National Staff
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Suzanne Ackert
Executive Assistant to the Office of the PresidentSuzanne is responsible for providing executive-level administrative support to the President of the organization.
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Jessica Adams, PHR
Human Resources SpecialistJessica serves as the first-line of contact for internal human resources and guest inquiries, and implements a range of human resources activities to drive administrative compliance, workforce planning, talent development and strategic human resources practices.
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Patti Aldaz-Carrasco
Associate Director, Talent DevelopmentPatti assists in the development, design, implementation and evaluation of learning strategies for continuous improvement and capacity building of the Communities In Schools network
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Mike Bento
Executive Vice President, Marketing and CommunicationsMike is responsible for engaging more Americans in the work of Communities In Schools.
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Janice Bigelow
Chief Financial and Administrative OfficerJan oversees accounting, human resources, information technology, and office administration.
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Alison Bourgault
Administrative Coordinator, Marketing & Communications and Legislative RelationsAlison supports the communications and legislative efforts of Communities In Schools.
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Alice Butler
Associate Director, Individual GivingAlice is responsible for helping grow the individual giving program and engage supporters online.
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Daniel Cardinali
PresidentDan Cardinali is president of Communities In Schools, the nation's leading dropout prevention organization.
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Lin Carpenter, Jr., MPA
Associate Director, Field OperationsLin currently supports affiliates in the Northeast and Midwest by providing capacity building technical assistance and training.
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Katie Cattell
Director of Foundation RelationsKatie manages the daily operations of the organization’s corporate and foundation relations program.
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Gary Chapman
Executive Vice President, National NetworkGary oversees national field support, learning management, research and evaluation and the organization’s role in education transformation for the Communities In Schools network.
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Heather Clawson, Ph.D
Vice President, Research, Evaluation, and InnovationHeather seeks to expand the capacity of the network to use data to drive effective practice, to continue to strengthen the evidence-base for Communities In Schools, and to help identify and demonstrate innovation and best practices from within the network.
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Tim Cordoba
Accounting Coordinator, FinanceTim provides support to the Communities in Schools finance department.
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Ashlee Crabb
Field Operations SpecialistAshlee supports the Field Director, primarily in the Northeast region.
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Sharrón Dean
Director, Human Resources and AdministrationSharrón Dean joined Communities In Schools in March 2009 and oversees a wide variety of human resources and administrative functions including recruiting, training and staff development.
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Sheila Drummond
Associate Director, Diplomas NowSheila began her current position at Communities In Schools in October 2010, after working as the Administrative Coordinator for Field Operations and as a consultant helping to compile data needed for the submission of a U. S. Department of Education grant proposal. Sheila has worked with Communities In Schools in several different capacities for close to 30 years.
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Daniel Fuller
Vice President, Legislative RelationsDan works with educators and legislators to advance effective education policies at the federal, state and local levels.
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Annette Gantt
Vice President, Field OperationsAnnette is responsible for supporting state and local offices in their TQS preparation, developing the network’s human capital, and managing the national office’s investments into the network.
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Dave Handy, Ph.D
Director, Field OperationsDave works closely with state office leadership and staff in the Southeast to promote quality, evidence-based decision making and strategic action.
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Maurice Haskins
Associate Director, Field OperationsProvides technical assistance and training to the Southeast region of the organization's network.
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Mike Hayes
Director, Education InitiativesMike focuses on providing direct supervision to Communities In Schools education initiatives, and implementing and evaluating best practices in integrated student services developed through school reform/turnaround strategies.
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Amber Henderson
Data Analyst Specialist, Research, Evaluation & InnovationAmber is responsible for providing training, technical assistance and capacity building for audiences utilizing Communities In Schools data.
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Michael Huang
Associate Director, Program Quality and AccountabilityMichael is responsible for leading teams of network representatives to conduct national accreditation reviews as a part of the Total Quality System.
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Stephanie Hubka
Director of Learning Management SystemsStephanie designs, develops, and delivers online training programs and manages distance learning technologies to furnish resources and services to the Communities In School community.
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Kwame Johnson
Director of Corporate Relations, Resource DevelopmentKwame oversees the organization’s corporate giving program.
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LaShawn Johnson
Education Initiative SpecialistLaShawn plays a key role in tracking local affiliate development and national accreditation.
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Aryan Kaymanesh
Administrative Coordinator to the Chief Financial & Administrative OfficerAryan drafts contracts, prepares various reports, manages calendars and travel arrangements, and assists with the planning and implementation of network events.
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Cari Keniston
Administrative Coordinator, DevelopmentCari manages the Chief Development Officer’s calendar and travel arrangements, coordinates budget monitoring, drafts correspondence, conducts research and provides administrative support to the resource development department.
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Brenda Kittles
Development Operations CoordinatorBrenda supports the organization’s corporate and foundation relations program.
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Kelly Masley
Chief of StaffKelly supports the president in achieving integration and alignment among the executive team, departmental initiatives and the work of the board of directors.
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Melissa McReynolds
Development Operations Coordinator, Individual GivingMelissa assists the vice presidents of development and legislative relations, and supports the development team in various capacities.
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Stephanie R. Miller, Ph.D.
Director of Evaluation and Data ManagementStephanie is responsible for overseeing the development of Communities In Schools’ data system and dashboard to help the network improve the collection of important information about students, schools, and services.
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Debra Montanino
Chief Development OfficerDebra is responsible for all aspects of Communities In Schools' resource development program.
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Jonathan Montet
Vice President, Talent DevelopmentJonathan’s role is to expand the capacity of the network by creating a best-in-class training program, developing a pipeline of future leaders and positioning Communities In Schools to become the premier learning organization.
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Tim Plant
Director of Individual GivingTim oversees Communities In Schools' individual giving program.
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Erica Rafferty
Network Communications SpecialistAs the Network Communications Specialist, Erica provides communications support to the organization’s state offices and affiliates.
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Tracey Savell Reavis
Publications SpecialistTracey is tasked with developing content and with the production of various Communities In Schools publications, websites, and marketing materials.
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Megan Robinson
Associate Director, Federal Grants and InitiativesMegan writes and coordinates federal grant proposals for the Communities In Schools national office.
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Maureen Salamat
Director, PublicationsMaureen is responsible for telling the Communities In Schools story through print and electronic communications in order to engage the public and build support for the organization.
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Gretchen Sandy
Research and Evaluation ManagerGretchen is responsible for the State Office Annual Report, providing training and technical assistance for the Communities In Schools Data Management System (CISDM), tracking affiliate progress through Total Quality System (TQS) stages of development, and several program evaluations.
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Mordecai Scott
Alumni Network SpecialistMordecai is responsible for developing and supporting a student alumni network to enhance the organization’s public engagement efforts.
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Manoma Sirisena
ControllerManoma is responsible for the day-to-day operations of accounting processes.
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Natashia Slack
Program ManagerNatashia Slack is the Program Manager at Communities In Schools of Tennessee. She enjoys helping children and families achieve their maximum potential and live healthy, productive lives.
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Onita Terrell
Office ManagerOnita is responsible for the day-to-day administrative operations.
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Linda Thompson-Black
Director, Field OperationsLinda provides technical assistance, capacity building and organizational development support for state offices and local affiliates in the Western region and in Nebraska.
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Megan Walker Grimaldi
Associate Director, Program Quality and AccountabilityMegan is responsible for leading teams of network representatives to conduct national accreditation reviews as a part of the Total Quality System. Additionally, she leads and participates in various research-based projects, such as the Community Stakeholder Study, in which accreditation review interview data is collected and analyzed to gain an understanding of the Communities In Schools network.
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Dorian Wanzer
Grassroots CoordinatorDorian supports the legislative affairs department by implementing advocacy campaigns to promote the organization's federal agenda.
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Emily York McConarty
Program DirectorEmily joined Communities In Schools as the Program Director in Boston in December 2011.
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Hanna Zahory
Senior AccountantHanna is the senior accountant in the Communities In Schools Finance Department.
How You Can Help
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