Contributing Authors

Al Motley

Founder and CEO at Techademics

Al Motley is Founder and CEO of Techademics, a technology company focused on innovation in education, social impact philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. Based in Philadelphia with offices in Buenos Aires and Gaborone, Techademics has served over 100 clients, impacting hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and social impact leaders. Previously, Al served as Chief Technology Officer for Matchbook Learning and provided information technology leadership for Philadelphia’s Mastery Charter Schools. He also served as a technical advisor for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation from 2013-2016. Al is a Pahara-Aspen Institute Fellow and NextGen Fellow, and holds certifications in Agile CSM project management. He serves on the board of trustees for the Learning Accelerator and mentors through the University of Pennsylvania’s Capstone Education Entrepreneurship Program. Al holds a BS in Management Science and Information Systems from Pennsylvania State University.

Alan Cheng

Superintendent of Consortium, Internationals, NYC Outward Bound Schools at New York City Department of Education

Alan Cheng is a district leader at New York City Public Schools, overseeing 51 high schools across the Consortium, Internationals, and NYC Outward Bound networks. His work centers on innovation, student agency, and preparing young people for a rapidly changing world. Previously, Alan served as a district deputy superintendent and high school principal, leading initiatives that made learning more inclusive, engaging, and rigorous. Before moving to New York City, he was an Education Policy Fellow with the U.S. Senate Education Subcommittee, contributing to national policy discussions. Alan holds an EdD in Adult Development and Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Across roles, he is committed to ensuring that schools nurture students’ identities, ambitions, and postsecondary readiness so they can thrive in college, career, and civic life.

Andy Calkins

Co-Director at Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC)

Andrew “Andy” Calkins is Co-Director of Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC), where he helps lead a national effort to fundamentally reimagine K–12 public education. NGLC supports “next gen” learning models that are equitable, student-centered, personalized, competency-based, experiential, and tech-enabled, grounded in richer definitions of student success. Since 2010, NGLC has invested roughly $100 million in innovative school designs and whole-school models, and its Bravely initiative brings together hard-won lessons on district and system transformation. Andy brings more than four decades of experience in education reform, including leadership roles at Scholastic, Recruiting New Teachers, Mass Insight Education, and the Stupski Foundation. He was lead author of The Turnaround Challenge, an influential report on improving underperforming schools. Andy holds a BA from Harvard College and was a Henry Fellow at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge.

Antonia Rudenstine

Executive Director at reDesign

Antonia Rudenstine is Founder and Executive Director of reDesign, an education design and consulting organization with deep expertise in change leadership, strategy, curriculum and assessment design, competency-based learning, and pedagogy. She began her career as a high school teacher and went on to help launch more than 30 new public school models over two decades. In 2008, Antonia co-founded reDesign to support state and district transformation efforts centered on future-ready competencies, relevant learning, and student agency. Under her leadership, reDesign has become a trusted partner for systems seeking to move beyond incremental improvement toward humanizing, equitable, and competency-based designs—and was recently awarded a $10 million social impact grant for its K–12 work. Antonia holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MEd and EdD from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Aylon Samouha

CEO at Transcend

Aylon Samouha is CEO and co-founder of Transcend, a national nonprofit dedicated to reimagining schooling so every student experiences extraordinary, equitable learning environments. Since 2015, Transcend has partnered with more than 520 schools and districts and built a network of over 19,000 systems and school leaders, offering direct design support, open tools, and broader ecosystem influence. Previously, Aylon served as Chief Schools Officer at Rocketship Education, leading one of California’s highest-performing networks serving low-income communities, and as Senior Vice President at Teach For America, overseeing pre-service institutes and teacher support. A frequent speaker at convenings such as ASU+GSV, the NewSchools Summit, and Digital Promise’s Annual Convening, he shares insights on innovation, equity, and design. Aylon serves on the board of Leading Educators and holds a BA in English from Columbia University.

Babak Mostaghimi

Founding Partner at LearnerStudio

Dr. Babak Mostaghimi is an educator and future readiness advocate focused on helping systems prepare young people for a rapidly changing world. As a Founding Partner at LearnerStudio, he leads learning and change management strategies. Previously, as Assistant Superintendent in Gwinnett County Public Schools, he led the creation of a birth-to-age-5 community early learning ecosystem, developed a PK–12 AI- and future-readiness-embedded learning model, and drove the district’s continuous quality improvement strategy. Before joining Gwinnett, Babak served as Deputy Director at the Center for Education Innovation. He began his education career as a teacher in Mississippi, where he was named District Teacher of the Year. Babak holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an EdLD and MPP from Harvard University. He continues to champion learning models that integrate academic rigor, whole-child development, and preparation for the opportunities and disruptions of the future.

Betsy Corcoran

Senior Advisor at Playlab AI

Betsy Corcoran is a Strategic Advisor at Playlab and co-host of the Future Fluent podcast with Dr. Jeremy Roschelle, exploring the evolving relationship between AI and learning. She is co-founder and former CEO of EdSurge, the award-winning education technology news and information hub, which she successfully led to acquisition by ISTE in 2019. Betsy brings decades of experience as a journalist and strategic advisor at the intersection of technology and learning. She has served as Silicon Valley Bureau Chief for Forbes Media, staff writer and editor for Scientific American and The Washington Post, and a Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. A recognized thought leader and speaker, Betsy has appeared on CNBC and NBC’s Press Here and is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow. She received ISTE’s Impact Award in 2019 for outstanding work in improving learning. Betsy holds a B.A. in Economics and Math from Georgetown University.

Beth Anderson

President and Chief Executive Officer at Core Knowledge Foundation

Beth Battle Anderson is President & Chief Executive Officer of the Core Knowledge Foundation, a national leader in knowledge-based education. She brings deep expertise in curriculum, educational equity, and large-scale program expansion. Previously, Beth served as Executive Director of Hill Learning Center in Durham, North Carolina, where she expanded research-based literacy interventions and teacher training to reach thousands of educators nationally and worldwide. Beforehand, Beth was a senior leader at Teach For America, helping to secure over $300 million in funding and leading national education partnerships. She also co-founded and managed Duke University’s Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE), where she continues to serve on the advisory board. Beth is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow and serves on the boards of Great Schools NC and the NC State Education Assistance Authority. She holds a BA in Classics from Williams College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Bibb Hubbard

Founder and CEO at Learning Heroes

Bibb Hubbard is founder and CEO of Learning Heroes, a national nonprofit that helps families and educators team up to support student achievement and school success. Motivated by her experience as a public education advocate, she brings more than two decades in communications, policy, and advocacy. Bibb has held leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Widmeyer Communications, and Scholastic, and previously served in the White House, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Senate. A nationally recognized expert on parent mindsets, she has been featured in outlets including Good Morning America, The New York Times, TIME, and The Washington Post. Bibb is a Pahara Fellow, serves on the board of The Leadership Academy, and is a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Commission on the American Workforce working group on elementary and secondary education.

Brooke Stafford-Brizard

Senior Vice President at Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Brooke Stafford-Brizard is Senior Vice President at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, where she oversees research and development and stewards cross-sector partnerships to advance the Foundation’s mission. An educator, researcher, and philanthropic leader, she has worked across three decades championing education grounded in the science of learning and development. Most recently, Brooke served as Vice President for Research to Practice at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, leading its education grantmaking to support researchers, educators, and policymakers in building systems focused on whole child development. Her prior roles include director of data strategy and evaluation for New York City’s District 79 and co-founder of an all-girls public charter school in Rochester, New York. Brooke began her career as a middle school teacher in the Bronx. She holds a PhD in Cognitive Science in Education from Columbia University and is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow.

Celeste Bolin

Executive Director at One Stone

Dr. Celeste Bolin is Executive Director of One Stone, a student-driven nonprofit in Boise, Idaho, that includes the Lab School, an innovative high school centered on agency, hands-on learning, and personal growth. Previously, she served as director of the Lab School for five years, helping to shape its learner-centered design and culture. Celeste holds a BS in Chemistry from Whitman College and a PhD in Neurotoxicology from the University of Montana, followed by postdoctoral fellowships at the Curie Institute in Paris and Boise State University. Her scientific career includes peer-reviewed publications, international presentations, and grant-funded research. Now in her ninth year as a leader at One Stone, she drives the organization’s Growth Framework—a skills-based model focused on adaptability, leadership, and real-world problem-solving—and leads R&D efforts to continuously improve student-driven learning environments.

Charles Fadel

Founder and Chairman at the Center for Curriculum Redesign

Charles Fadel is founder and chairman of the Center for Curriculum Redesign and a global education thought leader, author, futurist, and inventor. He serves as a member of the OECD AI Experts Group and chair emeritus of the Education Committee at BIAC/OECD. Charles is co-author of Education for the Age of AI (2024), Artificial Intelligence in Education (2019), Four-Dimensional Education (whose framework is translated into 23 languages), and 21st Century Skills. He has worked with education systems and institutions in more than 30 countries and spent 25 years in technology management, including founding Neurodyne AI. His prior roles include Global Education Lead at Cisco Systems, visiting scholar at MIT ESG and Wharton/Penn CLO, and project director at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Charles holds a BSEE and an MBA and has been awarded seven patents, with one pending.

Chip Linehan

Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Building 21

Chip Linehan is co-founder and co-CEO of Building 21, a nonprofit that partners with communities, families, students, and districts to design learner-centered pathways so all young people can pursue the futures they want. He also founded Launchpad, Building 21’s “learn-and-earn” workforce development initiative that prepares students from traditionally underrepresented groups for high-paying tech careers. Before launching Building 21, Chip spent 20 years at New Enterprise Associates (NEA), the world’s largest venture capital firm, where he led the Healthcare Investing Practice. In 1997, he co-founded The SMART Program, which provides life-changing educational opportunities for children in San Francisco. Chip holds a bachelor’s degree in Government and an EdLD in Educational Leadership from Harvard University. His work bridges innovation, equity, and economic mobility through new models of schooling and workforce preparation.

Chong-Hao Fu

Chief Executive Officer at Leading Educators

Chong-Hao Fu is CEO of Leading Educators and a longtime educator and school leader committed to the power of great teaching to expand opportunity. Since joining Leading Educators as Chief Program Officer more than a decade ago, he has led efforts to maximize educators’ influence and accelerate instructional growth for students at the margins in some of the nation’s fastest-improving systems. A nationally recognized thought leader, Chong-Hao focuses on teacher leadership, equitable instruction, teacher diversity and pathways, and sustainable systems change. He co-chairs the Research Partnership for Professional Learning and serves on advisory bodies including ASU’s Next Education Workforce and the Coalition to Reimagine the Teaching Role. He also serves on the New Teacher Center board and is a member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC) and the Pahara Fellowship. Chong-Hao holds a BA from Yale University and an MEd from National Louis University.

Chris Purifoy

CEO and Co-Founder at Learning Economy Foundation

Chris Purifoy is CEO and co-founder of Learning Economy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a global mission to translate emerging technologies into transformative learning and economic systems that promote equity, mobility, privacy, and human agency. Since its announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018, Learning Economy has convened policymakers, standards bodies, employers, and developers to shape a more equitable “next web.” The organization’s LearnCard initiative enables learner sovereignty, mobility, and agency worldwide. Chris is an entrepreneur, author, and technology architect whose collaborations span the LEGO Foundation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and others. He is a senior editor at Diplomatic Courier and sits on multiple global policy councils and fellowships, including co-founding the Web3 Education Alliance with the World Bank. He also writes poetry and fiction and frequently explores themes of creativity, AI, Web3, and the future of education and work.

Daren Dickson

Executive Director of Innovation at Valor Collegiate Academies

Daren Dickson is Executive Director of Innovation at Valor Collegiate Academies, a three-school charter management organization in Nashville, Tennessee. At Valor, he led the creation of Valor’s Compass, a comprehensive human development framework at the core of the school model. Daren believes that a relationship-based, human development approach to education is essential for addressing inequities and preparing students to navigate a complex world. Before co-founding Valor in 2013, he spent 16 years in California as a therapist, clinical and program director, and social justice advocate, primarily serving vulnerable youth and communities in the Bay Area. A licensed marriage and family therapist, Daren holds a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Denver and Stanford University and an MA in Integral Counseling from the California Institute of Integral Studies.

Demi Edwards

CEO and Co-Founder at Education Reimagined

Demi Edwards is CEO and co-founder of Education Reimagined, a national nonprofit organization partnering with communities across the country to reimagine public education in ways that center learners and their communities. She leads the organization’s work to build and codify the field of learner-centered education and to catalyze the invention and spread of educational systems that promote equity, justice, and well-being. Over more than a decade at Education Reimagined, Demi has served in multiple leadership roles, including Chief Strategy Officer, and guided the organization’s launch as an independent 501(c)(3) in 2019. Her work focuses on advancing learner-centered, community-rooted approaches and building a broad movement of learners, families, educators, and system leaders committed to transforming public education.

Devin Vodicka

Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Learner-Centered Collaborative

Dr. Devin Vodicka is Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Learner-Centered Collaborative and a leading voice for reimagining education around the needs, strengths, and aspirations of each learner. He is the author of Learner-Centered Leadership, which draws on his experience as a superintendent and system leader to offer practical guidance for transforming schools. Previously, Devin served as Superintendent of Vista Unified School District in California, where he led efforts to personalize learning, elevate student voice, and build strong community partnerships. Under his leadership, Vista Unified gained national recognition for innovative, learner-centered practices. Devin works with schools, districts, and states to design systems that honor students as active co-creators of their learning experiences and futures.

Erin Mote

Founder and Chief Executive Officer at InnovateEDU

Erin Mote is founder and CEO of InnovateEDU, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing opportunity and achievement gaps by accelerating innovation in education. She is also co-founder of Brooklyn Laboratory Charter Schools, which provide rigorous academic and digital literacy foundations for students. At InnovateEDU, Erin leads efforts that drive systemic change through strategic alliances focused on special education, talent development, data interoperability, and AI integration. A recognized expert in technology and broadband policy, she has advised the White House and U.S. State Department and previously led USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations Alliance, expanding internet access in developing countries. Erin’s career is rooted in creating equitable learning opportunities through technology and partnerships that benefit learners in the United States and around the world.

Fernande Raine

Founder and Co-Lead at The History Co:Lab

Fernande Raine is founder of The History Co:Lab, an innovation accelerator working to strengthen democracy by transforming how young people learn history and the humanities. The Co:Lab builds local partnerships to co-create inspiring, community-rooted history learning experiences in places such as Kansas City, New York City, Boston, and multiple European countries. To drive systems change, it also weaves alliances that influence how learning is delivered and assessed at scale. In partnership with the Smithsonian, The History Co:Lab manages a network of more than 200 museums advancing the Educating for American Democracy initiative and produces UnTextbooked, an award-winning teen-led podcast. Fernande holds a PhD in History from Yale University. She began her career at McKinsey & Company and spent 15 years at Ashoka building global systems-change programs.

Frances Messano

Chief Executive Officer at NewSchools

Frances Messano is CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund, a venture philanthropy that builds a better education system by connecting people, resources, and ideas. Throughout her 10 year tenure, Frances has served as President, created the Diverse Leaders investment strategy, and led the Innovative Schools team. Before joining NewSchools, Frances had senior roles at Teach for America and Monitor Institute. Frances, a first-generation college graduate, earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and A.B. from Harvard College. She is an alum of Prep for Prep, MLT and SEO, nonprofits that profoundly influenced her trajectory, and she serves on numerous non-profit boards centered on increasing access to opportunity. Frances lives in San Francisco with her husband and their three children, who attend NewSchools portfolio schools.

Gregg Behr

Executive Director at The Grable Foundation & Co-Author, When You Wonder, You’re Learning

Gregg Behr is executive director of The Grable Foundation and a nationally recognized children’s advocate inspired by the legacy of Fred Rogers. Since 2007, he has helped lead Remake Learning, a network of educators, technologists, artists, and community leaders in the Pittsburgh region that has gained international attention for igniting children’s curiosity and creativity in schools, libraries, museums, and beyond. Gregg has chaired the boards of Grantmakers for Education and Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and advised numerous national and local organizations, including the Brookings Institution and the Fred Rogers Institute. He holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a JD and MPP from Duke University, as well as honorary degrees from Carlow University and Saint Vincent College. Recognized as a White House Champion of Change and one of America’s top education innovators, he continues to advocate for just, joyful learning environments.

Jenn Charlot

Co-Founder at RevX

Dr. Jenn Charlot (Shar-low) is co-founder of RevX, a scalable K–12 learning model designed to help young people claim their power and transform their world. A longtime educator and school designer, Jenn was a founding team member at Transcend, where she led research and development, co-authored Designing for Learning, and now oversees a portfolio of early-stage school design projects. Her work has supported communities and schools such as Valor Collegiate, Van Ness Elementary, Citizens of the World Charter Schools, and Edgecombe County Public Schools. Jenn has held intrapreneurial roles at Character Lab, NYC Public Schools’ District 79, Turnaround for Children, and Newark Public Schools, and co-founded Konbit Pou Edikasyon, a nonprofit in Haiti. She has taught at Columbia School of Social Work and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Jenn holds a BA from Boston College, an MS from Columbia University, and an EdLD from Harvard University.

Jenny Anderson

Journalist and Co-Author of The Disengaged Teen

Jenny Anderson is a journalist, author, and speaker with more than 25 years of experience covering finance, learning, and what it means to be human in a complex world. She spent a decade on staff at The New York Times, reporting on Wall Street and education. She won a Gerald Loeb Award in 2008 for her coverage of the financial crisis. In 2012, she joined Quartz, a digital media startup committed to reimagining storytelling around high-stakes global topics. There, she designed interdisciplinary beats including the Science of Learning, the Future of Schools, and Rewiring Childhood. Jenny has launched podcasts, newsletters, and thought leadership, translating complex topics at the intersection of learning, technology, and relationships. Her latest book, The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better (Crown, 2025), co-authored with Rebecca Winthrop, explores the complex science of student engagement in an age of AI for parents and educators. She is a widely sought-after speaker, moderating and delivering keynotes at places as varied as the World Economic Forum, ASU GSV, SxSW EDU, JP Morgan, Bessemer Trust, as well as dozens of schools, nonprofits, and education associations.

Karen Pittman

Founding Partner at Knowledge to Power Catalysts (KP Catalysts)

Karen Pittman is a founding partner of KP Catalysts, where she synthesizes research, policy, and practice on when, where, how, and why learning and development happen. Her work centers on bringing insights from youth development into K–12 systems, helping educators see themselves as part of a broader learning ecosystem that supports young people across settings and stages of life. Karen also serves as Creative Director of CTO Remix, where she translates complex science into accessible tools and narratives that fuel stronger, more equitable learning environments. A longtime field-builder and thought leader, she advocates for whole-child and whole-community approaches that recognize learning as a lifelong, multi-context experience.

Kathleen Farley

Head of Internal Knowledge Platforms at Google

Kathleen Farley is a learning and development innovator who designs and implements large-scale, skill-first learning solutions. At Google, she shapes the L&D tech stack strategy for People Operations and has previously led Internal Knowledge Platforms and Scaled Vendor Training. Beyond Google, Kathleen co-founded Oasis Learning and served as Chief Product Officer at UniversityNow, demonstrating deep expertise in building product teams, setting strategy, and scaling operations in education technology. She served eight years as a trustee on the San Carlos, California, school board (TK–8), helping to guide district strategy. Kathleen holds an MBA and an MA in Education from Stanford University and is passionate about aligning learning systems with the evolving needs of people and organizations.

Katie Martin

Co-CEO and Co-Founder at Learner-Centered Collaborative

Dr. Katie Martin is Co-Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder at Learner-Centered Collaborative and a leading voice for learner-centered education. She is the author of Evolving Education and Learner-Centered Innovation, which draw on her experiences as a middle school English language arts teacher, instructional coach, and district leader of new teacher mentoring. Katie partners with schools and systems to design learning that is authentic, meaningful, and aligned to students’ strengths, interests, and communities. She holds a doctorate in education and focuses her research and practice on creating conditions where young people know who they are, thrive in community, and actively engage in the world as their best selves.

Kathryn Sisa

Chief of Staff at Organizer Zero

Kathryn Sisa is Chief of Staf at Organizer Zero, and an education leader with deep experience advancing educator engagement, organizational culture, and talent strategy in mission-driven education organizations. She held senior leadership roles at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, where she served as Senior Director of Organizational Culture and Learning, Senior Director of Educator Engagement, and Chief of Staff, leading efforts to strengthen talent systems, cultivate inclusive and anti-racist workplace cultures, and build authentic partnerships with educators. She began her career as a classroom teacher and has since worked across K–12 systems, education nonprofits, and policy-adjacent organizations. Kathryn holds a BA from Abilene Christian University, a Master of Public Policy from Georgetown University, and an EdD from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Merita Irby

Partner at Knowledge to Power Catalysts (KP Catalysts)

Merita Irby is a partner at KP Catalysts, where she works with leaders in school districts, government agencies, community collaboratives, and nonprofits across the country. Her portfolio focuses on helping leaders navigate real-world complexity by developing lenses and decision-making frameworks that are youth-centered, science-informed, and equity-focused. Merita’s work emphasizes whole-child and whole-community approaches, enabling systems to see and support young people not just as students, but as full humans embedded in families, neighborhoods, and networks. Through coaching, facilitation, and strategy, she helps organizations align policy, practice, and partnerships around what young people need to thrive.

Natasha Kamrani

Founding Director at Organizer Zero

Natasha Kamrani is founding director of Organizer Zero, a national parent power incubator that helps families build influence and shape the systems that serve their children. She began her career as a Teach For America corps member teaching English as a Second Language, then led Teach For America’s Houston region. Natasha later won a seat on the Houston Independent School District Board of Education and ran a startup national foundation focused on education reform. After seven years as a civil litigator, she returned fully to education and community work, dedicating the past 15 years to elevating underrepresented voices in local education decision-making. Through Organizer Zero, Natasha supports parents and caregivers in designing campaigns, building coalitions, and sustaining organizing efforts that drive meaningful change.

Pamela Cantor, M.D.

Founder and CEO at The Human Potential L.A.B.

Pamela Cantor, M.D., is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the Co-Founder/CEO of The Human Potential L.A.B. She is a trusted voice on the science of human possibility: how experiences, relationships, and environments shape development and expand what young people can become. She has spoken at Aspen Ideas, Harlem Children’s Zone, and the Smithsonian. Her work has been featured by national media including The New York Times and NBC News. Dr. Cantor is writing a book on how human potential is cultivated—through biology and the people we trust, and by the environments we design. Her previous books include Whole-Child Development, Learning and Thriving: A Dynamic Systems Approach and The Science of Learning and Development. She founded Turnaround for Children, is a Governing Partner of the Science of Learning and Development Alliance, and is a strategic science advisor to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Dr. Pete Fishman

Senior Partner at NewSchools

Dr. Pete Fishman is a Senior Partner at NewSchools, where he leads the Teaching Reimagined investment strategy, committed to creating the conditions in which children and adults can thrive. Pete champions solutions that evolve how educators work, honor people’s humanity, and use technology as a catalyst, not a replacement, for connection, joy, and rigor. Previously, he co-founded Deans for Impact, a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming teacher preparation, and has advised foundations, nonprofits, companies, and higher education institutions on leadership, culture, and strategy. Pete holds a BA from Yale University and an EdLD from Harvard University.

Samantha Maskey

Director of Admissions at Minerva University

Samantha Maskey is Director of Admissions at Minerva University, where she is dedicated to building diverse, dynamic learning communities from applicants around the world. She leads an innovative, holistic review process that looks beyond test scores to understand each applicant’s potential, character, and unique contributions. Samantha believes the future of admissions lies in strategic, human-centered decision-making that aligns talent, opportunity, and institutional mission. Her work supports Minerva’s global, experiential model and helps create cohorts of students prepared to tackle complex challenges across disciplines and borders.

Sarah Field

Partner of Instructional Design at REvX

Sarah Field brings over two decades of experience designing curriculum and professional learning with and for K–12 learners and educators. She has led collaborative teams and complex projects under fast-moving timelines while staying grounded in organizational vision and values. Sarah’s expertise lies in developing research-based, high-quality instructional materials and professional learning experiences that advance liberation, justice, and joy for all communities. Through deep partnership and ongoing inquiry, she helps systems implement meaningful, equitable practices that support both students and educators.

Saskia Op den Bosch

Co-Founder at RevX

Saskia Op den Bosch is a leadership and systems-change practitioner who believes you cannot create externally what you have not embodied internally. After 15 years in education research and development, she saw that lasting change requires inner transformation as much as new strategies. Saskia helps leaders and teams operate with integrity—defined as alignment between stated values and daily behaviors. Through self-leadership, breathwork, and reflective dialogue, she supports people in reconnecting to themselves so they can lead from truth rather than tension. In parallel, she works with organizations to create coherence between strategy, systems, and culture, ensuring that aspirational values can actually be lived. Her approach marries the heart of transformation with the practical planning needed to sustain it.

Scott Bess

President and CEO, Indiana Charter Innovation Center, and Board Member for Indiana State Board of Education

Scott Bess is president and CEO of the Indiana Charter Innovation Center. An education entrepreneur, he has founded two innovative school models and advises organizations on reinventing the high school experience through his consulting firm, EdLead. Scott led the creation of Purdue Polytechnic High Schools, designed to increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to Purdue University by redesigning high school around student voice, choice, rigor, and equity. With just three graduating classes, PPHS has more than quadrupled underrepresented minority enrollment at Purdue from Indianapolis. Previously, Scott led Goodwill Education Initiatives, growing the Excel Center from a single adult high school into a multi-state network serving over 7,000 students and improving graduates’ earnings by over $10,000 within two years. Scott serves on the Indiana State Board of Education and is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow. He holds a BS in Mathematics Education from Purdue University and an MA in Teaching from Marian University.

Shereen El Mallah

Research Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia

Dr. Shereen El Mallah is a former K-12 teacher, trained developmental scientist, and current Research Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development Center to Promote Effective Youth Development (Youth-Nex). Her work integrates participatory design processes and rapid cycle evaluation to position youth as co-researchers and leverage both quantitative and qualitative data in challenging dominant narratives. Through long-term partnerships with schools, districts, and youth-serving organizations, her collaborative efforts have included designing innovative learning pathways, developing frameworks for equitable intergenerational collaboration, creating immersive experiences addressing complex societal challenges, and building assessment tools that honor locally-defined success over standardized metrics. El Mallah recently served on the design committee for the Portrait of a Thriving Youth,  an evidence-based framework for adolescent development,  and co-leads the Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) Nexus and Youth Engagement Resource Hub (YERC), two comprehensive resource repositories aimed at reimagining how institutions value expertise—ensuring those most impacted by systems become architects of their transformation.

Dr. Temple S. Lovelace

Executive Director at Assessment for Good, AERDF & Founder and CEO at Oluko Learning

Dr. Temple Lovelace works to reimagine the future of learning – co-creating leading-edge innovation that is tuned for human thriving. As Executive Director of Assessment for Good, a program at AERDF, she leads a five-year, multi-stakeholder effort to redefine how learner potential is recognized, measured, and supported, with the ultimate goal of serving those who sit farthest from opportunity. This vision has taken shape across her work, including through Oluko Learning. Olùkọ́, rooted in the Yoruba verb kọ́, speaks to teaching as an act of cultivation—building understanding for learners through context, relationship, and lived experience. As a third-generation educator and now founder and CEO of Oluko, Temple is committed to building tools that disrupt, not support the status quo. She has published extensively on assessment design and student-centered learning approaches so that educators, caregivers, and even learners themselves can co-create a future where learning is expansive, adaptive, and unconstrained.

Dr. Tequilla Brownie

Chief Executive Officer at TNTP

Dr. Tequilla Brownie is CEO of TNTP, one of the nation’s leading education nonprofits, where she oversees vision, strategy, operations, and growth. TNTP works across more than 40 states and territories to ensure all young people are prepared for multiple pathways to academic, economic, and social mobility. A licensed therapist and former school social worker, Tequilla brings a unique perspective shaped by her own journey from rural poverty to Yale and executive leadership. Before becoming CEO, she spent a decade at TNTP building the organization’s business and leadership capacities, elevating its national profile, and expanding philanthropic support. Previously, she led human capital reforms in Memphis City Schools that improved teacher effectiveness and student outcomes. Tequilla holds a BA in Psychology from Yale University, an MS in Social Work from the University of Tennessee–Knoxville, and an EdD in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis.

TeRay Esquibel

Founding Executive Director at Purpose Commons

TeRay Esquibel is a social entrepreneur focused on community development and collaborative action. He is the Founding Executive Director at Purpose Commons and formerly co-founder and executive director of Ednium: The Alumni Collective, which mobilizes Denver Public Schools alumni to transform the local education ecosystem and increase socioeconomic mobility. At Ednium, TeRay led participatory research efforts that helped shape new graduation requirements in financial literacy and ethnic studies and secured more than $10 million to expand postsecondary opportunities. He has also held roles at RootED, Gary Community Ventures, and the Joyful Impact Social Entrepreneurs Accelerator. A current Pahara Fellow, TeRay serves on several boards and has been recognized as one of Denver Business Journal’s 40 Under 40.

Tim Taylor

Co-Founder and President at America Succeeds

Tim Taylor is co-founder and president of America Succeeds, bringing a blend of executive, nonprofit, and public policy experience to the organization. Before launching America Succeeds, he served as founding president of Colorado Succeeds. Tim began his career on Capitol Hill as a senior legislative assistant to Congressman Saxby Chambliss, then moved to Colorado, where he worked as an independent political consultant and founded Open Fairways, a nonprofit serving at-risk youth through golf. He has been named one of Getting Smart’s “60 People Shaping the Future of K–12 Education”, is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow and member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, and serves on the Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Cross-Partisan Workgroup. Tim frequently speaks at national conferences including SXSW EDU and ASU+GSV, National Governors Association, SHRM, and America Succeeds’ work has been featured in major outlets such as Forbes, Fortune, Inc., and BBC.

Tyler Samstag

Director of Instructional Innovation at Allegheny Intermediate Unit and Executive Director at Remake Learning

Tyler Samstag is Director of Instructional Innovation at the Allegheny Intermediate Unit and Executive Director of Remake Learning, a network that sparks engaging, relevant, and equitable learning opportunities across the Pittsburgh region. He began his career as a special education teacher in New York City, implementing research-based literacy interventions in traditional and alternative settings, including juvenile correctional facilities and psychiatric hospitals. While in Boston, Tyler interned at CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology), advancing Universal Design for Learning, and joined IDEO’s Bits + Blocks Lab at the Harvard Innovation Lab to explore ventures inspired by blockchain technologies. He has facilitated design thinking and rapid prototyping workshops at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and MIT. Tyler holds an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and completed the Mind, Brain, and Education program at Harvard University.

Tyler Thigpen

Co-Founder and CEO of The Forest School: an Acton Academy in Atlanta, The Forest School Online, and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning

Dr. Tyler Thigpen is co-founder and CEO of The Forest School: an Acton Academy in Atlanta, The Forest School Online, and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning. He serves as Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and guest lecturer at Harvard. Previously, he was a founding partner at Transcend and co-founder of MENTOR Georgia and Chattahoochee Hills Charter School. His writing on the future of learning has appeared in the Washington Post, Getting Smart, Education Week, Atlanta Journal and Constitution, and others. Tyler holds advanced degrees from Harvard University and the University of British Columbia.

Vriti Saraf

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Ed3

Vriti Saraf is co-founder and CEO of Ed3, a nonprofit that helps educators understand and apply emerging technologies through research-based pedagogy. She began her career as a Teach For America teacher in Brooklyn and has since served as a professor, dean, and director across public, private, and charter schools in both K–12 and higher education, locally and internationally. Vriti advises organizations including XPRIZE, Full STEAM Forward, and Mi Primer Bitcoin, and writes widely about the intersection of Web3, education, and equity. Her blog, Ed3 World, explores how decentralized technologies can empower learners and educators and reshape systems for a more inclusive future.

Yusuf Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer at Playlab

Yusuf Ahmad is CEO of Playlab, a tech nonprofit that empowers educators, schools, and nonprofits to build or adapt AI tools that meet their communities’ needs. Prior to founding Playlab, he led new product development at Teach For America, contributed to Scratch, the creative coding platform used by millions of children, and conducted research at the MIT Media Lab. Yusuf was also on the founding team of the African Leadership University (ALU) and ALX, a pan-African network of universities and alternative higher education pathways. Outside of his core role, he mentors startups through MIT’s Sandbox Fund and angel invests in AI edtech companies such as LitLab and Recess.

Zarek Drozda

Executive Director at Data Science 4 Everyone

Zarek Drozda is Executive Director of Data Science 4 Everyone, a national initiative based at the University of Chicago that advances data science and data literacy education in K–12 schools. He helped launch DS4E in 2019, building a coalition of more than 3,000 education leaders across 35+ states. Zarek also contributes to AI education policy with the Federation of American Scientists and previously served at the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences, where he led research on emerging technology and helped coordinate data analytics for the federal COVID-19 response alongside the White House, Department of Education, and CDC. Before federal service, he helped build the Center for RISC, a social impact incubator founded with economist and Freakonomics co-author Steven Levitt.