Meet the Team
Leadership
Jacqueline Horgan
Academic Strategy,
Assessment &
Educator--Global
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8 years of experience teaching science (pre-K through adulthood) in both in-school and out-of-school settings including the American Museum of Natural History.
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Instructor of elementary science teaching practices and qualitative research methods for undergraduate and graduate students.
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Certified educator in elementary science and mathematics.
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PhD in Science Education from Columbia University; BS in Elementary Education from Penn State University.
Diana Rodriguez
Sr. Director Programs &
Operations
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Expert in complex & large-scale project planning and execution
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Former school leader within the NYC charter system; experienced with Special Education management and data-driven instruction
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Teach For America 2011 Metro-Atlanta Corps Alumna
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BA from Penn State University; Advanced certification in Project Management from the CUNY School of Professional Studies
Christin Creary
Educator--US
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NYS certified in Elementary Education N-6 and Reading K-12
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25 years experience teaching 5th grade
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B.S. in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Natural Science from Marymount College Tarrytown
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M.S. Ed. in Literacy from Mercy College
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Building Leader for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Public Schools of the Tarrytown
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Coordinator of After School Programs at Washington Irving School, Tarrytown, NY
Elizabeth Uraga
Family Liaison and Educator--US
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AA, BS and MS ED all in Early Childhood Education
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Over 12 years teaching experience in both Public and Private Schools/Programs including Head Start and Ella Baker School
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Significant experience working with families as allies in ensuring equity in education
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2021 semifinalist for The Flag Award for Teaching Excellence
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Bi-lingual in English and Spanish
Caleb Cheng'Ori Wanyonyi
Educator--Kenya
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Teacher at Prince Dan Academy
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Graduate with Certificate in Education 2009
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Teaches grades 4,5,6,&8
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Teaches English, Kiswahili, Arts, Science and Music
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10 years teaching experience
Vriti Saraf
Academic Advisor
Liza Aponte
Educator--US
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Certified Teacher in Pre-K to 6th grade
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21 years K-5th grade teaching experience
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9 years Science Specialist in grades Pre-K to 5th grades
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Bi-lingual in English and Spanish
Gladys Kwamboka Onsoti
Educator--Kenya
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Graduate of the National Youth Service College in Early Childhood Education
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15+ years teaching experience
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For the past 10 years has also served as a manager at Prince Dan Academy while concurrently responsible for Pre-Primary Level 2.
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Holds a certificate in Medical lab from Kenya Polytechenique
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Bi-lingual in English and Swahili
Jane Wangari Karuma
Educator--Kenya
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Certified Teacher in Science and English
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6 years of teaching experience
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Also trains learners in ICT
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Currently Headteacher at Prince Dan Academy
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Bilingual in English and Swahili
Kayli Mediratta
Mentor
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Edtech Entrepreneur at k20 Educators.
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Expert in building and executing professional learning ecosystems and programs across local, global, public and private, k-12 and higher education organizations.
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Experienced school leader, network administrator, teacher, and adjunct professor, with pedagogical expertise in Online Learning, Responsive Classroom, Reggio Emilia, Standards-based Instruction & Assessment, and Project Based Learning.
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Teach for America alumna; B.A. from Macaulay Honors College; M.Ed. from Teacher U/Hunter College
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Inaugural mentor for Full STEAM Forward
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Currently an MS student at Wheelock College of Education and Human Development Graduate School for Special ED and Elementary ED
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Extensive experience in tutoring teaching and mentoring
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BA in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College
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Teacher at Prince Dan Academy in Mathematics and Science
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Teaches grades 4,5 & 6
Business Support and Global Operations
Mary Manning
Grant Writer and Development
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20 years experience in corporate including 10 years with an international investment bank in Sydney, Australia working in client services, product development and project management in the private banking sector.
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BSc degree majoring in Earth Science from Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
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Magaga Enos Rombo
Kenya Lead
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Certified educator in Biology and Mathematics.
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Country Lead for HundrED.org, Kenya.
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Community and Outreach Coordinator for Beads For Education, Kenya.
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Extensive experience working with organizations serving young students in Kenya including: UNESCO, My Dream Machine Global, Githiga Boys High School, and Friends School Senende.
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Advocate for quality education, gender equity and women’s empowerment.
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Bi-lingual English and Kiswahili.
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Locally based outside of Nairobi
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Eunice Ochoro
Educator Kenya
Leadership and Board
Joni Bessler
Board Chair/CEO
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Recognized expert in educational ventures, including: Full STEAM Forward; Bookends; Avenues, China; Whittle School, China; and YK Pao School.
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30+ career with Booz & Co. focused on Australasia, working with public and private company leaders.
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MBA from University of Chicago (Booth); BS in Engineering from Stanford University.
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Fluent in Spanish and Mandarin
Rebecca Singer
Board Member/COO
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Portolio manager focused on investments in Biotech and Technology.
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AmeriCorps program coordinator for Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County.
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Three-term, publicly elected Board of Education Trustee of a NJ K-12 public school district.
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PhD and MS from Albert Einstein College of Medicine; BA, University of Pennsylvania.
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Global finance and transformational executive with 20+ years of experience. Currently CFO at Hootsuite
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MBA, USC Marshall Business School, Jiao Tong University; BA Economics and Accounting, Universita’ Cattolica, Italy.
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Bi-lingual in English and Italian
Tiziana Figliolia
Board Member/CFO
Yemmie Oluwatosin
Board Member
David Young
Board Member/Special Projects
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Currently Senior Medical Director, Chronic Kidney Disease, AstraZeneca
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Nearly 25 years experience in both the field as a research scientist and in HQ in medical affairs,
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Recently appointed Delaware State Science Ambassador as part of the Nationwide Science Works awareness campaign
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PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Founder and Managing Director of Top Golf Advisors
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Over 20 years of international marketing, planning, and development and training experience
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MBA from SDA Bocconi in Milan, Italy
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Fluent in English and Italian
Strategic Advisors
Mona Sinha
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Board Chair: ERA Fund for Women’s Equality, and Women Moving Millions.
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Co-Founder: Raising Change.
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Board member: Columbia Business School, The Global Mental Health Program at Mailman School at Columbia University, Women Creating Change at Columbia University, Breakthrough, and Center for High Impact Philanthropy.
Diana Taylor
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Former Assistant Secretary to NY Governor George Pataki, CFO Long Island Power Authority, New York State Superintendent of Banks, MD at Wolfensohn Fund Management.
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Board member: International Women’s Health Coalition, The New York Women’s Foundation, YMCA of Greater New York, ACCION, Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, Sotheby’s, Citigroup, Brookfield Properties.
Deborah Jackson
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Founder & CEO Plum Alley, Founder, Women Innovate Mobile.
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Former SVP, Shattuck Hammond Partners, Goldman Sachs.
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Recipient of numerous awards including: “League of Extraordinary Women”, “Leader of Economic Impact”, ”Women Changing the World: VCs/Entrepreneurs”.
Meme Scherr
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Partner and Chief Operating Officer of Sensato Investors.
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Former COO at PBPCapital Management managing non-investment activities of a start up hedge fund.
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Director of Client Service at Mellon Capital Management.