STAFF

Dr. Jane Canner assumed the presidency of Classroom, Inc. in May, 2007. Prior to that, in her tenure as Classroom, Inc.'s Vice President and Chief Education Officer, she was responsible for ensuring the overall quality of the company's educational offerings and professional development services. She has taught both elementary school and graduate courses, was a test developer and educational researcher, and administered educational programs. Dr. Canner spent ten years at the New York City Board of Education, directing the city’s research and student testing programs, and then evaluated educational programs across the country for a nonprofit research firm. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Fordham University.

George DeMarco, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, had more than 20 years of broad-based business and finance experience, primarily in the media and advertising industries, prior to coming to Classroom, Inc. Upon graduating from Bucknell University with a BS in Business Administration, he began his career at Arthur Andersen, then earned his CPA credential and an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. Upon graduating, he was employed by Time Inc. as a Business Manager at Home Box Office, followed by a move to Time Telephone Marketing as the Vice President of Finance and Planning. Most recently he was a principal of Money Mailer of New Jersey, Inc., a direct mail advertising franchise which he co-founded and served as the Chief Financial and Operating Officer.

Cecilia Ho comes to Classroom, Inc. with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit accounting and administration. Her past positions include Vice President of Finance and Administration at World Environment Center and Deputy Finance Manager at Women’s World Banking. Ms. Ho also worked for several international development and social service nonprofits in New York City. She has a BA in Finance and Management from the University of Hawaii and an MBA in Accounting from Fordham University.

Peter Scaglione joined Classroom, Inc. following his studies at Baruch College, where he earned a BBA in Accounting. During his academic career, he peer-tutored in a variety of subjects, including math, English, and Spanish. He also assisted in running the first Saturday-school program offered at James Madison H.S. In the next few years, Mr. Scaglione hopes to earn his CPA license. He is happy to be working in finance in the nonprofit realm and enjoys the challenge that each new day brings.

Tim Sanders brings 20 years of experience in technology management and software development to Classroom, Inc. In his past positions in engineering and product management, he developed electronic products, software systems and web applications across a broad range of industry sectors. Mr. Sanders designed and implemented corporate training programs at Cummins, Inc., and also worked overseas in international relief and development for five years. He holds a bachelor of Engineering degree from Stevens Institute of Technology and is a registered professional engineer in electrical engineering.

A former Classroom, Inc. intern, Emily Otalora is now on staff working primarily as a liaison between the technology and implementation teams, making sure schools have our software and that it is properly deployed. Before coming to Classroom, Inc. she worked as a Production Assistant at Meltzer Media Productions, and she also interned at Liberty Studios, NYC’s longest-running multimedia production house. She graduated with a BFA in Film and Animation from Pratt Institute.  Emily loves to travel, and by age 21 she reached the ambitious goal of visiting all seven continents.

Keagan Aaron has over five years of experience doing troubleshooting and problem resolution in the technology field, as well as a background in assembly, modification, and repairing computer systems. He studied technology at NPower’s Technology Service Corp., where he obtained a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certification. He also supports server networks and configurations, and maintains various computing software. At Classroom, Inc. he deploys our program at schools and provides customer support both online and by phone.

Muzammil Saleh helps to maintain the technology infrastructure at Classroom, Inc., provides local and remote support (IT), and goes out to our partner schools to install the program on their networks. He joined Classroom, Inc. in 2007 as an intern, doing QA testing of developing software. Muzammil attends Long Island University, where he is studying Computer Science and Business. He holds an associate degree in liberal arts from Kingsborough Community College.

Sharon Waddler comes to Classroom, Inc. with over 15 years of experience in the office administration field. Ms. Waddler also worked as office manager for Bruce Phillips Staffing, an agency that has hired individuals for major corporate companies and nonprofit organizations.

Dr. Sylvia Barsion came to Classroom, Inc., where she is in charge of programs and research, in the summer of 2007. During her many years in the field of education and assessment services, she has specialized in improving educational programs that take place outside the traditional classroom. She spent seven years of successfully running her own educational assessment business, with clients such as Harvard Medical School, MIT, MentorNet, Techbridge, University of California–Berkeley, Classroom, Inc., and Girl Scouts of the USA. Prior to that, Dr. Barsion was the National Director for Research Services and Adult Development at Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). Under her leadership, the organization began to conduct outcomes studies assessing results of youth and adult participation in Girl Scouting, a practice that is now integral to program development. Dr. Barsion has a Ph.D. in Educational Research, Measurement, and Evaluation from Boston College, and significant senior-level experience in nonprofit management.

Patricia Grossman came to Classroom, Inc. in the fall of 2003. She has a wide-ranging background in both trade and educational publishing and has held key curriculum development and editorial positions at Scholastic Inc. and Prentice Hall’s Secondary Education Division. She has extensive experience conceptualizing, creating, and editing teacher and student instructional materials, particularly in literacy and literature, for print, CD-ROM, and web-delivered programs. In addition, Ms. Grossman has published award-winning books for both adults and children. She has a bachelor’s degree in Art from Pratt Institute and a master’s degree in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College.

Kathy Yu started at Classroom, Inc. as an intern before joining the staff during the development of Reading in the Real World: The Sports Network-2. Prior to moving to New York, she spent over nine years as a teacher in grades K – 8. During this time, Kathy was actively involved in instructional leadership, leading professional development, and developing school programs and curriculum that integrate media and technology. She received her B.S. in Engineering from the University of Michigan and holds two Master’s Degrees, one from California State University, Northridge in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and, most recently, from New York University in Digital Media Design for Learning.

Dr. Mary Schearer is responsible for designing and administering a program of research that systematically examines program efficacy and implementation. She has over two decades of experience in program-related research, evaluation, public policy and administration, much of it in public education. Prior to coming to Classroom, Inc., she worked at the Board of Education of the City of New York for over a decade. Her responsibilities there included developing and managing its Research Collaboration Unit and chairing its external research review panel. As the education advisor to the Brooklyn Borough President, she was responsible for policy analysis and advocacy related to pre-collegiate and higher education and the administration of a capital-development program. She earned a doctorate in Psychology from The City University of New York.

A fundraising professional with nearly 20 years of nonprofit experience, Mindee Barham was most recently Director of Development at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, where she was later retained as a consultant. Earlier, she served in two key capital campaign positions at the YMCA of Greater New York, first as Director of its Branch Capital Campaigns and then as the overall Capital Campaign Director. Ms. Barham holds a Master of Science degree in Nonprofit Management from Milano the New School for Management and Urban Policy. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from Northwestern University. She is fluent in Spanish.

Monica Cady comes to Classroom, Inc. with more than 10 years experience in fund development. Her nonprofit background ranges from arts and culture to education initiatives. Prior to joining Classroom, Inc. she was the grants administrator at Miami City Ballet and at East Harlem Tutorial Program, where she obtained substantial funding to establish a summer program and new charter school in East Harlem. Ms. Cady also has extensive experience in music journalism. She holds a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications from University of Georgia.

Shanell Lockhart joined the Classroom, Inc. staff after completing her studies at Brown University, where she earned a BA in Comparative Literature. At Brown she was a member of the Ursa Minors, an all-female a cappella group. She was also an active part of the Brown theater community, both on and off the stage. Prior to joining Classroom, Inc., Ms. Lockhart completed an internship in the grants department of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. She loves theater, music, animals, and various forms of yarn craft.

Mary Grogan Strain, Classroom, Inc.’s VP of Business Development, establishes partnerships with school districts nationwide. Since joining Classroom, Inc. in 1999, she has created and implemented extensive professional development and consulting services. She has an extensive background in education, beginning with a seven-year career as a middle school literacy and social studies teacher in New York City and as director of a summer job-training program for juvenile offenders in the Philadelphia area. Ms. Strain was also an instructor at New York University’s Graduate School of Education, where she developed and taught courses focused on the integration of technology into middle school instruction. She holds a BA in History from Fordham University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Baruch College, The City University of New York.

Upon joining Classroom, Inc. in 2003, Crystal Wirth spent several years as Director of Operations, overseeing the production, inventory, and shipping of our materials. As Director of Implementation, she conducts teacher trainings in all locations using our program and provides in-class coaching support on an ongoing basis. Prior to coming to Classroom, Inc. Crystal worked in editorial positions at Holt, Rinehart, and Winston and Scholastic Inc.. For the first six years of her career, she taught kindergarten and first grade. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood/Speech from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn, and an Master’s degree in Reading from St. John’s University in Queens.

Prior to becoming Senior Programs Associate, and now Manager of Implementation at Classroom, Inc., Lori Velez taught science and health and was Associate Director of the Health Magnet Program at IS 218/Sinnott Magnet School for Health Careers, one of Classroom, Inc.’s early partner schools. During this time, Ms. Velez integrated two simulations, Starr Medical Center and The Community Clinic, into the magnet program’s health curriculum—which was later integrated into the language arts curriculum. Lori received her bachelor’s degree in Education as well as a master’s degree in Public Health from Hunter College, CUNY.

Nicole Guagliardi started working with Classroom, Inc. as a summer research intern six years ago and has since come to work year round. She collects and organizes data and helps to compile reports for funders and partners. Nicole recently earned a B.S. in Actuarial Science from CUNY's Baruch College. In her spare time, she is writing a novel.

Jakotora Tjoutuku comes to Classroom, Inc. with over ten years of teaching experience in the New York City Dept. of Education. She has worked as a Site Coordinator for Kaplan Supplemental Education Services and was an Educational Consultant for two years in the Instructional Services division of Pearson Education. She received a B.S. in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Jako is a former member of several professional African Dance Companies, and loves to travel.

Maggie Dawson has six years of experience teaching children and adolescents with special needs. Most recently before moving to New York and joining Classroom, Inc., Maggie worked as an itinerant special educator with Portland Public Schools in Oregon, providing support services and serving as a liaison between the school district and independent alternative schools. Maggie graduated with a BS in Business from Georgetown University 's McDonough School of Business. She received her MS in Special Education from Portland State University Graduate School of Education.

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STAFF