ALDER GSE - Key Persons

Adriana Esparza Roman

Job Titles:

Regional Associate Director of Student Services and Financial Supports ( Northern Region )

Adriana Esparza Roman grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and recently received her BA from Stanford University, where she studied psychology with a focus in sociocultural influences. During her undergraduate career, Adriana took special interest in child development as well as the first-generation/low-income experience within higher education. She spent time as a Research Assistant at the Stanford SPARQ Lab, where her work focused on developing more culturally centered forms of economic aid. After finishing her undergraduate studies, she joined High Resolves as a Research Associate in a mission to create better assessment tools for civic education and citizenship programs for K-12 students. Adriana was drawn to her current position because of the organization's mission to shape great teachers who are representative of their communities, as well as the emphasis placed on education as a means of gaining opportunity. In the future, she hopes to specialize in early education reform with the goal of improving equity and access to education across identities.

Alex Caram

ac..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Managing Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Alex Caram is Managing Director of Strategy and Partnerships at Alder GSE. Prior to joining Alder, Alex was an Associate Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund, where she designed and led the diligence and selection processes in innovative schools and service providers. Through this work, she supported early stage education entrepreneurs with business planning and strategy development. Alex was a coach with New Teacher Center, supporting first- and second-year teachers to develop the mindsets, skills, and practices needed to be successful in their first years of teaching. She started her career teaching and leading in public middle and high schools in the Bay Area and in Chicago. Alex earned her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, her MA in Education and Teaching Credential from Stanford Teacher Education Program, and her AB from Princeton University.

Alexandrea Creer Kahn

ak..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Senior Director of Academic Programs

Alexis Acker

aa..@psusd.us

Job Titles:

Clinical Faculty - Partner Director
Coordinator / TOSA, Palm Springs USD Teacher Residency at Alder
Director of the Alder Teacher Residency Program at Palm Springs Unified School District

Alexis is the Director of the Alder Teacher Residency Program at Palm Springs Unified School District. Having taught at Palm Springs High School for twelve years and been a CTI Reflective Coach/Consulting Teacher for the past four years, as well as having grown up in the PSUSD school system, she feels that she is uniquely suited for the position. In her past four years of experience as a mentor to not only new teachers in our district but veteran teachers across all subject areas and grade levels, she has developed the skill set and strong passion for supporting teachers. With a total of sixteen years of experience including hands-on teaching, mentoring, and leading new teacher workshops. In her new role, she aspires to establish a culture and educational program conducive to student learning and socialization. She seeks to promote professional growth and development amongst the staff and to create a safe space where teamwork and cooperation are at the core. She plans to coordinate her efforts with teaching staff, parents, and family members to cultivate an environment where the students remain at the center of our conversations and receive appropriate attention to meet their needs. Alexis earned her Bachelor's degree, Teaching Credential, and Master's degree in Education, as well as her Administrative Credential, from the University of Redlands.

Amanda Spiegelberg

as..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Director of Admissions

Amanda Spiegelberg has worked in education and equity across communities. She served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Ethiopia for over three years, where she worked as a community volunteer and teacher in northwestern Ethiopia before moving to Addis Ababa as a Program Coordinator with Population Council. There, she coordinated a national PEPFAR study on rural to urban migration of out-of-school girls. After her time in Ethiopia, Amanda accepted a position as Field Director for the Asian University for Women's Pathways for Promise program in Bangladesh. In addition to directing the program, she taught young women from the garment industry and the Rohingya refugee community. Upon returning to the United States, Amanda worked as a National Recruitment and Selection Specialist for Urban Teachers covering the western region. She is originally from Santa Ana, California, and is passionate about connecting would-be teachers with the support and network they need to enter the profession. Amanda earned a BA in Psychology and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in Intercultural Youth and Family Development from the University of Montana.

Amy Koehler Catterson

Job Titles:

English Language Arts Education Faculty

Anita Kreide

Job Titles:

Coordinator, South Bay Consortium Teacher Residency at Alder
Professor at the University

As Director of the South Bay Consortium (SBC), Anita coordinates the residency for the Torrance, Hawthorne, and Lawndale School Districts. She began her career as a Ewing's Sarcoma researcher at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and entered teaching as a high school chemistry teacher in Los Angeles for 10 years. She transitioned into teaching undergraduate/graduate students and training teacher leaders and administrators in STEM education for Loyola Marymount University. She later began her own company where she consulted across the nation on the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in urban and rural schools, and worked with the California Science Project through California State University Northridge (CSUN) to research, develop, support, and promote lesson study implementation and sustainability. She is co-author of the Virtual Lesson Study Facilitator Playbook which she utilizes as an equitable and accessible tool to personalize and support NGSS implementation for all stakeholders. Dr. Kreide is a professor at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Cal Teach Program, California State University Northridge (CSUN), and the California State Channel Islands (CSUCI). She received her B.S. from LMU in Biology, M.S. from USC in Chemistry, M.A. from LMU in counseling, and doctorate from LMU in Education Leadership for Social Justice. She also holds a National Board Credential in Adolescence & Young Adult/Science, a Professional Clear Credential in chemistry, life science, and a PPS credential in counseling. Her research includes NGSS integration, virtual STEM learning, adult learning, lesson study, preservice teacher development, student centered pedagogy, and multiage math and science education. Dr. Kreide is dedicated to equity and access for all students. She leads on the California Association of Science Educators (CASE) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) board and has published articles with her students focusing on student voice and global perspectives on DEI.

Bernie Gifford

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Professor, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Education

Bernard Gifford's research interests include theories of computer-mediated, collaborative learning; the impact of networking and communications technologies on student learning activities and teacher pedagogical practices; the behavior of organizations during periods of rapid technological change; and the changing political economy of U.S. higher education. His numerous books include Policy Perspectives on Educational Testing (1993) and Employment Testing: Linking Policy and Practice (with L. Wing, 1993). He is completing his latest book, which is on bureaucratic, policy, and technological barriers to effective use of technology-mediated instruction in universities. Recent publications include Using Technology to Advance Educational Equity (2002); "The Probability Inquiry Environment: A Collaborative, Inquiry-Based Simulation Environment" (with P. Vahey et al., 2000); and "Ready for Learning: A Mandate for American Higher Education" (with R. Shore, 1999). He currently heads the Distributed Learning Workshop, a nonprofit educational software collaborative that is developing standards-based, computer-mediated instructional materials in math. As Dean of Berkeley's Graduate School of Education from 1983-89, he launched the school's expanded commitment to research and collaboration. He is the Faculty Director of the Joint Doctoral Program in Leadership for Educational Equity.

Carl A. Cohn

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Professor Emeritus at Claremont Graduate University

Dr. Cohn is professor emeritus at Claremont Graduate University. His 50-year career in education has included service as a Teacher, School Counselor, Central Office Administrator, Superintendent at both Long Beach and San Diego, and Federal Court Monitor in Los Angeles. In addition to Claremont, his higher education faculty service has included leadership preparation at Pittsburgh, CSULA, USC, Harvard, and George Washington University. He currently serves on the boards of the Spencer Foundation, the Center for Assessment, TeachingWorks at the University of Michigan, CTA's Institute for Teaching, and St. Mary's Academy.

Carmen French

cf..@smcoe.org

Job Titles:

Clinical Faculty - Partner Director
Director, SMCOE Teacher Residency at Alder

Carmen has a breadth of administrative and teaching experience in both independent charter school organizations and school districts, most recently having served as a coordinator for English learner support services at San Mateo County Office of Education and, prior to this, as Superintendent of a school district in Santa Rosa, California. In her previous position as Executive Director and Founder of Hawking Charter Schools in Chula Vista, California, Carmen focused on implementing one of the first project-based programs, integrating English Language Arts and Mathematics with the hands-on facets of the Sciences, the Arts, and Engineering in response to grassroots efforts with the local community that demanded students on the west side of Chula Vista receive educational excellence in mathematics and science from TK-12. Carmen has been a bilingual educator since she became a teacher in 1998, and she has participated in various roles in charter schools since 2005. In 2009, she became Principal of King-Chavez Primary Academy in the Barrio Logan community in San Diego. Carmen holds servant leadership as the core: serving communities through empathy, courage, and integrity to provide social justice and joy in education. In her personal time, Carmen enjoys hiking with her husband Brian and their dog Max, hot yoga, and laughing with family and friends.

Chris Balik

Job Titles:

Clinical Faculty - Partner Director
Associate Director, KIPP NorCal Public Schools Teacher Residency at Alder

Chris began his teaching career in New Orleans in 2012 with Teach for America. In 2015, Chris moved to the Bay to be a founding Third-Grade and Fourth-Grade Teacher with KIPP Excelencia Community Prep in Redwood City. While at KECP, Chris was a Grade-Level Chair for three years, a Regional Math-Content Lead for one year, and a Mentor Teacher with KIPP/Alder Teacher Residency during the 2018-2019 school year. Most recently, Chris spent two years teaching at the American School Foundation in Mexico City. Chris holds a Bachelor's degree from California State University-Fullerton and a Master's degree in Education with an emphasis in STEAM from the University of San Diego.

Claude Goldenberg

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, Emeritus
Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, Emeritus, Graduate School of Education at Stanford University

Claude Goldenberg is Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Education, Emeritus, in the Graduate School of Education at Stanford University. A native of Argentina, his areas of research and professional interest center on promoting academic achievement among language-minority children and youth. Prior to his arrival at Stanford, Goldenberg was Professor of Teacher Education, Associate Dean of the College of Education, and Executive Director of the Center for Language Minority Education and Research (CLMER) at California State University-Long Beach. Goldenberg received his A.B. in History from Princeton University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Education, UCLA. He has taught junior high school in San Antonio, Texas, and First Grade in a bilingual elementary school in the Los Angeles area. Goldenberg's most recent books are Promoting Academic Achievement among English Learners: A Guide to the Research, co-authored with Rhoda Coleman (Corwin, 2010) and Language and Literacy Development in Bilingual Settings, co-editing with Aydin Durgunoglu (Guilford, 2010). His publications have also appeared in academic and professional journals, and he has been on the editorial boards of various academic journals. His current projects focus on improving literacy and academic achievement among English learners in K-12 and promoting early literacy development in Rwanda. Goldenberg was on the National Research Council's Committee on the Prevention of Early Reading Difficulties in Young Children and on the National Literacy Panel, which synthesized research on literacy development among language-minority children and youth.

Collin W. Rowe

cr..@vesd.net

Job Titles:

Director of New Teacher Residency for the Alder GSE High Desert
Director, VESD Teacher Residency at Alder

Collin W. Rowe is the current Director of New Teacher Residency for the Alder GSE High Desert cohort. After working in various industries, from food service to various construction trades, he started his career in education as a high school Spanish Teacher and loved every minute of it. Collin is the first in his family to attend college, having graduated with Honors from CSU San Bernardino, receiving his BA in Spanish Language and Literature and, after eight years in the classroom, went on to receive his MA in Educational Leadership from Azusa Pacific University. He comes most recently from a Principalship at Sixth Street Prep in Victorville, California, where he helped lead students and staff to national recognition as both a California Distinguished School and a 2020 National ESEA Distinguished School. Collin also serves as a volunteer referee, coach, and Board Member for the local AYSO, where his kids play soccer. His hobbies include soccer, table tennis, camping with his family, and carpentry.

Dala Alvarez

da..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Recruitment and Admissions Manager

David Roth

dr..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Managing Director, Technology

David Roth is Alder GSE's Managing Director, Technology and Impact. He began his career teaching computer science and mathematics with San Francisco Unified and Envision Education. After a short stint in nonprofit IT consulting, he returned to education at Aspire Public Schools, where he held progressively responsible roles culminating as Senior Director, Data and Systems. At Aspire, David was responsible for facilitating data-driven action and led teams responsible for information management, engineering, research and analytics, and assessment. He holds a BS in Software Engineering from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and an MEd from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Deborah Ikenador

di..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Enrollment Specialist

Deondra Gladney

dg..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Special Education Faculty

Deondra Gladney is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She has worked in the field of education for the last 18 years as an educator, curriculum specialist, behavior specialist, and instructional consultant. She started her career as an instructor at the University of South Carolina as a writing coach and then traveled to Japan to teach English abroad. After returning to the states, she worked with TRIO Programs as an Academic Specialist and as a Special Education Teacher. Deondra is a lifelong learner and has earned degrees in a wide range of different fields. She earned a BA in Religious Studies from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and an MEd in Instructional Technology from Cambridge College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Additionally, she is a Doctoral Candidate in the Special Education Program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Deondra's educational pursuits are indicative of her love of knowledge and her belief in the power of education to transform our society. Her research interests include: culturally responsive instruction, applied behavior analysis, and social-skills instruction.

DeWayne Ewing Jr.

Job Titles:

Associate Director of Recruitment and Black Educator Initiative Coordinator

DeWayne LaMont Ewing Jr., also known as Consci8us, is an inspirational hip-hop artist, educator, and speaker from Oakland, California. Growing up with two older brothers and a single mother, DeWayne recognizes that he is fortunate to have overcome the pressures and challenges of living in the inner city of East Oakland. His testimony continues to inspire and encourage hope for young people that they too can overcome the obstacles and challenges they face daily. In 2013, DeWayne moved to Sacramento to attend Cosumnes River College, where he eventually received three degrees in the social sciences and one in liberal arts. He continued his education and received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Summa Cum Laude honors at Sacramento State University. While in college, DeWayne worked for the City of Sacramento at the Oak Park Community Center for five years as a youth mentor, coach, outreach coordinator, and supervisor for K-12 youths in recreation, sports, after-school, and summer programs. He also worked in the Martin Luther King Jr. Center with the MLK Scholars Program at Sacramento State, where he facilitated lectures, workshops, and events focused on student engagement and retention for African-American college students. DeWayne created the Inspire Me Summer Leadership Program at the Oak Park Community Center, as well as supervised the Summer @ City Hall program and the Sacramento Youth Commission as the first and youngest African-American Youth Civic Engagement Supervisor. He also has close to three years of experience as a Youth Development Trainer for the City of Sacramento's Department of Youth, Parks, and Community Enrichment. DeWayne has been recognized by Assembly member Kevin McCarty and the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency for Community Spotlight recognition. He has also been highlighted by the Los Rios College District as an Alumni Ambassador for Cosumnes River College's Smart Move campaign and Sacramento State University's Made at Sac State campaign. DeWayne uses music, media, and education as tools to inspire and empower communities. His work has provided him the opportunity to collaborate with a variety of schools for work around bullying prevention, school climate, and academic achievement, including Skyline High School, Sacramento Charter High School, Grant Union High School, and Roy Herburger Elementary School. He has performed and facilitated lectures at Sacramento State, UC Davis, the Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento MLK March, the Sacramento Convention Center, Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium, the California State Fair, Underground Books, and Sacramento's Black Book Fair, among many others. His mission is to establish positive pathways in communities and schools while working to shift youth and community culture toward a positive conscious culture. Education is a key tool he uses to do this work.

Dr. David Steele

ds..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

STEM Education Faculty

Dr. David Steele began his career as an educator teaching middle school science in Snellville, Georgia. After three years in this capacity, David made the transition from middle school to high school and from the suburbs of Atlanta to Atlanta Public Schools. As a high school Science Teacher, David had the opportunity to teach a multitude of science courses and had the opportunity to work with state curriculum writers to develop a Genetics/Microbiology split-semester course. For his efforts as a Science Teacher, David was recognized as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow and spent a year at the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C., developing an understanding of the role this federal agency plays in science education from pre-K to gray. Before coming to Alder, David most recently served as the middle school Gifted Coordinator for Arlington Public Schools in Arlington, Virginia. David received his PhD in Science Education from the University of Georgia, where his research interests lay in exploring the impacts societal barriers such as heterosexism and heteronormativity have on gay men navigating STEM-related degree programs. While he continues to explore this research avenue, he is also working on multiple projects investigating best practices to ensure a scientifically literate populace. David also holds an Education Specialist (EdS) in Science Education, a Master's of Education (MEd) in Biology Education, and a Bachelor's of Science (BS) in Microbiology. Outside of research and teaching, David enjoys family time, traveling, and college athletics.

Eduardo Rodriguez

er..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Recruitment and Admissions Manager

Eduardo Rodriguez began his role as an educator during the time he was both an intern and a site supervisor at Global Connect at UCI, an educational partnership. It focuses on teaching the curriculum in international studies to California's secondary school students. Upon receiving his undergraduate degree, Eduardo relocated to his hometown in South Central Los Angeles, where he held the role of Instructional Assistant at Aspire Pacific Academy and taught ELD and ESL curriculum to secondary students. In his role as an educator, he has used data to improve learning strategies and the existing academic curriculum, and he has made lasting ties with fellow Aspire Public Schools educators. Eduardo is a first-generation college graduate and received his Bachelor's from the University of California, Irvine, where he majored in Criminology, Law and Society, with a minor in Social Ecology.

Ellen Moir

Job Titles:

Founder, New Teacher Center

Ellen Moir began her career as a First-Grade Teacher at Grace Thille Elementary in Santa Paula, California. She went on to serve as the Executive Director of the New Teacher Center at the University of California-Santa Cruz for eleven years. Most recently, she served as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of new teachers, experienced teachers, and school leaders. She is recognized as a passionate advocate for our nation's newest teachers and for the students they teach. Founded by teachers in 1998, NTC works in conjunction with school districts, state policymakers, and educators across the country to increase the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders at all levels. Ellen is widely recognized for her work in teacher development, teacher effectiveness, and school reform. She believes the best way to ensure all students are college-, career-, and community-ready is to provide educators at every level with the support necessary to succeed from their first day of teaching to their last. Ellen is widely recognized for her work in beginning-teacher development and school reform. She has extensive experience in public education, having previously served as Director of Teacher Education at the University of California at Santa Cruz and worked as a bilingual teacher. Ellen became an Ashoka Fellow in 2011 and is a recipient of the 2011 Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship. Other major awards include the 2010 Civic Ventures Purpose Prize Fellow; 2008 National Staff Development Council Contribution to the Field Award; the 2008 Full Circle Fund Impact Award; the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. 2005 Prize in Education; and the 2003 California Council on Teacher Education Distinguished Teacher Educator Award. Ellen has also co-authored many publications, including Keys to the Elementary Classroom, Keys to the Secondary Classroom, New Teacher Mentoring: Hopes and Promise for Improving Teacher Effectiveness, and Blended Coaching: Skills and Strategies to Support Principal Development.

Erik Brown - CFO

eb..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Chief Financial Officer

Erik Brown has over fifteen years of finance, strategy, and education experience in both the nonprofit and private sectors. Prior to joining Alder Graduate School of Education, Erik was the Director of Finance for Aspire Public Schools, where he led a team of six to oversee all financial planning and budgeting for the organization, which had 40 schools and an annual budget of over $225M. Prior to Aspire, he earned his MBA degree from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business, where he served as Co-President of the Haas Education Leadership Club, the President of the Berkeley MBA Rugby Club, a Board Fellow at Leadership Public Schools, and as an Oakland Small Schools Resident at Think College Now. Prior to his MBA program, he taught seventh-grade math and science for four years at Cesar Chavez Academy in East Palo Alto, California. He began his career as a management consultant at The Parthenon Group, where he worked on corporate strategy and due diligence for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups. He earned a BA in Economics and a Certificate in East Asian Studies from Princeton University and an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Facilitator, San Juan

Job Titles:

Clinical Faculty - Partner Director
Unified School District Teacher Residency at Alder

Gary K. Hart

Gary K. Hart was a high school and college teacher who served as a California state legislator for twenty years (D-Santa Barbara) and as California Secretary of Education during the administration of Governor Gray Davis. He also founded and co-directed the California State University Institute for Education Reform. He chaired the California Senate Education Committee for 12 years and authored many significant education laws, including the California Charter Schools Act, the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), and multibillion-dollar bond measures for higher education facilities. He was active in public service and served on a variety of boards, including the Public Policy Institute of California, the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching, the University of California Press Foundation, the Campaign for College Opportunity, and the California History-Social Science Project. He received his BA in History from Stanford and his Master of Arts in Teaching from Harvard. Sadly, Alder GSE and the entire state of California lost an exceptional individual when Gary passed in January 2022. We are forever grateful to Gary for all he did to promote the ideals of democracy and justice through his work at Alder GSE and far beyond.

Geneva Europa

ge..@kippnorcal.org

Job Titles:

Clinical Faculty - Partner Director
Director, KIPP NorCal Public Schools Teacher Residency at Alder

Geraldine Rescinito

gr..@mylusd.org

Job Titles:

Director, Lynwood USD Teacher Residency at Alder

Gloria Hassel

gh..@aldergse.edu

Job Titles:

Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer

Gloria Hassel started her career in public education as an elementary teacher in Merced County Schools. After teaching seven years, she served as an Assistant Principal and a Principal for over 19 years. During the early part of 2007, Gloria became a Consultant with the Education Consultant Group based in the Bay Area. She provided professional development support to Northern California school principals and their staffs. Most recently, Gloria worked at Aspire Public Schools for three years as the Director of Principal Residency. She currently serves Alder Graduate School of Education as the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Gloria earned her Master's degree in Education from Chapman University, an Administrative Services Credential from California State University, Stanislaus, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northcentral University, San Diego.

Grace Voorhis

Job Titles:

Community Volunteer
Community Volunteer and Philanthropist
Founding Regional Board Member and Chair

Grace Voorhis is a community volunteer and philanthropist passionate about education. Grace is founding regional board member and Chair-Elect of KIPP Public Schools: Northern California, which currently operates 16 charter schools in the broader Bay Area. In this capacity, she chaired the $150M Capital campaign and Development Committee and served on the Strategic Planning Committee, the Governance Committee, the Finance Committee, the Facilities Committee, and the Executive Committee. Grace also serves on the Advisory Council of the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Grace is a former Trustee of the Nueva School, a K-12 independent school. In this capacity, she chaired the task forces that led the research, conceptualization, and fundraising for the Nueva Upper School, located on a separate campus from the K-8 school. This effort involved leading a committee of over 40 participants in visiting more than 40 schools across the country, laying the groundwork with the community and the board to approve the high school, and working with education thought leaders to frame the curricular and co-curricular aspects of the new division. In addition, she has chaired or co-chaired the following committees and task forces: Strategic Initiatives, Diversity, Faculty Retention, Major Gifts, Campaign, and the Outreach Task Force. Grace has served as a Director of the Breakthrough Collaborative and as Treasurer of the St. Francis Homes Association. Grace was a Partner at Morgan Stanley Venture Partners, where she invested in health care companies. Prior to Venture, she worked in investment banking in corporate finance at Morgan Stanley. Grace is a graduate of Harvard College and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.