Our Team
▶︎ Akeem Kelley, Director of Denver Programs
Akeem Kelley grew up in East Denver and graduated from the Denver School of Science and Technology (DSST). He went on to the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received his bachelor’s degree in Astronomy. He then returned to DSST years later to start his educational teaching career as a math teacher. After a few years, he moved into a leadership role as a dean of students. As both a teacher and a dean of students, Akeem worked with and supported high school students focusing on their human experience, guiding them academically, socially, and emotionally. Always wanting to be an agent of change for as many students as possible, Akeem joined the Generation Teach team in 2022. He continues to be passionate about education, the student experience, and the ability to push others to be the best version of themselves.
▶︎ Amneris Narvaez, Regional Director of Central & Western MA Programs
Amneris Narvaez is a Western MA native and graduate of Holyoke Public Schools. She began her college education at Holyoke Community College before receiving a B.S in Special Education from Westfield State University and an M.Ed from Lesley University. Amneris taught special education in the Springfield Public Schools for eight years. She aspired to impact her students’ education at the policy level and transitioned to Stand for Children Massachusetts where she served as a Family Engagement & Organizing Manager for almost four years. She joined the Generation Teach Team in 2019. As a teacher, advocate, and parent, Amneris is passionate about education and furthering opportunities for students across the Commonwealth.
▶︎ Anataly Uribe, Director of Denver Programs
Born and raised in Colorado, Anataly Uribe graduated from Westminster High School. She started her career in Education in 2013, when she served as an Academic Instructional Coach for an online charter school and a bilingual teacher for Denver Public Schools. As a bilingual educator, she ensured her school curriculums would support the learning of our historically marginalized students and partnered with family members to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of her Latinx students. Working in education ignited a deep passion for learning more about how teachers can foster positive change in their schools, professions, and communities. She passionately believes in the value of public education and the importance of helping diversify the teaching workforce. Anataly graduated as a first-generation student from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she earned her B.A. in International Affairs and an M.A. degree in Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Leadership and Educational Equity with an emphasis in Latin@ Learners and Communities from the University of Colorado Denver.
▶︎ Ashle' Tate, Regional Director of Mid-Atlantic Programs
Ashle’ Tate is a Denver, CO native who began her journey with Generation Teach as an undergraduate Teaching Fellow. Ashle’ returned for a second year as a Teaching Fellow, as a Dean of Operations in 2019, and as a Cohort Director in 2020. She joined the Generation Teach team full-time in 2021 and brings experience teaching English Language Arts to grades 5-12 and a passion for providing equitable opportunities and education to students of color. Ashle’ holds a B.A. in English Education and Leadership Studies from Colorado State University-Fort Collins. During her undergraduate years, she had the opportunity to work with various schools across the state, earning certificates in restorative justice and youth-participatory action research. After graduating, Ashle’ attended Howard University and received a Master of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies degree.
▶︎ Baseemah "Bee" Nance, Chief Operating Officer
Bee Nance is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with more than a decade of professional experience in accounting, budgeting, and financial management. She joined the Generation Teach Team in 2017. Prior to Generation Teach, Bee provided financial oversight to multi-million-dollar non-profit organizations and worked as an Accounting Professor for Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC and San Jacinto College in Houston, TX. She loves teaching and believes education is essential to society’s future. She is committed to educating future generations and increasing diversity in educational leadership and instruction. Bee welcomes the continued challenge of working in education to make the world a better place. She holds both her B.S. and M.S. in Accounting.
▶︎ Heidi Dotterrer, Chief External Affairs Officer
Heidi Dotterrer brings 15 years of experience teaching and leading in cities across the country. As the CEAO, Heidi leads partnerships, communication, data collection and analysis, and communication across the org. Prior to joining Generation Teach in 2015, Heidi directed and launched Breakthrough Collaborative summer programs and taught at KIPP San Francisco Bay Academy. At Breakthrough, Heidi led student recruitment, selection, and support; curriculum development and implementation; and volunteer, intern teacher, and instructional coach recruitment, selection, and supervision. She founded two Breakthrough sites in new cities and served as the chair of Breakthrough Collaborative’s Directors’ Council and represented directors on the Breakthrough Collaborative Board of Trustees. Heidi manages the California region of Middlebury College’s Alumni Admissions Program. She holds her B.A. in Environmental Science, Biology, and Education from Middlebury College.
▶︎ Ismael Ramos, Senior Director of Denver Programs
Ismael Ramos joined Generation Teach in 2018 to give back to his community. He grew up in Southwest Denver and is a proud graduate of Denver Public Schools (DPS). Ismael supported middle and high-school students as a Youth Treatment Counselor at Tennyson Center for Children and as an Educational Counselor for Denver Kids, Inc. He managed community partnerships and connected students with post-secondary opportunities and families with wrap-around services as a Regional Coordinator with DPS’s Office of Family and Community Engagement. A recipient of a Daniels Fund Scholarship, Ismael holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the University of Colorado Denver.
▶︎ Ivelisse Sanchez, Managing Director, New England Programs
Ivelisse (Ive) Sanchez is a Boston, MA native and has worked in K-12 public education for a decade. She was a middle-school English as a Second Language teacher before transitioning into talent and recruitment. She has founded and led several diversity initiatives, including managing a diversity and inclusion task force, designing and implementing a mentoring program for employees of color, and assisting non-profits in Boston and New Haven in attracting, recruiting, hiring, and retaining a talented and diverse staff. She earned her B.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Teaching from Boston University. She serves on various committees and governing boards in the education and non-profit sectors.
▶︎ Jenny Pichardo, Director of AmeriCorps Programs
Jenny Pichardo has spent the last ten years investing in Rhode Island’s future generation. She joined the Generation Teach team in 2021. Before Generation Teach, Jenny worked with Rhode Island public high schools and public charter schools, university partners, and employers to provide students with meaningful career exploration and work-based learning opportunities. She spearheaded projects to ensure students learn critical workforce skills, including designing a Work-Readiness Bootcamp training. Jenny grew up in the city of Providence and is passionate about education and the success of Rhode Island students. She holds a B.S in Management and Marketing from the University of Rhode Island, and an M.A in Community Development from Roger Williams University.
▶︎ Laura Zahn, Founder & CEO
Inspired by a summer teaching fellowship to pursue a career in education, Laura Zahn founded Generation Teach in March 2014 to scale summer teaching fellowships in partnership with district and charter schools. A former Breakthrough Teaching Fellow, Instructional Coach, Executive & Program Director, national board member, and Chief Academic Officer, Laura has served as a middle- and high-school teacher, middle-school principal, school improvement consultant, and NH Department of Education School Improvement Grant (SIG) Consultant. A recipient of a Paul Douglas Teaching Scholarship, Laura graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English and Humanities from Messiah College and holds an M.A. in liberal studies from Dartmouth College and an M.S. in educational administration from National University, as well as experienced educator credentials in English grades 5-12 and K-12 principal leadership.
▶︎ Marco Alfaro, Director of Denver Programs
Marco Alfaro started his career in education as a first-grade teacher in Denver Public Schools. Throughout his career, he has taught K-5 in English and Spanish and taught STEM to all primary grade levels. Marco started his journey with Generation Teach in the summer of 2019 as an academic coach. He joins the Generation Teach team full-time in 2022.
Marco is a first-generation college graduate receiving his bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Principal Leadership. As a first-generation student Marco aims to be a positive role model and mentor to students that have diverse backgrounds.
▶︎ Maria Macias, Director of Recruitment & Special Projects
Maria Medina Macias was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico. She grew up in Southern Minnesota and relocated to Colorado in 2021. She graduated from Augsburg University in Minneapolis with a degree in Communication Studies and a focus in Business Administration. Maria enjoys completing bootcamps to expand her UX/UI and Project Management skills. Maria joined the Generation Teach team in 2022 and brings a background and experience in law and education. Maria has worked at two law firms where she was able to utilize and grow her business administration and project management skills. She enjoys making sure organizations run smoothly and efficiently.
Prior to joining GT, Maria also worked as a Personal Learning Coach at Robbinsdale Middle School in Minnesota, where she supported student success by mentoring students and being a resource for families. She is passionate about Generation Teach’s mission and vision and is excited to learn and lead with her team.
▶︎ Mayra Mendez, Director of Denver Programs
Mayra Mendez was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico and grew up in rural Minnesota. She recently moved to Colorado, where she joined the Generation Teach team in 2022. Mayra obtained her B.A. in Communication Studies, Film Production, and Studio Art at Augsburg University in Minneapolis and holds a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Northwestern - St. Paul.
Mayra has always had a passion for working with low-income, first-generation, and immigrant students. She has devoted most of her professional career to roles regarding diversity, equity, inclusion, and access to education. She helped lead a national leadership scholarship program and has also worked in college admissions. Mayra previously directed a nationwide college access program and before joining Generation Teach, Mayra worked at her alma mater as the Director for Latinx Student Services. Mayra is devoted and passionate about helping education become more equitable for students of color.
▶︎ Miriah Lewis, Data & Systems Coordinator
Miriah Lewis is our data and systems extraordinaire. With a career spanning administrative, customer service, and management roles, Miriah thrives on driving company initiatives, particularly in automating and enhancing key processes. She strives to evolve the landscape of data, where she excels as a "behind-the-scenes'' wizard navigating the systems that fuel our organization. Her passion lies in exploring gray areas, answering the tough questions, and orchestrating the seamless transition from raw, unfiltered data to beautifully composed sets of information that translates to all. Miriah's collaborative spirit and expertise make her a key asset in our pursuit of operational excellence.
Miriah extends her passion for empowerment beyond the workplace. As a Mentor at the Denver Scholarship Foundation for two years, she served as an inspirational guide by empowering students within the Denver Public Schools system to thoroughly plan their career aspirations while in school. She is a graduate with dual degrees in English and Philosophy from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
▶︎ Nikomo Logan, Director of Marketing and Alumni Support
Nikomo Logan is a born and bred Texan who has dedicated her professional and personal life to the betterment of humankind. She began her educational journey as a first-generation student, graduating from Skyline High School in Dallas, Texas; getting her feet wet at Eastfield Community College; and graduating from Texas A&M – Commerce with her Bachelors in Sociology with a concentration in Social Welfare.
Nikomo recognized her passion for helping and healing the lives of children when she began her work for Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.) on the campus of Texas A&M - Commerce. Y.O.U. opened her eyes, heart, and mind to the needs of young people, even as a young person, herself. Nikomo has since worked in leadership positions with influential organizations such as, Communities In Schools, Big Thought (Thriving Minds After-School Programs), ACE After-school Programs for Desoto ISD and Texans CAN! Academies, and TRIO Upward Bound at Dallas College – Eastfield Campus.
Her experience with serving diverse populations of students and families gave her a hunger for wanting to dive deeper into diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Now, she has found her home with Generation Teach and looks forward to each moment of growth and service with the GT Family.
▶︎ Rob Randall, Director of Providence Programs
Rob Randall is a native of Rhode Island who has spent 15 years in various roles in and around Providence schools. Before coming to Generation Teach, Rob was the Director of Middle School Initiatives for the Providence After School Alliance. There he led Providence’s largest after-school system for middle-school students. Rob has a passion for youth development and community supports, and he is happiest when high-functioning systems give young people and their families the tools to grow and develop to their fullest potential.
Rob began his college career at the Community College of Rhode Island as a physical education major before his love of literature led him to Rhode Island College, where he earned a degree in English with honors. His love of learning was cultivated at an early age in books on paleontology, statistics off the back of baseball cards, strange and scary stories from history, and his high school football team’s playbook. The journey continues today as a husband, a father, and a citizen.
▶︎ Seidah El-Amin Rivera, Director of Administration
Seidah is a native of Statesville, NC and has a strong passion for education and social justice. Her mom was an elementary school teacher for 25 years which led to Seidah also working in the local school system for two years as a digital lab monitor.
Seidah has a passion for supporting her teammates. She prides herself on giving careful attention to practical details in all aspects of her life and work. She has over 15 years of customer service experience, of which, 10 years have been in administrative departments.
Prior to joining Generation Teach, she worked as an Operations Supervisor for a contract staffing firm. She was the lead administrative personnel to a multi-million-dollar account with one of the nation’s top banks. She supported and supervised the onboarding process, provided oversight and training for new staff members, and processed weekly payroll for consultants.
Seidah looks forward to applying her administrative knowledge to support her teammates and grow with Generation Teach. She currently resides in Jacksonville, FL with her family.
▶︎ Shelia Cherry-Branch, Regional Director of Texas Programs
Shelia Cherry-Branch is a native Dallas, TX. resident. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, and went on to attain a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a specialization in Collaborative Urban Leadership at the University of Texas at Austin. Shelia subscribes to the ideology of being a lifelong learner.
For the past twenty years Shelia has had the fortunate opportunity to educate students in the Dallas area from diverse academic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. While working in the Dallas Independent School District she has served in several impactful roles as an Educator, District Literacy Coach, and High School Collegiate Administrator. She is passionate about advocating for students who are not normally afforded an opportunity to attend a college or a university. Seeing first-hand the sense of accomplishment and pride students exude once they realize that a college education is attainable is a driving force behind Shelia’s dedication and service!
▶︎ Talibah Adenouga, Director of Dallas Programs
Talibah Adenouga grew up in Brooklyn, NY and graduated from University of Texas at Dallas with her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Management Information Systems (MIS). After six years in a successful Project Management career, Talibah decided she wanted to make a bigger impact on the world by getting her Alternative Teacher's certification to teach high school students Business related topics. She felt that teaching young people college and career readiness would empower them with tools by which they could open doors to opportunities otherwise unavailable. Talibah joined Generation Teach in 2023. As an experienced educator with a heart for facilitating the application of knowledge, a passion for empowering young people to reach their potential, and a proven track record of leading projects, Talibah is excited to serve the local North Texas community.
▶︎ Tiesha Watts, Director of Dallas Programs
Tiesha Watts is a native of the historic civil rights district of Birmingham, AL. She is an extremely passionate and dedicated advocate for education reform and transformational learning. In addition to Ed Reform, she is dedicated to social justice work. She is committed to serving those of marginalized communities, specifically BIPOC and underserved communities. Tiesha has served professionally in traditional K-12 public school settings as an educator; both domestically and internationally. In addition to the traditional school setting, she has previously served in the non-profit sector as an Education Program Director where she created an innovative after school and summer program. Tiesha brings her extensive experience in designing and implementing programs, developing rigorous curriculum and serving as a community liaison to Generation Teach’s amazing organization. Tiesha received her B.S. and M.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tiesha is committed to social justice and prides herself on intentionally doing the work through continuous learning, service, fellowships and consciously taking up and holding space for all.
Board of Trustees
▷ Angelica Leveroni Gomez
Angelica is a Senior Program Officer on the education grantmaking team at Schusterman Family Philanthropies, where she manages the teacher workforce portfolio. Her work is focused on expanding high-quality preparation routes and strengthening pathways into the profession for aspiring Black and Latino teachers.
Before joining Schusterman, Angelica served as a Capital Commitment Fellow in DC Public Schools and middle school ELA teacher, grade-level chair, and assistant principal at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston. She began her career as a 2007 Teach For America corps member in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, where she taught elementary bilingual reading.
Angelica holds a BA from the University of Michigan, an MPH from Harvard, and an MBA from UC Berkeley. She is a 2023 Board Fellow through Latinos for Education, and lives in Dallas with her husband and son.
▷ Jacquelin McCoy
Jacquelin (Jacky) McCoy is the co-founder of Changing the Lens, as well as an educator, community advocate, and workshop facilitator who guides community members, education, nonprofit, government and corporate leaders through the history and impact of structural racism in the United States. Through grassroots organizing, think tanks, and innovative partnerships, Jacky seeks to heighten awareness, shift perspectives, and inspire lasting change in people's thought patterns, attitudes, and behaviors regarding matters of racial equity and justice.
After working in education for many years, she could not ignore the achievement and opportunity gaps prevalent among students. Her quest to understand the factors that contribute to these gaps led her to work at the intersection of race, equity, and justice issues. Jacky is a member of Speak Up HoCo! Executive Board, and a member of the Local Children’s Board Equity Committee also an Advisory Board member and Workshop Trainer for Talk with Me of Howard County, Maryland.
Jacky earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and her Master of Arts degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Johns Hopkins University.
▷ Laura Johnson
Laura Johnson serves as the Vice President of Communications for the National Summer Learning Association -- the only national nonprofit exclusively focused on summer learning as a solution to closing the achievement and opportunity gaps in America. Johnson is a seasoned communications executive who’s devoted a professional lifetime to organizations that inspire and improve the lives of young people and communities. With more than 25 years’ experience, she has led major press and community outreach campaigns, launched new exhibit openings and led strategic initiatives for world class organizations including, the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Arts Education Partnership – formerly of the Council of Chief State School Officers, March of Dimes Georgia Chapter, and McDonald’s Co-op of Greater Baltimore.
As a mom of a high schooler in Howard County, MD, Johnson is an active education advocate, currently serving as Education Committee Co-Chair for the NAACP Maryland State Conference and 2nd Vice President for the NAACP Howard County branch. Driven by a passion to shape an equitable and nurturing school community where all students soar, Johnson currently serves as a member of the Howard County Library’s new Racial Equity Alliance and has served as a PTA president at Ducketts Lane Elementary School in Howard County. Johnson is the 2019 recipient of the Howard County NAACP’s Natalie
Laura Zahn
▷ Lauren Zane
Lauren Zane is Executive Director at the Hollyhock Foundation. Prior to joining Hollyhock, Lauren was a Senior Program Officer at the Tiger Foundation. Lauren began her career at Bain & Company and the Bridgespan Group. She has a B.S. from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Columbia University.
▷ Robert "Bob" Karr, Chair
Robert Karr was principal of Joho Capital from 1996 to 2014, and now manages investments for the Joho family office. Prior to founding Joho, he ran Tiger Management in Tokyo. Bob is the co-founder and director of the Hollyhock Foundation since 2003, through which he is seed funder and advisor to the Stanford Hollyhock Fellows program. He is on the boards of Generation Teach, The Japan Society, UKA, Uncommon Schools, Horizons at St. David’s School, and Zearn. Bob has a B.A. in economics from Stanford University (1984) and M.B.A. from Harvard Business School (1990) and grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington. He is married to Suzanne Karr and has two teenage sons.
▷ Thackston Lundy
Thackston Lundy is the Vice President of Workforce Pathways at Accelerate U, a new division at National Louis University (NLU), that provides affordable, rapid training experiences for learners leading to industry-recognized credentials, college credit, and upwardly-mobile jobs. Prior to joining NLU, Thackston played a variety of roles at Together Education, a non-profit organization that helps entrepreneurs launch high-impact, scalable educational initiatives. He was Senior Advisor for Career Pathways, Chief People Officer of Relay Lab Schools, and Chief Operating Officer. Before helping to launch Together Education, Thackston was Chief of Staff at Relay Graduate School of Education, a path-breaking institution of higher education that trains more than 3,500 public school teachers and principals nationwide. He also worked as the Director of Operations at Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School in Brooklyn, NY, a 5th-8th grade charter middle school and member of Uncommon Schools. Thackston began his career in public education as an Associate in the New York City Department of Education's Chancellor's Strategic Response Group. Thackston earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Philosophy from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill where he was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. He received a Master in Public Policy degree with a concentration in Social and Urban Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.
▷ Tim McManus
Tim McManus was the Chief Financial Officer of Joho Capital from 1996 to 2014 and now serves as Chief Operating Officer for the Joho family office. He previously served as assistant controller at Soros Fund Management and senior accountant at PriceWaterhouseCoopers where he obtained his CPA. Tim is a Director and Treasurer of the Hollyhock Foundation and a member of the finance committee for Uncommon Schools. Tim earned a B.S. in Accounting from Boston College (1990).