices for implementing a nature-based STEM program in the OST landscape and ensuring that the youth and youth leaders can make meaningful connections between their own knowledge and the natural world around them,

Juan Alvarado (he/him/his)

Juan is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and a revered leadership expert, drawing from his extensive experience as a U.S. Army war veteran, an ELP Staff, Manager, and ELP Director, He now trains School Admin and ELPs throughout the United States. School districts and their Expanded Learning Programs connect with Juan to enhance their team's leadership and their staff's engagement, resulting in a heightened staff understanding of their value and their importance of their job duties. Juan's leadership teachings and trainings has empowered over 4500 school administrators and ELP staff. Juan is hailed as Authentic, Relatable, and Motivational. Juan is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Sera Anello

Sera Anello serves as the Manager, Curriculum and Educational Content at MindUP | The GoldieHawn Foundation. She is a passionate advocate for holistic education, drawing upon her background as a former elementary school teacher and a leader in social-emotional learning(SEL) within the School District of Philadelphia. Sera earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialized focus in SEL from the University of Virginia, paving the way for her career as a social-emotional learning consultant and professional development facilitator. Her expertise lies in the integration of whole school wellness, curriculum development, SEL, and mindfulness education.

Cassandra Arechiga (she/her/hers)

Woodcraft Rangers' Organization Culture and Wellness Manager, is a relationship-based leader with seven years of trauma-informed care experience. She is an advocate for mental health awareness for queer youth and communities of color. Cassandra's BAs are in psychology, and multicultural studies, with a minor in gender and sexuality. She provides DEI agency workshops and implements restorative systems. Her dedication to maintaining healthy, effective, and growth-oriented environments is reflected in her one-on-one check-ins, consultations, and involvement in crisis interventions.

 Jasmine Arjon

Woodcraft Rangers' Director of Programs, is a dynamic leader with over 16 years of experience leading program teams in expanded learning. Jasmine manages contracts at over 31 school sites year-round, and over 40 intersessional programs. She is passionate about how expanded learning offers students a uniquely enriching experience and a safe place to belong. Jasmine received her BA in communications from CSU Northridge.

Andy Arrieta (he/him/his)

Andy commenced his tenure at LA's BEST in January 2011. As the Director of Student Support Services, he leads a dedicated team, providing essential support to students facing behavioral challenges and disabilities. This involves devising comprehensive strategies accommodations, and even addressing their medical needs. Andy collaborates closely with Regional Directors and the LAUSD Beyond the Bell Administration to assess student behavior patterns and review IEPs. Along this remarkable journey, Andy earned a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and is set to complete his Master's Degree in Special Education by February 2024.

Erika Bare, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Erika Bare has been an educator for over 20 years, currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent in the Ashland School District in Oregon. A special education teacher by training, she is passionate about supporting all students through individual supports to reach their limitless potential. With her co-author Tiffany Burns, she wrote Connecting Through Conversation: A Playbook for Schools. She also provides consultation with school leaders and professional development for schools and districts.

Meghan Belknap (she/her/hers)

Meghan is an Area Manager with Champions Before and After School Programs, serving elementary aged youth. She currently resides in in Bothell, WA, supporting the Champions programs in the Northshore School District.  Meghan has over 20 years of experience working within youth development. Over the past 9 years with KinderCare - Champions, Meghan has used her field experience to mentor teams nationwide. During the on-set of COVID closures in 2020, she played a critical role in pioneering one of the nation’s first full-day learning programs to support school aged children of essential workers.

Meghan has a passion for ensuring OST programs maintain high levels of Educational Excellence and Quality through culturally diverse curriculum, social emotional learning, and supporting teachers to meet the needs of each and every child in program. She influences her peers as the Quality Team Lead for her region. Crafting environments that create belonging and community are at the heart of Meghan’s mission within her youth programming work.

Liz Belser (she/her/hers)

Liz Belser works in the field of physical education in Northwest ISD, Justin, Texas. Liz is a highly motivated and dedicated teaching professional of 32 years of experience. She is an effective leader with an ability to manage and increase productivity within a team with the proven track record of collaborating with the school and community by broadening the experiences of students, enhancing academics, and striving for excellence in education. Liz has been using 9 Square in the Air with her students for years. Come to our showcase workshop and see how 9 Square in the Air will work well with your programming for students. 

Robin Berlinsky

Robin Berlinsky is a self-proclaimed champion of the WOOHOO spirit and cheerleader for high-quality education. She is an adjunct professor in the School of Education at The College of Charleston where she teaches future early childhood educators, the creator of The Learning Ring, a 180-day system that connects the afterschool space to the classroom and she hosts a weekly podcast, Energy Matters: In the Classroom with Robin Berlinsky. In her free time she loves to travel, read, and cook creative meals.

Joe Bertoletti (he/him/his)

Joe Bertoletti brings over 20 years of experience in working to change the odds for young people through direct service, capacity building, and building systems in the education, human services, and youth development fields. Joe helped launch and scale the Forum For Youth Investment’s Weikart Center from a small unit that was serving a handful of partners to partnering with over 150 local, state, and national systems in 3 countries by 2020. During his 15-year tenure at the Forum, he managed rigorous research and evaluation projects, multi-year initiatives, and supported organizational development and change management efforts.

Christina Biasca (she/her/hers)

Christina is a Program Coordinator for the Napa County Office of Education. She holds a passion for sharing knowledge and helping participants develop their skills in youth leadership, staff coaching, and integrating STEAM in Expanded Learning offerings. She is deeply committed to mentorship and guidance to youth and professionals and inspiring them to become future leaders in their communities. Notable projects Christina is currently working on include: Alameda County Office of Education’s Region 4 Site Coordinator Professional Development series, ASAPConnect’s School of Leadership and Facilitation TA Fellow and Coach participant and STEAM.

Sierra Billingslea (they/them/theirs)

Sierra Billingslea (They/Them) is a Summer Arts for Learning Academy Coordinator at Arts for Learning Maryland. They completed a Master's Degree in Philosophy at Concordia University in Montréal, specializing in Phenomenology and Critical Race Theory. Sierra went on to teach English in Baltimore County Public Schools before transitioning to a nonprofit career in racial justice and education. In their spare time, Sierra writes essays and poetry. Their most recent academic work, "Illegal Skins, White Masks: A Critical Phenomenology of Irregular Child Migrants in the United States," was published in Puncta: Journal for Critical Phenomenology.

Marianne Bird, MS (she/her/hers)

Marianne Bird discovered her desire to work with young people as a teenage summer camp counselor. She is the 4-H Youth Development Advisor in Sacramento and conducts research and educational programs in science, youth leadership, and camp. She is committed to bringing 4-H resources to Expanded Learning partners, both locally and statewide. These include staff development, curriculum, teen engagement, and even overnight camp experiences.  Marianne has authored articles and published curriculum specific to science education in afterschool. She still loves sharing the outdoors with children and falling asleep under the stars.

Elinor Blankenship (she/her/hers)

Children of all ages! We introduce to you Elinor Blankenship! Originally from Kentucky, Elinor began her afterschool career with the YMCA while finishing her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Asbury University.  She thought about running away to the circus, but they weren’t hiring so instead she worked for YMCAs in Kentucky, Ohio and finally Utah.  Elinor joined the Greatest Show at the Utah Afterschool Network to help afterschool professionals reach astounding heights and provide the best quality of programming possible. She loves to help programs juggle the perfect mix of fun and learning.  

Joshua Blecha (he/him/his)

Before his work as a statewide leader in the field of Expanded Learning, Josh started as an over-enthusiastic tutor supporting a local Afterschool program. Josh applied his creative skillset leading classrooms of children on academic journeys that were reminiscent of his childhood camping trips with his 5 sisters. 

Josh currently supports over 300 Expanded Learning programs by providing technical assistance in the Fresno County area. In his work, he dedicates a majority of his time finding innovative ways to inspire people to improve their world around them to indirectly amplify the world within them.

Andrew Blickle, M.P. P. (he/him/his)

Andrew Blickle has been with Life Pieces To Masterpieces since completing his VISTA service with LPTM in 2017, serving in a number of capacities and currently working as the Director of Public Engagement and Impact. He spent 2022 as a national Afterschool Ambassador with the Afterschool Alliance, one of 17 OST practitioners selected nationwide to uplift the field through media, storytelling, and advocacy. At LPTM, he has organized and facilitated or co-facilitated workshops in “social change through youth development” to artists, activists, educators, and community leaders from more than 50 countries.

Melvin Bonilla

Woodcraft Rangers' Sr HR Director transformed HR from a team of one to seven, with further expansion plans. Melvin's HR innovations include streamlined hiring and paperless onboarding with ADP. During COVID, he strategized remote work and safety protocols for childcare staffing for frontline medical responders. He prioritizes organizational culture, like implementing onsite Live Scans and NHO welcome tote swag bags, showcasing his commitment to accessibility, transparency, and care.

Kelsey Boone

Kelsey joined FRAC in July 2020 as a policy analyst on the child nutrition team before becoming a senior policy analyst in September 2022. In this role, she is responsible for FRAC’s work on Pandemic EBT and Summer EBT, as well as supporting the team’s work on matters relating to summer and afterschool meals.

Kelsey comes to FRAC from the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities where she worked as an intern on the Food Assistance team. Her background includes interning at Economic Mobility Pathways in Boston, where she focused on advocacy efforts aimed at state safety net programs. She has a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and an M.P.P. from the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Vickie Brett, Esq. (she/her/hers)

Vickie Brett was born and raised in Southern California and through the Inclusive Education Project she focuses on advocating and educating families about their legal rights. Vickie is committed to strengthening her clients who come to her disheartened and beaten down by the current education system. Because Vickie is bilingual, she represents and empowers many monolingual Spanish-speaking families.  She is a dedicated pro bono attorney for the Superior Court of Los Angeles’s Juvenile and Dependency 317(e) Panel and in the past was a supervising attorney for the UCI Law School's Special Education Law Project.

Hamish Brewer (he/him/his)

Hamish Brewer known as the relentless, tattooed, skateboarding principal from Northern Virginia isn't your normal principal. Hamish is high octane, constantly calling on his students to "Be Relentless." Mr. Brewer has become known as an educational disrupter who transcends the status quo and typical educational norms.

Julee Brooks (she/her/hers)

Woodcraft Rangers‘ CEO is an ambitious creative visionary, social entrepreneur, and strategic nonprofit change-maker with nearly two decades experience delivering high-caliber programming for families and guiding family-focused agencies through dynamic organizational growth. Julee possesses a unique combination of sophisticated thought leadership, keen business acumen and skilled relationship building that ensures excellence for institutions, programmatically and administratively.

Sheilah Brooks (she/her/hers)

Sheilah M. Brooks is one of three of the System of Support for Expanded Learning (SSEL) for Region 7 (Merced, Fresno, and Tulare). In this role as a TA provider, Sheilah’ s ongoing duty is to create needs-driven support services for quality EXLPs. Sheilah supports Merced and Mariposa County Offices Expanded Learning Programs. She partners with the stakeholders building the capacity of Expanded Learning Programs (EXLPs) for Merced and Mariposa County. As a Master Practitioner of the Compassionate Systems Framework with the Center for Systems Awareness she realized the real meaning of Servant Learning.

Phil Brown (he/him/his)

Phil, originally from England, joined the High 5 team in May 2015. Phil brings high energy and devotion to the Adventure field and has presented at many conferences both nationally and internationally on the subject of Adventure Education. He is also one of the co-authors of the book “Tinker: Building Purposeful Experiences from Classic Adventure Activities” and the producer/host of “Vertical Playpen” – the podcast all about Adventure and Experiential Education. 

Fred Buggs (he/him/his)

Fred has spent over 25 twenty years in in the field of Afterschool while exuding a passion for helping our country's youth to succeed in education and life.

Currently, Fred provides leadership and guidance to the Statewide System of Field Support, local educational agencies, community-based organizations, and grantees/schools for the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program and the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program.

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris (she/her/hers)

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an award-winning physician, researcher, and public health leader who has spent her career on the front lines of some of our world’s most pressing public health challenges. As California’s first-ever Surgeon General, she helped guide the state’s COVID response, co-chairing the committee to recommend vaccine allocation and helping California achieve the lowest cumulative mortality of any large state. Amid the throes of the COVID pandemic, Dr. Burke Harris successfully launched a first-in-the-nation statewide effort to train over 20,000 primary care providers on how to screen for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and respond with trauma-informed care. 

Tiffany Burns (she/her/hers)

Tiffany loves working with kids. In her two decades in education, she taught elementary, middle, and high school students, and worked as an instructional coach, curriculum writer, and university adjunct instructor in Oregon, Alaska, and Mexico. She loves her current role, as an elementary school principal where she gets to lead, learn, and play with her favorite people–kids and their grown-ups.

Ann Butler (she/her/hers)

A frustrated Culinary Arts high school teacher, Ann Butler knew that teaching younger children would be a better answer to getting kids excited about real food.  Now, 14 years later, and having taught over 600,000 youth, Ann is passionate about sharing the "recipe" for starting and growing your cooking programs.  A former Michelle Obama Chefs Move to School chef and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Day ambassador, Ann has traveled the country providing the tools and techniques for kids in the kitchen! 

Akilah Byrd (she/her/hers)

Akilah Byrd is the Director of Expanded Learning Programs at the Alameda County Office of Education and the Region 4 SSEL Lead. She is an award-winning administrator with prior elementary and secondary classroom teaching experience and holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Social Justice in Education. She was formerly a site administrator for ten years and in 2020 she was named the local region 6 Elementary Principal of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA). Region 4 expanded learning encompasses Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Solano counties.

Lauren Cage, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Lauren Cage has been with The Tech Interactive in San Jose, CA since 2012, where she has held several educator roles. She currently serves as Professional Development Specialist, developing lesson plans and leading professional development for educators on design challenge learning. She has previously held educator roles at the Children Discovery Museum of San Jose and David Owsley Museum of Art in Muncie, Indiana. Pre-COVID, Lauren developed and ran S.T.E.A.M. workshops for youth, including multiple workshops for the nationally recognized Make-HER series at Sunnyvale Library. 

Liz Calderón-García (she/her/hers)

Liz Calderón-García has been the Community School Coordinator at Kennedy since August 2014. She completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology at San Jose State University and has a master's degree in Public Administration. She is bilingual and a bicultural parent engagement expert who supports bridging school and home while navigating new environments and accessing services. As a Community School Coordinator, she works closely with McKinney Vento and Newcomer families in addressing barriers to learning.

Claudia Chambers (she/her/hers)

Claudia Chambers is the Expanded Learning Opportunities Curriculum Specialist for Anaheim Elementary School District which provides enrichment opportunities for over ten thousand TK-6th grade students in Anaheim.  She is a product of AESD and has proudly devoted her 13 year career to the AESD community  at many capacities throughout her adult life and has been fortunate to work with many amazing educators. It is both an honor and privilege to be able to bring engaging and equitable programs that focus on the growth of the whole child. Our students and families deserve it!

Sam Choe (he/him/his)

Sam Choe is the Chief Manager at IRONQUAD in Santa Ana, CA. Sam has been in the FPV Industry for over 6 years with a background in aviation for 7 years. Sam is currently overseeing R&D, training curriculum, and technical support team.

Jennifer Cisneros (she/her/hers)

Jennifer Cisneros has served in the Expanded Learning field for 23 years. Being exposed to the Boys & Girls Clubs movement as a volunteer in 1999 , she discovered her passion for youth development. This led to serving in leadership roles at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, from a frontline staff to the Vice President of Youth Development Services, supporting 56 program sites. Currently, she works at Santa Ana Unified School District as the Director of Expanded Learning, overseeing 48 TK-12th after school programs, serving 7,500+ students daily, 18,000+ annually. Her life goal is to help youth unlock their passion and find purpose!

Charles Clancy (he/him/his)

With nearly a decade of experience in expanded learning programs, Charles began his career as a tutor at multiple locations throughout Fresno. 

Charles is currently employed as a Program Specialist for the Regional Transformational Assistance Center for Community Schools at the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. In this role, he collaborates with Local Education Agencies in providing guidance and support around one of the state's seven initiatives for transforming schools: Community Schools.

Dr. Krystal Clemons, LSC, NCC, NCSC, ACS (she/her/hers)

Dr. Krystal L. Clemons is an assistant professor of counseling at Denver Seminary. She is a licensed school counselor (VA), a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Nationally Certified School Counselor, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. Dr. Clemons served as a school counselor on the elementary and secondary levels. ASCA recognized her during Black History Month in 2021 as a Black school counseling professional who made significant contributions to the field. Her research interests include the Black Church, Black student achievement in K-12 schools, anti-racism in school counseling and counselor education, and school-community partnerships.

Carrie Collins (she/her/hers)

Carrie Collins has served as the Family Advocate Services Director for the Link Family Resource Center, and the Program Director for the Medically Fragile Homeless Program in Atascadero since 2020.  Previous to this, Carrie was a Training and Consulting Specialist with Strategies 2.0 at Children’s Bureau. She provided training and consultation throughout the state to assist organizations and individuals in their work with family strengthening and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Melissa Connerton

Melissa Connerton joined The Wallace Foundation in 2016. As senior communications officer for the foundation’s Youth Development initiatives, she is responsible for strategic communications planning, knowledge dissemination, and outreach in the areas of afterschool, social and emotional learning, and summer learning.

Before joining Wallace, Connerton spent 17 years working in public relations and strategic communications in both agency and in-house capacities. Most recently, she was vice president and director of client services at CooperKatz and Company, managing clients in the education, healthcare, and professional services sectors. She also served as senior publicist for the 92nd Street Y, a cultural institution and community center in Manhattan. Earlier in her career, she worked as an associate editor at Blackwell Journals (now Wiley), a publisher of peer-reviewed journals in the humanities and social sciences.

Connerton received a master’s degree from Boston College and a bachelor’s degree from Smith College, both in English language and literature. She has served on the Board of the Smith College Club of New York City. Connerton credits her college junior year abroad in London for inspiring her love of theater and lukewarm ales as well as her enduring inability to refer to French fries as anything but “chips.” Connerton is a 20-year resident of Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and the two houseplants she’s been able to maintain.

Delia Contreras (she/her/hers)

Delia Contreras is the Manager of Research and Evaluation at Monarch School where she has implemented innovative data tracking methods to improve services for students and families. In addition, she collaborates with the Jacobs Institute for Innovation and Education at the University of San Diego on one-of-a-kind research that measures the socio-emotional learning trends of unhoused youth. Her priority lies on creating educational programming that focuses on facilitating knowledge so that students can find their own source of intrinsic power and make informed and intentional life-changing choices. 

Mindy Corless, MSW (she/her/hers)

Ms. Corless supports Foster Youth Coordinating Programs Statewide with the Los Angeles County Office of Education Foster Youth Technical Assistance Program. Previouslt she worked at the San Diego County Office of Education, Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program, for 19 years. Ms. Corless has provided in-home case management services to families and supervised a short-term care group home facility for children ages 6-12. She is an advocate for students in foster care to receive appropriate educational services and resources.

Hector Cortes

ELOP Coordinator, Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF) is an experienced coordinator in ELO-Programs and expanded learning programs, He has been in the Expanded Learning field for almost 5 years and a part of ICEF for 3 years now. He received a BA in Child & Adolescent Development, (Applied Developmental Science) from California State University, Northridge. In his role he focuses on keeping ICEF ELO programs in compliance with CDE guidelines and is responsible for bridging any communication gaps between his organization and the different CBO’s his organization partners with. Hector is passionate about change and everyday progress.

Lupita Cruz (she/her/hers)

Lupita Cruz is the Assistant Director of Expanded Learning at Santa Ana Unified School District. With a career spanning over 19 years in the fields of education and youth development, Lupita has contributed her expertise to various roles within city programs, non-profit organizations, a county office, and her current school district. She has actively participated in State and County-wide Expanded Learning workgroup teams and enjoyed supporting the System of Support for Expanded Learning. Her true passion lies in training, creating innovative youth programs, and mentoring individuals to fully leverage their strengths.  

Caitlin Davis

Caitlin is an experienced STEM educator passionate about designing science learning that is accessible, engaging, and empowering for all learners, especially those from traditionally marginalized communities. As Manager of Educator Training and Support, she prioritizes the needs and experiences of educators, recognizing the significance of their work for girls in their communities.

Prior to her role at Techbridge Girls, Caitlin was a dual language science teacher, STEM grant coordinator, and Blended Learning Specialist. In these roles, she designed and implemented curricula in both English and Spanish, coordinated site-wide events, and trained staff members on best practices for technology implementation. She has extensive knowledge in social-emotional learning, curriculum development, bilingual education, and science literacy.

Caitlin holds a B.S. in Biology and a Master of Education from the University of California, San Diego. During her free time she enjoys practicing yoga and spending time in nature hiking, camping, and backpacking.

Jeff Davis (he/him/his)

Jeff Davis is the Executive Director of the California AfterSchool Network (CAN) and has worked with CAN since its inception in 2006 as program coordinator, director, and interim executive director. Throughout his tenure, Jeff has had the opportunity to make many meaningful contributions to the Expanded Learning field, has played an integral role in creating quality frameworks, and has organized diverse stakeholders to support & advance youth-centered programs and initiatives. Jeff greatly understands the Expanded Learning landscape as a seasoned Expanded Learning stakeholder.

Dr. Marquita Davis (she/her/hers)

Dr. Marquita Davis is KinderCare’s Chief Academic Officer, overseeing the development of KinderCare’s high-quality educational programs, educator professional development, quality and accreditation initiatives, research and evaluation, inclusion services, and public policy. Marquita has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education, non-profit leadership, government and philanthropy, including nearly six years as deputy director of Early Learning at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where she led the foundation’s multi-state early learning strategy.

Sheryl Davis, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Sheryl Evans Davis is Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. Davis started her career as a kindergarten teacher. She is an advocate for equity, and educational opportunity for all. Davis created Everybody Reads, a summer learning, family literacy and reading development initiative centering BIPOC youth. She also designed curriculum centered around social justice, racial equity, student wellness and achievement. Davis holds a BA from San Francisco State, an MPA from the University of San Francisco, and an Ed.D. program at USC’s Rossier School of Education.

Andrés De La Peza (he/him/his)

Chief Strategy Officer at Woodcraft Rangers, is responsible for direct fundraising, partnerships, and marketing endeavors, ensuring they align with long-term objectives. With a rich decade-long journey in nonprofits, he envisions Woodcraft as a leader of youth development excellence. With a vision to create opportunities that bring positive value to Woodcraft's community, he promotes the sustainability of the organization the gold standard within youth development in Los Angeles. 

Ricky Del Rosario (he/him/his)

In today's fast-paced professional world, we're all a bit like Ricky, balancing plates like circus performers with a caffeine addiction! But fear not, because his story isn't just relatable, it's a goldmine of lessons. By diving in, you'll uncover the secrets to turning challenges into opportunities for growth. From mastering courses, networking, to diversifying skills, Ricky's incredible journey is a crash course in staying relevant. So buckle up for laughs, learning, and maybe a tear, as Ricky shows us how to transform fragility into resilience, propelling personal success and organizational triumph in this ever-changing landscape.

Shavon Dotson (she/her/hers)

Shavon Dotson is a distinguished professional in the field of youth development and an accomplished training facilitator. In the last five years, her influence has extended through her role as a facilitator, where she has conducted numerous youth development training sessions. Her expertise spans a wide range, from elevating program quality to championing inclusivity, particularly in terms of racial equity and LGBTQ+ representation, within out-of-school time programs. Shavon's journey in youth development serves as a testament to her unwavering commitment to the field and her continuous quest to enhance the lives of the youth she serves.  

James Doyle, Ed.D. (he/him/his)

James Doyle is a Program Officer at The Grable Foundation supporting grantmaking activities for youth-serving organizations across the Greater Pittsburgh region. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Pittsburgh Environmental Charter School and as Executive Director of Higher Achievement Pittsburgh. James is a board committee member for the Jefferson Regional Foundation and a member of the Remake Learning council. James earned a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree at the University of Pittsburgh focused in Out-of-School Learning.

Bryn Drescher (she/her/hers)

Bryn Drescher: Transformational Speaker, Facilitator & Mindset Coach with 10+ years of experience. Known for her electric energy, humor, and insight, Bryn empowers individuals to pursue their dreams. She excels in mental conditioning for educators, athletes, and entrepreneurs. As a Senior Facilitator at EduCare Foundation, she empowered educators and students. Now, Bryn's mission extends beyond LAUSD to help people discover their greatness and change the world. She believes that everyone has magic inside and she gets the privilege of helping bring it out and put it on display for all to witness and enjoy.

Cathleen (Catie) Drew, M.A.T. (she/her/hers)

Cathleen (Catie) Drew joined the Drug Enforcement Administration in 2006 as the Education Coordinator for the DEA Museum and is now a Sr. Prevention Program Manager in DEA’s Community Outreach and Prevention Support Section. Catie oversees the Operation Prevention drug prevention education initiative, and DEA’s drug prevention publications. She previously worked for the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Catie has BA in Environmental Biology from the University of Colorado, and an MAT in Museum Education from the George Washington University. 

Robin Elliott, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Robin Elliott, Ed.D. is currently the Associate Dean, School of Education and SEL Director at Long Island University, Brooklyn Campus. She provides Professional Development and implementation of best pedagogical practices in SEL, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in pre-service, in-service educators and university faculty/staff/students. With over 28 years of teaching and administrative experience, she supports the emotional intelligence, resilience and cultural competence of students, educators, and communities with a focus on marginalized populations and those affected by poverty and adverse childhood experiences.

Matthew Emerzian, MBA

For the past 15 years, Matthewhas been on a mission to create a world where everyone embraces how much and why they matter. He is the bestselling author of four books, a highly sought-after keynote speaker, having taken the stage for Zoom, Google, Outreach, HP, Jack in the Box, Chili’s, Genentech, Amgen, and more, and his work has been hailed by Oprah.com, The Today Show, Fast Company, and several other media outlets. 

Matt is also the founder and CEO of Every Monday Matters (EMM), a non-profit organization that has impacted millions of lives. The EMM K-12 Education Program serves over 3 million students nationwide. The EMM Employee Engagement and Culture Program is changing the cultures of companies of all size. And the EMM Senior Living Program is bringing dignity and purpose to our senior population who deserves to know how much and why they matter.

After achieving great success in the music industry as the SVP of Robert Kardashian’s music marketing company and working on projects for the biggest artists in the world, including U2, Avril Lavigne, Coldplay, and more, Matt woke up on a Monday morning with a massive panic attack that turned into chronic anxiety and depression. Realizing everything he thought mattered actually didn’t, he set out on a journey to rediscover his life’s purpose and why he matters. Matt realized that mattering is at the heart of everything and developed The Mattering Mindset™— a methodology that has transformed countless lives, organizations, and communities.

Elle Essenmacher (she/her/hers)

Elle Essenmacher is an Account Executive at the Sanford Harmony Academy at National University. She has decades of experience leading curriculum, instruction, and assessment initiatives at the state, district, and school levels. Elle has worked in inner city and rural schools and at all levels of education from preschool to high school alternative programs. Ms. Essenmacher draws on a wealth of knowledge and skill to be an adept facilitator in leading initiatives. Her goal is to put the “fun” in engaging professional development. Elle lives with her husband and their grumble of pugs in Northern Colorado.

Susie Estrada, MPA, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Susie Estrada currently lives in Salt Lake City, UT, and works as a Family & Community Engagement Specialist at the Utah State Board of Education. Previously, Susie has worked as a Program Director, Coordinator, and Preschool Teacher. Susie first moved to Utah in 2014 from North Hollywood, CA. Susie graduated from California State University of Northridge with a bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development with a minor in Psychology and Childcare Administration. Additionally, Susie has a Master's in Education, Culture, and Society as well as a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Utah. Susie is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Donny Faaliliu (he/him/his)

Donny Faaliliu is the current SVP of Leadership and Community Outreach at After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles. Donny brings several decades of experience as an expanded learning practitioner, including nearly two decades serving in various roles at After-School All-Stars. Donny received his B.S. from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and his Masters of Science in Counseling/Marriage & Family Therapy from the University of Phoenix.

Joshua Faden, MAT (he/him/his)

Joshua Faden is the President of Community of Teachers, an education consulting company dedicated to raising the confidence of students so they may become excited lifelong learners. With more than 15 years of experience as an educator, Joshua offers students one-on-one tutoring, confidence coaching, and mentoring. He also facilitates confidence-building trainings for teachers and parents. He has published two books, The Confidence Constellation Activities Handbook and The Confidence Project, which share stories and provide hands-on activities for helping students to find joy in their journeys of becoming confident learners. 

John Felling (he/him/his)

John brings over 35 years of experience in education in his roles as principal, consultant, and author. He is an international speaker in the area of games as a teaching strategy, educational leadership, and excellence and has worked with hundreds of districts to implement best practices. He is passionate about using games as a teaching strategy to reach the needs of all learners in the classroom.

Bill Fennessy (he/him/his)

Bill is a Specialist for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). Bill joined CAN in February 2022. After a successful professional motorcycle road-racing career, Bill began his new career in education in 1998 with the Pasadena Unified School District as a Campus Aide. In 2004, he became the first Site Coordinator for Blair’s 7th-9th grade ASES Program and became an innovator, exemplary practitioner, and thought leader in High School Expanded Learning, nationwide.  He joined “Think Together” in 2009 as Director of High School Programs and recently, as the Director of High School Programs for “A World Fit For Kids!” based in Los Angeles.

Caroline Ferrante, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Originally from Chicago, Ferrante studied Theater and Voice at Northwestern University and emerged on the DC music scene in 2011, when she opened for Birds of Chicago. Her career has included successful work both in the theatre and as a singer and composer. Currently, she is a full-time national teaching artist with the Wolf Trap Foundation and Arts for Learning Maryland, where she explores her indigenous roots through multidisciplinary performances and residencies.

Lynne Ann S. Fox, MA.Ed., MS.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Lynne Ann S. Fox, MA.Ed., MS.Ed. is a dedicated educator and has devoted her life to education, developing paradigms, curriculum, assessments, and innovative ways of bringing leadership, social-emotional learning, and academic achievement to children around the world, from public schools in the United States to Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond. She has 28+ years of experience in a variety of roles, nationally and internationally, each of which have contributed to a broad and deep perspective on education and the role that social–emotional learning and academic achievement plays within it.

Julie Frank, MPH, MBA (she/her/hers)

Julie has more than 18 years of corporate and nonprofit experience in physical activity, physical education, health, and community wellness. Julie received her bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from UW-La Crosse, WI, and has completed Master of Public Health coursework from San Diego State University. In 2021, Julie completed an Executive MBA. Julie has been a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) since 2000. Julie was featured in “No Excuses! A Film About Quality Physical Education” (2014). 

Katie Frazier, M.S. (she/her/hers)

Katie Frazier is a Social and Emotional Learning Specialist at WINGS for Kids. Since 2012, Katie has worked in multiple capacities: afterschool mentor, program associate, and program coordinator and coach. Her deep knowledge of social and emotional learning comes from her years as a practitioner applying concrete methods, techniques, and approaches with underserved youth. Katie develops and facilitates internal staff trainings and curriculum, presents at national and local youth development conferences, and trains youth development professionals and educators nationwide. She earned her bachelor and master's degree in psychology. Katie is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Michael Funk (he/him/his)

Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) for the California Department of Education (CDE), was appointed in 2012. The EXLD, with deep field engagement at the start, developed “A Vision for Expanded Learning in California, Strategic Plan 1.0: 2014–2016”. The impact of this Strategic Plan resulted in numerous successes in embedding quality, systems, and technical assistance to support programs and elevate expanded learning as a key partner in the K–12 education system. The plan created a California statewide system of support comprised of members of the CDE, County Offices of Education, and Statewide Contracted Technical Assistance Providers.

Michael led the second iteration, “A Vision for Expanded Learning in California, Strategic Plan 2.0: 2019–2023”, to sustain California’s momentum and innovative path to support quality expanded learning programs across the State.

This System of Support for Expanded Learning has been working with the Center for Systems Awareness for many years to support staff and students through the Compassionate Systems Framework.

Prior to this role, Michael worked in San Francisco and founded the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center in the early 1995 and founded Experience Corps Bay Area in 1998. Michael also co-founded and co-led the Learning In Afterschool and Summer initiative, a partnership with Temescal Associates.

Dr. Christine Fuselier (she/her/hers)

Dr. Christine Fuselier is the Dean of Instruction and DEI Chairperson at Bryant Stratton College. She owns The Leadership Doctor LLC, a leadership and DEI consulting firm. She is the creator of GPS-EI (Guiding Principles to Success in Emotional Intelligence) and ‘Stack Your Deck’ card games about Diversity, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, and Self-Empowerment.  She is a published author. She is a certified corporate facilitator, coach, teacher, trainer & speaker; a Meyers Briggs certified practitioner; a certified DISC behavioral consultant; She's certified in DEI in the Workplace, Leading Equity, DEI in Higher Education.

Christina Garza (she/her/hers)

Christina is a K12 expert with more than a decade of experience delivering territory expansion for industry-leading EdTech providers. With authenticity at the heart of her core values, customers and coworkers alike highly regard Christina as a dependable partner and advocate committed to achieving goals and enhancing the educational environment for the good of the entire community. Outside of work, Christina can be found enjoying time with her three amazing kiddos, often cheering them on at their softball or football games. 

Tiffany Gipson (she/her/hers)

Tiffany Gipson is the Director of Equity & Quality for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). She began as a member of the Leadership Team and quickly transitioned to staff in August 2017. Before CAN, she was the Technical Assistance Director for Higher Ground NDC, a social justice and educational non-profit. Tiffany has worked in various education and social justice capacities for 25 years. She specifically focuses on the importance of Expanded Learning and authentic community engagement as a core strategy in school and community transformation.

Tiyana Glenn (she/her/hers) 

Tiyana joined the Afterschool Alliance in April 2021. As the Project Manager, she provides support for our national AmeriCorps VISTA project and our national field building initiatives. Before coming to the Alliance, she worked as a Program Director for an afterschool program and for an out-of-school time (OST) intermediary. Her work also includes being a White-Riley-Peterson OST Policy Fellow, a board member for a few afterschool/OST organizations, and a grant reviewer in the field. Tiyana holds a BA in Communication Studies from the UNC Charlotte and a MS in Family & Human Development from Arizona State University.

LaTasha Golden, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

LaTasha Golden is a justice-oriented designer who believes in the power of voice and identity as core levers for change and transformation in education.  LaTasha is a Miami-native with a Bachelor's degree in Women's Studies from The Florida State University, her Master's in Education: Curriculum and Instruction; and she is pursuing her Doctor of Education in Transformative School Leadership.  LaTasha currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Experience at City Year advocating for student voice practice within the Whole School, Whole Child model at City Year, Inc.  

William Gomez, MSW (he/him/his)

William Gomez is a Puerto Rican, Mexican-American raised en la Frontera of El Paso, TX. He has worked in the non-profit field serving and collaborating alongside community members and families experiencing and/or at-risk of homelessness in San Mateo County for the past eight years. He holds a Masters in Social Work from the University of California, Berkeley with an emphasis in Strengthening Organizations and Communities. His work focuses on social equity and strength-based narratives and advocacy that challenge existing systems that oppresses individuals and communities.

Javier Gonzalez

Senior Director of Programs at Woodcraft Rangers, is a seasoned leader dedicated to youth development. With 19+ years in enrichment, wellness, and sports education, he oversees 65+ school sites, spearheading empowerment initiatives and large-scale events. Javier excels in sports training, mentorship, and professional development, leveraging partnerships with LACOE and CDE. A former Athletics Dir at Marco Antonio Firebaugh HS, Javier is an award-winning coach and holds a BA in sociology.

Juan Gonzalez (he/him/his)

Juan Gonzalez serves as the Programs and Education Manager for LPTM, where he manages programming, staff and curricula for LPTM’s OST and school-based programs. He is a recent alum of the Fulbright scholar program in Argentina where he served as an English Teaching Assistant. He is also an Americorps alum, a Peace Corps alum (Samoa, 2018-2020), and recently served as the Diversity Coordinator for a Semester at Sea program. He earned an MS in Counseling from California State University, Long Beach and has worked within every sector of education, from elementary school English Language Learner classrooms to college residential life.

Sarah Grams, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Sarah Grams is a former middle school teacher, PreK-12 teacher coach and high school administrator. Sarah specializes in teacher coaching and instruction, with deep experience in equity-focused educational leadership serving communities of color across Los Angeles public schools. In Sarah’s role as Director of Innovation and Programs at the Cesar Chavez Foundation, she oversees innovative and growing programs that educate students’ hearts and minds, from afterschool programs to PreK-8 curricula and teacher trainings. Sarah lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three amazing children.

John Granger (he/him/his)

John Granger is the Director of Training at IRONQUAD, located in Santa Ana, CA. John has been an Industrial Advisor for over 8 years, specializing in remotely operated vehicles in the hobby industry. 

Jodi Grant (she/her/hers)

Jodi Grant has been Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance since 2005. Prior to joining the Afterschool Alliance, Grant served as Director of Work and Family Programs for the National Partnership for Women & Families. Grant graduated from Yale University with honors in 1990 and was elected senior class president. She received her law degree from Harvard University. As a student, she volunteered at an afterschool program. She currently serves as a Board Member of the Search Institute, on the Coalition for Community Schools Steering Committee and is as a Trustee of the America’s Promise Alliance.

Shaun Gray (she/her/hers)

Shaun Gray joined the Afterschool Alliance in February 2003. As the Production Manager, she oversees the creation and production of Afterschool Alliance printed materials related to Lights On Afterschool, the Afterschool for All Challenge as well as other Afterschool Alliance publications. As the Office Manager, Shaun carries out a range of administrative and IT-related tasks including planning conference/meetings and staff retreats, managing vendor relations and acting as IT liaison. Shaun holds a degree in Graphic/Web Design from the Art Institute of Washington.

Mariana Gutierrez (she/her/hers) 

Mariana Gutierrez completed her Bachelors of Science in Psychology at California Polytechnic University of San Luis Obispo where she discovered she wanted to dedicate her career serving others.  For the last decade she has continued her work with CAPSLO, first starting as a Family Advocate, serving 11 school sites and their families, providing case management services to their most vulnerable and in need population. Today, she continues her personal mission of serving the community in supporting those most vulnerable, as the Program Supervisor who oversees four Family Resource Centers. 

Veronica Gutierrez

Veronica Gutierrez is the Director of State and Community Partnership with Sandy Hook Promise. In this role she oversees Learning Projects aimed at exploring new ways to deliver programming, adapted for specific populations, specific geographic areas, and contexts outside the K-12 environment. 

Veronica was previously the Senior Manager of Academic Programming and Student Success with the Public Service Academy and Coordinator of the Cross-Sector Leadership certificate through the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University. Her duties included developing curriculum, teaching, and creating programming to help students develop cross-sector leadership skills and explore ways in which organizations from the military, public, private and non-profit sectors can collaborate to address complex social issues. The classes she oversaw and taught covered topics of leadership, design thinking, cross-sector collaboration, social entrepreneurship, and systems thinking. 

 Prior to that, Veronica was an English instructor with the Global Launch program at ASU, working with students and teachers from around the world. She began her higher education teaching career as an instructor with the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, specializing in topics pertaining to social justice. She has over 10 years of experience working with nonprofits and managing community programs through the Service Learning and America Reads programs.

Veronica received a Masters of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages through the ASU English department. She also received a BA in Mass Communications from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. In her career, Veronica has combined her passions for teaching and community engagement in an effort to spread knowledge and ignite positive social change. She is now pursuing an EdD of Leadership and Innovation through the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at ASU. 

PJ Hamel (he/him/his)

Pierre-Julien "PJ" Hamel is the director of the International Kin-Ball Federation since 2009 and has been involved in the sport for more than 20 years. He has also been the director of the Canadian Kin-Ball Federation between 2007 and 2017.

He is an International Master-Trainer and has traveled to more than 40 countries to give workshops and training sessions to physical education teachers, referees, coaches and players!

Dee Hankins (he/him/his)

Life, curveballs, and home runs are the central themes of Dee Hankins’ powerful keynote. He helps students get through challenging situations with a new sense of hope by recognizing their resilience. Dee’s dynamic and masterful Approach to storytelling takes the audience on an authentic and emotional journey. Telling their story while telling his story. After spending 18 years in foster care and watching his daughter battle brain cancer, Dee Hankins knows that life is full of unexpected events but, our resilience can turn those experiences into an incredible life lesson.

Daniel Hatcher, MPH (he/him/his)

Daniel Hatcher is the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation where he has served since 2008. A nationally recognized workshop facilitator, he has spoken at education and youth development conferences in over 35 states and Canada. Previously, Daniel served as Director of Outreach at Youth Service America. Daniel has a BA in International Relations and a Master of Public Health, both from Western Kentucky University. In 2022, Daniel was certified in Mental Health First Aid and became a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide.

Na’Dra Hennington (she/her/hers)

Na’Dra Hennington is a San Francisco native with two daughters, her oldest being 24 and her 4-year-old baby girl. Na’Dra has a BA in Human Development focusing on Early Childhood Development. With over 24 years of youth development and early childhood experience, she oversees expanded learning programs while leading teams passionate about love, family, and fun. Na’Dra has been with Bay Area Community Resources for over 15 years, from program instructor to program manager in Oakland. She has been a San Francisco Bay Area youth development trainer for over nine years. 

Breanna Herrera (she/her/hers)

Breanna received their Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a minor in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Northridge. Breanna has been with Think Together for 6 years, gaining most of her experience in the Riverside region as site leader. While working in Riverside, Breanna began to meet with community leaders. This sparked her passion for Family and Community Engagement, leading to her transfer to LA Metro Region with the FACE Department. Breanna is excited to continue her career in expanded learning in this new capacity by continuing to change the odds for kids and their families.

Nathaniel Hilliard, MPPA (he/him/his)

Nathaniel Hilliard has detailed experience delivering direct services to youth as well as supporting general program administration in nonprofit organizations and public institutions. Nathaniel joined Wyman’s National Network in 2014, where he provides training, capacity building, and technical support to organizations implementing Wyman’s evidence-based programs and enhancing their services for youth. Nathaniel is a certified Lakeside Trauma Trainer, Youth Thrive Trainer, and Trainer Instructor for Wyman’s evidence-based programs. Nathaniel regularly develops and presents workshops and training sessions on topics of supporting youth.

Minami Hofmann (she/her/hers)

Minami has been a part of the LPTM family for over a decade in a number of roles, and currently serves as the arts administrator. Previously, Minami has worked as the Development Coordinator for DC Promise Neighborhood Initiative and as a Writing Tutor for the Corcoran College of Art+Design, as well as working in the U.S. Patent Office. In addition to her work in the youth development field, Minami provides free resume coaching and editing services for low-income individuals. She also works as a comic artist and illustrator. She is a published children’s book author, and her own artwork is routinely exhibited throughout the DMV.

Tess Hooper, MESM (she/her/hers)

Tess Hooper is a Project Manager with The Energy Coalition (TEC) and supports Education and Workforce Development through curriculum development, educator engagement, and supervising California Climate Action Corps Fellows. Tess received her Master’s from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara in 2020 and completed her thesis on the analysis of the environmental impacts of environmental education on nature preserves. Before graduate school, Tess was a middle school Science and STEAM teacher in Philadelphia. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Tess likes to spend her free time backpacking, hiking, and motorcycling.

Kathy Hoppe (she/her/hers)

Kathy Hoppe is the owner of STEMisED and is a contractor for the USPTO Office of Education in educational engagement.  Kathy has over 30 years of teaching experience and was a STEM/Science Instructional Specialist and Director of the Elementary Science Program at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES in Spencerport, New York. She served as a Regional Biology Mentor and STANYS Director at Large for Biology and Professional Development.  Kathy is a former Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator (2013-15) placed at the National Science Foundation in the Directorate of Engineering.

Nathan Houston (he/him/his)

Nathan holds over 20 years of experience with Expanded Learning Programs that serves diverse communities in the Sacramento and California. In addition, he has worked on numerous committees with the California AfterSchool Network, ASAPConnect, California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division to increase the quality of youth programs. He has conducted trainings and multiple workshops and seminars that have focused on Expanded Learning Program Quality Standards, Restorative Justice, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and the After-School Education & Safety (ASES) grant compliance to various organizations throughout California. Nathan is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Ashley Hunt (she/her/hers)

Ashley Hunt is The SPARK Initiative's VP of Learning and Development, Youth Mentor, and Co-Creator of the evidence-based, CASEL SELect, SPARK Mentoring Programs. After seeing her relationships transform through an understanding of the mind in 2015, she left her 11-year corporate career to pursue her passion for youth. Ashley works in rehabilitation centers, jails, sex-trafficking survivors’ safe houses, and schools, where she teaches youth a deeper understanding of their minds so they can tap into their unbreakable SPARK. She brings an understanding of the mind to life with her natural ability to connect with the youth she mentors.

Shannon Hurst, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Dr. Shannon Hurst has been a science educator for over 20 years. She has taught students in 6th to 12th grade in a variety of educational settings distinguished for their focus on advancement in technology and innovation in science. She is enthusiastic and creative about designing a curriculum that provides unique real-world experiences and provokes inquiry-based problem solving. Dr. Hurst is particularly focused on fostering social and environmental justice within marginalized populations, and she has presented at numerous conferences across the country on the topic of engaging youth activism within science education.

Barbara K. Ige, Ph.D.

Woodcraft Rangers' Lifecraft College & Career Pathways Manager, with 25+ years of experience in college and career mentoring, she's taught at U Hawai`i, Pitzer College, and LAVC. At Woodcraft, Dr. Ige supports staff and families through the Lifecraft mentoring program, guiding them to and through higher education and employment challenges. Her mentorship led to staff achievements, including law school admissions and coveted internships, reflecting her impactful leadership.

Robert Illingworth

Woodcraft Rangers' Dir of Inclusion, brings 16 years of advocacy and support for individuals with ID/DD. His roles as Adaptive Skills Instructor, Behavioral Therapist, and Service Coordinator demonstrate his commitment to aiding emotionally dysregulated students. He advocates for inclusive learning, emphasizing community-based inclusion such as an inclusive camp program for youth and families. Robert's empathetic approach drives his commitment to diversity, enhancing learning for the ID/DD community.

Beryl Johnson (she/her/hers)

Beryl Johnson is an out-of-school time educational consultant with expertise in program design and delivery, staff development, and creating quality program settings.  She helped develop the Exemplary Afterschool Practice Guide, the Healthy Behaviors Initiative, and California Quality Assessment Tool.  Beryl is a certified trainer with CDE, California Afterschool Network (CAN), and the Youth Development Network (YDN).  Currently she is a Community Education Specialist with the University of California 4-H program where she oversees quality 4-H STEM programs, and partners with staff and teens, in afterschool settings.

DJ Johnson, M.Ed. (he/him/his)

DeAntwann “DJ” Johnson is a devoted husband and father, author, parenting and youth empowerment coach, counselor, sports statistician, and Owner of DJ Inspires, LLC. He grew up in the Indiana foster care system and yet despite that, has gone on to lead a successful, and fulfilling life. Before spending nine years in the foster care system, DJ suffered child abuse, domestic abuse, and emotional trauma. At one point, he wanted to end his life, but he realized that he was on this earth for a purpose.

Brittiany Jones

Brittiany Jones is the Senior Manager of Partnerships at Techbridge Girls. With close to 10 years’ experience working with educational non-profit organizations, she is dedicated to the advocacy, outreach, and philanthropic efforts associated with building strong academic communities. With a holistic approach, she believes that all students, regardless of social and economic backgrounds, deserve the access to resources needed to become successful academically, personally, and professionally.

Prior to Techbridge Girls, Brittiany spent a significant amount of years in Chicago, IL where she worked extensively with the U.S Department of Education to develop programming around the “My Brother’s Keeper” Initiative within their region. Additionally, she developed and managed numerous programs for students in grades K-8 focused on STEM, along with establishing strong partnerships and collaborative efforts with several national and international organizations that focused on the empowerment and wellbeing of young women of color.

Brittiany holds a B.S. in Political Science from Towson University and MEd in Cultural and Educational Policy Studies from Loyola University Chicago.

Danielle Jones (she/her/hers)

Danielle Jones is the System of Support for Expanded Learning County Lead for Region 6 based out of the Stanislaus County Office of Education. In her capacity as a T/TA provider she supports over 300 expanded learning programs across five counties throughout Region 6. Danielle has been blessed to work in education for over 20 years. She also serves as the co-lead for the Region 6 STEAM Hub, is a Master Practitioner in Compassionate Systems with the Center for Systems Awareness, and is a certified trainer for the following programs – Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) and the Growth Heartset, Creating a Culture of Caring.

Sami Kader (he/him/his)

For the past 12 years, Sami Kader’s humorous yet genuine approach has compelled children and adults to laugh while they learn. His high-energy delivery and enthusiasm ignite his audience, getting them up and moving, and leaving them with tools and mindsets they will implement into their daily lives. Leveraging the lessons he learned while battling childhood obesity, troubles at home, and years of traumatic bullying by his peers, Sami empowers children by showing them how to overcome any obstacle they face by learning to use the “Circuit of Powers” they already have.

Amy Keely

Amy Keely is the Riley Institute’s Director of South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered (SCALE), an initiative that equips afterschool and summer learning leaders from across the state with the tools to grow and improve their programs. Keely also directs the Dick and Tunky Riley WhatWorksSC Award program, which recognizes outstanding evidence-based programs that are positively impacting public education in South Carolina.

Prior to joining the Institute, Amy worked in Greenville’s nonprofit sector, creating and implementing afterschool and summer programs, writing grants, and developing training and technical assistance for school-based site coordinators across the state. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western Carolina University.

Maggie Kellogg (she/her/hers)

Maggie Kellogg is the Youth Programs Coordinator at The Kellogg PEAK Initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Maggie has been working at PEAK since she was 20 years old (8 years ago) where she started as an intern. She has always wanted to work with kids outside of the traditional school setting. She attended Alverno College to study Sociology and has a certificate in facilitation and SEL. Over the years she has honed in on her own personal facilitation style and leads training to help others find their own.

Tran Keys, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Tran Dang Keys is a Senior Research Associate at WestEd. Keys has over 20 years of experience working with state education agencies, school districts, and other education organizations to improve outcomes for children. She conducts mixed-methods program evaluations and research and provides analytic coaching and support to educators with the aim of increasing the use of data and evidence in education decision-making that informs policy and practice.

Jane Kim-Ware (she/her/hers)

Jane is the Director of Summer Operations for Champions® Before- and After-School Programs. She began her career in retail leadership, across multiple organizations for over 15 years, and transitioned to the world of early childhood education at KinderCare Learning Companies in 2017. While at KinderCare Learning Companies, Jane has had the opportunity to lead teams in the field, and recently transitioned into the National Support Center as the Director of Summer Operations. In her current role, she leads one of their organizations: Transformational Initiatives, driving the expansion of their summer presence for the school-age population, across the nation.

Aidan King, M.Ed. (he/him/his)

Aidan is a highly empathetic and adaptable educator with over a decade of experience working with students across all age ranges. With a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, he delivers on his passion and Elemental Hardware Enrichment’s vision of crafting effective learning experiences that drive student success and engagement. 

Bryanna Kolja (she/her/hers)

Bryanna is a dedicated advocate for youth development with over 10 years of experience in OST programming. Currently overseeing the OST training and coaching services for Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility, Bryanna works with Community Based Organizations, day schools, and program staff to assist in capacity building around Culturally Affirming Social Emotional Learning, Equity, and Restorative Practices within all areas of programming. Bryanna has also led workshops and community conversations for the past two consecutive years focusing on Culturally Affirming SEL and equity.

Nicole Kooiker (she/her/hers)

Nicole Kooiker has been in educational leadership positions for the past 20 years. She has spent the past eleven years as a Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of small to large urban and rural schools. Nicole has led equity work within her positions and has worked collaboratively to create full-day braided preschool programming for students with wrap-around services. Nicole has also played an integral role in establishing innovative programs to meet the needs of students who did not fall into the traditional school models.

Anita Krishnamurthi, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Anita is the President of the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), a new initiative of the Afterschool Alliance where she also serves as a Senior Vice President for STEM & Youth Engagement. Anita is deeply committed to promoting equitable access and engagement with science and supporting young people on this journey. She has a PhD in Astrophysics from The Ohio State University and moved to a career focused on informal STEM learning, recognizing its intersection with social justice and social mobility. Anita has previously worked at the US National Academies, NASA, and the Wellcome Trust, the UK’s largest philanthropy.

Christine Lawlor-King (she/her/hers)

Christine Lawlor-King exemplifies an educator who is pioneering invention and entrepreneurship in the classroom. She created her district’s award-winning STEM program and has been the catalyst for implementing invention education curriculum in many schools. She was the Executive Director of the largest Invention Convention program in the world and the Education Lead on the team who created the Nationals Invention Convention program. Currently, she consults with numerous invention education programs and schools, training educators and administrators. Her efforts earned her STEMconnector’s Community Trailblazer Award.

Kevon Lee (he/him/his)

Kevon Lee is a nationally recognized award winning speaker and author in the field of education, known for his ability to inspire and motivate audiences. With years of experience as a speaker, Kevon has addressed over 100,000 individuals nationwide, including students, educators, and parents. Kevon is also an accomplished author. Kevon holds a  Master’s Degree in Higher Education Leadership and Student Development from California Baptist University.

Jordan Leonard

Jordan is an Area Manager with KinderCare Learning Companies. Currently Jordan resides in the Portland Metro area, serving the communities in Gresham, Hood River, and Hermiston Oregon. Before Champions Jordan was an elementary school teacher and worked in special education for the past 10 years. Jordan uses her professional experience to inspire more people in the field of education to be the teachers the kids of today need. She has played a critical role in bringing OST programs to rural communities in her region and developing long lasting community partnerships. Jordan values integrity, honesty, and inclusion; through these values she hopes to provide access to quality childcare and outdoor programs for families in need. She believes that access to childcare is a huge barrier for parents in the workforce and every family should have access to quality childcare and programs where their children are valued and cared about. She hopes to leave any where she goes better than she found it, spreading more kindness and respect in the world. With this mission she hopes to extend this to her programs, helping to create more OST environments in which students and teachers can thrive.

Asha Levert-McDowell, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Asha began her career as a Special Needs teacher with the Oakland Unified School District in 2004.  Though fulfilling, she wanted to be able to reach more students than she could in a contained special day class.   After 7 years she moved on to pursue her passion of providing students with services in an expanded learning environment.  Currently, she oversees 9 sites which serve over 1200 students annually through the Napa County Office of Education Expanded Learning Program. Asha also provides technical assistance and professional development throughout Region 4 by heading up the New and Emerging Site Supervisory Series. Asha is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Ryan Lewis (he/him/his)

Ryan Lewis is an interdisciplinary education researcher with a background in nonprofit education programming, advanced training in quantitative methods and quasi-experimental research design, and experience with quantitative, qualitative, and applied research projects. He has content expertise in studying impacts of programmatic, curricular, and policy interventions within K-12 settings including after-school and out-of-school-time learning. Lewis was formerly the Director of Research and Evaluation for 826 National, a network of nonprofit tutoring and writing centers serving over 30,000 students across eight U.S. cities.

Ted Lewis (they/them/theirs)

Ted Lewis (they/them) currently serves as the director of Youth Well-Being at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Ted leads on Project THRIVE, Time to THRIVE, and HRC’s Youth Ambassador program. Prior to this role, they served as the executive director of Side by Side, a Richmond-based LGBTQ+ youth organization and was the founding LGBTQ+ staff position at UNC Charlotte and the University of Richmond. Ted has also consulted with Fortune 500 companies, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and nonprofit organizations on LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Erica Lim (she/her/hers)

Erica Lim is a Senior Program Officer at The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, managing the Skills for the New Economy portfolio. Erica previously served as the Senior Advisor to the Chief Academic Officer of LAUSD. She is a National Board-certified teacher and former High School Dean of Curriculum and Instruction with Uncommon Schools. Erica began her career as a Teach For America corps member and holds a Doctor of Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, an MA in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education, and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Johanna Lizarraga (she/her/hers)

Johanna currently serves as Executive General Manager supporting over 150 school sites and 15 Districts in the Inland Empire and LA County. Johanna joined Think Together in 2008 as a Program Leader and has served in a variety of roles including Site Coordinator, Quality Assurance Coach, and Director of Program and Operations and General Manager. She has experience strategically leading and effectively implementing expanded learning programs across grades K-12 partnering with multiple school districts. She is versed in utilizing grants to supplement the existing programs and has maintained funding and partnerships with a variety of grantors.

Debe Loxton, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Debe Loxton, M.A. has led Los Angeles Unified's Beyond the Bell branch since 2021. Previously, she spent over two decades at LA’s BEST, most recently as its COO. Prior to joining LA’s BEST, Ms. Loxton worked for 10 years in the Youth Services Section of Los Angeles Unified. Ms. Loxton is a longtime activist on various education committees, which have included the LA County Office of Education, CA After School Network, Cross Cities Network, and LA Partnership for After School Enrichment. Ms. Loxton holds a master's degree from Pacific Oaks College, and has also served as senior adjunct faculty in the Human Development Department.

Leslye Lugo (she/her/hers)

Leslye Lugo is a Specialist with the Policy and Outreach team for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). She joined CAN in February of 2021. Before CAN, Leslye supported BIPOC Transitional Age Youth (TAY) working in Expanded Learning, who sought to become public school teachers, counselors, and social workers for the San Francisco Unified School District. She has served as a Site Coordinator and Camp Director for a middle school program in San Francisco. She knows firsthand how crucial it is to create a clear educator pipeline for youth workers in the Expanded Learning field.

Michelle Lustig, Ed.D., MSW (she/her/hers)

Michelle Lustig, Ed.D, MSW, is the Program Director for the Foster Youth Technical Assistance Program with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, providing support across California.. Previously, Dr. Lustig served as the Director of Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program and Homeless Education with the San Diego County Office of Education. She has over 30 years of experience in public and private child welfare, research and education supporting vulnerable students. 

Frank Luzaich, Ed.D.

Dr. Frank Luzaich taught for eleven years in Sherwood, Oregon, primarily as a fifth-grade teacher. In 2009, he was named principal of a new elementary school in Sherwood (Edy Ridge). Six years later, Frank moved to Molalla Elementary as principal to join Superintendent Tony Mann. In 2018, he joined the Lake Oswego School District to serve seven elementary schools as the Executive Director of Elementary Programs. Frank completed his EdD at George Fox, where he's an adjunct professor in their doctoral program. Frank lives in Tualatin, Oregon with his wife Samantha.

Allison Lyon (she/her/hers)

Allison Lyon, Director of Talent Acquisition, has been in the talent acquisition field for over 10 years, with a variety of experience in volume and executive recruiting for both corporate and regional teams. Allison has staffed and led teams for multimillion-dollar organizations in the Education and Consumer Goods industries, and since joining Think Together in 2023 has built a team of over 20 Recruiters and leadership staffing over 5,000 positions throughout California.

Candid Mack (she/her/hers)

Candid Mack is a dedicated advocate for youth empowerment, currently holding the position of Youth Advisory Board Coach and Programs and Events Coordinator at the National Girls Collaborative Project. With a background as a former mentor at the Intrepid Museum Goals for Girls and NYC iMentor, Candid brings a wealth of experience in guiding young minds toward success.

In addition to her work in youth empowerment, Candid serves as a valuable member of the Board of Directors at Finer Life Golf Foundation, contributing to initiatives aimed at fostering personal and academic growth through the game of golf. Candid is driven by the mission to cultivate a generation of youth who are equipped to thrive in their pursuits.

Eliana Mancilla (she/her/hers)

Director of Learning and Development at Woodcraft Rangers, brings over a decade of diverse experience in child and family-focused agencies. Leading a team of 10, she oversees the design, implementation, and evaluation of staff training programs, early learning initiatives, and parent engagement programs, setting the standard in expanded learning. She holds an MA in Human Development and Early Learning and a BS in Child Development, Eliana truly embodies excellence in her field.

Danny Martinez (he/him/his)

Danny serves as SCRI’s Senior Education Consultant,with over 30 years of experience in expanded learning, technology integration, and the STEM disciplines to support students’ academic engagement and achievement in both school and out-of-school learning environments. He has served in various leadership roles in camps, schools, summer, and afterschool programs. 

Nicole Marshall-Wheeler (she/her/hers)

Nicole Marshall-Wheeler is passionate about working with and supporting young people. As a 4-H Youth Development Advisor, Nicole does research and extension work around youth leadership, civic engagement, and public speaking. In addition to her research, Nicole supports her local expanded learning partners by providing professional development to increase staff capacity. Before her academic position, Nicole worked as 4-H program staff and as an afterschool program site director. Outside of work, Nicole enjoys baking and hiking with her family.

Taylor Mayer, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Taylor Mayer is a Leadership Development Manager for Think Together. She is committed to the Think Together mission of changing odds for kids and embodies this vision through her core values of community, curiosity, and service. As an educator and leader from New Mexico, Taylor comes with over 16 years of experience in the public education and expanded learning field. After spending a decade in K-5 classrooms, she began a journey into adult learning, leadership development, and instructional coaching. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and two master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction as well as Educational Leadership.

Ryan McCarthy (he/him/his)

Ryan is an experienced and dedicated educator and speaker who has trained thousands of teachers and community leaders around the world. Ryan is passionate about the transformational power that Restorative Practices and SEL frameworks can have on high-trauma communities. Ryan’s work has impacted hundreds of organizations and over 100,000 youth across the world.

Kara McDonnell, M.S., PPS (she/her/hers)

Kara McDonnell has been a school counselor in the Corona-Norco Unified School District for 22 years. Being raised in the city of Corona, she has a personal connection and commitment to the community. Mrs. McDonnell has her PPS Credential and master’s degree in School Counseling. She currently works at Cesar Chavez K-8 Academy. Mrs. McDonnell is also a member of the district crisis team, Friday Night Live advisor, and coaches the track team. 

Brenda McLaughlin (she/her/hers)

As The Learning Agenda’s Founding Partner, Brenda McLaughlin offers strategic guidance and coaching, plans and facilitates learning communities, engages in research, and develops tools to build the capacity of the field. Brenda previously served as the Chief Impact Officer at BellXcel, launching The Sperling Center for Research and Innovation. She served as Vice President at the National Summer Learning Association, leading research, evaluation, and strategic initiatives. Brenda holds a MA in Public Policy from the Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Spanish and Latin American Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Andjoua McLemore (she/her/hers) 

Andjoua McLemore is a committed advocate focused on assisting organizations in creating equitable and sustainable communities. As the Creative Voices Program Manager at Big Thought, she leads the strategic implementation of six youth development programs, serving over 1,000 students across ten campuses. With an extensive background in capacity building, her professional experience includes violence prevention, public health, and post-secondary access. She believes our responsibility is to ensure youth are at the center of every decision. Andjoua is also a proud alumna of the University of Arkansas as well as a member of Delta Sigma Theta.

Sam Mejias, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

Sam Mejias is Associate Professor of Social Justice and Community Engagement at Parsons School of Design, The New School. Dr. Mejias conducts ethnographic research on learning, social justice and civic engagement in the US & internationally. Dr. Mejias has extensive experience working in partnership with arts and social justice community-based organizations, and his research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Wellcome Trust, the European Commission and The Wallace Foundation. He has published in journals such as Information, Communication and Society, Leonardo, Science Education, and the Journal of Research in Science Teaching.

Jenna Mendez, M.A., PPS, LPCC (she/her/hers)

Jenna Mendez has been a School Counselor for 17 years at Elementary and High School doing both guidance and crisis intervention. In that role, she worked with foster youth and helped to create the All-Stars Foster Youth program on her campus. Currently, she is the CNUSD District Foster Youth Counselor/Liaison, working with the counselors in the district to create a comprehensive TK-12 program. She is also a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), working in private practice with children for the last ten years, and an adjunct professor at Chapman University. She holds National Board Certification in Counseling and School Counseling. 

​​Chris Meza (he/him/his)

Chris brings over 12 years of education experience in his previous roles within Expanded Learning. He carries unique perspectives from his professional background; those of an after-school line staff member, high school football coach, AmeriCorps member, and Site Coordinator, and he is eager to share his perspectives, insights, and knowledge with statewide stakeholders. Chris is currently serving as an Expanded Learning Program Coordinator at the Napa County Office of Education, where he coordinates special projects: Napa EXL Intersession programs, Before School programming, COOL Sports Challenges, and the Napa E-Sports League.

Marisa Miller (she/her/hers)

Marisa Miller has a passion for supporting programs to bring forth the bright potential of every child through intentional, hands-on, high-interest activities. Over the past 20 years, she has been a classroom teacher, launched a marine science center, and program director at a Girls Inc. affiliate and an multi-site ASES program. She has trained hundreds of staff in program implementation and written over 200 programs for the afterschool environment. She currently is founder of Afterschool Publishing where she offers coaching, effective and practical professional development for front-line and management staff, and program design services.

Kyle Mitchell (he/him/his)

Kyle Mitchell is a mental health advocate, international/TEDx speaker, author, and social media influencer who is passionate about solving the problems associated with poor mental health in the world and the impact they have on our communities, especially teens and youth.  Having struggled and conquered his own social anxiety after a 10-year battle, he has found his calling and purpose to impact the lives of others on a global scale. 

Alexandra Modica (she/her/hers)

Alexandra Modica, a humanities teacher passionate about project-based learning and cross-disciplinary education, has worked in a variety of educational settings—from rural Vermont to downtown Chicago. Her unique approach involves collaborative teaching across subjects, and she has successfully integrated geometry, botany, chemistry, music, and even bike building with English. Emphasizing engagement through honoring student interests and prioritizing real-world applications, Modica advocates for viewing humanities not just as a STEM supplement but as a vital contributor to nurturing curious, reflective, and well-rounded individuals.

Hailee Moehnke (she/her/hers)

Hailee Moehnke, Mizzen’s Projects and Events Manager, is all about making sure out-of-school-time educators have a blast and feel connected to the Mizzen community. Before joining Team Mizzen, Hailee was the National Program Operations Manager at After-School All-Stars. Hailee holds a master's degree in kinesiology, sport, and exercise psychology, plus a bachelor's in kinesiology and a minor in child psychology from the University of Minnesota. She also coached competitive youth volleyball and worked as a teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota. She's also certified as a methods trainer by the Weikart Center for Youth Programs.

Dr. Trent Mohrbutter (he/him/his)

Dr. Trent Mohrbutter has been a professional educator for 31 years. He has developed, implemented, and facilitated professional learning for K–12, community colleges and four-year institutions, both face-to-face and virtually supporting high-impact instructional practices, equity and inclusion, guided pathways, and leadership excellence. He has consulted, written, and presented nationally on educational leadership and instructional practices that support student success — retention, persistence, and completion, establishing a positive student-centered culture and learning environment, and building sustainable community partnerships. 

Daniel Monterroso (he/him/his)

Daniel began working at LA’s BEST in January 2008. As the Director of Staff Development, he leads, guides, and supports the learning facilitator team as well as various stakeholders to develop and deliver professional development opportunities both in-person and virtually to 1000+ LA’s BEST staff. This includes the maintaining of the LA’s BEST PD development and delivery calendar and promotions. Daniel began his work with LA’s BEST as a Program Worker and continued his growth as Program Supervisor, Site Coordinator, and Learning Facilitator to now the Director of Staff Development. 

Dr. Lee Porscha Moore (she/her/ella)

Dr. Lee Porscha Moore (pronouns: she/her/ella) is a fun-loving lifelong learner committed to walking with children, youth, and families as they reconnect with their inner superheroes. Porscha lives in her intersectionality and navigates this world as a Black cisgender woman. Outside of facilitating and guiding trainings, Porscha juggles many hats, which include her role as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing individual & group therapy and as a college instructor at various CSU, Private, and community colleges throughout the Bay area.

Yadira Moreno, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Yadira Moreno is the Director of School, Family and Community Engagement in the Anaheim Elementary School District. In this role, she supports parent engagement, community schools and the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program - Anaheim Elementary Succeeds! As a graduate from UCLA she holds a degree in Sociology, with a minor in Education and Women’s Studies. She continued her graduate work at UCLA, receiving two Masters degrees in Education. Her doctoral level work was completed at Loyola Marymount University earning a Doctorate of Education in Social Justice. Dissertation can be found on Pro Quest titled: Homegrown Teachers: Creating an Early Intervention Pipeline for Future Teachers of Color.

Yadira loves to travel and spend time with her husband and four-year-old twins. Her goal is to continue to transform public schools by creating optimal conditions for students, families, and communities to thrive.

Courtney Morgan (she/her/hers) 

Courtney is an Account Manager with KiwiCo. At KiwiCo, we hope to support your mission to ignite a love for learning. Our goal is to provide opportunities for growth in the classroom by providing hands-on projects that help students develop creative problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Courtney works with the team to develop after-school and summer programs that support learning goals while fostering creativity and innovation to inspire confidence. 

Madeline Moritsch, M.S., RDN (she/her/hers)

Madeline Moritsch is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and a National Advisor of Whole Child Health focusing on nutrition and food access with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Madeline holds a Master of Science degree in Nutritional Science from San Jose State University and has over 10 years of experience working with child nutrition and food access programs in the school and out-of-school time settings. She has expertise in administering various federal nutrition programs such as SNAP, CACFP, and SFSP, as well as experience providing nutrition education and Local Wellness Policy implementation.

Abdul Muhammad II

Abdul Muhammad II is currently serving as a Program Specialist at MindUP | The Goldie Hawn Foundation, he is a seasoned professional with multifaceted expertise. As the Founder and Chief Growth Officer (CGO) of MDM Ventures, he specializes in devising business and personal growth strategies. Additionally, Abdul holds the position of CGO at Quality Life Center, where he is committed to personal and community transformation. With over 20 years of executive performance coaching and training experience, coupled with 5+ years of certified breath work instruction, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his endeavors. Abdul holds degrees in Business Administration and Sociology, further enriching his skill set. His credentials include VentureMentor Team Certification, YogaBody Breathing Coach, and Kung Fu-Kuntao Silat Certification. Passionate about promoting self-awareness and mindfulness, Abdul dedicates himself to empowering individuals and communities to thrive.

Patrick Murray (he/him/his)

Patrick Murray leads KinderCare’s advocacy efforts, working to expand access to quality early childhood education programs and align policy with the needs of children, families, and employers.  Patrick joined KinderCare from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation where he led the foundation’s federal advocacy strategies on education and health. Previously, he served as a policy advisor to U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. During his time on the Hill he led the negotiations on the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014.

Rita Naranjo (she/her/hers)

Rita Naranjo is a loving mother, community activist, and educator. Growing up in foster care; being incarcerated in her youth; and becoming a mother at 15, have not stopped her. Rita has been involved in social justice work for over for over 30 years. Her work focuses on healing, restoration, and well-being. She leads with a philosophy of decolonizing/indigenizing spaces and takes pride in building community relationships as an entrepreneur, author, storyteller, mentor and consultant.

Jose Luis Navarro (he/him/his)

Jose Luis Navarro was a Director at California's largest Title One charter high school. Before this role, he was a Support Coordinator, in LAUSD, where he organized innovative reform efforts in the lowest-performing schools. Mr. Navarro considers his role as the founding principal of the Social Justice Humanitas Academy to be some of the most important work he has done. Mr. Navarro is a California Teacher of the Year, Latino Educator of the Year, and a Deans Scholar at UCLA. Before becoming a teacher he was a firefighter and a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Jessy Newman, MA (she/her/hers)

Jessy Newman is a senior researcher at the American Institutes for Research where she conducts applied research on positive youth development in out-of-school time.  She currently leads multiple mixed-methods applied research and evaluation studies and is the developer of practical resources, tools, articles, and book chapters. Ms. Newman is driven by her work in translating research and evaluation into practice and then using practice to drive research and evaluation. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Illinois – Chicago where she is focused on staff readiness for youth voice in OST programs.

Gil Noam, Ph.D., Ed.D (he/him/his)

Gil Noam, Ed.D., Dr. Habil is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School focusing on prevention and resilience, serves as the Chair of Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR), and leads the Institute for the Study of Resilience in Youth (ISRY) at McLean Hospital. He has published over 200 papers, articles, and books in the areas of child and adolescent development as well as risk and resiliency in clinical, school, and afterschool settings. Dr. Noam is trained as a clinical and developmental psychologist and psychoanalyst in both Europe and the United States.

Hillary Oravec, MA (she/her/hers)

Hillary Oravec is the Managing Partner of The Learning Agenda, working in support of state departments of education, national and regional foundations, nonprofits, and school districts. She is a Project Lead for the National Center, contributing to their Communities of Practice and Engage Every Student partnership. Hillary previously directed the National Summer Learning Association’s strategic initiatives, research and evaluation, and system-building portfolios. She holds a master’s degree in educational policy and leadership from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology from Kent State University. 

Sara Orellana (she/her/ella)

Sara Orellana serves as Southeast Los Angeles’s Family & Community Engagement Coordinator for Think Together. Sara believes that the quality of a child’s education should not be attached to finances or circumstances and is deeply passionate about closing the equity gap in education. Her experience in community engagement ranges from teaching in expanded learning programs to advising transfer students and providing educational and legal access to formerly incarcerated individuals. She holds a BA in Sociology and a BA in Public Affairs with a Specialization in Computing from the University of California, Los Angeles. 

Mikayla Oz (she/her/hers)

Mikayla Oz is the recipient of the International Rising Star of Magic Award and Founder of The Magician School; a National After School Program that started in Des Moines, Iowa. Mikayla saw a magician when she was 4 years old and it forever changed the directory of her life. Unknowingly at the time, Magic taught Mikayla communication, presentation, confidence, practice, and critical thinking skills to create her own opportunities. Now Mikayla shares these same skills with students and educators all over the world. 

Tobie Pace

Tobie Pace, Senior Director of Extended Learning Opportunities at San Diego Unified School District, has dedicated herself to education since 1998. With a student-centered approach, she has served as an elementary teacher and principal in Solana Beach School District, and as principal at Hickman Elementary in San Diego Unified. Currently, she leads the Extended Learning Opportunities department.

Ms. Pace earned her bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Sociology from California State San Marcos and holds a master’s degree in educational instruction from San Diego State University.

Bahar Pahlevani (she/her/hers)

Bahar Pahlevani is a Project Coordinator with The Energy Coalition (TEC) and supports Education and Workforce Development through community outreach, educator engagement, curriculum development, and supervision of California Climate Action Corps Fellows. Bahar worked in veterinary medicine and wildlife research before receiving her Master of Science in Conservation Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Bahar enjoys working on art projects, rock climbing, and road trips to new places in her free time. 

Dave Palmer (he/him/his)

Dave Palmer is the founder and Chief Dunker of Dunk Tank Marketing. He has developed school nutrition marketing programs for over a decade, helping districts increase participation, boost engagement, and build awareness of school meal programs. 

Dunk Tank's work has lifted awareness of Farm 2 School programs by more than 400% and doubled online engagement, helping nutrition departments become spotlight programs for school districts.

Dr. Alessandra Pantano (she/her/hers)

Dr. Alessandra Pantano is a Professor of Teaching in Mathematics at the University of California, Irvine. She received her Ph.D. in Mathematics from Princeton University, and was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell University prior to joining UCI. Her research interests are in Mathematics Education; in particular, she is interested in active learning and culturally responsive pedagogy, both in the classroom and in afterschool settings. Over the years, Dr. Pantano has initiated and led three successful out-of-school mathematics enrichment programs for youths in the community (UCI Math CEO, UCI Math Circle, and UCI Math ExpLR).

Nancy Paulson (she/her/hers)

Nancy has been a Box Cars consultant for over 20 years while maintaining a full time teaching career in Southern CA - San Marcos.  She has taught grades 5 - 8 with an extensive background in ELL, Title 1 and after school programs.  Nancy is heavily involved with California Math Council, has been a national speaker at many NCTM's and state conferences.  She has worked with hundreds of school districts across North America.  

Spandana Pavuluri (she/her/hers)

Spandana Pavuluri is a freshman at Vanderbilt University. Originally from Louisville, KY, her involvement with the KY Student Voice Team sparked her interest in education policy, and she spent her high school years being a member of the KY Dept. of Education’s Student Advisory Council, leading Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) with the Norton Children’s Hospital, and co-authoring Chapter 14 of “Unleashing Children’s Voices in New Democratic Primary Education.” Her education and student voice work eventually led her to join the OST research group for The Wallace Foundation. She plans to pursue a career in public policy. 

Brenda Payne (she/her/hers)

Brenda’s career began at a California magnet school for gifted and talented learners. It was there she introduced invention education to her students. She later became principal at a project-based learning school in Sonoma County, followed by principal of Natural Bridges Elementary School in Santa Cruz, assistant principal at Mission Hill Middle School, and finally principal at Main Street Elementary School in Soquel Union District. In 2015 she served as interim superintendent at Pacific Elementary School District in Davenport. Since 2016, she has led the California Invention Convention, providing professional development to teachers.

Antonio Perez (he/him/his)

Antonio Perez has been a bilingual (English/Spanish), bicultural educator for more than 20 years. His educational background includes teaching at the primary and middle school level in a K-8 Dual Immersion education model. He has held roles as a Middle School Coordinator, Assistant Principal, and School Principal. He has also led the Department of Assessment and currently leads the Student Services Department at the Redwood City School District. 

Lillian Perez (she/her/hers)

Lillian Perez’s career has spanned 28 years in K-8 and higher education. She has served as a classroom assistant, teacher, Assistant Principal, and 18 years as a site Principal. Under Mrs. Perez’s leadership, San Onofre School received the title of California Distinguished School, Title I Academic Achievement, and the Purple Star Award.  She is the Director and oversees the Expanded Learning Opportunities Department in the Fallbrook Union Elementary School District. 

Lupita Perez (she/her/hers) 

Lupita Perez joined the California AfterSchool Network as a Program Coordinator in April 2021 and is now a Specialist in Equity & Quality. Before CAN, she was an ASES Expanded Learning Site Coordinator in the Elk Grove Unified School District with The Sacramento Chinese Community Service Center. Lupita is a former TA Fellow from the inaugural cohort of California’s Expanded Learning School of Leadership & Facilitation TA Fellowship. She is passionate about facilitating professional development opportunities and supporting educators in creating equitable and safe spaces to help all children, staff, and families. 

Holly Perry, MBA (she/her/hers)

Holly Perry, Senior Director of Talent Acquisition, has been in the talent acquisition field for nearly a decade, specializing in high volume recruitment in the healthcare and educational fields. Since joining the expanded school space, Holly has built out a diverse and robust talent department for an organization with more than 5,500+ employees supporting positions throughout the state of California. Holly is currently pursuing her Executive MBA at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Terry K. Peterson, Ph.D.

Dr. Terry K. Peterson has a strong background at the local, state, and national levels in education reform, serving as the counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Education, architect of one of America’s most comprehensive state improvement efforts, and an expert witness to a dozen states. He is a senior fellow at the College of Charleston; serves on 10 education boards such as the Alliance for Excellent Education, News Literacy Project, and the Charleston area Engaging Creative Minds, and chairs the national board of the Afterschool Alliance. Peterson has a BS in chemistry and education from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, with an emphasis in educational research. He was the 2010 Lifetime Education Achievement Awardee from the president and CEO of the C.S. Mott Foundation. BOOST Collaborative's CEO, Tia Quinn, and former US Secretary of Education Richard Riley, call Terry "the Godfather of Afterschool.

Abbey Mae Pitcher (she/her/hers)

Abbey Mae Pitcher is a Program Manager at Technovation, whose mission is to empower young women to change their communities and the world by uplifting their ideas and solutions through a global technology entrepreneurship program. In her role, Abbey Mae collaborates with Technovation’s community partners through a “train the trainer” model by providing professional development and support. A former middle school science teacher with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction, Abbey Mae is passionate about community partnerships and educational equity.

Dr. Ana Ponce (she/her/hers)

Dr. Ponce joined GPSN in 2019, after 19 years as CEO of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy. A daughter of Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to graduate college, Dr. Ponce started her career with Teach for America in South LA, later helping found the community's first charter school. She holds multiple degrees from Middlebury College, Columbia University, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount University. She serves on several boards, including CCSA, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and UnidosUS. Her accomplishments prompted Forbes Magazine in 2011 to name her one of the top seven most powerful educators in the world.

Háppi Price, MA (he/him/his)

Mr. Háppi J. Price is an energetic teacher, trainer, and mentor with a 25-year history of working within the Visual and Performing Arts community. His philosophy is based on teaching individuals and groups how to connect, create, and collaborate with their innate abilities by using altruistic movements, sounds, and dialogue to manifest innovative creations through applied improvisation in a safe environment embracing moments of intimacy, immediacy, and spontaneous tools, techniques, and strategies derived from the Performing Arts. 

Michele Reid, MA (she/her/hers)

Michele Reid is the Director of Expanded Learning at Visalia Unified School District. Michele is a student-focused leader with 13 years of administrative and 7 years of classroom teaching experience. She is a visionary, transformational leader with a passion for student success and educator/school performance. She blends project management ability with organizational strategies and vast knowledge of differentiated instruction, educational technology, assessment methods, classroom management, learning styles, and instructional methods. 

Lupine Reppert (she/her/hers)

Lupine is a Central Valley native who has been working in the out-of-school time field for nearly twenty years. She started as a summer camp counselor and later served in various roles at a range of youth development organizations, including LA’s BEST after-school program and the American Camp Association. She currently is the Executive Director at the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC), for which she has served as a staff member for 8 years, and as a volunteer since 2009. Lupine has a Bachelor of Arts in English and Music from UCLA and a Master of Public Administration from USC. 

Jody Rhodes, M.S. (she/her/hers)

Jody Rhodes has been the Executive Director of Neu-Life Community Development since 2003. She holds a master's degree in Administrative Leadership (2000) and a bachelor’s degree in Education (1997), both from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and classes at Harvard Business School. She currently oversees four after school and summer program sites. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for both the Wisconsin Association of Child and Youth Care Professionals (WACYCP) and is the President of the Association of Child and Youth Care Practice (ACYCP). She has extensive experience in Programming, Fund Development, and Staff Development. 

Lisa Rice (she/her/hers)

Lisa’s 30+ years of experience in school-age care spans all aspects of afterschool program practice and management. This practical and applied knowledge has led her to a dynamic understanding of the challenges and joys of working with youth during out-of-school time. Lisa has presented workshops for single and multi-site programs, at local, state, and national conferences and conventions. She enjoys traveling, meeting new people, and living on the Central Coast of California. 

Laura Rivera (she/her/hers)

Laura has been a dedicated professional within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) since 2008. Her journey at LAUSD began with Beyond the Bell, where she contributed her expertise to branches like YS, Ready Set Go, and Civic Center. Throughout her career, Laura has gained extensive experience working with children, both during and after school hours, as well as planning various events for LAUSD. Her commitment to education and her passion for the community have led her to her current role in staff development with LA's BEST.

Sebastian Rizzi (he/him/his)

Sebastian has over 15 years of carpentry, design, and fabrication expertise. His journey is a testament to the power of hands-on learning and practical experience as a viable path to achieving career success. He advanced his career through skilled trades, and he envisions DIY Enrichment as a platform that can provide students with an engaging and dynamic learning experience that can offer them a glimpse into the trades as a pathway to success.

Christina Robert (she/her/hers)

Christina is an Educator Support Specialist residing in Northern California. She provides training, support, and coaching to SLED advisors and QUEST facilitators, and responsively helps them meet their needs and exceed their expectations.

Crystal Robinson, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Crystal Robinson is the Director of Organization Development and Learning and Development at Think Together. Crystal is a capacity builder of systems and people and a subject matter expert in leading for change, equity, and belonging. Crystal has supported 3 state Department of Education’s executive leaders with accountability systems, data dashboards, strategic planning, and the forming of an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Division.  Crystal also served as Director at the University of California, Office of the President leading state-wide systems change efforts. Crystal holds a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership.  

Lexie Rodgers-Velazquez (she/her/hers)

Lexie Rodgers-Velazquez has been in the Expanded Learning field for 10 years. Her Expanded Learning journey started as a tutor, assistant lead, site coordinator, multi-site manager, and is now a Region 7 Fresno System of Support team member. 

Lexie currently supports Region 7 Fresno by providing technical assistance to various districts and positions within Expanded Learning. She prioritizes capacity building through the lens of creativity and innovation.

Aimee Rodriguez (she/her/hers) 

Aimee Rodriguez serves as San Gabriel Valley’s Family and Community Engagement Coordinator for Think Together. Aimee has over eight years of experience in the Expanded Learning field and has worked with Think Together in different leadership capacities such as a Program Leader, Site Assistant, and Interim Site Coordinator. Aimee gained most of her experience at Think Together’s Santa Fe Springs region before transferring to the San Gabriel Valley region and is continuing to change the odds for kids and their families by supporting site leaders in increasing family engagement in our communities.

Cecilia Roman (she/her/hers)

Cecilia Roman is the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Administrator for Anaheim Elementary School District (AESD). With 30 years of service to the AESD community, she has served in various capacities including classroom teacher, CSUF Educator Mentor, Resource Teacher, Instructional Coach, Literacy & Classroom Management Trainer, Leadership Assistant, Vice Principal, Principal, and now serves to support Anaheim Elementary Succeeds! ELOP Program. Cecilia is a CSUF alumni with a Bachelor in Liberal Studies and a Masters Degree in Curriculum & Instruction.  She earned her administrative work at Azusa Pacific University.

Nat Rosales (they/them/theirs)

Nat (they/them) is the Specialist for Policy & Outreach for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). They joined the team in June 2020 as the team’s Student Assistant before being promoted to Coordinator in 2022. Before becoming a part of the CAN Team, Nat was a High School Educational Advisor as part of the College Access department for JCYC, an educational non-profit based in Japantown, San Francisco that aims to make higher education more accessible for low-income, first-generation youth. Nat received their Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Philosophy with a minor in Education at San Francisco State University in May 2020. 

Eric Rowles, MS (he/him/his)

As a proud BOOST Ambassador, Eric Rowles is one of the country's most sought-after experts on generational diversity, millennial culture, substance abuse prevention, and workforce development. Eric is a nationally recognized trainer, speaker, and consultant whom has worked with over 150,000 youth, adults, administrators, professionals, and policy makers within the past 15 years. Previously, Eric served as the Director of Training for the Youth Leadership Institute, Director of International Summer Programs for ELS Language Services, and Prevention Coordinator for Riverside County Friday Night Live. Eric is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Raynee Russell (she/her/hers)

Raynee Russell is a driven educator dedicated to making a difference in the lives of high trauma and disenfranchised youth. With over 6 years of experience in the Expanded Learning field, including serving on CAN's Site Coordinator Network Leadership team, Raynee has developed a unique approach that focuses on empowering young individuals to become kind, compassionate, and successful leaders. Through fostering a culture of empathy and understanding, she believes that every learning environment can transform into a space that cultivates growth, resilience, and kindness.

Lila Saavedra (she/her/hers)

Lila Saavedra is the Director of Teen & Community Programs at The Kellogg PEAK Initiative in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Prior to PEAK, Lila received her bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science and Communication from Mount Mary University as well as a Nonprofit Management Certificate from University of Wisconsin Parkside. After university, Lila spent one year as an AmeriCorps Member with Public Allies Milwaukee at Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast. Lila has a strong background in program development and asset-based community building. 

Danny Salas (he/him/his)

Woodcraft Rangers' Chief Program Officer, leads diverse expanded learning programs, overseeing a team of directors, program managers, and 850+ site coordinators and club leaders. Instrumental in the formation of partnerships that support inclusion of neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ youth, Danny is recognized as an innovative leader in California’s afterschool enrichment arena. Serving on multiple state committees and community groups including the board of Rosemead Kiwanis and CalSAC, Danny’s influence continues to be recognized throughout the state.

Lisa Salazar (she/her/hers)

Lisa Salazar is the current Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Youth Development Department. Previously, she served as Policy Director of Workforce and Education to Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, California. Prior to her role with the Mayor, she was Acting Chief for the City of Los Angeles for over 14 years. Salazar received her B.S. from St. Mary’s College of California and an Executive Master of Leadership from the University of Southern California. 

Cynthia H. Sanchez Tapia, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Cynthia H. Sanchez Tapia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). She is committed to promoting diversity in STEM fields. Her research is in the field of Mathematical Biology; in particular, she is interested in the study of cancer disease with Math Modeling.  In recent years, Dr. Sanchez Tapia has developed an interest in teaching Mathematics for social justice and the development of culturally-responsive teaching material. She earned her Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Irvine.

Shamia Sandles, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Shamia is the Program Director at the Alameda COE supporting Region 4 Expanded Learning Programs. She began her career as an after-school tutor, and has worked serving students in expanded learning for over 15 years. She is an advocate for youth participatory action research, anti-racist education, and civic engagement. She brings experiences from outdoor education, college, and career pathways, as well as community-based organizations. Shamia has an MS in Anthropology and holds a CTE credential in Education, Child Development, and Family Services.

Eric Sarb

Eric Sarb taught middle school math and science in Chicago and San Francisco for 6 years before pivoting to the ed tech sales world. He's worked at various levels in sales, completed multiple policy fellowships, and worked in education leadership development. During his 5-9 he plays in punk and metal bands, volunteers with his local Buddhist group, and enjoys a variety of TV programs with his wife as much as possible. 

Barry Schwartz (he/him/his) 

Barry Schwartz began his entrepreneurial pursuits in high school in the early 80's as an ""on call"" neighborhood yard and general maintenance resource.  He then went to college and obtained a BS in psychology from the University of Cincinnati.

In 2005 he moved to San Francisco to enter the arena of software and tech sales where he met Justin Ghiglia and became a partner in Startup Smartup leading the sales division as well as content development.

Tiffany Searles, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Tiffany Searles has over a decade of experience working in district and charter schools in Philadelphia, PA. She is passionate about connecting young people to new experiences and opportunities, helping learn more about themselves and how they want to show up in the world. Her areas of expertise include out of school time programs, service-learning, postsecondary exploration, family and community engagement, and school communications. She has a Bachelor’s in Sociology, a Master’s in Urban Education, and is a certified yoga instructor. 

Amanda Selogie, J.D. (she/her/hers)

Amanda Selogie received a bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from CSU Northridge and a Juris Doctorate from Whittier Law School where she served as a Fellow in the Center for Children's Rights Fellowship Program and in the school's pro-bono Special Education Legal Clinic. Amanda immersed herself in the world of civil rights and educational advocacy through her work in education, empowerment and advocacy with the Inclusive Education project.

Troy Selvey (he/him/his)

Troy Selvey is a Manager on the Equity and Quality Team for California AfterSchool Network (CAN), joining the network in August 2017. Some areas of focus for Troy include but are not limited to the support of the Site Coordinators and those who support them through the Site Coordinator Network, Physical Health and Wellness for youth, and those who serve them through initial and the coordinating of convenings which include the Statewide Site Coordinator Symposium. Troy's goal in the work is to be a part of the solutions that will help to create spaces where all people feel seen, heard, valued, and loved. 

Shital Shah (she/her/hers)

Shital was the Director of Philanthropic Engagement at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). She also served on the 2020 Biden-Harris Transition Team for the US Department of Education. In her previous role, she cultivated and strengthened relationships with philanthropic and education industry partners to garner support for improving children's well-being, creating powerful learning, building teacher capacity, and fostering school and community collaboration. She also managed AFT's Innovation Fund grant-making efforts with a $1m budget, offering local communities the opportunity to incubate best practices locally and share with the field nationally as well as highlighting them to the philanthropic community. In this role she also oversaw AFT's inter-departmental community school strategy, as well as the Center for School Improvement Institute, supporting both local field and national efforts. She has spent over a decade working in the field of community schools policy and practice. Through her work with local and national partners, she has provided strategic support and guidance to state and local affiliates related to policy, advocacy and school and district implementation of approaches to the community school strategy and extended learning time, including implications for collective bargaining. She currently sits on the National Coalition for Community Schools Steering Committee, where she advises on the Coalition's strategic priorities. Previously, as the Manager of Policy & Partnerships, with the Coalition for Community Schools, she was responsible for partnership development and management at the local and national levels; federal and state policy coordination; and helping develop federal policy recommendations and briefs.

Lisa Sheldon

For 32 years, Lisa Sheldon has dedicated herself to education within the San Diego Unified system. Serving as an Operations Specialist for the last 24 years, she has played a pivotal role in various initiatives. Notably, in the early 2000s, she was instrumental in establishing and executing the Peer Coach/Staff Developer program. Since 2007, she has also spearheaded the coordination and implementation of the summer learning program.

A proud native of San Diego, Ms. Sheldon is a product of the San Diego Unified Schools herself. Beyond her professional accomplishments, she treasures her role as a mother of three and grandmother of three.

Kelli Shrewsberry, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Kelli Shrewsberry, Executive Director, Teaching & Learning Collaborative is a former classroom teacher, Staff Development Coordinator, and seasoned facilitator.  Shrewsberry has successfully directed several federal Mathematics Science Partnership (MSP) programs focused on mathematics, science, and computer science.  She also led the Advisory Group and the Writing Team in the development of Ohio’s K-12 Computer Science Learning Standards (2018) and was a member of the State Committee on Computer Science (2022). 

Leah Silverberg (she/her/hers)

Leah Silverberg, a Project Manager with seven years at the Afterschool Alliance, passionately champions youth voice initiatives. Leading programs like the Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew and Youth Ambassador Program, they empower young voices. Their journey started with Makercorps, designing maker tech summer camps at the Digital Harbor Foundation in Baltimore. With a biology and studio art degree, Leah combines a unique background with a commitment to youth advocacy, STEM education, and fostering change.

Sandy Slade (she/her/hers)

CEO & Founder, Sandy Spin Slade, has always had a passion for physical activity. As a professional basketball entertainer for 22 years, she shared her message about the benefits of physical activity worldwide. 

Although Sandy was an athlete all her life, she had an overwhelming desire to create activities for all abilities. She understood that not all children were athletic, but that all children deserved to have a positive experience being physically active. 

After over 20 years in business, Skillastics® has evolved from a single product into a full physical activity curriculum, fulfilling Expanded Learning physical activity needs.

Crystal Smith (she/her/hers)

Crystal Smith is a passionate advocate for teenagers with extensive facilitation and program management experience. Crystal began working at Wyman in 2003, and has facilitated and managed Wyman’s evidence-based programs. She currently serves as the Teen Connection Project Director for Wyman’s National Network. Crystal was an integral part of the team based out of the University of Virginia who completed the development, pilot, and research of the nationally replicated Teen Connection Project. She is a Trainer-Instructor for both the Teen Outreach Program and Teen Connection Project. 

Dominique Smith, Ed.D. (he/him/his)

Dominique Smith, Ed.D. is the Chief of Educational Services and Teacher Support at Health Sciences High and Middle College in San Diego, California. Smith is passionate about creating school environments that honor and empower students. His research and instruction focuses on restorative practices, classroom management, growth mindset, and the culture of achievement. He also provides professional learning to K-12 teachers in small and large groups that address classroom and school climate and organization.

Dominique holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from San Diego State University with an emphasis on equity as well as a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. Dominique also holds credentials from San Diego State University in administrative services, child welfare, PPS, and attendance. Smith has been recognized with the National School Safety Award from the School Safety Advocacy Council. In 2018, he delivered a TED Talk on building relationships between students and teachers.

Erin Snyder (she/her/hers)

Erin Snyder is the Senior Resource Educator at the Riverside-Corona Conservation District in Riverside, CA. She spent ten years teaching in classrooms in the Jurupa and Riverside Unified School Districts, as well over a decade of working with recreation groups like the Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, and local municipalities’ recreation departments. She is also an avid community volunteer and activist with numerous awards recognizing her commitment to local service. Erin has her teaching credential and B.A. from the University of California, Riverside and A.A. from Riverside Community College.

Erika Somogyi

Heather Speers-Tardiff (she/her/hers)

Heather Speers-Tardiff is an Expanded Learning Program Manager with Bay Area Community Resources. Her background in education and community service allows her to bring her passions together in Expanded Learning Programs. She is committed to collaborative learning that engages youth and the community. She is a proud graduate of Sacramento State University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. Serving as an AmeriCorps with First Five Solano allowed her to see the impact on education when communities come together to support youth and families.  She is a mother to two amazing kiddos and loves the outdoors.

Kristin Stayer, M.A. (she/her/hers)

Kristin Stayer, Mizzen’s Vice President of Engagement & Educator Experiences, is committed to growing Mizzen’s practitioner community, championing out-of-school-time leaders, and creating inspiring spaces for youth learning and staff development. Before Mizzen, Kristin served as the National Manager of Curriculum and Content Development for After-School All-Stars, where she empowered students for 21st-century learning and careers through comprehensive afterschool programs. Prior, she spent a decade at the helm of Park Place Community Center in Anderson, Indiana, working with the community to address educational, health, and food access needs.

Brandis Stockman (she/her/hers)

Brandis Stockman, Executive Director of OST Training That “Sticks”, has 25 years of experience supporting youth and families. Brandis is a National Afterschool Matters Fellow, an Afterschool Matters Editorial Review Board member, and past Chair of her local Afterschool Regional Network. Brandis has spoken at OST conferences around the country. Brandis believes that OST staff development is the foundation upon which high-quality programs are built, and has spent her career focusing on ways to better prepare and retain staff as they engage in such pivotal work.

Sonia Toledo, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Dr. Sonia Toledo is a writer, speaker, researcher, and social entrepreneur passionate about training educators in 21st-century learning and teaching youth the mindset of an entrepreneur. She is the founder & CEO of Dignity of Children, a training and development organization that offers educators extensive resources including emotional intelligence training, trauma-informed care, innovative facilitation and engagement strategies, and complete K through 12 PBL curriculums. Dr. Toledo is a creator of iDEAS Empowered by Youth, an innovative teacher training program that prepares educators to teach young people social entrepreneurship. Sonia is a proud BOOST Ambassador.

Rachelle Touzard, Ph.D., LMFT (she/her/hers)

Rachelle Touzard is director in the Division of Student Support Services at LACOE. Dr. Touzard brings over 18 years of experience in developing, planning and organizing programs in alternative education systems and student support services as a licensed therapist, school counselor and administrator. Throughout her career, she has championed innovative countywide initiatives including educational data sharing, regional learning networks and service coordination for students in foster care and incarcerated youth. 

Ray Trinidad (he/him/his)

Ray has worked in youth development and education for over 30 years with different municipalities, non-profits, school districts and charter schools as a youth counselor, principal, dean, and CEO. Though his organizations and titles have changed over the years, his core beliefs have not. Ray strongly believes that people at play create a higher quality of life. Whether strategizing with sixth grade campers in Capture the Flag, coaching high school seniors in advisory Olympics, or teaching middle school gang members how to use chopsticks, Ray Trinidad has always felt blessed and thankful for the joy of playing with others and making an impact. 

Andy Tupy (he/him/his)

Andy is a Sr. Territory Sales Manager for Gopher, an international vendor for Physical Education, Athletics, Fitness, Recreation, and Health.  Over the past 16 years, Andy has lead over 150 activity sessions all over the nation. Some include the state PE conventions in New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Utah, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.  Over the past 4 years, International Conferences have been added to the agenda to include ECIS - Barcelona, PHASE - Hong Kong, and DoDEA - Munich.  Below is a listing of some of the current session offerings.

Carrie Underwood (she/her/hers)

Carrie develops evaluation tools, analyzes and interprets qualitative and quantitative data, and authors papers and research briefs. Prior to joining BellXcel, Carrie played a key role in managing statewide evaluation data for the Georgia Department of Education and held a position at the Education Week Research Center where she led the qualitative analysis process for state policy and special content surveys.

Sunny Vachher (he/him/his)

Sunny Vachher is an international award-winning South Asian (Indian American) Producer, Executive Producer, and Creative Executive in Film, TV, and Digital Media. As Producer at TED Conferences, Sunny creates prestigious TEDTalks presented by influential and inspiring individuals from around the world sparking global change. A purpose-driven visionary entrepreneur bridging technology and entertainment, Sunny is the Founder of Hollywood Casting and Film—a leading digital casting platform for the entertainment industry connecting emerging talent with emerging filmmakers across America. As a Head Mentor and Motivational Speaker for Young Storytellers Foundation, Sunny helps raise diverse, inclusive, and emerging creative voices.

Juan Pablo Vásquez Varela, M.Ed. (he/him/his)

Born and raised in the salsa-popping streets of Cali, Colombia, Juan Pablo Vásquez Varela taught for over a decade in both North and South America before pivoting to the expanded learning space as an opportunity for transformative learning. He holds a master’s degree in education with a concentration in curriculum and instruction from Trinity Washington University. In his experience, Juan has focused on elevating curricular representation through counter-narratives, project-based learning, and student-centered pedagogy. Juan believes education is the key to achieving equity and roots his practice in love, learning, and liberation. 

Deepa Vasudevan, Ed.D. (she/her/hers)

Dr. Deepa S. Vasudevan is a researcher at AIR in the youth, family, and community development program area. Her scholarship explores the working lives of community-based youth workers, youth experiences in out-of-school time programming, school-community partnerships, and the organizational culture of nonprofits. She is the co-editor of the At Our Best: Building Youth-Adult Partnerships in Out-of-School Time Settings. Deepa completed her Ed.D. in Culture, Communities, and Education and Ed.M. in Education policy and Management at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received her B.A. in English from Haverford College.

Malia Villarreal (she/her/hers)

Malia Villarreal is a Senior Specialist in Policy & Outreach for the California AfterSchool Network (CAN). Before joining CAN in February 2023, Malia worked at the California Teaching Fellows Foundation for 8+ years as the Public and Strategic Development Manager. Malia has led numerous advocacy, strategic partnerships, marketing/communications, human resources, and workforce development projects and initiatives. Specifically, finding alignment points for the OST workforce with credentialed teacher preparation. Additionally, Malia has participated in local, statewide, and national OST, whole child, and teacher diversity advocacy coalitions.

Jim Walter, M.A.

Jim is good looking, witty, and humble! He's a 30-year educator, innovator, and coach. Jim leverages 22 years in leadership to help schools, organizations, and individuals develop leadership potential. Jim is certified in a variety of tools and frameworks that enable him to help individuals and teams maximize their potential, and with this expertise, Jim can provide comprehensive assessments, training, and coaching to individuals & teams to help them achieve their goals and improve their performance. Jim understands the challenges that leaders face navigating complex organizational dynamics to drive growth and success.

Helen Wang, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Dr. Helen Wang is the founder of 6crickets Expanded Learning Management Solutions which has been awarded by the prestigious National Science Foundation and served hundreds of districts throughout the nation. Helen is a renowned computer scientist. She founded and led the security and privacy research group at Microsoft Research for 14 years. Helen had served on the steering committee of top security and privacy international research conferences, such as the Oakland conference, CCS, NDSS, and Usenix Security. She has also mentored 30+ Ph.D. students. Helen received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from UC Berkeley in 2001.

Brooke Wheeldon-Reece, MBA (she/her/hers)

Brooke Wheeldon-Reece, MBA, is the CEO of The SPARK Initiative - a non-profit organization in Tampa, FL. dedicated to working with youth, sex trafficking survivors, and incarcerated juveniles and adults. Since 2014 she has led SPARK in teaching her community’s most vulnerable population how their mind works and how a deeper understanding can unleash anyone’s unbreakable SPARK. She created the evidence-based, SPARK Mentoring Programs and in 2021 she co-authored 4, peer-reviewed articles on the efficacy of the SPARK programs and the mental health education in which they are founded. Brooke lives in FL with her husband and 5 children.

Dwayne Wiggins, Jr., M.F.A. (he/him/his)

Dwayne Wiggins, Jr. is the Program Director for IGNITE Before & After-school Enrichment at Belmont Charter High School for Community Education Alliance. He graduated from Full Sail University, obtaining a B.S. degree in Entertainment Business and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. He is a doctoral student at Capella University, obtaining a Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior. Dwayne has worked in various after-school capacities since 2008. Dwayne's mission in life is helping people tap into their inner resources and push themselves to achieve their goals and live more fulfilling lives. 

Heather Williams (she/her/hers)

Heather joined the California AfterSchool Network (CAN) as the Director of Policy & Outreach in December 2018. She previously worked for the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education, overseeing the development and implementation of strategic plan efforts that reshaped the Division to focus on providing high-quality Expanded Learning opportunities for California’s youth. She currently oversees CAN’s work around advocacy and policy, data and research, communications and events, and other outreach efforts. 

Jamaal Williams (he/him/his)

Jamaal Williams is committed to building youth and educators to affect social change. A graduate of Cornell University by way of Queens, NY, he has used his talents in service-learning programming, group facilitation, and talent development throughout his career.  He currently works at Partnerships in Education and Resilience (PEAR) as the Assistant Director of Training where he leads the development and delivery of PEAR workshops and trainings and supports schools and youth-serving programs as they build their capacity for social-emotional learning and development.

Scotty Williams, M.Ed. (he/him/his)

Scotty Williams is the founder/owner of Camp4Real and is the US Coordinator for Omnikin! He taught elementary physical education for 15 years and high school summer PE for six years. He was a winner of the 2011 Golden Apple Award, the 2013 VAHPERD Elementary PE Teacher of the Year, and the 2015-16 VAHPERD and SHAPE Southern District Dance Teacher of the Year. Scott was also honored as a National Healthy School Hero by Action for Healthy Kids in 2017 and was named to the 2019 class of Charlottesville’s Finest by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He is also a presenter and keynote speaker at physical education conferences across the nation!

Nathaniel Wilson (he/him/his)

Nathaniel Wilson was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. He is a father of 4, a singer, a writer, as well as an educator. Nathaniel has over 12 years of experience in education. Nathaniel is currently a Transition Specialist at the Sacramento County Office of Education in Sacramento, CA. Nathaniel has been formally trained in leadership and facilitation by ASAP Connect. He is also a certified Liberatory Coach for healing, justice, and liberation by Coaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation.

Helen Wilson Obuna (she/her/hers)

Helen Obuna is a student at Colorado State University, set to graduate in May 2024. Currently in her fourth year, she is pursuing a double major in Biological Anthropology and Sociology. Alongside her academic pursuits, Helen is a student employee at the Rams Against Hunger food pantry, an organization committed to alleviating food insecurity within the CSU community by offering free food resources to students, faculty, and staff. Having spent 13 years in Denver, Helen now resides in Fort Collins, focusing on her full-time studies. Her future plans include embarking on a Ph.D. program in Medical Anthropology in the fall.

Shira Woolf Cohen, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Shira Woolf Cohen is an educator, community organizer and leader. Shira’s focus as founder at Innovageous is partnerships, programs and instruction, both in both school-based and out-of-school time settings. Before founding Innovageous, she spent 19 years in multiple roles, including Principal, at a Philadelphia charter school, and served as an Adjunct Instructor at multiple universities and on several nonprofit boards. Shira holds a Bachelors of Science in Middle School Education and Mathematics from Lesley University, and a Masters of Education in Urban Education and Principal Certification from Temple University.

Taylor M. Wycoff (she/her/hers)

Taylor M. Wycoff is a Ph.D. student in UC Irvine’s School of Education. Her experience working as a teaching artist in San Diego area schools and afterschool programs, as well as working as a research and evaluation specialist for the American Camp Association, inform her interest in increasing access to and inclusion in out-of-school-time (OST) and summertime learning opportunities for historically marginalized youth. More specifically, through her research, Taylor hopes to investigate the effects of culturally responsive practices in OST and summertime programs on the development of youth from historically marginalized backgrounds.

Elanna Yalow, MBA, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Elanna Yalow, MBA, Ph.D., is Vice Chair and Senior Advisor of KinderCare with over 30 years of experience with the company. In her current role, Elanna works closely with stakeholders actively engaged in policies and practices that support working families including local, state, and federal agencies, early childhood education providers and advocacy partners. She also helps advance the quality of KinderCare’s unique educational offerings and supports the company's ongoing new business development efforts. Elanna is a Board member of Guardian Child Care and Education and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Sargina Yonan (she/her/hers)

Sargina Yonan, Director of Expanded Learning in Linden Unified School District, since 2008, supports 35 staff across 4 sites. Her unwavering commitment to her core values drives her advocacy for students, families, and staff at all levels.

Invited to ASAPconnect’s School of Leadership and Facilitation in 2018, she completed a three-year program and now serves as a TA Coach, offering transitional coaching and technical assistance. Sargina dedicates herself to cultivating her aspiration and deepening her practice of grounding using the Compassionate Systems Framework, which informs her approach to leadership and personal growth.

Ana Zandarin (she/her/hers)

Zandarin is an educator and program director from Argentina with international experience as an educator, curriculum developer, and program manager. After teaching English as a Second Language in Barcelona (Spain) for over 10 years, she moved to Baltimore and joined various local non-profits supporting educational programs in different capacities. Ana is currently the Director of the Summer Academy with Arts for Learning Maryland, a PreK-6 program providing arts-integrated math and literacy to over 2000 students through inclusionary practices. Ana is a passionate advocate, a life-long learner, a Latina, an immigrant, and a mom.

Emma Zang-Schwartz, MPH (she/her/hers)

Emma is a Sales Operations Manager with KiwiCo. At KiwiCo, we hope to support your mission to ignite a love for learning. Our goal is to provide opportunities for growth in the classroom by providing hands-on projects that help students develop creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Emma works with the team to develop curriculum and supplemental activities that support the use of STEAM learning kits with groups of students. 

CONTACT US

Do you have questions about BOOST Conference presenters? Please contact:

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Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events including all meals and all workshops.