Meet the Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida team.

Local Leadership

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer

Executive Director

Teach For America Florida Regions

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer leads Teach For America's efforts as the Statewide Executive Director of Teach For America regions in Florida. With 22 years of experience in education, she serves as a champion for principals, teachers, and students. She has spent the last 11 years at Teach For America, serving as the Executive Director of Jacksonville, Central Florida, and Miami-Dade following five years leading Jacksonville’s programmatic efforts.

Meet Our Staff

Vice President, Programs and Impact

Gerthy Eugene


Vice President, Statewide Operations

Patrick Evans


Managing Director, Board & Network Coalitions

Megan Cole


Director, Statewide Alumni Educator & Fellowship Initiatives

Zahirah Calloway


Managing Director, Statewide Operations

Heather Ryan


Managing Director, Statewide Alumni & Network Strategy

Jazmin Miller


Managing Director, Government & Public Relations

Chelsea Franklin


Senior Managing Director, Statewide Leadership Development

Kiara Drummond


Director, Leadership Development

Zandra Bryant


Managing Director, Leadership Development

Cayla Young


Managing Director, Statewide Matriculation Generalist

Xavier Suarez


Managing Director, Leadership Development - Operations

Emily Mayeda


Managing Director, Ignite Program Impact

Courtney Coffill


Senior Managing Director, Head of Southeast Development Hub

Cheria Funches


Managing Director, Development Operations and Chief of Staff Southeast Development Hub

Matt Minnick


Director, Grants, Southeast Development Hub

Allie Pocock


Director, Grants, Southeast Development Hub

Lauren Collens


Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida Team
Send us a note
Meet the Teach For America Los Angeles Team.

Lida Jennings

Lida Jennings

Executive Director

Teach For America Southern California Regions: Los Angeles and San Diego

Lida has been with Teach For America for over a decade becoming the Executive Director of the Los Angeles region in 2013, adding San Diego to her portfolio in 2024. She is a passionate advocate for educational excellence for all kids and deeply believes that every child deserves the opportunity of an exceptional education that sets them on the path to the life of their choosing.

Meet Our Staff

VICE PRESIDENT, REGIONAL LEADERSHIP

Ashley Terada


VICE PRESIDENT, HEAD OF PROGRAM

Michelle Hatchford


VICE PRESIDENT, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Megan McGuane


DIRECTOR, TALENT & SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS

Oscar Barajas


MANAGING DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS & LEARNING

Kayla Camacho


ASSOCIATE, OPERATIONS

Victoria Figueroa


DIRECTOR, ALUMNI STRATEGY AND IMPACT

Sean Gilley


MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMNI STRATEGY AND IMPACT

Kelsey Gilliland


MANAGING DIRECTOR, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND IGNITE

Cedric Jones


MANAGING DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS & DEVELOPMENT

MK Kostecka


MANAGER, MATRICULATION AND ONBOARDING

Ivan Nordendale


Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Los Angeles Team
Send us a note
The Advisory Board is designed to support the pursuit of regional goals, inspire and connect our network members to the community, and build our bench of supporters.
On This Page
Board Vision & Goals Board Member Qualifications Board Members

Advisory Board Vision

Our Advisory Board Members will be true partners in our work, serving as a critical extension of our staff. They will accelerate our efforts to reach our 2030 goal by focusing on the Four C's:

Illustration of three sparks

Catalyze

our work through active partnership

Catalyze

Illustration of three sparks

our work through active partnership

Illustration of a bright light bulb

Communicate

the TFA narrative to the community at large

Communicate

Illustration of a bright light bulb

the TFA narrative to the community at large

Illustration of a person reading a book

Contribute

to the financial sustainability of the organization

Contribute

Illustration of a person reading a book

to the financial sustainability of the organization

Illustration of two people building a big puzzle together

Connect

TFA to individuals, corporations, and the community

Connect

Illustration of two people building a big puzzle together

TFA to individuals, corporations, and the community

Board Member Goals

  • Work to create closer relationships and connections to the Teach For America network.
  • Support a priority project and/or make a connection to the community that directly supports advancing towards our 2030 goal.
  • Attend at least three out of the four board meetings.
  • Attend at least two additional events/activities outside of the board meetings.
  • Expand the Advisory Board by sharing two to three names of possible board candidates.
  • Make a meaningful financial contribution to Teach For America and support in securing additional funding.​

Board Member Qualifications

Having a regional board with a wide range of perspectives is critically important to achieving our mission. Our members possess the following qualities:


Meet Our Regional Advisory Board

Romina Rosado

Board Chair

EVP AND GENERAL MANAGER Hispanic Streaming NBCU Universal Telemundo Enterprises

Romina Rosado


Matthew Dates

Board Co-Chair

SHAREHOLDER STEARNS WEAVER MILLER

Matthew Dates


Stacy Baier

SVP, Florida Community Engagement, Operations & Strategic Partnerships Helios Education Foundation

Stacy Baier, Ph.D.


Travis Feldler

Founder & CEO Tech Row

Travis Feldler


Laura Kohn

Dean, School of Education & Human Development University of Miami

Laura Kohn-Wood, Ph.D.


David Martin

CEO Terra Group

David Martin


Saliha Nelson

CEO URGENT, INC

Saliha Nelson


Rosie

Director, Technology & Innovation Sourcing Carnival Corporation

Rosie Nwakanma


Flora Perez

Shareholder Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Flora Perez


Deena Piquion

Community Advocate

Deena Piquion


Jay Schneider

CHIEF PRODUCT INNOVATION OFFICER ROYAL CARIBBEAN GROUP

Jay Schneider


Barry Schneirov

VICE PRESIDENT GOLDMAN SACHS

Barry Schneirov


Michelle Shirley

CEO & Chief Heart Officer Be Strong International

Michelle Shirley


Judy Werner

REAL ESTATE BROKER BOLD MIAMI

Judy Werner


Laura Zapata

Vice President & Deputy General Council Ryder Systems, Inc.

Laura Zapata-Kim

Houston

11


Get in Touch

Questions about Teach For America Miami-Dade?
Drop Us A Note
Meet the Teach For America Idaho Team.

Local Leadership

Toney Ashton

Tony Ashton

Greater New Orleans '01

Executive Director

Teach For America Idaho

Tony Ashton has worked in education for over 14 years as a teacher, administrator, and policy specialist.

Meet Our Staff

MANAGING DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Tracy Sedano

Phoenix

14

MANAGING DIRECTOR, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Marisa Wong

Eastern North Carolina

13

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SCHOOL & SYSTEMS LEADERSHIP

Casey DeFord

Arkansas

12

Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Idaho Team
Send us a note
Meet the Teach For America Colorado Advisory Board.

Meet Our Colorado Regional Board

DIRECTOR RELATED PHILANTHROPIC FOUNDATION & THE JORGE M. PéREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION

Belissa Alvarez

Director of Call Me MiSTER Associate Professor of Teacher Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Dr. Rashad Anderson

United States Air Force

Danny Beaulieu

Greater Delta

09

Danny Beaulieu is an active-duty officer in the United States Air Force. He serves on this board in his personal capacity only. His views and participation are his own and do not represent the Department of the Air Force or any other federal entity.

Executive Director Access Opportunity

Natalee Benzing

Senior Assistant General Counsel Denver Health

Jeff Boxer

STATEWIDE DIRECTOR EMPOWER SCHOOLS

Sara Butler

Chicago

07

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CREST ROCK PARTNERS

Kyle Covell

Vice Chair

General Counsel Cloudbreak Energy

Bobby Dishell

Baltimore

15

BOARD CHAIR

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PEAK EDUCATION

Carlos Jiménez

PARTNER HAYNES AND BOONE

Erin Simmons

CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER TRIZETTO HEALTH

Robert Wise

Meet the Teach For America Colorado Team.

Local Leadership

Amber Suero

Ambar Suero

Executive Director

Teach For America Colorado

A proud bilingual Latina, parent within the Denver Public Schools system, and community leader, Ambar Suero has dedicated her personal and professional path to accelerating educational excellence for all children across Colorado. Previous leadership roles at RootED Denver and Denver Public School’s Office of Family and Community have positioned her as a longtime education advocate, striving to ensure all students have access to high-quality education. Ambar brings over 18 years of experience in partnership cultivation, strategic leadership, and program development to her role as executive director of Teach For America Colorado.

Meet Our Staff

Senior Managing Director, Strategy and Operations

Cornelia Isaac

Managing Director, Partnerships and Coalitions

Violeta Apodaca

Manager, Regional Outreach

Melissa Longiaru

Senior Managing Director, Network Learning and Impact

Kate Berger

Manager, Alumni Engagement

Amanda Cary

Managing Director, Leadership Development

Suzanne Koskimaki

Managing Director, Leadership Development

Dr. Aaron Massey

Managing Director, Leadership Development

Kylia West

Managing Director, Leadership Development

Rita Jensen

Director, Development

Julie Whitmer

Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Colorado Team
Send us a note
Meet the Teach For America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Regional Advisory Board and Leadership Circle.

Meet Our Regional Advisory Board

CHAIR

Of Counsel KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP

Stephen Ritchie

PRESIDENT & CEO THE CHICAGO PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND

Heather Y. Anichini

Chicago

02

DIRECTOR THE BLUHM FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION

Meredith Bluhm-Wolf

MANAGING DIRECTOR ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO.

C. Christopher Coetzee

RETIRED CO-CEO APOLLO GROUP, INC.

Charles B. Edelstein

BOARD Chair Intrinsic Schools

James S. Frank

DIRECTOR ASUTRA

Kate Gilligan

RUANE, CUNNIFF & GOLDFARB, INC. WISHBONE MANAGEMENT, LP

John Harris

Global Chief Operating Officer Ronald McDonald House Charities

Rodney Jordan

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MORNINGSTAR

Kunal Kapoor

PARTNER & MANAGING DIRECTOR BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP

Emily Kos

Co-Founder and CEO Rang

Brian Malkin

Chicago

13

DIRECTOR MANSUETO FOUNDATION

Rika Mansueto

MANAGING DIRECTOR GTCR

Luke Marker

Managing Director J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Matt McKee

Community Engagement Lead Microsoft

Nisaini Rexach

Chicago

13

FORMER CHAIR AND CEO MONDELEZ INTERNATIONAL

Irene B. Rosenfeld

Chair & Chief Executive Officer Midway Broadcasting Corporation

Melody Spann-Cooper

Emeritus Board

Chairman Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC

Paul J. Finnegan


PRESIDENT BANDON DUNES GOLF RESORT

Michael L. Keiser


Co-Founder & Partner Granite Creek Capital Partners, L.L.C.

Peter Lehman


Vice Chairman Robert W. Baird & Co.

C.H. Randolph Lyon


Leadership Circle

The Leadership Circle serves as a pipeline for diverse executive board leadership for the education sector just as Teach For America serves as a talent pipeline for the sector overall. The board is for emerging civic leaders to develop a deeper understanding of the education landscape while building their skills, experiences, and connections in nonprofit board leadership. Members participate in quarterly meetings, receive mentorship from Advisory Board members, and support Teach For America through financial and strategic contributions. If you’re interested in learning more, reach out to Natalie Ramos at Natalie.Ramos@teachforamerica.org.
.

Meet Our Leadership Circle

FOUNDER STUDIO 79

Jessica Ball-Johnson, Ed.L.D

Memphis

10


Partner Bartlit Beck

Luke Beasley

Jacksonville

11


Senior Vice President Wintrust

Sean Broderick


PARTNER COOLEY LLP

Winston Gu

Los Angeles

07


GLOBAL STRATEGY AND BUSINESS INSIGHTS MCDONALD’S

Alita Haque

Indianapolis

12


HEAD OF GLOBAL TALENT MANAGEMENT KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY

Stacey Johnson


Associate GTCR

Mona Kharoofa


LITIGATION COUNSEL GOLUB CAPITAL

Marc Klein

Phoenix

09


ASSOCIATE LATHAM & WATKINS LLP

Brittany Liesman

Chicago

13


SENIOR ASSOCIATE, CORPORATE TREASURY BALYASNY ASSET MANAGEMENT L.P.

Sean O’Keeffe


SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT JLL

Max Zwolan

Chicago

15


Meet the Teach For America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Team.

Local Leadership

Anajah Roberts

Anajah Roberts

St. Louis '10

Executive Director

TFA Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana

Anajah Philogene is the Executive Director of Teach For America Greater Chicago–Northwest Indiana. A 2010 Teach For America–St. Louis alumna and former middle school English teacher, Anajah has dedicated her work to developing and supporting teacher leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from DePauw University, a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and Teaching from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis, and a MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Meet Our Staff

VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OF STAFF

Kristen Quinn


VICE PRESIDENT, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Chanelle Bell


Managing Director, Public Affairs

Jasmin Rosales-Montas


Manager, External Affairs

Diana Diaz


MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMNI LEADERSHIP

Caryn Lichtenberg


MANAGING DIRECTOR, NETWORK ENGAGEMENT

Whitney Stoepel-Brewer


SR. ASSOCIATE, EXECUTIVE SUPPORT & OPERATIONS

Priya Soni


MANAGING DIRECTOR, PARTNERSHIPS

Jessica Sullivan-Wilson


Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Greater Chicago-Northwest Indiana Team
Send us a note
Meet Teach For America's Oklahoma advisory boards, which include the Greater Tulsa and Oklahoma City regions.
On This Page
Meet Our Greater Tulsa Board Meet Our Oklahoma City Board

Meet Our Greater Tulsa Regional Advisory Board

Board Chair

Executive Director of 211 of Eastern Oklahoma Tulsa Area United Way

Wes Mitchell


CEO Mental Health Association of Oklahoma

Carrie Blumert


DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAM MANAGER WILLIAMS COMPANY

Mikeale Campbell


DIRECTOR, TULSA GRANTMAKING CHARLES AND LYNN SCHUSTERMAN FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES

Michael DuPont


President & CEO The Foundation for Tulsa Schools

Moises Echeverria


Alumni Board Liasion

Director of Development Tulsa Honor Academy

Justine McGovern


SVP/Chief People Officer Tulsa Teachers Credit Union

Coy Nesbitt


Chief of Staff Tulsa Area United Way

Camille Newbro


EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PROPERTY MANAGEMENT PRICE FAMILY PROPERTIES

Nikki Price


VICE PRESIDENT, WORKFORCE AND TALENT STRATEGIES TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER

Rue Ramsey


Vice President of Student Affairs Tulsa Community College

Eunice Tarver


Meet Our Oklahoma City Regional Advisory Board

Board Chair

Managing Partner Three Eights Holdings

Brett Burleson


EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE VERGE OKC

Kristin Garcia


Assistant Vice President - Commercial Loan Officer First United Bank

Matt Kaufmann


ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY PHILLIPS MURRAH

Kelly Offutt


CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT MANAGER PACCAR Parts

Geovanna Ruiz-Starkey


President & Chief Commercial Officer F2 Energy

Brent Smith


Meet Teach For America's Oklahoma team, which includes the Greater Tulsa and Oklahoma City regions.
On This Page
Greater Tulsa Team Oklahoma City Team

Local Leadership

Sarah Park_Oklahoma City_OKC_cropped

Sarah Park

Hawai'i '08

Executive Director

Sarah Park serves as the Executive Director of Teach For America Greater Tulsa and Oklahoma City and brings 15 years of experience in education. Sarah’s passion for education started in the classroom as a 2008 Teach For America Hawai’i corps member where she taught 7th and 8th grade math. She took the lessons learned alongside students to become a Corps Member Advisor and a Manager of Teacher Leadership Development with TFA Hawai’i.   In 2013, she joined the Oklahoma team where she held various programmatic roles and increased rigor and student learning in math and science classrooms across Oklahoma, launched Regional Summer Institute, and strengthened the corps and alumni experience for over 550 educators. Sarah now leads a localized strategic vision and plan, works side-by-side with local stakeholders to ensure TFA plays its critical role in advancing educational excellence, and aims to influence the conversation about education, learning, and economic mobility in Oklahoma.

Meet Our Greater Tulsa Team

MANAGER, RECRUITMENT

Whitney Cipolla


MANAGING DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Rachel Estariz


DIRECTOR, ALUMNI IMPACT

Jessi Hicks


MANAGER, RECRUITMENT

Precious Lango


MANAGING DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Nicole West


MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMNI IMPACT

Parisa Pilehvar


MANAGING DIRECTOR, TALENT & OPERATIONS

Allie Stites


MANAGING DIRECTOR, IGNITE FELLOWSHIP & ALUMNI RECRUITMENT

Tisha Clay


MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT STATEWIDE

Joe Regan


MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT STATEWIDE

Erin Zarenec


Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Greater Tulsa Team
Send us a note

Meet Our Oklahoma City Team

DIRECTOR, ALUMNI IMPACT

Nicole Silvestri


MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALUMNI IMPACT

Parisa Pilehvar


MANAGING DIRECTOR, TALENT & OPERATIONS

Allie Stites


MANAGING DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

Erin Zarenec


MANAGING DIRECTOR, IGNITE PROGRAM IMPACT

Tisha Clay


MANAGER, DEVELOPMENT

Joe Regan


Get in touch

Connect with the Teach For America Oklahoma City Team
Send us a note
Previous 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 Next
Subscribe to