About Us

About Us

Our Team

Andrea Bond, Chief Program Officer
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Neema Desai Jennings, Senior Director of Program
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Lindsay Kruse, CEO, Co-Founder
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Jessica Brown, Director of Operations
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Cornelius Dukes, Senior Director Partnerships, People and Impact
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We commit to developing and co-creating with leaders and their teams to build schools and communities of acceptance, belonging, and high expectations for every single learner.

Faculty + Coaches

Andrea Bond, Chief Program Officer
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Jonathan Caldera, Coach
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Jerel Bryant, Faculty
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Rosie Carlson, Coach
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LaKendra Butler, Coach
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Tony Castillo, Coach
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Neema Desai Jennings, Senior Director of Program
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Emma Donley, Coach and Faculty
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Lindsay Kruse, CEO, Co-Founder
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Mika Krause, Faculty
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Michael Mahoney, Faculty and Coach
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Jamie Gutter, Coach
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Stacie Kurtz, Faculty
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Ben Marcovitz, Strategic Advisor, Co-Founder
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Jessica Strong, Faculty and Coach
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Dominique Tross, Coach
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Sara Tucker, Coach
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Soraya Verjee, Faculty and Coach
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Kate Ring, Coach
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Cornelius Dukes, Senior Director Partnerships, People and Impact
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Dami Molumo, Faculty
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Abby Upperman, Coach
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Dominique Smith, Coach
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Kathryn Rice McKinzie, Coach
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Kate Dormeus, Coach
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Angel Augustine, Coach
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Alexis Brown, Coach
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Karen Donovan, Coach
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Leaders to Learn With and From

The following leaders from AMA’s cohorts and partners have helped codify and co-create tools and learnings that show bright spots of what is possible when school and system leaders prioritize inclusion and engagement of low-income and BIPOC students with disabilities. We thank them for their effective strategies, impressive results, and contributions to building a movement!

    • LaKendra Butler and Dominique Tross, STRIVE Collegiate Academy

    • Jonathan Caldera, DC Prep

    • Dr. Rosie Carlson, Alpha Public Schools

    • Tony Castillo, Ashley Dalton, Bina Dao, and Eileen Galligan, YES Prep Public Schools

    • Andrea Citchen, YES Prep

    • Neema Desai-Jennings, DC Prep

    • Kate Dormeus, Excel Schools

    • Jamie Gutter, Valor Flagship

    • Sean Healey, Uncommon Schools

    • Fallon Housman, Alpha Cornerstone

    • Fred Johnson and Lauren Katz, Collegiate Academies

    • Jana Katz, Public Prep Network

    • Dr. Lindsay McCormick Ward, Collegiate Academies Motor Lab

    • Dr. Kate Ring, LEAD Public Schools

    • Brianna Shelton, LEAD Cameron

    • Brittany Smith, Hynes UNO

    • Maggie Sneed, LEAD Academy High

    • Jessica Strong, Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School

    • Ramya Subramanian, Alpha Public Schools

    • Tina Tonino, Blackstone Valley Prep

Cohort 4: 2024-2025

  • Alisa Booberg, Principal

    Angie Hopkins, Principal

    Ashley Lloyd, Teacher

    Dalen Parker, Special Education Teacher

    Heather Garris, Principal

    Kelly McVey, Principal

    Laura Coe, Special Education Department Chair

    Natasia Thompson, ELD Teacher

  • Kristin Singh, School Psychologist

    Steph Layson, High School Principal

    Tatiana Epanchin, Co-Founder, Head of ES

  • Joy Souza, Chief Academic Officer

    Katie Marcotte, Principal

    Kim Leimer, MLL Director

    Lori Bassett, Director of Equity, Empowerment, & Excellence for Students with Disabilities

  • Elizabeth Blumenau, Co-Director

  • Charity Rock, Secondary Math Specialist

    Danielle Kelsick, Chief Academic Officer

    Dave Trejo, Principal

    Shalene Wright, Director of Special Education and Language Development

  • Ashley Hannon, Director of Student Supports

    Emily Lupo, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction

    Kate Cushing, Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Humanities

    Kate Ring, Head of School

    Marlha Lagardere, Dean of Culture

    Stephanie Patton, Deputy Chief Schools Officer

  • Melissa Lebarrere, Director of Student Support Services

  • Dr. Lauren Livingston, Campus Director

Cohort 3: 2023-2024

  • Mary Heilmann, Associate Chief of Special Services

  • Rea Acda, Assistant Principal

    Candace Dickerson, Assistant Principal

    Chioma Ellis, Assistant Principal

    Fallon Housman, Principal, Cornerstone Elementary School

    Emma Karpowicz, Principal, Cindy Avitia High School

    Amber Williams, Assistant Principal

    Liliana Villalvazo, Assistant Principal

    Jin Yun, Principal, Blanca Alvarado School

  • Kenya Bushell, Special Populations Coordinator, Explore Lower School

    Anthony Lowe, Special Populations Director

    Janelle Samuel-Baker, Principal, Empower Upper

  • Jeannine LaFonta, Chief Solutions and Support Officer

    Brittany Smith, Principal

  • Emma Bean, Interim CAO

    Lauren Ellis, Senior Director of Program

    Eliza Gabriel, Principal, Puget Sound Elementary

    Kayla Vickaryous, Senior Director of Academics

  • Tait Danhausen, Head of Schools

    Natalie Klem, Director of Academics

    Kathryn McKinzie, Principal, Brick Church

    Mary Laurens Minich, CAO

    Charishma Price, Director of ExEd

    Thomas Schoen, Principal, Southeast

    Regina Schumacher, Director of Student Support

    Briana Shelton, Principal, Cameron

    Dominique Torres, Principal, Neely's Bend

  • Steven Palmer, Principal, Valor Collegiate Academies

Cohort 2: 2022-2023

  • Beth Barrett, Senior Director Teacher and Leader Development, Alpha Public Schools

    Rosie Carlson, Managing Director of Academics, Alpha Public Schools

    Fallon Housman, Principal, Cornerstone

    Emma Karpowicz, Principal, Cindy Avita HS

    Cynthia Martinez Nava, Chief Schools Officer, Alpha Public Schools

    Russ Michaud, Managing Director of Special Education, Alpha Public Schools

    Liz Minatee, Assistant Principal, Alpha Jose Hernandez

    Julianna Parra, Principal in Residence, Alpha Jose Hernandez

    Ramya Subramanian, Assistant Principal, Alpha Jose Hernandez

    Savina Vargas, Assistant Principal, Alpha Jose Hernandez

  • Brittany Michelle, Middle School Principal

  • Sara Tucker, Principal, ES2

    Rebekah Thibeault, Dean, ES2

    Nick Mosher, Special Education Chair, ES2

    Tina Tonino, Director of Special Populations

  • Latoya Marshall, Principal, Foundation Preparatory

  • Jonathan Caldera, Principal, Edgewood Elementary

    Neema Desai, Director of Schools

    Maura Englender, Senior Director of Student Support

  • Chelsea Allen, Assistant Principal, 9th Grade

  • Jamie Platzer, Principal, Mott Haven Elementary

    Shannel Richardson, Principal, DREAM Charter School

  • Veronika Beyers, Executive Director of Diverse Learners

    Jessica Clark, Executive Director of Academics

    Leslie Lacour, Principal, Einstein Charter Middle School

    Danielle Vappie, Chief Academic Officer

  • Anna Bear Dallis, Principal, Excel Charter School

  • Lindsey Hornbuckle, Exceptional Education Coach, LEAD Academy High School

    Kirsten Lindquist, ELA Teacher, LEAD Cameron

    Tony Majors, Principal, LEAD Academy High School

    Lindsay Roe, Assistant Principal of Instruction, LEAD Cameron

    Briana Shelton, Principal, LEAD Cameron

    Maggie Sneed, Assistant Principal, LEAD Academy High School

    Hannah Sparks, English as a Second Language Coach & Coordinator, LEAD Academy High School

    Abby Upperman, Assistant Principal of Instruction, LEAD Cameron

  • Jessie Ronai, Principal, Golder College Prep

  • LaKendra Butler, Principal

    Shauna Carter, Director of Culture

    Bethany Eschman, Director of Academics, Humanities

    Dominique Tross, Director of Academics, STEM

  • Sarah Giblin, Managing Director of Schools

    Jamie Gutter, Principal, Valor Collegiate Academies

    Meghan Mitchell, Chief Academic Officer

  • Andrea Citchen, Principal Southside Elementary

    Aaron Simmons, Principal, East End Secondary

Cohort 1: 2021-2022

  • Brittany Michelle, Director of the Empower Program, Bushwick Middle School

  • Rosie Carlson, Alpha Jose Hernandez, Principal

    Kristin Ising Logon, Alpha Jose Hernandes, Associate Teacher SPED

    Russell Michaud, Managing Director of Special Education

    Julianna Parra, Alpha Jose Hernandez, English Development Specialist

    Ramya Subramanian, Alpha Jose Hernandez, Assistant Principal

  • Marielle Emet, Blackstone Valley Prep Junior High School, Head of School

    Tina Tonino, Director of Special Populations

  • Michele Batten, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction

    Andre Dillard, Principal, Georgetown East

    Karen Donovan, Regional Assistant Superintendent

    Jenifer Garcia, Library Media Specialist

    Mary Beth Gormley, Principal, Lothian Elementary School

    Sonya McElroy, Director Birth to Five, Office of Special Services, and Nonpublic Placements

    Diane McGowan, Director Specially Designed Instruction and Compliance

    Amanda Salveron, Manager: Academic Supports & Enhanced Programming

    Jill Stackhouse, Special Educator

  • Kate Dormeus, Head of School, Greenway Middle School

    Alejandra Gil, Director of Talent

    Sarah Kantrowitz, Director of Student Supports

    Nina Keough, Chief Academic Officer

    Katie Pereira, Head of School, Excel Academy Chelsea

    Sarah Stuntz, Head of School, Excel Academy High School

  • Zondra Howard, Tubman Charter School, Principal

  • Neema Desai, Anacostia Middle School, Principal

    Maura Englender, Senior Director of Student Support

  • Alexis Brown, Digital Pioneers Academy, Director of Curriculum

  • Danielle Berger, Principal

    Lizzie Downes, Special Education Program Administrator

    Tessa Cedar, Director of Math and Science Programs

  • Angie Arismendi, Executive Director San Antonio

    Cassandra Flores, VP of Schools

    Christen Martens, VP of Schools, San Antonio

    Dr. Colleen Stearns, VP of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments

    Dr. Sherell Coleman, Principal, IDEA Najim College Prep, 6-12

    Heather Pardo, VP of Student Performance & Advocacy

    Kaitlin McDermott, VP of Instructional Strategy (

    Karla Salas, Social Worker

    Patrick Frank, Principal, IDEA Mays Academy, K-5

    Tricia Lopez, VP of Special Programs

  • Caitlin Dietz Cunanan, Principal

    Egypt Burton Charles, Principal

    Lindsey Townsend, Assistant Principal/Interim Principal

  • Kara Brockett, Director of Special Education

  • Kate Ring, LEAD Cameron, Principal

  • Jana Katz, Network Intervention Coach

    Dr. Khalek Kirkland, Boys Prep Bronx Elementary, Principal

    Jessica Strong, Girls Prep Lower East Side Middle School, Principal

  • Mika Krause, Managing Director of Schools (formerly Principal, STRIVE Prep Sunnyside)

  • Genevieve Byrd Hinnant, Principal

    Jessica Simmons, ELL Instructional Manager + Coach

    Jonathan Brocco, Principal

    Jordan Wedel, Assistant Principal

    Shandra West, Assistant Principal of Students

    Taylor Bruner, Assistant Principal

  • Amelia Massoud-Tastor, Dean of Curriculum

    Ariella Silverstein-Tapp, Principal

    Hillary Casson, Chief Executive Officer

    Michaela Power, Director of Operations

    Sarah Hatton, MD of Academic Leadership

    Victoria Thompson, Principal

  • Brad Gill, Principal

    Henry Bradford, Principal

    Sarah Leach, Principal

  • Nicole West, Tulsa Legacy Upper Academy, Principal

  • Sean Healey, Uncommon Prep Charter High School, Principal

  • Antonio Castillo, Fifth Ward, Principal

    Ashley Dalton, Managing Director of Special Populations

    Bina Dao, Director of Student Culture

    Eileen Galligan, Managing Director of Leadership Development

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