Our Team

Kim Perron brings a wealth of experience to her role as President and Owner of SchoolWorks. She embarked on her educational journey as a high school teacher, navigating the challenges of teaching from a wheeled cart in a multi-story school. Her subsequent roles broadened her scope, delving into leadership and policy intersections. She later oversaw charter school applications at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and served as the Associate Vice President of the State University of New York’s Charter Schools Institute (SUNY). At SUNY, Kim led the refinement of charter renewal policies and procedures and authored essential resources for charter school leaders. She also contributed to policy briefs for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, participating as a reviewer for various charter application cycles nationwide.

When Kim joined SchoolWorks as Director of Project Management, she honed her focus on aligning client needs with strategic outcomes. Her collaborative efforts birthed the SchoolWorks Quality Criteria, guiding the organization's work to enhance school improvement efforts.

As SchoolWorks President since 2012, Kim is dedicated to improving educational outcomes, a commitment reflected in her leadership. She holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University, and an M.A. and B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from Simmons University.

Jay Adams, as Managing Director of Quality Reviews at SchoolWorks, leads the company’s Quality Review service area, overseeing onboarding and training of team members and protocol evolution. With a focus on comprehensive school improvement, Jay has spearheaded numerous School Quality Reviews nationwide, including engagements with institutions like Baystate Charter Academy Public School, New Heights Academy, and Merrick Academy Charter School.

Prior to her role at SchoolWorks, Jay held pivotal positions in various school districts, including Operations Management at Metro Nashville Public Schools, where she led a team focused on driving academic performance and fostering personal responsibility. Before that, she served in Administration & Supervision at Williamson County Schools, overseeing curriculum and technology implementations, and as a leader in an Urban School District in Nashville, supporting training, curriculum programs, and operational guidelines.

Jay holds a B.S. in Biology and a M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from Tennessee State University. Actively promoting education, she mentors new school leaders in her home state.

Lyn Bajaj, a SchoolWorks consultant, specializes in organizational development, school improvement, and equity initiatives. Currently a Site Professor at the University of Colorado at Denver, she also consults for the Colorado State Board of Education, conducting quality reviews and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion assessments nationwide. Committed to community service, Lyn serves on a local nonprofit board supporting immigrant youth and families. Recognized for her contributions, including a Fulbright Educator Scholar selection, Lyn delivers keynote addresses on educational equity at national forums.

With extensive experience in leadership roles across Colorado, Lyn has notably served as Turnaround Principal at Eugene Field Elementary School and Alice Terry Elementary School, leading successful academic and cultural improvement efforts. She holds executive education certificates from Harvard Law School and the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business, along with a M.A. in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix at Denver. Lyn’s expertise includes systems thinking, change management, and innovative solutions to enduring systemic problems in education.

Stephanie Bignault, as the Special Projects and Marketing Coordinator at SchoolWorks, supports marketing and communications, content creation, and new business development. She also contributes to strategic projects, leveraging her background in theatre and film to shape SchoolWorks’ narratives of impact on student learning, rooting them in data from SchoolWorks engagements.

Before joining SchoolWorks, Stephanie served as Partner Marketing Manager at WhoHaha, a platform elevating women and gender-expansive creators in comedy and entertainment. Her passion for amplifying historically excluded voices seamlessly aligns with SchoolWorks' mission of advancing opportunities for students and fostering equitable learning environments.

Stephanie's diverse experience includes over a decade in theatre and film, including commercial production and freelance work as a creative producer for narrative short films. Her journey led her to recognize the transformative power of education, inspiring her dedication to SchoolWorks' mission. Stephanie holds an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts from the University of Arkansas and a B.A. in Theatre and English from Piedmont University in Georgia. She actively shares insights with performing arts students through workshops highlighting business best practices for working artists.

David E. Brown serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. With over 30 years of experience in education, David has held various roles including consultant, teacher, dean of students, assistant principal, and principal.

Throughout his career, David has been guided by his core educational belief, emphasizing the activation of imagination and the path towards liberation in education. He has successfully led K-12 Massachusetts schools in Boston, Charleston, Randolph, and Somerville through academic, systemic, and cultural change.

David's journey in education began as an Instructor at Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center before transitioning to a teaching role in the Boston Public Schools. He holds a B.A. from Eastern Nazarene College and an M.A. from Cambridge College. Currently, David is pursuing his Doctorate at the University of Massachusetts at Boston.

In addition to his professional endeavors, David is an active member of his community in Plymouth, MA, serving on the board of the Plymouth Center for the Arts and as a Trustee and Music Director of the Historic Bethel AME Church. He also contributes as a guest columnist for the local paper, The Old Colony Memorial.

Dan Cosgrove is an Assistant Director of the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. He served for seven years as a middle school principal at Roxbury Prep in Boston, part of the Uncommon Schools network. Dan was a founding middle school Dean of Students at Leadership Prep in Brooklyn. Dan began his career teaching third grade as a Teach For America corps member.

With Uncommon Schools, Dan has served on working groups developing expertise and best practices in leadership communication, social-emotional practices, and racial identity.

Dan holds a B.A. in sociology from Trinity College and an M.Ed. in Childhood Education from Hunter College, as well as a Certificate from the National Principal Academy Fellowship at Relay Graduate School of Education.

Betty Dao-Ivey currently serves as the Managing Director of Leadership Supports at SchoolWorks, where she leads strategic planning and leadership coaching initiatives for state departments, districts, and school leaders nationwide.

Betty provides high-quality professional development and coaching support to school leaders nationwide. In this role, Betty collaborates with school leaders to develop data-informed action plans and oversees successful plan implementation.

Prior to her current position, Betty worked extensively with traditional districts and charter authorizers across the country, including engagements with the Alabama State Department of Education, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, and Chicago Public Schools. She has also led professional development workshops for new principal leaders in partnership with the KIPP Foundation, supporting over 150 rising school leaders through needs assessment, action plan development, and implementation monitoring.

Betty's career in education includes serving as a Teach for America teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, an instructional coach in District of Columbia Public Schools, and a Principal-in-Residence for Achievement First in New York. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Maryland- College Park, a M.A. in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, and while serving as a resident principal at a 

Michelle Doane is a project manager with SchoolWorks. She has served in multiple capacities in the educational environment and has worked closely with a variety of clients including foundations, state departments of educations, charter school authorizers, and both traditional district and charter schools. In her role with SchoolWorks, her clients have included Indiana Department of Education, Louisiana Department of Education, Maryland State Department of Education, Minnesota Department of Education, and Ohio Department of Education.

In her previous work with the Nashville Symphony, she led the creation and implementation of a music education program in select schools in Metro Nashville Public Schools. Additionally, during her time at the Tennessee Charter School Center, she supported charter schools across the state, and managed leadership fellowships for experienced education leaders to undergo leadership development and develop charter school models to be approved in Nashville and Memphis. Every fellow under her direction was authorized to open their charter school; some have gone on to expand and open additional schools. Michelle holds a B.M. from Eastman School of Music, a M.Mus. from the University of Michigan, and a M.Ed. in Language and Instruction from Vanderbilt University.

Michelle Drumm is the Project Coordinator at SchoolWorks. She provides ongoing support for all SchoolWorks staff and consultants to maintain the company’s standards of quality, efficiency, and excellence across all engagements.

Michelle brings more than 15 years of legal administrative experience to SchoolWorks with her last ten plus years spent working in a paralegal capacity within the wind energy and bio-pharmaceutical technology sectors. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Salve Regina College Newport, Rhode Island, and a certification in Paralegal Studies from Colorado State University, Pueblo, Colorado. She is also a Notary Public in the State of Massachusetts.

Chad Ferguson, a project manager at SchoolWorks, brings a wealth of leadership experience to his role. Previously, he held executive positions at two charter school networks, serving as Executive Director of Citizens of the World Charter Schools in Brooklyn and Interim Chief Academic Officer for St. HOPE Public Schools in Sacramento. Chad's extensive career includes leadership roles at the New York City Department of Education and Washington D.C. Public Schools, where he managed district-wide student engagement, academic programs, and targeted student support initiatives.

Chad's journey in education began as a middle school science teacher in the Mississippi Delta through Teach For America. He later taught high school math and science in the Bronx, served as a school administrator in Harlem and Brooklyn, and acted as principal of an alternative middle and high school in Charleston County, South Carolina.

Chad holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Chicago and a M.A. in Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

Thomas Franta is the Managing Director of Accountability and Authorizer Supports at SchoolWorks, where he oversees the company's extensive work with charter school authorizers. With a background in education policy, Thomas brings expertise in charter school authorizing, technical assistance, monitoring, legal compliance, and litigation strategy to his role.

Before joining SchoolWorks, Thomas held various leadership positions in K-12 education. He served as the Executive Director of School Services of Montana, focusing on building systems to support rural educators. Prior to that, he was the CEO of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, where he successfully influenced legislation to pass one of the strongest charter laws in the country.

In the charter school authorizing sector, Thomas served as the Director of the Office of New Schools for Minnesota Public Schools, overseeing the promotion and sustainment of high-quality educational options. He also served as the Associate General Counsel for SUNY Charter Schools Institute, where he evaluated charter applications and conducted school site inspections.

Thomas holds a Juris Doctor (JD) from Syracuse University and a B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

Yahaira-Maria Frier serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. She has served in school leadership roles for two districts- Lawrence Public Schools with UP Education Network and Somerville Public Schools. At Somerville High School as the Assistant Principal, she managed wrap-around supports for youth of immigrant and refugee backgrounds. While in Lawrence, Yahaira held several leadership positions including Principal, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, and Department Chair for the ESL department.

Yahaira taught for several years as a middle school ESL teacher in her hometown of Lawrence, MA. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and a M.A. in Teaching from Simmons College.

From running shoes to running SchoolWorks’ business operations, Deb George’s accounting career spans nearly two decades, including a stint as a senior accountant at Converse. But her impact at SchoolWorks as the Financial Operations Director extends far beyond the ledger.

Deb helps manage SchoolWorks’ project management system, tracking work in progress and ensuring everything stays on time. She also assists with human resources and related functions, and she credits her colleagues for their passion and professionalism. She holds a B.S. from Merrimack College and an MBA from Salem State University.

Paige Gonzalez is a Project Manager for SchoolWorks. She joined the team as a consultant in 2015 and has been working as an educator for over 20 years. During that time, she has played many roles in the educational environment and worked as a teacher, reading interventionist, a district office leader, and consultant. She has served as an educator and instructional leader in urban public, private, and charter schools in Baltimore City Schools. While working in the district office of Baltimore City Public Schools she managed and played a lead role in the development of a School Quality Review process and helped to design and implement both charter school and traditional school accountability systems. She also coordinated efforts to align the school accountability systems with the teacher and school leader accountability systems. Paige is also a former adjunct faculty member at Johns Hopkins University, where she taught graduate students about effective classroom practices. Paige’s work at SchoolWorks has focused on School Quality Reviews, charter and authorizer accountability, school, district and state accountability, and charter school policies and practices. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Kansas and an M.S. in Education from The Johns Hopkins University.

Kristin Harrison is a Project Manager for SchoolWorks. In her work with SchoolWorks, Kristin has managed annual school quality reviews on behalf of the Rhode Island Department of Education and Denver Public Schools. She has led and participated in numerous charter school site visits and school quality reviews. Kristin is an experienced reviewer of charter school applications and has supported charter school application development and writing. Kristin is a certified teacher, principal, and superintendent with over two decades of experience working with students and adults in school settings. She is also a professional leadership coach certified by the International Coaching Federation. Before consulting with SchoolWorks, Kristin served as the executive director of the Christa McAuliffe Charter School in Framingham, Massachusetts, and a trustee for the Massachusetts Charter Public School Association. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and English from Amherst College, an M.A.T. in Mathematics from Simmons University, and a C.A.G.S. in Educational Leadership from Simmons University.

Elenita Irizarry-Ramos currently serves as a Senior Strategist for Multilingual Learning and Dual Language Education in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. With over a decade of experience in teaching language learners in multilingual environments, Elenita is dedicated to ensuring equitable and inclusive Bilingual Education and Dual Language programs.

Prior to her current role, Elenita held various positions in academia, including Visiting Scholar at Indiana University-Bloomington, Assistant Professor at the University of Puerto Rico–Rio Piedras, and Lecturer at UMass Amherst’s Bilingual and Dual Language Education Graduate Certificate program. She also served as the WMass Bilingual Hub Coordinator, supporting public Dual Language Schools in Massachusetts.

Elenita's research focuses on topics such as resilience among Puerto Rican English teachers after Hurricane María and trauma-informed teaching practices in post-pandemic education. She began her career teaching High School English Language Arts in English immersion schools in Puerto Rico and has since worked as an educator, public speaker, and consultant for College Board. Elenita holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum in Teaching from the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, an M.A. in English Education, and a B.A. in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez.

Stephanie Kimber Cayer serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. Stephanie has served as an Assistant Principal in Fitchburg Public Schools and partnered at the district level with organizations driven to promote equity and inclusion. 

As a school leader, Stephanie was an active member of the administrative team who focused on high expectations and breaking barriers which ultimately led the school out of the bottom percentile. She oversaw various departments including English, ESL, and History where she supported educators to provide culturally responsive curriculum and high-quality teaching. In this role, Stephanie also examined and changed school policies to create equitable outcomes.

At the district level, Stephanie led the core driving group to recruit and retain diverse staff throughout the district. Through this work, the team worked to establish affinity groups to enhance a culture of welcoming and belonging for diverse faculty and staff. 

Prior to being a high school administrator, Stephanie taught English at the middle school and high school levels. She holds a B.A. in English from St. John’s University and a J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law.

Kathryn Koerner is an accomplished educator with over a decade of experience in secondary education and curriculum development. She began her career as a high school English teacher, teaching students of all levels, including those in remedial reading programs and International Baccalaureate English courses. Kathryn's leadership roles as English Department Head and member of the Design Team showcased her commitment to fostering communication, supporting instructional goals, and implementing school-wide initiatives. Transitioning to curriculum development at the Virginia Department of Education, she played a pivotal role in developing and refining courses, leaving a lasting impact on education in Virginia.

Currently, as Director of School Developer Supports at SchoolWorks, Kathryn oversees charter school renewal site visits and quality reviews, providing professional development and feedback to school leaders and teachers. Her expertise in instructional improvement and charter school applications has led to the development of compelling school programs. Kathryn's comprehensive understanding of education enables her to drive positive change in schools and communities. She holds a B.A. in English and Linguistics from Northeastern University.

Nadia Lofton is the Director of Talent Recruitment & Relationship Management at SchoolWorks.

Previously, she was a Senior Recruiter with the School District of Philadelphia where her work mainly focused on hiring top-level School Leaders. Prior to joining the education sector, Nadia worked as a recruitment and administrative specialist in the financial services industry. Nadia graduated with her B.A. in Political Science and Global Studies from Hofstra University in 2013.

Llama Maynard serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. In this role, Llama engages in systems-thinking in support of the team’s collective efforts to partner with districts.

Over the past 15 years, Llama has been a middle school science teacher, served as professional development provider for State and national science education associations, worked as a school designer in a national nonprofit school reform organization, and held an administrative leadership role in a Massachusetts public charter school. In addition to her strong roots in K-12 science education, she has experience and passion for implementation of standards-based grading, project-based learning, and student-engaged assessment practices. She hold an M.A. in Educational Studies: Science Education from Tufts University and a B.A. in English Literature from Wheaton College. 

Michelle Pieroni is the Director of Operations for SchoolWorks. Prior to joining SchoolWorks, she was an office manager and legal assistant for the managing partner in a law firm. As SchoolWorks’ Director of Operations, Pieroni evaluates, designs, executes, monitors, and controls business processes.  She works with the President, Vice President of Project Oversight, Financial Operations Director, and Managing Directors to ensure that business process outcomes are in harmony with SchoolWorks’ strategic goals.  Pieroni graduated from Salem State College in 1993 with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in English.

Pamela Plumer serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. Pam has held various educational roles throughout public schools in Massachusetts. Most recently, Pam has been the Director of Student Services for the Northampton Public Schools, where she was responsible for overseeing special education, English learner education, early childhood, and homeless and foster student supports for over 700 students in grades PK-12+. Pam received her Ph.D. in School Psychology from UMass Amherst, where she focused on the Response to Intervention model as well as interventions for students with ADHD, executive functioning difficulties, and learning. She was a school psychologist in the Pittsfield, Amherst, and Northampton public schools before becoming an Associate Director of Student Services for NPS in 2012. She has a passion for supporting educators in creating environments that include effective, evidence-based practices with a priority of providing meaningful, engaging, and accessible learning for all students. Pam is also active in community/youth theatre and athletic recreation in the Pioneer Valley.

Amy Proulx is a versatile educator and project manager with a rich background in education and leadership. As a Project Manager with SchoolWorks, she oversees school quality reviews and charter evaluation and renewal visits, providing invaluable insights to schools nationwide. Amy also collaborates with the SUNY Charter School Institute and serves as a pre-service supervisor and in-service mentor for the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) K-12 Program and the Peace Corps Jaffe Fellows Program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Prior to her current role, Amy founded and led two K-8 English as a New Language Programs, driving significant academic growth. She has served in coordinator and leadership roles for charter school networks in Harlem and Brooklyn, contributing to the development of English language programs and building leadership capacity.

With experience teaching diverse learners in Boston, New York, Italy, and China, Amy brings a global perspective to her work. She holds a B.A. from Skidmore College and a M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Teachers College, Columbia University.

As the Director of Client Services for SchoolWorks, Sarah works to ensure client satisfaction and proactively anticipates and addresses clients’ service needs. Sarah maintains open lines of communication with clients, assesses their needs, offers new or additional services to complement the services currently provided, and helps activate SchoolWorks’ systems to ensure that each client achieves established goals.

In her prior role as SchoolWorks' Managing Director of School Developer Supports, Sarah oversaw the development of charter school applications and renewals, leveraging her background as a college writing instructor and her academic studies in English and Literature to articulate each school's vision effectively. Her expertise extends to accountability, including the review of charter applications for Chicago Public Schools and the Louisiana Department of Education. Before joining SchoolWorks, Sarah served as the business development coordinator at the National Heritage Academies, where she managed charter application processes and expansion into new states.

With a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a M.A. in English from Grand Valley State University, Sarah combines her educational background with practical experience to drive positive change in the charter and district school landscape.

Nina Samuelson serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. She has worked in K-12 public education in various capacities – most recently with Excel Academy Charter Schools, a charter network serving students in East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts.

Nina has held several leadership roles at Excel, including leading school operations at Excel Academy East Boston, the flagship middle school campus, and serving as Head of School at the Excel Academy Orient Heights/Greenway middle school campus. In her capacity as Head of School, Nina set and executed a student-centered academic vision and strategy for the school, while working in collaboration with peer schools to drive a comprehensive, rigorous, and inclusive 5-12 program.

Prior to joining the Excel team, Nina worked as a teacher and teacher leader with the New York City Public Schools. She is a certified secondary English teacher and served as a high school English Department Head. Nina is a Teach For America alum, holds an M.S. in Education from Lehman College of the Bronx, and holds a B.A. in English Literature from Princeton University.

Jake Schmitz serves as the Managing Director of Instructional Supports at SchoolWorks, where he oversees the development and implementation of instructional improvement initiatives. Additionally, he serves on SchoolWorks’ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Task Force. As a certified Summit Learning Support Partner, he has played a key role in developing specialized rubrics for Personalized Learning Implementation Assessment, conducting reviews on behalf of various school districts across the United States.

Prior to his current role, Jake served in leadership positions at YES Prep Gulfton in Houston and KIPP Endeavor Academy in Kansas City, where he demonstrated his commitment to educational excellence. At YES Prep Gulfton, he served as the founding English teacher before being promoted to School Director, achieving exemplary ratings each year. At KIPP Endeavor Academy, he grew the school's enrollment and KIPP through College Program, ensuring high levels of student success.

With a background in education and a passion for school improvement, Jake has led School Quality Reviews in several major cities and states, including Denver, Chicago, Cleveland, and Massachusetts. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Kansas and an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Sam Houston State University.

Jennifer Scott serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. With over a decade of experience in instructional and educational leadership, Jennifer previously served as an Assistant Principal and Instructional Coach in Massachusetts.

In her recent role at Fitchburg High School, Jennifer prioritized equity, opportunity, and access. She led impactful data analysis, revealing disparities influenced by race, gender, and socio-economic status. Jennifer played a crucial role in the NEASC accreditation process, garnering commendations. As lead for curriculum and instruction, she spearheaded a comprehensive overhaul to ensure a rigorous educational experience for all students, enhancing access to college coursework and expanding the Early College program.

Jennifer also collaborated with Fitchburg State University and the city to establish a Future Teacher Academy, offering underrepresented students free college courses, priority admission to FSU, and a promissory note of employment with Fitchburg Public Schools upon graduation. Jennifer began her career teaching high school English and Theater Arts. She holds a B.A. in Classical Humanities from Providence College and completed a fellowship in Educational Leadership with the Lynch School of Education, Boston College.

Hillary Smith-Maddern serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. She has served as an instructional coach and department head in two charter schools committed to improving educational outcomes for Springfield, MA students.

As an inaugural teacher at Veritas Prep Charter School, she served on teams responsible for the development of anti-racist curriculum and instructional practices. It was there she developed her passion for curriculum design. She began her career as a classroom aide in Western Massachusetts, where she provided services to high-need students before becoming a middle school ELA teacher. Although she has spent most of her career in Western Massachusetts, she has also served as a literacy and writing instructor in both China and Turkey, and her enthusiasm for culture and travel is evident in all her work. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Smith College and a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Fitchburg State University.

Dr. Sean Stevens is a consultant with SchoolWorks. Additionally, Dr. Stevens serves as an author, entrepreneur, educator, host, producer, and life coach. His work as an educational leader is centered around social justice, school reform, youth empowerment, and black male identity.

Dr. Stevens has served thousands of students in urban, marginalized areas across the country. As a Principal and Head of School for KIPP Schools, he successfully moved one of the lowest-performing high schools in the KIPP network into the 88th percentile in the country. Most recently he has served as a Chief Academic Officer and Executive Director of the Adams Street Foundation, a nonprofit that supports students navigating college and career pathways. He holds an M.A. in Education Leadership, Politics, and Advocacy from New York University, and a Ph.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations from Vanderbilt University.

Jennifer Strock serves as the Vice President of Business Development at SchoolWorks, where she leads efforts to expand partnerships and meet the diverse needs of clients. Prior to joining SchoolWorks, Jennifer gained extensive experience in media marketing and business development as the Marketing Director and Associate Publisher of Marketing for SHAPE magazine. However, it was her role as Executive Director for Girls on the Run of Berks County, PA, an afterschool fitness program, that ignited her passion for education, exposing her to the varied educational landscapes within her community.

She holds a M.S. in Digital Marketing from Fox School of Business, Temple University and a B.A. in English and American Literature from Brown University.

Danny Suriel serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. He has served in leadership roles in both a school turnaround network and Lawrence Public Schools, as the Director of Equity and Partnerships for UP Education Network, and Assistant Principal at UP Academy Leonard Middle School.

As a school leader, Danny was a member of the team that led a school placed in State takeover for chronic underperformance to “Level One Status.” He developed and managed a school culture system rooted in common values with the local community and teacher training models that contributed to a decrease in exclusions, coupled with district-wide ELA and Math MCAS scores that outperformed other schools.

More recently, Danny has provided guidance for school personnel and codified best practices around strengthening school-family and community partnerships in Dorchester, South Boston, and Lawrence. He led and facilitated ALANA affinity groups and provided guidance for staff with diverse identity markers to lead affinity groups in their respective schools. He holds a dual B.A. in Psychology and History from the University of Massachusetts.

Lauren Venuti is an Instructional Leadership Coach in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. Most recently, she served as an Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction at UP Academy Leonard Middle School. In this role, Lauren provided instructional coaching for the school’s humanities teachers and was responsible for designing and implementing professional development, facilitating data meetings, and ensuring high quality curriculum and instruction throughout the school.

Lauren began her career teaching high school English at Cristo Rey Boston High School in Dorchester and participating in the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps at Boston College. It was at Cristo Rey that Lauren first began instructional coaching, serving as a New Teacher Development Coach and literacy support within the building. During this time, Lauren also participated in the National Academy of Advanced Teacher Education program (NAATE) to deepen her classroom practice and build her leadership capacity.

She holds a B.A. in English from Fairfield University and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from Boston College.

Amy Weed is a Project Manager with SchoolWorks.  She has spent the past eight years serving as a Colorado State Review Panelist (SRP) and project manager in partnership with the Colorado Department of Education and SchoolWorks. Prior to joining SchoolWorks, Amy spent 30 years in public education, in diverse school districts across Colorado.  During that time, she served as an assistant superintendent, a district-level administrator, a principal, an assistant principal, and a teacher at all levels.  

Amy has proven leadership and facilitation skills including a strong passion for developing principals to be effective instructional leaders. She is highly respected as an instructional leader and someone with exemplary organizational and management skills.

Amy holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). She also obtained her Type D Administration Certification from UNC and has had extensive leadership training. In addition, Amy attended language schools in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico, to become bilingual.

Kate Wheeler serves as the Vice President of Project Oversight at SchoolWorks, where she ensures the implementation of high-quality services. Prior to SchoolWorks, she was a teacher leader in a K-8 school, then worked in the administration for DC Public Schools (DCPS). At DCPS, Kate supported the creation of and managed the implementation and daily operations of the teacher evaluation system, IMPACT. Kate supported the completion and input of triannual assessments for more than 6,000 employees; supervised the creation of a web-based portal in which to enter and analyze assessment data; organized and conducted more than 100 teacher feedback sessions in planning for the evaluation system; and, guided principals in providing support to teachers in need of assistance. While with DCPS, Kate also coordinated the district’s Teacher Incentive Fund grant, overseeing the presentation of more than $1.5 million in awards.

In her current role, Kate collaborates with project managers and office staff to ensure that reviews and projects meet high-quality standards. She emphasizes the importance of viewing school visits as a professional process that supports reflection and improvement.

Kate holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University and a B.A. from the University of Richmond.

Calvin Johnson serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. In this role, he collaborates with districts to drive systemic improvements aimed at supporting student success.

Prior to his current position, Calvin held various leadership roles at Phoenix Charter Academy in Springfield, MA, including Head of School, Assistant Head of School, and Director of Operations. He successfully managed the school through multiple DESE renewals, ensuring continuous operation and student opportunity. Notably, Calvin established two successful “school within a school” programs: the Extended Day Evening Support program, offering flexible learning for students facing educational barriers, and the Young Men’s Program, which fostered an engaging environment for at-risk male students.

Calvin is dedicated to equity work and experiential learning, which he believes can empower students from diverse backgrounds. He has implemented initiatives that enhance student engagement and academic outcomes, alongside efforts to recruit and retain diverse staff to create inclusive educational environments.

Calvin holds a J.D. from Boston College Law School and a B.A. from La Salle University.

Grace Lugo serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. In this capacity, she collaborates with districts to facilitate systemic improvements aimed at enhancing student achievement and educational equity.

Before her current role, Grace began her career in education as a New Jersey TFA Corp member in Passaic Public Schools. She later transitioned to become an Elementary and Middle School Science Instructional Coach in New Brunswick Public Schools, NJ. Here, she implemented reflective coaching practices to support teachers in adopting NGSS-aligned instructional materials and culturally responsive teaching strategies. Grace also coordinated district-wide three-dimensional assessment initiatives and developed Problem-Based Learning curricula for summer enrichment programs.

Grace holds a B.S. in Biology and Secondary Education from The College of New Jersey and is currently pursuing a M.Ed in Educational Leadership.

Anthony Ortiz is the Senior Strategist for the Office of Effective Partnerships and Impact within the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks. In this role, he showcases significant leadership in education and community engagement. Previously, Anthony served as the Manager of Wraparound Services for Framingham Public Schools, contributing to its inception and holding various key roles within the district. His background includes chairing committees, managing after-school programs, and advocating for equity and community engagement. Before his tenure at Framingham Public Schools, Anthony worked in admissions for higher education and as a municipal worker for the City of Worcester. He also managed an after-school program for middle school students in Worcester. Anthony holds a B.A. in Communication and Spanish from Worcester State University and an M.A. in Community Development and Planning from Clark University.

Patricia Remigio serves as a Leadership Consultant for the Coastal Regional Assistance Team in the Massachusetts DESE Statewide System of Support, an ongoing contract managed by SchoolWorks She began her education career through two years of service with Teach For America New York. Upon her return home to Lawrence, Massachusetts, she served seven more years at the high school and middle school level respectively. She was a founding teacher at 9GA Lawrence High School where she worked with her students both in the general and special education settings. She also held leadership positions for several years there as lead special education teacher, and cohort leader. Patricia later taught middle school science at UP Academy Leonard. Her passion for education transitioned her to the role of school support specialist with the OpenSciEd Equitable Instruction Initiative team at Boston College. Relentlessly, she provided support at the district, school, and classroom level. She consistently collaborated with district leaders, school leaders, and teachers adopting and implementing high-quality instructional materials. Patricia has a B.A. in Sociology from Northeastern University, and M.A. in Education with a concentration in Special Education from Brooklyn College.

Danielle Tschirhart is a Project Manager for SchoolWorks. Before joining SchoolWorks, Danielle was the Chief Operating Officer for Democracy Prep Public Schools and she also served as the Managing Director of Finance and Operations at the New York-based Public Prep Network.

Prior to her network leadership experience, Danielle was a school leader at an all-girls middle school in the East Village neighborhood of NYC, serving students in grades 5-8. Danielle previously worked as a charter school evaluator and authorizer at the SUNY Charter Schools Institute and began her career teaching 8th-grade English Language Arts in East Harlem and the Bronx.

She holds an M.P.A. from Columbia University, an M.P.A from SciencesPo Paris, an M.S. in Teaching from Pace University, and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.