NETDAY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Student Voices Program Director
• Voices Program Director

Amy Cohen joined the NetDay team in 2004 as Student Voices Program Director. In her role as Student Voices Program Director, Amy will continue to advance NetDay's mission to "connect every child to a brighter future" by bringing student voices to the forefront and providing them with tools and resources to make their voices heard and listened to. After nine years in the educational publishing business as writer, editor, curriculum developer, instructional designer, and project manager, she is happy to bring her expertise in technology and education to the NetDay organization. In her previous positions, Amy has been responsible for authoring and producing numerous print and online curriculum materials supporting math, social studies, science, language arts, and technology instruction. Her pedagogical leanings have always been towards the best and most engaging methods to provide teachers and students with meaningful learning experiences. Amy received her B.A. in Urban Studies and Planning and her multiple subject teaching credential from the University of California in San Diego. She is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Library and Information Science with an emphasis on Archival Studies. She also enjoys knitting, yoga, music, volunteering, and is an amateur history enthusiast.

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Project Director - Mississippi Delta
• Project Director of the Teaching

Audrey Pearson joined NetDay in 1999 and currently serves as Project Director of the Teaching, Learning and Technology case study in the Mississippi Delta. In this role, Audrey works directly with teachers and administrators in the West Bolivar School District to help the district integrate technology into underserved schools and districts in the Mississippi Delta Empowerment Zone. Her work has been highlighted in Converge magazine, an educational technology publication. Prior to joining NetDay, Audrey worked for over 6 years as an elementary school educator at West Bolivar Elementary School and Southpark Elementary School in Mississippi, where she began to use computers in the classroom. In 1998, Audrey served on the West Bolivar School District Technology Committee, where she helped write grants for funding technology initiatives in K-6 classrooms. Her accomplishments during this period included piloting a web TV and the Internet in an elementary classroom. Audrey graduated from Delta State University in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education having an emphasis in Reading. She is currently working toward her Master's in Community Development and hopes to pursue an advanced degree in Educational Technology. Married in 1987, she and her husband Duane have two children. She enjoys reading, designing interior spaces, blues music, painting, working on personal development, and being a life-long learner.

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Editorial Expert

Cindy Gillis has been a member of the NetDay team for over 2 years, serving as the grants and funding researcher for NetDayCompass.org, as well as a volunteer and special events coordinator. In addition to her work with NetDay, Cindy serves on the Executive Board of Rick Rackers, an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach, as well as the Executive Board of the PTA at her children's school. She raises funds and coordinates activities for The Bethune School for Homeless Children, and has served on the Board of Directors for Junior League, both in Long Beach, CA. Cindy has many past work experiences as well: she has worked as an Assistant Auditor, a Budget/Financial Analyst, an Educational Software Consultant, a Technology Coordinator for an elementary school, and finally, an educational technology trainer. Cindy graduated in 1983 with a BS in Business Administration: Concentration Information Systems from the University of Lowell (now University of Massachusetts at Lowell).

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Director, External Relations and Outreach Services

Irene K. Spero joined the NetDay team in January 2002. As Director of External Relations and Outreach Services, Irene works to enhance the visibility of NetDay with policymakers in Washington, DC, builds relationships with the educational technology community, and provides strategic policy information for NetDay. Irene also serves as vice president of the Consortium for School Networking. Irene served as Director of External Relations at the Congressionally chartered Web-based Education Commission. Its report, The Power of the Internet for Learning, was released to the President and Congress in December 2000. It outlined the ways in which the Internet was changing the delivery of education at all levels, identified the opportunities of the Internet for education, and noted the obstacles that prevent technology from reaching all students. She also spent 16 years as Executive Director for Federal and State Relations at the College Board where she advised policymakers and commented on issues relating to the transition from secondary to higher education, access and equity issues. Irene has also worked at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Sloan Commission on Government and Higher Education and the State University of New York. She received a BA degree cum laude with honors in political science from Bryn Mawr College and an MA in Public Law from Columbia University. She is married and the mother of two grown sons. She is actively involved in a wide range of community and professional activities in the Washington, DC area.

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Graphic Designer and Web Site Developer

Judith Marciante is an award-winning graphic designer and web site developer who has worked with the NetDay team for over 2 years. For more information about Judith and her company, Pointline Interactive, please see http://www.pointline.net/resume.html.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Member of the NetDay Team

Ms. Evans joined NetDay as the CEO in September 1999. Prior to NetDay, she enjoyed a very successful 17-year career in the technology for-profit sector. Her career includes 12 years in regional sales and marketing management with Unisys including several years as the Western Region Director of Marketing Services. Ms. Evans' corporate experiences were a significant asset in her post-Unisys work with two startup companies in the educational technology arena.

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Nimble Press President
• Writer - Consultant

Nimble Press President Karen R. Greenwood is a writer and speaker specializing in network technology and K-12 education. She founded the Education Network Manager's User Group (ENMUG) in San Jose, the TechForum annual conference, presents as a technology expert at education conferences, and writes for the NetDayCompass Spotlight on Success monthly newsletter. She is on the advisory board of the Women of Silicon Valley project and the EdNET Conference 2001. In October 1998, she founded Nimble Press (www.nimble-press.com) to connect non-profit and educational organizations with high-tech companies through meaningful projects. She provides project and business development consulting as well as technical writing services. She has been interviewed by the San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle, EduVentures, eSchool News, and other media. Karen received her master's degree in English from the University of Iowa Nonfiction Program in 1995. She earned her bachelor's degree in creative writing from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin in 1989.

Job Titles:

• Director of Finance and Administration
• Member of the NetDay Team

Kathy joined NetDay in February 2000 as the Director of Finance and Administration, strengthening the organization with a 20-year career in accounting management. At NetDay, Kathy is responsible for all accounting and administration functions. Kathy's background includes both the corporate environment and entrepreneurial startup ventures. As Controller at Digital Venture Solutions, Inc., an Internet startup developing a productivity website for teachers, Kathy implemented accounting and administration procedures. During her 6 years as Macrolink, Inc., a manufacturer of computer hardware, Kathy served as Systems Coordinator/Staff Accountant, where she coordinated network software among all departments, implemented cost effective inventory control system, managed annual physical inventory, and assisted accounting personnel. For 3 years, Kathy was employed as the Controller at Lectronic Leaderboard, Inc., a startup venture which developed closed circuit advertising and tournament scoring for both public and private golf courses. Her accomplishments at this job included implementation of an accounting system for a new business, as well as management of the administrative staff. Kathy began her career as the Accounting Manager for American Imports, Inc., where she worked for eight years. Her responsibilities included maintaining accounting records and financial statements for three companies.

Job Titles:

• Member of the NetDay Team
• Editorial Expert

Laurel Lipsick has been involved in the field of educational computing for over 17 years. She works with K-12 school staff in promoting the use of broadcast media and the Internet in the classroom. She is particularly interested in the use of collaborative and distance learning projects within the K-12 environment. At NetDay, she has been a key member in the development and growth of NetDayCompass. She holds an M.S. in Educational Technology from SUNY Stony Brook.