THE SOURCE FOR LEARNING - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, K - 12 Initiatives
Dr. Okoye is an experienced teacher, technology integrator, and researcher who has both taught and led professional development efforts in both university and K-12 environments. Her areas of expertise include technology integration in K-12 settings as well as developmental reading and writing. She holds a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Regent University.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Education and Business Services
Ms. Holt joined SFL in 2013 with over 20 years as a Human Resources professional, as well as experience in Accounting. Her responsibilities include oversight of our SFL Broadband program, Project Management, and CRM support, which includes developing solutions to improve workflow and general business processes. Ms. Holt holds a B.S. in Sociology from Longwood College and a certificate in Project Management from Cornell University.
Job Titles:
- Education Manager, Early Childhood Education Initiatives
Ms. Josephson brings extensive and diverse field practice to SFL having worked with children and families in a variety of settings including schools, hospitals, recreation centers, parks, and the court system. Amy holds both a BS and MS degree in Child Development form Florida State University. She is a professor of Childhood Development at Northern Virginia Community College and leads workshops at national, state and local early childhood education conferences. She is a member of NAEYC and the Early Childhood Education Peer Group for the Virginia Community College System.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Leadership Development & Instructional Consultant Davis Consulting
- Leadership Development and Instructional Consultant
Ann Davis is a Leadership Development and Instructional Consultant. She serves as a Senior Leadership Expert for Leadership Services, Inc., in program design, content development, and delivery of executive leadership development. Formerly, she served as a Senior Implementation Methodology Support Executive for Pearson Education, Inc. Dr. Davis is a national leader in next-generation personalized learning and one-to-one 24/7 mobile, ubiquitous computing for PK-12 school districts.
She is a retired Clinical Associate Professor in the Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Dr. Davis' background includes: Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, High School Turnaround Portfolio Manager, and Associate Superintendent. She has served as a Senior Program Associate for The Center of Excellence for Research, Teaching, and Learning at Wake Forest University. She has vast experience in leadership development, data analysis, strategic planning, classroom walkthrough design & feedback, coaching, and change management. Dr. Davis is nationally recognized as North Carolina's 2006 High School Principal of the Year by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and North Carolina Principal and Assistant Principal Association (NCPAPA). She is the author of the 1:1 digital implementation framework adapted by the USDOE Epic-Ed.
Dr. Davis (2012) represented the US in a study tour of technology in education in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney Australia with the International Society for Technology in Education; served as a US Delegate to Finland (2014) with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to study education excellence; and completed a study tour (2017) of global education and learning spaces in Hong Kong, China.
Job Titles:
- Commodore Build - It - Yourself Computers Go on Sale
Job Titles:
- Director
- Author, Scholar and Former Teacher
Dr. Bonita (Boni) Hamilton is a teacher specializing in the use of technologies in education. She has taught English; worked with ESL and disabled students; as an instructional technology leader; and as an assistant principal. Her research has included work on applied statistics and research methods in elementary education. She is the author of two books on integrating technology into instruction in elementary grades. Dr. Hamilton holds an Ed.D. in Educational Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, and she is completing a Ph.D. in Urban Ecologies at the University of Colorado, Denver.
Job Titles:
- Director, Community Engagement
Ms. Anderson has over 25 years of experience in the communications and marketing industry, including 15 years as a senior consultant. At SFL, she has spearheaded a program providing underserved teachers, students and schools with access to mobile broadband solutions in 22 U.S. markets. Ms. Anderson currently leads partnership efforts to expand service and develop new opportunities in those 22 locations and across the U.S. Bridget holds a BA in Mass Communications/Media Studies with minors in Public Relations and Spanish from Lock Haven University.
Carlos A. Gonzalez, Esq., serves as Chair of The Source for Learning's Board of Directors. He is Managing Partner of The Gonzalez Group, LLC. He serves as an appointed special master to federal courts in several states and is an active mediator. In his private practice, Mr. Gonzalez focuses on commercial litigation and consumer fraud cases.
He is a member of the Academy of Court-Appointed Masters and an adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court and all trial courts of Georgia, The United States District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia, and The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
He attended Florida State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Political Science, and the Divinity School at Yale University, where he received an M.A. in Religion. Mr. Gonzalez earned his J.D. Degree from Vanderbilt University School of Law where he was on the law review.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Executive Director of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund
Chuck Burbridge is Executive Director of the Chicago Teachers' Pension Fund, a defined benefit pension plan serving 63,000 members and managing assets of $10 billion. He previously served as CFO of the Atlanta Public Schools and the Los Angeles Unified School District, and as Director of the State and Local Government Management service for KPMG, LLP. He is also the Chair of Microsoft's K-12 Advisory Group. He holds an M.A. in economics from the University of Illinois.
Clifford Janey was a former superintendent of the Washington, D.C. public schools and a senior researcher at the Boston University School of Education; his reflection on The Source for Learning's significance:
Job Titles:
- Senior Program Manager, Early Childhood Education Initiatives
Dr. Reece Wilson has extensive knowledge and experience in Early Childhood Education serving as a program director, associate professor, elementary teacher, and researcher. Before joining The Source for Learning, Reece was the Director of Shenandoah Valley Head Start and Early Head Start Programs for Augusta County Public Schools (VA). Prior to that role, he taught in higher education as a tenured faculty member with James Madison University's Department of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education. His research interests include developmentally appropriate practice, university laboratory schools, project-based learning, and play advocacy. Reece also taught young children at the pre-K, first-and second-grade levels. He earned his doctorate in Learning and Instruction with an emphasis on Reading Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Reece has direct oversight for ECEI's webinar series and contributes to the overall growth and direction of the ECEI program.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Framework Consulting
David W. Taylor brings more than 25 years in public education including experience as a district Technology and Media Director and served as the deputy Chief Technology Officer of a state department of education. Previously with IBM and Pearson in the corporate sector, Mr. Taylor has built his career in delivering effective software solutions to the K-12 education community. In his role with Pearson, Mr. Taylor was instrumental in delivering project management, systems integration, professional development, and school improvement services to school districts.
A native of North Carolina, Mr. Taylor holds a B.S. and M.Ed. degrees from East Carolina University, an Ed.S. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and is currently completing his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UNCG.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Founder and CEO Revolutionary ED, LLC
- Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Revolutionary ED
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. is the founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, LLC. He is a nationally recognized educational leader, antiracism activist, published author and college professor who unapologetically advocates for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and racial equity in education.
Dr. Hutchings has over twenty years of combined educational experience as a college admissions counselor, teacher, school principal, central office administrator, superintendent, and college professor. He has received numerous awards for his educational work and leadership, including the 2022-23 Region IV Superintendent of the Year Award with the Virginia Association of School Superintendents and the 2018 recipient of the Joseph E. Hill Superintendent of the Year from the National Alliance of Black School Educators. He has contributed his expertise in education on CNN with Jake Tapper, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, NPR, and as an opinion writer for EdWeek. Dr. Hutchings is the co-author of the book, Getting Getting Into Good Trouble at School: A Guide to Building an Antiracist School System.
Dr. Hutchings earned his doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from the College of William & Mary. He currently serves on numerous national boards and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Dr. Hutchings is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He and his wife, Cheryl, are proud parents of two children.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Deputy State Superintendent North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Dr. Robert Taylor is the North Carolina Deputy State Superintendent responsible for student and school advancement. Before assuming his position as Deputy Superintendent, Dr. Taylor served as the Superintendent for Bladen County Schools (N.C.) for almost ten years and as Assistant Superintendent for Clinton City Schools (N.C.) for eight years. Prior to that, Dr. Taylor held various administrative and instructional roles within the state.
He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned his bachelor's in history and political science. He earned both a master's in school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University.
Dr. Taylor is involved with multiple boards, both with the state and higher education, including a governor-appointed seat to N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching. He sits on the advisory councils at Fayetteville State University and UNC Pembroke. In addition, he is actively involved with the state Board of Education Whole Community School Child Advisory Council.
As deputy state superintendent, Dr. Taylor holds the highest position in K-12 public education without being elected.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Chairman Emeritus Alabama State University
Dr. William H. Harris joined the Source for Learning Board of Directors in 1999. He was elected Chairman in 2002. He offers SFL extensive management and educational expertise gained during his distinguished 35+-year career serving the higher education community as a history professor, dean and the president and chief executive officer for both public and private institutions.
Dr. Harris assumed the presidency of Paine College in 1982, at the age of 37, becoming one of the youngest college presidents ever appointed at that time. He served as the college's chief executive officer for six years and subsequently led Texas Southern University as its president from 1988 to 1993. In 1994, Dr. Harris came to Alabama State University as its tenth president, and served with distinction until his retirement in 2000. Never one to shirk the call to serve, he briefly left retirement in 2005 to assume the role of interim president at Fort Valley State University and did the same thing in 2008 when he assumed the presidency of Texas College and later that year returned as Interim President of Alabama State University.
Dr. Harris graduated from Paine College with an A.B. in 1966; earned his M.A. degree from Indiana University in 1967; and was awarded a Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1973.
Job Titles:
- Senior Manager, Marketing
Ms. Koshute's background includes sales and marketing activities for preschool and early childhood products and services. Ms. Koshute also owned and operated a daycare service. Her extensive experience at SFL includes sales, promotions, digital/social media, product training and implementation, and trade show management. She holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Richmond.
Job Titles:
- Product Manager and Chief Evangelist, Social Learning
Jesse Nolan has 10 years of experience as an educator. He has taught students from four to forty in public and private settings, including serving as faculty in the Jazz Department at Marshall University. Prior to joining SFL, Jesse served as president of MashPlant, responsible for development, technical support, and management of its social learning product under the same name. Jesse is also an accomplished musician, composer, and producer whose portfolio includes Resident Music Director and Drummer for Blue Man Group North America Tour. Jesse holds a Masters of Music and a Bachelors of Music Education from the Indiana University Jacobs Schools of Music.
Job Titles:
- Director, Early Childhood Education Initiatives
Ms. Seth has extensive experience in curriculum development, program accreditation/quality assurance, and training for early childhood educators. Prior to joining SFL, Kamna worked at the NAEYC Academy as part of the accreditation team responsible for the transition to a new accreditation system. She is also a CDA Professional Development Specialist and a Certified CLASS observer & trainer. Kamna holds both a BS and MS in child development and family relations from the University of Bombay.
Job Titles:
- K - 12 Education Specialist
Ms. Streeter coordinates our K-12 professional learning offerings, for which she applies her extensive experience as an ed tech coach, instructional technologist, library media supervisor, and public information officer to the development and delivery of these services. Karen is an active member of the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) and its Virginia affiliate, VSTE. Her involvement includes leading Professional Learning Networks and serving as a board member. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication/Organizational Development from Cal State Fullerton, a Master of Arts in English from Old Dominion University, and a Certificate in Instructional Technology from San Diego State University.
Job Titles:
- Manager, K - 12 Social Learning & MySciLife
Ms. Garvey is a seasoned education professional and native to the Northern Virginia area. She began her education career teaching Spanish in Fairfax County Public Schools before entering administrative roles as assistant principal at Dominion High School and J. Michael Lunsford Middle School and as principal of Seneca Ridge Middle School in Loudoun County. Katy attended the University of Virginia, earning both a BS in Spanish and MS in Education. She also holds a postgraduate professional license with an endorsement in Administration and Supervision from George Mason University.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- President
- SFL 's President and CEO
Lynn Rejniak is SFL's President and CEO. Before assuming this role, she served as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Her career spans a variety of experiences in media, technology, and communications in the corporate sector and 20 plus years in education leadership roles in IT, instructional technology, and online learning. Prior to joining SFL, she was Executive Director of Academic Systems and Technology at the University of South Florida. She has been active in several associations and presently serves on the National EBS Association (NEBSA) board, which she chaired for more than ten years. She holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida and is certified in nonprofit leadership.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Administration Keewin Real Property Company
Marcia A. Bexley brings more than 25 years of experience in government relations, marketing, press relations, and organizational management to The Source for Learning. She is Vice President of Administration for Keewin Real Property Company, one of Central Florida's most prominent real estate and land development companies.
Ms. Bexely also serves as the Program Manager for the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida. The Insitute promotes civic engagement and education throughout the state. Before joining the Institute, Ms. Bexley worked at Frey & Associates, where she assisted Congressman Lou Frey with developing and implementing government relations strategies at the local, state, and federal levels.
Ms. Bexley also worked at Z-Tel Communications as Vice President of Group Sales nationwide and at InterDigital Communications Corporation as Manager of Government Relations. Ms. Bexley consulted for several years as President of Bexcom, providing her communications and government relations expertise to business and industry.
She has been the recipient of numerous awards for excellence and earned a B.A. in Organizational Management at Cabrini College in Radnor, Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Education Specialist, Early Childhood Education
Ms. Blaustein's expertise in Early Childhood Education comes from a wide range of experience including content developer, trainer, instructor, author, and field practitioner. Her most recent positions include Director of Program Development for the National Head Start Association and Child Care Specialist and Instructor with Fairfax County Department of Family Services. Mari holds a B.S. from Purdue University from the School of Consumer and Family Sciences and holds several certifications in early childhood education.
Job Titles:
- Manager, K - 12 Educational Content
Ms. Henning joined SFL in 2010 after several years consulting with SFL as a content developer and review specialist. She now manages those services for our K-12 Initiatives program. She is an experienced classroom teacher, and has operated a business providing educational after-school activities for school districts. Melissa holds a Master's degree in K-12 curriculum development from Penn State University.
Job Titles:
- Content Manager
- Writer, Editor
Ms. Webber is an experienced writer, editor, and content marketer. She began her marketing and communications career working for small press book publishers, where she held positions including Project Manager, Chief Social Beast, and Senior Marketing Manager. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing with a concentration in Fiction from George Mason University and regularly volunteers with local book festivals and writing conferences.
Ms. Dee Dee Cisnero oversees administrative functions within the organization including office management, human resources, finances, and board support. Her varied background includes the hiring, onboarding and training of staff; managing payroll and accounting services; overseeing benefit plans; and planning and organizing events. Dee Dee has also held positions involving customer service and sales support. She holds an AA in Computer Science, has extensive knowledge of business and HR software, and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Job Titles:
- Director
- President of Select Spectrum, Inc
.
Robert Finch is President of Select Spectrum, Inc., an FCC spectrum license consulting firm. He is a wireless spectrum executive known for ability to conceive, analyze and implement strategic business change. Has built substantial value by identifying and working with others to resolve multiple complex technical and business problems. Prior to creating Select Spectrum, Mr. Finch was Vice President, Spectrum Development at Sprint Nextel Corp., and Vice President, Corporate Development for Ciena Corporation, an optical network systems manufacturer. He holds an M.S. in Engineering Economic Systems from Stanford University.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Program and Administrative Support Services
Ms. Tan joined SFL in 2009 and holds responsibility for a variety of support services across SFL programs, including the management of SFL's event and exhibit services. Additionally, Sheila provides assistance with administrative and office support. Ms. Tan has over eight years of teaching experience in NAEYC accredited child development settings and holds a B.S. from George Mason University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Advisor
- Director
- Former CEO
- President Emeritus
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Steven J. Gorski is Chief Advisor for The Source for Learning. Prior to assuming this role, he was the firm's President and Chief Executive Officer serving from 2005 to 2017.
Previously, Mr. Gorski was the Vice President for Advanced Development Projects and Vice President of Corporate Sales for the Jones Education Networks (JEN). Prior to joining JEN, he developed the Affiliate Relations program at The Source for Learning/NITV.
In the twenty years before he joined The Source for Learning, Mr. Gorski managed microwave television stations for the Catholic Church in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. During this time he supervised the selection, scheduling, and evaluations of instructional television programs for over one million students. In addition, he participated in the design and production of over 250 instructional television programs. Mr. Gorski was an Evans Scholar at both the University of Illinois and Marquette University before completing his studies in Advertising and Communications at Marquette.
Job Titles:
- Founder of SFL
- Retired, Begins to Investigate the Potential for Delivering Instructional Video through ITFS
Teenager John Curtis, the eventual founder of SFL, enters Lawrenceville Academy thanks to the efforts of a perceptive teacher who recognized his potential. He goes on to complete a degree in engineering from Yale.
John Curtis, now retired, begins to investigate the potential for delivering instructional video through ITFS.
Toni Cacace-Beshears recently retired as CEO of Children's Harbor (Places and Programs for Children, Inc.) in Chesapeake, VA. Throughout her career, she has worked to improve the quality of early childhood education and early childhood teachers in a variety of settings. She has been a frequent presenter at meetings of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children. She currently serves on the Tidewater Community College Advisory Committee for Early Childhood Development and the Virginia Head Start Collaboration Committee. She holds an M.S. in Child Care Administration from NOVA University.