Our Team
Meet our staff, board, and advisors and explore job opportunities in our organization.
STAFF
Hind Behayaa
Data Coordinator(She/Her)
Hind Behayaa, M.S., is a Data Coordinator with Challenge Success. She manages all survey data collection and supports the Challenge Success team with communicating with schools about surveys, tracking participation rate, collecting and cleaning data, and mapping data to reporting platforms. Hind completed her Master’s degree in Science majoring in Statistics at The University of Auckland, New Zealand where she later went on to work in various roles in Data Analysis. Hind also has experience as a Teacher’s Aide, where she found joy in helping students succeed, which led to her role at Challenge Success. Hind was born in Iraq, but spent the majority of her life in New Zealand. She now resides in the San Francisco Bay area with her two young boys and husband. In her spare time, Hind enjoys spending quality time with her family, walking and creating Lego sets.
Kimberly Cawkwell
Director of Programs(She/Her)
A first-generation Taiwanese American, mother, educator, and creative, Kimberly Tsai Cawkwell has served over thirteen years in the education ecosystem. As the Director of Programs at Challenge Success, Kimberly is honored to be in community with others to advocate for equitable systems and practices that nurture wellbeing, belonging and engagement for all. In addition to her work at Challenge Success, Kimberly currently serves as an Educational Advisor at the High Tech High (HTH) Graduate School of Education; supporting M.Ed students in developing culturally sustaining/responsive pedagogy in their school spaces.
Growing up as a multilingual learner in a semi-isolated motel next to a busy New Orleans expressway, living through the duality of American and Taiwanese cultures, and experiencing teaching and learning in variety of settings around the globe, Kimberly has developed a unique lens for culturally responsive environments and an insatiable desire to center student voices in classrooms. Through the opportunities to learn from students in her own classrooms to students from diverse corners of our globe, Kimberly believes deeply in student-driven transformative learning that sparks a common love and joy to seek knowledge. As she continues to support systemic change that lifts up student voices and honors the passions and identities of all students, Kim is grateful for the invaluable knowledge gained from others, holds humility as a practitioner and mentor for Deeper Learning practices, and is continuously inspired by the beautiful humans who are called to serve youth.
Prior to joining CS, Kim was a founder of two High Tech Elementary (HTe) project-based learning schools, a former coach and design specialist at the University of San Diego, New Tech Network, and Center for Love & Justice.. She holds a B.A. from the University of California, Riverside and M.Ed and multiple-subjects credential from the University of California, San Diego. When she’s not designing and facilitating learning, Kim might be found spending quality time with her two daughters, loving spouse, and family in Oceanside, San Gabriel, and Taichung. Her core values are family, joy, and equity.
Caitlin Ciannella
Director of Advancement(She/Her)
Caitlin Ciannella, M.A., is the Director of Advancement for Challenge Success, overseeing the organization’s philanthropic support from donors, foundations, and grantmakers as well as strategic communications for the organization. She brings over a decade of nonprofit experience to the role, including working with schools and other nonprofits to expand their development, marketing, and communications efforts. She is passionate about supporting organizations that serve children and families and partnering with philanthropists to drive meaningful change.
Margaret Dunlap
Senior School Design Partner,Transformative Coaching & Leadership
(She/Her)
Margaret Dunlap, M.A., is the Senior School Design Partner for Challenge Success. With a background spanning over 35 years, she has held multifaceted roles in education leadership, coaching, and program management. She supports schools in transformative reform endeavors, championing the promotion of well-being, engagement, and belonging within educational communities. Margaret resides in the Bay Area with her husband, embracing the empty nest phase with open hearts as their three children have grown and ventured out on their own.
Ryan Fuller
School Data Analyst(He/Him)
Ryan Fuller, M.Ed., is a School Data Analyst for Challenge Success. He started his career as an aerospace design engineer and transitioned into education to help give others the same life opportunities that he had been provided. Over the course of the past twelve years, he has worked at the high school level as both a STEM educator and instructional leader. He studied project-based learning at High Tech High and brought back what he learned to his home state of Louisiana where he built out a science department and PBL program at Rooted School in New Orleans. Most recently, he studied data science at MITx and worked as Director of Data & Results at Living School. He is passionate about helping communities around the world build school systems that better serve their students. In his free time, Ryan enjoys writing, photography, reading, and hiking.
Pamela Kading Webb
School Partnership Coach(She/Her)
Pamela Kading Webb, M.P.P., has been actively involved with Challenge Success since 2013, launching and implementing the program at Dover-Sherborn Regional Schools (K-12), the first CS Member School on the East Coast. Pam co-chaired the CS Initiative at Dover-Sherborn, served as the Chair of Parent Programs on the Dover-Sherborn CS Team, has worked with numerous other CS schools in a coaching capacity as well as presented parent engagement workshops at our national conferences. She has over three decades of experience working with nonprofit organizations in an executive management or volunteer leadership capacity. Most recently, in her role as a Board Member of Community Action Partners at Harvard Business School, Pam oversees pro bono consulting projects for nonprofit clients in the Greater Boston area. Pam earned a Master’s in Public Policy specializing in Child/Family Policy and Education.
Jon Kleiman
School & District Partnership Manager(He/Him)
Jon Kleiman, M.A., is the School and District Partnership Manager for Challenge Success. Jon’s chief mission is helping organizations and individuals challenge the status quo. In his role as a School & District Partnership Manager with Challenge Success, Jon’s worked with dozens of schools over the past several years in reimagining how schools might better support the needs and growth of its students. Previously, Jon worked at a university helping students to engage in “vocational wayfinding.” Jon lives in Portland, Maine with his wife and three kids. Jon also hates writing bios.
Jeff Lippman
School Partnership Coach(He/Him)
Jeff Lippman, M.A., has served as the Head of School at Avenues Silicon Valley for the last five years. He began his three-decade career as a high school social studies teacher; since then, he has taken leadership roles at schools in the United States, France, Spain, and Brazil. During the pandemic, he also served as Head of School at Avenues Online. Jeff brings a passion for student-centered education and expertise in strategic planning, change management, and leadership development. Jeff holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Duke University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Tricia McEntee
Director of Finance & Operations(She/Her)
Tricia McEntee, B.A., CPA is the Director of Finance and Operations for Challenge Success where she is responsible for overseeing finance, human resources, and internal operations. Previously, Tricia spent over a decade as the Executive Director and CFO of the Esalen Institute, an iconic center for exploring and realizing human potential. Tricia began her career in public accounting with Ernst and Young, continuing into increasingly more responsible positions as CFO in various for-profit and non-profit organizations. She believes in the power of a holistic approach to human development and well-being to unleash our unlimited capacities of creativity, curiosity, and connection.
Sarah Miles
Director of Research(She/Her)
Sarah Miles, M.S.W., Ph.D., is the Director of Research for Challenge Success. She oversees the organization’s Research team, leads research efforts on how schools and classrooms can best support student learning and engagement, and partners with Challenge Success member schools to translate research into practice. She also presents at conferences and writes articles for education-related journals. She has served as a coach with Challenge Success member schools and worked as a teaching and research assistant at Stanford. Prior to receiving her doctoral degree, Sarah taught fifth grade in Oakland, California and worked as a clinical social worker in the Boston area.
Sarah O’Meara Gonzalez
Administrative Associate(She/Her)
Sarah O’Meara Gonzalez is the Administrative Associate for Challenge Success. She provides administrative support to operations, finance and fundraising. Prior to joining Challenge Success, she worked in higher education at the University of Connecticut and Rutgers providing grant management and departmental support. She has a deep passion for education and revisioning how schools measure success to include student well-being.
Megan Pacheco
Executive Director(She/Her)
Megan Pacheco, M.A., is the Executive Director for Challenge Success. She has more than 20 years of experience helping to transform schools. She has served in a variety of roles, including teacher, school coach, and organizational leader. Prior to joining Challenge Success, she was the Chief Learning Officer for New Tech Network, a national network of schools focused on deeper learning. She is passionate about ensuring all students experience a meaningful, equitable, and inclusive learning environment. Her primary focus has been organizational leadership, school design, project-based learning, continuous improvement, and curriculum and assessment. Megan has a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Mathematics Education.
Denise Pope
Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor(She/Her)
Denise Pope, Ph.D., is a Senior Lecturer at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education. She is the author of, “Doing School”: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students (Yale University Press, 2001), which was awarded Notable Book in Education by the American School Board Journal, 2001, and co-author of Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids (Jossey-Bass, 2015). Dr. Pope lectures nationally on parenting techniques and pedagogical strategies to increase student health, engagement with learning, and integrity. She is a three-time recipient of the Stanford University School of Education Outstanding Teacher and Mentor Award and was honored with the 2012 Education Professor of the Year “Educators’ Voice Award” from the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. Prior to teaching at Stanford, Dr. Pope taught high school English in Fremont, CA and college composition and rhetoric courses at Santa Clara University. She lives in Los Altos, CA with her husband and three children.
Ondrea Reed
Leadership Consultant(She/Her)
Ondrea Reed, M.A., is the Deputy Superintendent of Education Services in the Los Alamitos Unified School District. She leads PK-12 teaching and learning in a southern California high-performing unified school district. With over twenty years in education as a teacher, site administrator, and district leader, she champions transformative school reform that equally prioritizes academic success and emotional wellness. She believes the two are necessary partners for opening doors for all students and supporting the daily work of educators. Ondrea resides in Orange County, California, with her husband and high-school-age son, with a daughter completing her university studies.
Rebecca Rodriguez
School Partnership Coach(She/Her)
Rebecca Rodriguez, M.Ed., is a passionate and transformative school designer, systems leader, and community builder. Over the past decade, she has served as a founding teacher, founding principal, and turnaround executive director. In her roles, she has helped launch and develop the needed systems for school success, including academic project-based learning programs, transformative justice disciplinary systems, and overall operational health and development.
In her previous role, Rebecca led the development of a human-centered academic and cultural program at a high school in North East Los Angeles. Building and cultivating relationships that helped bring a host of nature-based learning to the school, the program centered the need to restore the relationship between humans and Mother Earth while reckoning with the impacts of colonization.
Prior to her work with Los Angeles College Prep Academy, Ms. Rodriguez was the founding Principal of Vox Collegiate, a high-performing charter middle school in South Los Angeles. At Vox, she worked with teachers and students to reimagine special education and English language services while securing mental health & wrap-around services for students. She integrated Restorative Justice circle practices, trauma-informed practices, and applied educational neuroscience to support student expression and healing, in turn advancing academic growth. Before Vox, Ms. Rodriguez held several leadership positions in the Camino Nuevo Charter School network.
She is also a New School Creation Fellow with the Center for Love & Justice at High Tech High San Diego. She believes in reconnecting with our indigenous roots and creating spaces where students can connect with self and others, propelling academic learning. Ms. Rodriguez earned her B.A. in History and Sociology and a Masters in Education with a focus on secondary teaching from CSU Fullerton. Ms. Rodriguez grew up in South East Los Angeles. Her mother is from Sinaloa and her father is from Chicago with roots in Mexico, and she is the baby of five.
Drew Schrader
School Data Partner(He/Him)
Drew Schrader, M.Ed., is a School Data Partner for Challenge Success. As part of the organization’s research team, he works to elevate emerging research and promising practices to improve students’ experience of school with an emphasis on translating research and school data into practice. Prior to joining Challenge Success he served as Director of Assessment for New Tech Network and taught high school English in Bloomington, IN.
Emily Segada
Advancement Associate(She/Her)
Emily Segada is the Advancement Associate for Challenge Success and supports the organization’s marketing, events, and philanthropy efforts. Prior to Challenge Success, she has worked in nonprofit and higher education fundraising and event planning. Most recently, she worked in fundraising project management at a social good tech company. She is passionate about supporting youth mental health with inclusive, caring environments. She lives in Vermont, adores her dog Lulu, and has a famous chocolate cake recipe!
Eric Spaly
Director of Strategic Initiatives(He/Him)
Eric Spaly, M.B.A., is the Director of Strategic Initiatives, focused on major projects to support the organization’s growth and impact. For over 20 years Eric has helped leaders at Fortune 500 companies, investment firms and smaller organizations with M&A, operations and strategy. He has previously worked at Bain & Company, JP Morgan & Co, and as a volunteer at several education organizations.
Spencer Spotts
Marketing Coordinator(They/Them)
Spencer Spotts, B.A., is the Marketing Coordinator for Challenge Success and supports the organization’s content creation, email marketing, social media, and website management. Prior to Challenge Success, they have worked in both marketing and direct service roles for various non-profits focused on youth well-being, crisis advocacy, and health/educational equity. They are also currently a graduate student finishing their M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to build upon their passion for advancing adolescent and LGBTQIA+ mental health.
Matthew Swenson
Director of Educational Partnerships(He/Him)
Matthew Swenson is the Director of Educational Partnerships at Challenge Success, where he leads national outreach efforts to support K-12 schools in creating conditions in which students thrive—where they are well, engage deeply in learning, and know they belong. With a deep commitment to educational equity and student success, his work is driven by a belief in the power of meaningful, collaborative partnerships to transform educational systems and provide all students with the opportunities and support they need to succeed.
Matthew’s career in education began as an English teacher before moving into an assistant principal role at Cross County High School, a New Tech School. He later served as principal of Blytheville High School. Before joining Challenge Success, Matthew served as Senior Director of Network Partnerships at New Tech Network (NTN), where he led the NTN College Access Network. Part of the Gates Foundation-funded Networks for School Improvement (NSI) initiative, the NTN College Access Network served 49 schools across 15 districts and 3 states, with a focus on increasing well-matched postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and attainment rates for students of color and students who are economically disadvantaged.
Matthew holds a B.S. in philosophy and political science and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
Dave Trautman
Leadership Consultant(He/Him)
Working as a teacher, consultant, researcher, and administrator in California schools for over 17 years, Dave Trautman holds a deep appreciation for the tremendous physical, mental, and emotional commitment educators make on a daily basis. At the same time, his own history as a student in an exclusionary special education program shapes his attention to youths’ experiences of school systems. Holding educator intentions along with children’s realties, he aims to support the development of caring, just, and vibrant learning communities.
Currently pursuing his PhD in Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego, Dave’s research focuses on the complex matrix of opportunities and constraints around transformative school principals in traditional contexts. Pairing organizational theory with social network analysis, he examines how equity-oriented change ideas flow into practice through formal and informal channels. His research informs systems reform and transformation efforts.
In addition to his research work, Dave teaches the year-long Master’s Capstone course series at the High Tech High Graduate School of Education. In this sequence, his students use tools from Improvement Science to design and implement an improvement project in their context. His teaching emphasizes the importance of listening to voices as the margins and to centering the experiences of those most impacted by the work. He encourages his students to wrestle with the complexities of their identities and positionality as they navigate change efforts.
Dave holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from the University of Arizona, and M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Ed.M. in Education Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. Most of his “spare” time is spent with his family, including his three amazing children and perfect dog.
Brandon Wiley
School Partnership Coach(He/Him)
Brandon Wiley, Ed.D., is an accomplished educator who currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer at The Alexander Dawson School, a PreK-8 independent school in Las Vegas. The Alexander Dawson School was the first Challenge Success School in the state of Nevada and began their partnership in 2017. His experience as a classroom teacher, school & district administrator, national nonprofit leader, and international education consultant provides him with a diverse perspective on education-related topics.
Before joining Dawson, Brandon spent 10 years working in senior leadership for several education nonprofit organizations leading professional learning efforts as the Executive Director of Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network, Senior Director of School Development for Springpoint, and then Chief Program Officer for PBLWorks (Buck Institute for Education). In each of these roles, Brandon promoted the use of student-centered teaching practices, equitable access to high-quality education and outcomes for all students, and fostering inclusive community processes for change and innovation.
In his spare time, Brandon is an avid traveler and has visited nearly 30 countries and counting!
ChèRee Wiley
School Partnership Coach(She/Her)
ChèRee Wiley is a dedicated educator and passionate advocate for equity in education, with
over a decade of experience across various educational settings. Holding multiple advanced
degrees, including an M.ED. in Educational Leadership from High Tech High, an M.F.A. in
Creative Writing Fiction from Southern New Hampshire University, a M.A.T. in English Education
and a dual M.A. in English and African American Literature from NC Agricultural & Technical
State University, ChèRee’s academic background is both diverse and robust.
ChèRee has a proven track record of working with diverse populations, focusing on equitable
practices and fostering asset-based learning environments. Her professional journey includes
roles such as VEA Virtual Learning Content Creator, Supervisor of Equity & Culture, and English
Department Lead. Additionally, ChèRee has extensive experience as a virtual instructor,
curriculum developer, and educational presenter.
Throughout her career, ChèRee has effectively communicated research results to school
division leadership, particularly in areas like shifting from deficit mindsets to asset-based
practices. Her ability to present complex data in a clear and engaging manner has facilitated
significant positive changes within educational communities.
ChèRee’s entrepreneurial spirit drives her to view challenges as opportunities for growth and
innovation. Her excellent communication, analytical thinking, organizational, and collaboration
skills, coupled with her deep commitment to equity, make her a valuable contributor to any
educational space.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gary Alpert
Board TreasurerGary Alpert, M.B.A., is the Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Business Development at Brightline, the leader in technology-enabled pediatric behavioral health care that is reinventing the way behavioral health is delivered to children, teens, and their families. Gary is a serial entrepreneur who has built, led, and grown client-facing teams at the fastest growing digital health companies. Prior to Brightline, Gary ran the Client Success team at Livongo, a leader in chronic disease management, with responsibility for managing, renewing, and expanding Livongo’s F1000 client base. He also led Customer Success and Solutions Consulting at Castlight Health, a leading health benefits navigation platform. Gary and his wife have raised two daughters in the Bay Area and frequently turn to books and advice by the Challenge Success team for parenting wisdom.
Mike Barker
Board SecretaryMike Barker, M.L.S., is currently the director of institutional research at Harvard-Westlake. In this role he orchestrates the school’s overall research agenda and supports analytic and planning capacity across all administrative functions. Prior to Harvard-Westlake, Mike worked in a similar capacity at Phillips Academy Andover as the Director of Academy Research, Information, and Library Services. Prior to Andover, Mike spent nine years working at Harvard University in their library system, finishing his time there as the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis. Mike lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.
Mark Boswell
Board MemberMark Boswell, M.A., currently serves as the founder and CEO of Bewake, a educational consulting firm focused on the nexus of education, equity, and justice. Prior to starting Bewake, Mark worked closely with Joe Feldman (Grading for Equity) and the Crescendo Education Group supporting educational institutions in making systems of grading more equitable. He has served in multiple roles as a school administrator, taught at both the primary and secondary level, and has developed professional development opportunities specifically for educators of color. When Mark’s face is not in a book, you can find him trying to keep up with his partner and three daughters in Atlanta, GA, or trying to solve the world’s problems by baking the perfect biscuit while listening to music from the 70s.
Jenny Fan Raj
Board MemberJenny Fan Raj, M.Des., is a writer whose work examines the intersection of marginalized voices and the humanity that connects all of us. Her work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and published in the New York Times, The Columbia Journal, and The Laurel Review, among others. Prior to writing, Jenny worked as a design thinking consultant at IDEO, where she focused on blue sky strategy, product development, and ethnographic research. Jenny also serves on the board of Youth Speaks, a Bay-Area based nonprofit that creates spaces for youth to develop and amplify their voices as creators of societal change. In her free time, Jenny enjoys reading, traveling, and perfecting the art of layer cakes. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children.
Mary Rose Fernandez
Board MemberBio coming soon!
Sofi Frankowski
Board MemberSofi Frankowski, M.A., serves as the Chief Learning Officer for Schools That Lead, a hub for networks of K-13 public schools collaborating to address inequities and improve student experiences and outcomes. She has taught elementary, middle school and high school students in Connecticut, Washington DC, Japan, California, and North Carolina. Her leadership has been shaped by a belief in the power of adult collaboration and a commitment to improving outcomes for all students. Sofi is National Board Certified teacher. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her two curious, adventurous middle school kids.
Meeta Gaitonde
Board MemberMeeta Gaitonde, B.A., was most recently the Director of Admission for Phillips Brooks School in Menlo Park, where she started her career in education as a teacher in 2002. She chaired the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee at Phillips Brooks, which was created to identify strategies to ensure the school is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, equitable, and just community. Meeta also served on the board of the Bay Area Directors of Admission (BADA). Meeta is now a trustee at Phillips Brooks. In her free time, she enjoys reading, sports, Indian classical dance and music, and time with family and friends. She is a Bay Area native and currently lives in Menlo Park with her husband and two children.
Annie Hall
Board MemberAnnie Hall, J.D., most recently served on the East Coast Advisory Council for Challenge Success. She is an attorney with a background in corporate governance and has lent her expertise to several community non-profit organizations including the Wellesley Education Foundation and the Wellesley High School Parent Teacher Student Organization. Annie is deeply committed to improving the mental well-being of young people of all ages. She Co-Chaired the Wellesley Public School Superintendent Advisory Committee on Social Emotional Learning and recently stepped down as Co-Chair of The Resilience Project at Newton Wellesley Hospital. The Resilience Project is a community-based initiative designed to promote the mental health and well-being of adolescents. Annie lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts with her husband Ned. They have three grown children and two delightful grandchildren.
Tesha McCord Poe
Board MemberTesha McCord Poe, J.D, M.B.A., is an author, TEDx speaker, nonprofit board leader, and the founder and CEO of Joy-Raising, a consultancy that partners with organizations to address their most critical fundraising and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) needs. Tesha leverages her legal, business, philanthropy, and educational background to create positive change having helped to lead efforts to raise more than $100 million for non-profit organizations. Tesha, an independent school alumna and parent of two independent school alums, has spent more than a decade working as a senior administrator in independent schools in the Bay Area including Castilleja School, Hillbrook School, and most recently serving as Interim Head of School at the Girls’ Middle School in Palo Alto. She is the board chair for the Mariposa Foundation in the Dominican Republic and serves on the boards of EatReal and Prospect Sierra School. She is the coauthor of Beyond Widow: Inspiration from the Trenches.
Naomi Meyers
Board MemberNaomi Meyers, J.D., is a San Francisco-based lawyer, artist, and parent of three teens and tweens. She cultivated a passion for developing diverse, authentic leaders and a belief in the power of good governance practices during her 28 year career counseling companies about legal and ethical issues related to running large, international businesses. She most recently served as Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, and Assistant Secretary for Autodesk, Inc., a Bay Area software company, and is currently focused on artistic pursuits exploring the human relationship to work and creativity in a society shaped by rapidly changing technology and enduring systems that perpetuate inequality. Naomi has a particular soft spot for teenagers, and through her work with Challenge Success hopes to make a meaningful positive change in the well-being of all young people growing up in today’s high pressure, high stakes culture.
Anupam Mishra
Board MemberAnupam Mishra, AB, MBA, most recently served as the Chief People Officer for Aspire Public Schools, a network of 38 high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving 17,000+ scholars in historically marginalized communities. Under Anupam’s leadership, the team revamped the entire teacher compensation program serving 800+ educators, meaningfully diversified all ranks of the organization, and co-constructed Aspire’s core values through an eighteen-month Liberatory Design process.
Prior to joining Aspire, Anupam spent most of his career driving innovation and excellence in the private sector, as a Managing Director of private equity firm Hellman & Friedman. Anupam has served on various education-focused boards or advisory councils, including the Oxford Day Academy, New Schools Venture Fund, Lick-Wilmerding High School, and Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.
Anupam has been married to his college sweetheart Kavita for over 20 years and has two teenage boys.
Sharon Olken
Board ChairSharon Olken, M.A., was the Executive Director of Gateway Public Schools in San Francisco, where she has worked for 20 years as a teacher, school leader, and school founder. Gateway Public Schools leads two schools, Gateway Middle and Gateway High, as well as Gateway Impact, an initiative that shares Gateway’s best practices and brings educators together to collaborate and learn from one another through conferences, speaker series, and digital publications. Gateway’s schools serve 800 students who represent the rich diversity of San Francisco and help them discover their unique potential, what they love, and the impact they hope to make on their communities. Annually, more than 96% of Gateway’s diverse graduates attend college, more than double the statewide rate. Sharon recently founded Everyday Leadership, a website dedicated to providing models of positive leadership and helping others cultivate their power and voice. She also serves on the California State Board of Education. Sharon loves her work because she sees education and leadership as two essential tools for personal growth and social change. She lives in San Francisco with her wife, Nancy.
Dan Rosenthal
Board MemberDaniel Rosenthal, M.Ed., MBA, leads strategic sales at Anthropic, an artificial intelligence safety and research public benefit corporation based in San Francisco. Prior to Anthropic, Dan held leadership roles at Stripe (economic infrastructure), Lattice Engines (machine learning), and AltSchool (ed tech) and co-founded the health startup Exercise.com. He began his business career as a management consultant at Bain & Company. Before attending graduate school, Dan taught high school humanities courses at Shrewsbury School in Shrewsbury, UK and worked as a project manager for a children’s health non-profit in Durban, South Africa. He has an A.B. in History and Literature. Dan lives in the East Bay with his wife and their two sons.
Rebecca Sacerdoti
Board MemberRebecca Sacerdoti, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has significant experience working with adults and teens in a variety of settings, including private practice, agency work, and in schools. Her research experience stems from time spent as a Project Director in the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University. Rebecca currently works in private practice in San Francisco. As a mother of two girls and as a clinician who works with teens, her support of Challenge Success is both personal and professional. Rebecca is acutely aware of the pressures at play for teens and believes Challenge Success is the antidote because it offers schools, public and private, concrete ways to support, buffer and inspire teens. More importantly she believes it holds the potential to radically alter the current trajectory of the teenage experience on a national level.
Jeannette Schar
Board MemberUpon completing her undergraduate and law school education, Jeannette Schar embarked on a career in development primarily as a major gifts officer, supporting the fundraising efforts of The Art Institute of Chicago, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Jeannette has been an active parent volunteer in public and private schools her children attended, including significant roles as Chair of the Local School Council of a Chicago Public School, Diversity Committee Chair at Near North Montessori School, and Trustee of Beacon Academy. A Long Island native, Jeannette is a recent transplant to the Bay Area after having spent nearly 30 years in Chicago. She and her husband are the proud parents of three Montessori-educated children. She is deeply committed to reimagining education to better and more fully partner with children to help them define their potential.
Rachel Skiffer
Board MemberRachel Skiffer, J.D., is the Head of Head-Royce School in Oakland. Prior to this, she held roles as the Head of School at Khan Lab School (KLS) in Silicon Valley and the Dean of Policy & Strategic Planning at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA. Rachel also worked in admissions and financial aid at San Francisco University High School, the Latin School of Chicago, and Harvard College. Before discovering her passion for education, Rachel spent time as a management consultant and a commercial real estate attorney. A native of San Francisco, Rachel lives in the Bay Area with her husband and their two young children.
Jeff Symonds
Board MemberJeff Symonds, M.A., is the Director of Studies at The Branson School in Ross, CA. In his 32 years there, he has worn just about every community hat, from English and Music teacher to Coach and Dean and Department Chair and even morning bus driver most recently, he has led a redesign of the school’s schedule and graduation requirements, and helped create a two-week immersive program. Jeff is also a musician who has played a gig in 47 of the continental states (apologies to Alabama).
Kelli Tomlinson
Board MemberKelli Tomlinson, B.A., focuses her time in the non-profit sector as Director and Co-President of the Tomlinson Family Foundation. She is a board member at Trinity College in Hartford, CT and The Art of Yoga Project. She has served as a trustee at The Girls’ Middle School and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and a member of the Common Sense Media Bay Area Council and Peninsula Bridge Parent Advisory Board. Kelli and her family are partners at the Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund. Kelli’s primary interests include progressive education, education equality, and theater. She worked as the Assistant Director of the Trinity in San Francisco Program from 1998 to 2001. Kelli resides in Atherton, California, with her husband and their two children.
Sally Whipple
Board MemberSally Whipple, B.S., has been involved in youth development through the summer camp experience for over 25 years. She and her husband own and direct Mountain Camp, Mountain Camp-Woodside, and Farm Camp, three traditional camp programs in Northern California that intentionally integrate social-emotional learning into their programs. Sally believes in the power of community and volunteering and has served as president of the Moraga Education Foundation (MEF) and PTA. In her seven years on the MEF Board of Directors, Sally implemented its first strategic plan, met annual fundraising goals, and doubled the endowment. Sally used to teach science at Stuart Hall School for Boys in San Francisco. She is a registered yoga teacher and enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and healthy living. Sally lives in Moraga with her husband and two teenage boys.
STUDENT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Addie
(She/Her)San Francisco, CA
Addie is entering her junior year at Vista Del Lago High School, and is thrilled to be a part of SAC this year! Nearing the more daunting years of learning to drive, taking the SAT, applying for college, and growing up, she joined SAC to find an outlet where she could support other students along their high school and mental health journeys, while also keeping herself sane through stressful times! As a leader, Addie understands the value of seeing multiple perspectives on an issue, and being able to bring people together by building platforms for them to use their own voices. With this, she is excited to emphasize passion and authenticity in the pursuit of success, and whatever that looks like, she believes it should never be at the cost of anyone’s well-being. Beyond her advocacy work for student mental health, climate literacy, and sustainability, you can find her studying at a local coffee shop, running on the trails in her neighborhood, or having a picnic in the park with her friends.
Alex
(He/Him)Sacramento, CA
Alex is a current senior at Christian Brothers High School and has been a SAC member since 2023. Alex is passionate about elevating student voices inside of school communities, especially through the mediums of leadership, music, and civic engagement. In 2022, he founded Christian Brothers High School’s Quiz Bowl Club, whose teams compete in the Northern California region. He is also a 2024 Bank of America Student Leader, and is engaged in volunteer and leadership roles in nonprofits, such as the Sacramento Youth Symphony and the Back to Bach Project.
Bauer
(He/Him)West Hills, CA
Bauer is an incoming junior at Chaminade College Preparatory who wholeheartedly believes in living life to the fullest. Fueled by a deep-rooted passion for creative thinking, entrepreneurial pursuits, and making powerful memories, Bauer founded Cardboard Superheroes (www.cardboardsuperheroes.com)—an organization whose mission is to promote creative thinking. Through his organization he has presented multiple Comic-Con panels, curated museum exhibitions, served as a paid consultant for the Comic-Con Museum, and served as a board member for the Two-Bit Circus Foundation. However, Bauer aims to not only seize opportunities for personal growth but also uplift the mental well-being of fellow students through a school curriculum he developed which is currently implemented in over 200 schools. By encouraging others to pause, reflect, and embrace their unique voices, he hopes to empower a generation to savor life’s extraordinary journey. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Bodhi
(She/Her)Santa Monica, CA
Bodhi is a human rights activist, student researcher and STEM advocate. After conducting structural biology and chemical engineering research at UCLA, she worked with virus assembly and nanoparticle design, and has helped design a new method of utilizing the methane and carbon emissions from landfills to create hydrogen for fuel. As a passionate believer in the power of education, Bodhi created a STEM outreach program that allows middle and high school students to connect with leading professionals in their fields of interest in order to democratize access to mentorship in STEM. In 2023, she also worked with XPRIZE, a global non-profit organization that generates incentivized competitions to solve the world’s most pressing problems, and helped establish the XPRIZE Connect Inaugural Class, their first high school collaboration. A leader of her school’s Human Rights Watch chapter, she has collaborated with multiple schools in the Los Angeles area, spoken to local representatives and facilitated educational events centered around human rights. Journalistically, Bodhi has worked with the CDFA, The Carbon Underground, and Challenge Success to discuss the regenerative agriculture movement and highlight the impacts of toxic achievement culture on teens. Bodhi lives in Los Angeles and is a junior at New Roads High School. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
Brynne
(She/Her)Culver, IN
Originally from the suburbs of Chicago, Brynne is a high school sophomore at the Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana, where she is a Batten Scholar. She is a member of her school’s rowing and swimming teams, as well as a member of the Campus Activities Board. Brynne is a board member for Writer’s Without Margins, a nonprofit that aims to bring poetry skills to individuals experiencing hardship and incarceration. A lover of writing, she blogs for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s You Matter Blog, and has recently participated in the University of Iowa’s Between the Lines writing intensive. In her free time, Brynne enjoys traveling, cooking, hanging out with friends, and surfing.
Diya
(She/Her)Irvine, CA
Diya attends Beckman High School in Irvine, California as a class of 2025 rising junior. Diya is extremely passionate in encouraging young students to find their voice and guide their peers. Diya plays competitive softball, and as a female athlete, she prides herself in empowering women and voicing for equality in men and women’s sports. Diya also takes interest in advocating for youth mental health. Partnering with Challenge Success gives her the opportunity to better the youth of society and address this issue directly. As a student athlete, Diya also understands the difficulty in balancing the rigorous academic schedule as well as athletics, which is why she takes extreme interest in encouraging young student athletes. “You’re not alone”, is the message that Challenge Success has taught Diya, and one that she wishes to impart to the younger generations of society.
Ethan
(He/Him)West Hills, CA
Ethan is an incoming sophomore at Chaminade College Preparatory High School in West Hills, CA. Ethan sees the Challenge Success Student Advisory Council as not just an opportunity, but also an unparalleled outlet for expression and creativity with other like-minded individuals. The Challenge Success Student Advisory Council harnesses the power of storytelling and voice, and gives him the opportunity to share that voice via a medium where he normally wouldn’t get to do so. By pursuing his interest in political philosophy, he hopes to make a meaningful difference in his community by advocating for more just political and social systems that give all people the opportunity to dream big and achieve their goals by decreasing systemic racism and increasing mental health awareness. Ethan is passionate about advocating for mental health, and his mission to improve mental health and wellbeing for all youth started when he became a member of Challenge Success in 8th grade. From there, he went on to become a member of the Simi Valley Youth Council, where he went on to collaborate with other motivated youth in his community to create a Multicultural Fair and a Teen Wellness Fair. Ethan has also worked as a grassroots organizer where he mobilized voters of South Asian heritage to vote for various liberal and progressive political candidates in Southern California. Ethan is a huge Lakers fan and loves all of the LA sports teams.
Hovey
(He/Him)San Francisco, CA
Hovey is a junior at Drew School in San Francisco where he is a literature and history buff. He is actively involved in his school’s community, serving as the student body treasurer and a member of Drew’s Honor Council. Outside of school, Hovey sings in the San Francisco Boys Chorus, participates in several Scout troops around the Bay Area, and works for a liberal political campaign in his San Francisco neighborhood. Hovey cares about authentic engagement in learning over “drill and kill” burnout, and he is excited to learn and promote student balance and redefine success in school communities with Challenge Success. In his free time, you can find Hovey playing guitar, listening to classical music, eating tacos, and riding horses in the Northern California backcountry.
Jackie
(She/Her)New York City, NY
Jackie is a student at Columbia University passionate about improving the educational experience for herself and her peers. She advocates for more student involvement in shaping educational policies and practices, and believes that balancing academic rigor with other aspects of life is essential for student success. Some of Jackie’s other interests include environmental science research and engineering, writing and sustainable filmmaking, meeting and collaborating with go-getters, rollerblading, and exploring nature with her cat. Don’t hesitate to reach out to her.
Janey
(She/Her)Denville, NJ
Janey is a freshman at Elon University in the Teaching Fellow Program, with a career interest in Secondary Spanish Education. She is passionate about helping students find their voice in the classroom and increasing student engagement levels. Students are at the forefront of creating a whole new world; our job is to give them the best tools to create their own path to success. She was once told, “Change starts with a conversation” and with the help of Challenge Success and the Student Advisory Council change in the academic field is possible. Janey’s other interests include traveling, cooking, and living life to its fullest.
“Beautiful minds inspire others”
Katie
(She/Her)New York City, NY
Katherine (Katie) attends the Chapin School in New York City, Class of 2025. Katie is passionate about being involved in her school community, where she has a deep-rooted commitment to fostering a safe, engaging space for the discovery of authentic diverse voices, both academically and socially, whether it is serving in her school’s student government since 8th grade, to informally checking in with her peers. Believing that education is an equalizer, she enjoys serving as a Teaching Fellow with the Summer STEPS kindergarten readiness program, building upon her experiences gained from tutoring with Reading Partners. She seeks to look past the dominant voices in history to unearth the quieter, often overlooked voices, illuminating their contributions to humanity. Her passion for history scholarship has led her to intern at New York museums, engage in research projects, and establish her school’s History Club. As a nationally ranked triathlete and varsity athlete, she believes in the benefits of physical activity to maintain her holistic well-being.
Lauryn
(She/Her)Irvine, CA
Lauryn is a rising junior at Northwood High School in Irvine, California who is passionate about uplifting others’ voices and exploring the intersections of race, gender, and migration. As the president of the Thrive Club, the student branch of Northwood’s Challenge Success team, Lauryn helps students and staff plan initiatives and events that aim to improve students’ mental health and well-being. Aside from working with Challenge Success, Lauryn is also the Accent Editor of The Northwood Howler, her school’s newspaper, and the president and founder of OC Focus, a nonprofit organization that amplifies youth stories of love, community, and resilience through multimedia.
Lila
(She/Her)San Francisco, CA
Lila is a junior at San Francisco University High School with passions for writing, popular music, and psychology (as well as the intersection of all three!). She is currently building Advocacy & Wellness for Asian Youth (away-sf.org), a nonprofit that strives to destigmatize mental health for AAPI youth, as she believes mental wellness is something to be celebrated, not shunned. At Challenge Success, Lila hopes to help introduce this idea to schools, making them places where mental health is valued and discussed. When she’s not advocating for youth mental wellness, you can find Lila drinking matcha, playing the NYT Spelling Bee, or listening to Taylor Swift.
Logan
(She/Her)Los Angeles, CA
Logan is a current senior at Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles and is passionate about all things education, women empowerment, and student well-being. Whether it’s tutoring younger students at a Kumon Math and Reading Center, founding a girl power-themed event series for elementary school girls, assisting classes at her dance studio, or working at a STEM summer camp, she has always enjoyed mentoring students and being a role model. In addition, she loves learning about business, specifically marketing, and spent a year participating in a women-in-business program with Women Founders’ Foundation before being asked to lead their social media, including content creation and graphic design. At school, she is on the dance team and has been in numerous school musicals, as well as being in the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. In her free time, she loves reading too many rom-coms at once, trying (and often failing) to make new Pinterest recipes, cheering for the 16-seeds in March Madness, and updating her Spotify playlists way too often.
Selma
(She/Her)San Jose, CA
Selma will start her sophomore year in high school, at Pioneer High School in San Jose, CA. Tired of being the only girl in her computer science classes, she actively works to encourage young girls by teaching them about the wonders of STEM. She is also passionate about leveraging AI for social good, and an avid student researcher.
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Alison Abbo
Alison Abbo, M.B.A. has a professional background in finance and over 30 years of volunteer experience focused on education and youth well-being. She is currently a trustee at Woodside Priory School. Alison lives in Woodside with her husband and is the proud mom of three daughters.
Soundhari Balaguru
Dr. Soundhari is a clinical psychologist and Founder of Integrated SEL, a coaching, training, and consulting business that supports educators center social-emotional wellness and belonging, to shift school culture and climate in positive directions. She helps schools integrate Social-Emotional Learning, Restorative Discipline, Culturally Affirming Practices, and Educator Wellness, so that SEL is not a boxed curriculum, but lives dynamically throughout the school-day. Her child-centered approach, paired with a systems perspective, provides educators with practical tools for engagement and implementation. After working in schools for 18+ years, she believes that for students to meet their full potential, schools need to prioritize relationships, validate and affirm their students’ identities, and support students and adults to grow and learn from their mistakes. Dr. Soundhari is working towards a future where schools can promote what is therapeutic, even if it’s not therapy, and all students are valued and affirmed. She is also a member of the SEL4CA Steering Committee, an organization that advocates for the wellbeing of schools, educators, and students through the advancement of transformative SEL as the cornerstone for education.
Lisa Busby
Lisa Busby is the Senior Strategy Advisor at Phillips Brooks School (PBS) in Menlo Park, a role she stepped into after serving as PBS’s Associate Head of School. Prior to PBS, Lisa spent sixteen years at San Francisco Day School as an 8th grade English teacher, Department Chair, Director of High School Placement, and Strategic Plan Implementation Coordinator. This role followed several years of teaching high school English, first at Cushing Academy in MA and next at Lick-Wilmerding High School in San Francisco. Lisa previously served on the Challenge Success board for six years.
Diana Cornejo-Sanchez
Diana is a first-generation bilingual college student who always knew she wanted to be an educator. She started her educational journey as a high school Humanities teacher with San Diego Unified. After teaching, she joined the University of San Diego’s Jacob’s Institute for Innovation in Education, where she supported large urban school districts in strategic thinking to bring about systemic change to provide students with active learning experiences. Her work here led her to lead change as a school director transforming a charter school to project-based learning. Her passion for supporting teachers all throughout her journey brought her back to High Tech High, where she currently serves as Interim CEO.
Christine Fairless
Christine Fairless is a proud Bay Area native, born in San Francisco and raised in the East Bay. She currently resides on the peninsula and is the Head of School at The Girls’ Middle School in Palo Alto. She is committed to leading the school in its important mission of empowering students in finding their voices while seeking out and valuing the perspectives of others.
Before joining The Girls’ Middle School, she was the Middle School Director at St. Paul’s School in downtown Oakland. Christine is passionate about creating positive experiences for middle schoolers – especially in math and science as both areas can be gatekeepers for future opportunities. Christine is also dedicated to providing experiences for students to explore their identities, find their passions, and learn how to problem solve across differences.
Kenneth R. Ginsburg
Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D. is a pediatrician specializing in Adolescent Medicine at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and founder and program director at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. He is a Director of Health Services at Covenant House Pennsylvania, a shelter for homeless and marginalized youth. He has written extensively promoting teen health and resilience, including the books Reaching Teens: Strength-based, Trauma-sensitive, Resilience-building Communication Strategies Rooted in Positive Youth Development. He has also produced and edited the multimedia professional toolkit, Reaching Teens: Strength-based Communication Strategies to Build Resilience and Support Healthy Adolescent Development. His definitive memorandum for the American Academy of Pediatrics, The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds, formed the basis for his congressional testimony in May 2007.
Aditi Goel
Aditi Goel brings over 20 years of nonprofit and education expertise to the work of solving critical problems around equity and opportunity. The unique multi-sector experience Aditi has from her leadership at Google where she designed + launched CodeNext, leading the education policy and program portfolio at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, WestEd and as a Teach for America teacher enables her to provide strategic advisory services through P16 Partners for clients across school systems and the nonprofit, private, ed tech and philanthropic sectors.
Calla Griffith
Calla Griffith is a committed ambassador for the health and well-being of kids in the local community and beyond. She has over 20 years of fundraising and event planning experience, and significant expertise in making an impact in the non-profit sector through building awareness, developing allies, and raising funds for organizations across the Bay Area, including the Children’s Health Council, Menlo Park City School District, and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. She currently lives in Menlo Park, CA.
Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann
Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann came to Stanford University in 1996. She was the first university chaplain from a tradition other than Christianity in Stanford’s history. In 2001, she was appointed Senior Associate Dean for Religious Life. She taught and lectured widely on Jewish feminism, rabbinical ethics, the relationship between religion and education, and social justice. She was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1982. She has been a Hillel director and Jewish chaplain at UCLA and at the Claremont Colleges, a congregational rabbi in Alameda, California, and a Regional Director for the Union for Reform Judaism, the congregational arm of the Reform Movement. At Stanford, she taught courses including “Spirituality and Nonviolent Social Transformation” and “Rereading Judaism in Light of Feminism.” She is married and has two children.
Andy Housiaux
Andy Housiaux has taught in public and private schools in Massachusetts and New York City since 2004. He is currently the Currie Family Director of the Tang Institute at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, where he also teaches philosophy and religious studies. His work focuses on supporting faculty learning and curriculum development at Andover and with other schools and educational organizations. He has taught courses in religious studies throughout his career and graduated from the Program in Religion and Secondary Education at Harvard Divinity School.
Michael Keller
Michael Keller, Ed.D., is the Director of Social and Emotional Support in the Laguna Beach Unified School District. He leads school-based mental health professionals and the health services teams in implementing systems of care TK-12. He is a licensed educational psychologist and nationally certified school psychologist and earned his doctorate of education in educational leadership and educational psychology. Michael has taught advanced graduate courses on trauma and grief counseling in the schools, positive behavior assessment and interventions, and learning theory at the University of Southern California and CSU Long Beach. He has presented nationally at conferences in school-based mental health and model programs in applied social and emotional learning. He lives in Long Beach with his wife and two children.
Nick Kovacs
Nick Kovacs spent seven years as Head of Upper School and is currently the Deputy Headmaster at Crescent; an all-boys school located in Toronto, Canada. Nick oversees the day-to-day operations of the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools and is responsible for launching and leading strategic initiatives in the areas of academic planning, health and well-being, and community diversity. Previously, Nick worked as a teacher and Vice-Principal at St. Michael’s Choir School (Toronto), taught and held various leadership positions at Neil McNeil High School (Toronto), Mentor College (Mississauga), and Vandyke Upper School (Leighton Buzzard, UK).
Patricia Russell
Patricia Russell is an experienced educator and was the Dean of Studies at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA when she joined the board of directors of the Mastery Transcript Consortium in 2016. She was the founding interim executive director and currently serves as the MTC’s Chief Education Officer.
Brad Sachs
Brad Sachs, Ph.D., is a psychologist, educator, consultant, lecturer, and best-selling author specializing in clinical work with children, adolescents, couples, and families. He is the Founder and Director of The Father Center, a program designed to meet the needs of new, expectant, and experienced fathers. He has published numerous books and articles for both professional and lay readers, including The Good Enough Child: How to Have an Imperfect Family and Be Perfectly Satisfied and Family Centered Treatment with Struggling Young Adults. Brad is also a published poet, composer, and performer. He wrote Hard Tales to Tell, a cycle of sixteen original songs based on stories his patients have told him and a book of poetry, Why Am I Telling You This? And Other Poems From Psychotherapy.
Leigh Sherwood Matthes
Leigh Sherwood Matthes is a native New Yorker with a 15-year history in marketing and advertising between NYC and Los Angeles. Currently she is an active philanthropist and real estate developer. She serves on the National Advisory Board of the Haas School of Public Service based at Stanford University as well as the Advisory Board of Every Mother Counts, a NYC-based global organization whose mission is equitable maternal health care for all. Leigh also serves on the Slide Ranch Advisory Board whose mission is to connect children to nature to foster future environmental stewards. She is a past Director of Holsted Marketing, a NYC-based direct marketing firm and a past trustee at the UCSF Foundation, the Katherine Delmar Burke School, and the Bay Area Discovery Museum. She was also a member of the UCSF Cancer Council, the Center for Childhood Creativity, and Convent of the Sacred Heart Advancement committee. Leigh lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two children.
Catherine Steiner-Adair
Catherine Steiner-Adair, Ed.D., is a leading expert specializing in child development, education, and family relationships. She speaks and consults on a wide range of topics, including social and emotional intelligence, health and well-being, leadership education, and nourishing healthy relationships in the digital age and developing a thoughtful approach to technology in school and life. She is a longtime “fan” and colleague of Challenge Success, Denise Pope, and Madeline Levine, as well as a CS Conference keynote presenter.
Brandon Wiley
Dr. Brandon Wiley is an accomplished educator who currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer at The Alexander Dawson School, a PreK-8 independent school in Las Vegas. The Alexander Dawson School was the first Challenge Success School in the state of Nevada and began their partnership in 2017. His experience as a classroom teacher, school & district administrator, national nonprofit leader, and international education consultant provides him with a diverse perspective on education-related topics. Before joining Dawson, Brandon spent 10 years working in senior leadership for several education nonprofit organizations leading professional learning efforts as the Executive Director of Asia Society’s International Studies Schools Network, Senior Director of School Development for Springpoint, and then Chief Program Officer for PBLWorks (Buck Institute for Education). In each of these roles, Brandon promoted the use of student-centered teaching practices, equitable access to high-quality education and outcomes for all students, and fostering inclusive community processes for change and innovation. In his spare time, Brandon is an avid traveler and has visited nearly 30 countries and counting!
Matt Wulfstat
Matt Wulfstat served as the head of Stratford School for nearly a decade leading the private independent school’s growth from 6 to 18 campuses and 200+ to 800+ faculty and staff. He currently serves on educational boards including ISG (a subsidiary of International Student Services, ISS has served private schools around the world for over 60 years), KSS (a growing group of immersion language schools in the US) and Brandeis Marin (a K-8 private school in Northern California). Matt is a former Wexner Heritage Fellow and Young Presidents Organization (YPO) member and has been a speaker at national conferences on educational investment and innovation. Matt earned an MBA, MA in Education and BA. He has four children and is a longtime fan of Challenge Success’ work as both a professional and a parent.
AFFILIATED RESEARCHER
Victor R. Lee
Victor R. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University and leads the Data Interactions & STEM Teaching and Learning (DISTAL) Lab. Through his research, he asks what future-facing STEM knowledge, tools, and practices are important to know to enable active participation and critical engagement with our increasingly digitally-infused lives. He then uses the tools of educational design research to create examples for how we could get there. Currently, this involves researching and designing learning experiences and resources for data literacy, K-12 data science education, and artificial intelligence literacy. He also has maintained a portfolio of research related to elementary computer science education, maker education, and science cognition. His research is most often done through research-practice partnerships and involves design, implementation, analysis, and continual revision of new learning experiences in actual learning settings (such as schools, districts, or libraries).
Lee completed his undergraduate studies at UC San Diego with emphasis in cognitive science, human computer interaction, and mathematics. He earned his doctorate in Learning Sciences at Northwestern University where he was supported for several years through a fellowship with the NSF-funded Center for Curriculum Materials in Science. Since leaving the midwest and beginning his professional academic career, he has received the National Science Foundation CAREER award, the Jan Hawkins Award, a post-doctoral fellowship from the National Academy of Education and the Spencer Foundation, and various best paper awards. His book, Learning Technologies and the Body (published by Routledge), is the first compendium of current research of embodied technologies for learning. With Abigail Phillips, he published, Reconceptualizing Libraries: Perspectives from the Information and Learning Sciences (2018). In 2021, he co-authored the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s consensus report on authentic computing education experiences. Currently, he is contracted for a new book on K-12 data science education. Victor sits on the editorial board of several leading journals, including Journal of the Learning Sciences and Cognition & Instruction. He is a past-president and elected fellow of the International Society of the Learning Sciences.
JOIN THE CHALLENGE SUCCESS TEAM
We’re always looking for talented people to join our team. Explore our open positions or reach out to us directly with your resume and tell us why you’d be a great addition to our team: jobs@challengesuccess.org
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