LLA Team

Jenne Colasacco | Executive Director

Jenne Colasacco has served in the role of Executive Director of Lynch Leadership Academy since February 2018, and is deeply committed to leading LLA through the next level of impact, by expanding our reach to new regions and by deepening and expanding our program with our current partner districts and sectors. Jenne joined Lynch Leadership Academy in July 2013, in the role of Leadership Effectiveness Director. In this role, Jenne led the design of the Fellowship programming and coached Sitting Principal Fellows. She focuses particularly on supporting leaders as they implement change initiatives in their schools, and in ensuring that principals are able to apply their new knowledge and skills learned in other aspects of the fellowship as they strive to create change, disrupt inequity, and continually improve their schools to raise student achievement.

Before joining the Lynch Leadership Academy, Jenne was a school leader at Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter Public School, in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood. She led APR first for three years as the Middle School Principal and then for six years as the High School Principal. Under Jenne’s leadership, APR’s high school consistently demonstrated strong results, including being the highest-scoring school in the state on the 10th grade ELA MCAS in 2009 and in 2012. In the six years of her tenure, APR’s graduates have matriculated to college at a rate of 95%, and have persisted in college at a rate of 85%. Prior to her work at APR, Jenne taught high school science in Providence, RI and in Baltimore City Public Schools, where she was a 1999 Teach For America corps member. Additionally, Jenne served as an adjunct faculty member at Boston University, where she instructed incoming Teach For America corps members in general teaching methods. Jenne earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Simmons College and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from Brown University.

Joe Dolan | Senior Director, Learning & Innovation

Before joining the Lynch Leadership Academy team in October 2014 as a Leadership Effectiveness Director, Joe served as the founding principal of the Cambridge High School Extension Program, a non-traditional high school sponsored by the Cambridge Public Schools, for ten years. During his time in Cambridge, he was responsible for designing and developing all aspects of the school, which graduated 300 students during his tenure. He was also founding member of the Cambridge Leadership Network, a partnership between Richard Elmore of the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Cambridge Public Schools.

Prior to his work in Cambridge, Joe was an administrator in charter schools in Lowell and Boston and was a state official with the Massachusetts Department of Education.

He has a B.A. in History & Social Science from Eastern Connecticut State University, an M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction from Fairfield University, and an Ed.D. in Educational Administration from Boston University.

Christopher Graham | Director of Finance & Operations

Christopher Graham joined the LLA team in March of 2021. Prior to that he worked as the Director of Operations at UP Academy Oliver Middle School in Lawrence, MA for five years. During his tenure as DOO, Chris and his team oversaw the planning and roll-out of several large scale and new-to-the school practices. During the 2015-2016 school year he was the Director of Operations in Residence at UP Academy Dorchester. Prior to his year in residence Chris taught middle school for five years. At UP Academy Holland, during its first year of turnaround he served as a cohort leader and fifth grade math teacher. Before joining the UP Education Network, he taught fifth grade math at Roxbury Preparatory Charter School for two years and worked at the Epiphany school where he taught 5th grade science and ran the athletics program for two years.

Chris earned a B.A. in Political Science from Boston College. He has always been passionate about urban education; this passion led him to complete his Masters degree in curriculum development at Boston College as a Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar.

Stephanie Riccardi | Assistant Director, Program & Operations

Stephanie Riccardi joined the LLA team in October of 2021. Prior to that, she worked at New England College of Business, which evolved into Cambridge College Global, for 6.5 years. During Stephanie’s time with NECB/CCG, she had worked in Student Services, she had experience as a part-time instructor teaching both Critical Thinking and Psychology, and during her most recent role with the college, Stephanie served as the Director of Academic and Corporate Partnerships. Before Stephanie’s professional tenure in higher education, Stephanie worked in the mental health field supporting students in K-12 urban education.

Stephanie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New England College and her M.Ed in School Counseling from Salem State University.

Marlena Afonso-Bordenave | Leadership Coach

Marlena Afonso joined the LLA team in August of 2019. Prior to that, she worked at the Bentley Academy Charter School in Salem, MA for five years. She served as the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction and then as the Head of School. During her tenure as principal, she helped develop systems for instructional improvement and coaching that moved the school from Level 4 to Level 1 in only one year. Marlena also worked as a principal intern, an elementary and middle school special education teacher, and a teacher leader. Additionally, Marlena participated in LLA as a member of Cohort V.

Marlena earned an Ed.M. in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, a MEd in Special Education from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Providence College.

Cristin Berry | Leadership Coach

Cristin Berry Pizzimenti joined the LLA team in July of 2018. Prior to that, she worked for City on a Hill Charter Schools for twelve years. During that time, she was the principal at the flagship campus, City on a Hill Circuit Street, for four years before moving to a Deputy Chief Academic Officer role in the Network. Cristin also worked as a high school mathematics teacher, Lead Teacher, and Assistant Principal. Additionally, Cristin participated in LLA as a member of Cohort IV.

Cristin earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from John Carroll University and a Master of Arts in Teaching high school mathematics from Simmons College.

Erin Borthwick | Leadership Coach

Erin Borthwick joined the LLA team in 2017 as a Leadership Effectiveness Director. Prior to that, she was the principal of Wolfgang Mozart Elementary School in Roslindale for four years, where she led the school to Level 1 status and DESE recognition as a Commendation School for narrowing proficiency gaps. She worked with staff, students, and families to develop an anti-racist learning community and implemented an innovative and effective inclusion model for students with autism. During her tenure at the Mozart, Erin participated in the LLA Fellowship as a member of Cohort IV and twice mentored LLA Aspiring Principal Fellows. She also served as an assistant principal, teacher leader, and teacher in Boston Public Schools for eight years prior to becoming a principal.

Erin earned an Ed.M. in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Secondary Education and Political Science from American University.

Eileen McLaughlin | Leadership Coach

Eileen McLaughlin joined the LLA team in August of 2019. Prior to that, she worked at Mount Alvernia High School in Newton, MA for nineteen years. Eileen worked as an English teacher and served as the English Department Chair before taking on the role of Head of School in the fall of 2010. During Eileen's tenure as Head of School, Mount Alvernia took on significant building projects to improve the learning environment, as well as expanding the Advanced Placement program, growing scholarship and financial aid funding, and creating a culture motivated by a moral imperative guided by the belief that every student is capable of learning at high levels. Additionally, Eileen participated in LLA as a member of Cohort IV.

Eileen earned an Master of Arts in Teaching from Emmanuel College and a B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Boston College.

Carmen Pierre Canel | Leadership Coach

Carmen Pierre Canel joined the LLA Team in July 2021. Carmen has consistently worked to ensure every adult and student in schools where she has led engages in dynamic learning experiences that allow them to develop as critical thinkers and become self reflective in order to make our communities better places for all. Before joining the LLA Team, Carmen served as the Middle School Principal at APR Charter School in Hyde Park, MA for three years where she led the school community in the pursuit of becoming an anti-racist organization. Prior to that, Carmen spent ten years working in several Boston Public Schools as a Principal, Principal Fellow, Director of Instruction, Teacher Leader and HS Math Teacher. Additionally, Carmen participated in LLA as a member of Cohort V.

Carmen earned an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Boston College as a Donovan Urban Teaching Scholar and a B.S. in Mathematics from Hampton University.

Lisa Catapano | Consulting Leadership Coach

Lisa returned to Lynch Leadership Academy as a Leadership Coach in 2021 having previously held this role supporting Cohorts III, IV, IX and X. For 25+ years, she has served as a strategic capacity builder, consultant and executive coach, empowering transformative growth in leaders and organizations. Her expertise spans global strategy, operations, human capital management, and organizational development in the education, philanthropic and professional service sectors. She is also a Certified Life Coach who brings a holistic approach to the coaching experience.

As Co-Founder and former President and Board Chair of the Newton Montessori School (now Wellan Montessori), Lisa led the successful start-up of this Infant-6 elementary school overseeing implementation of academic and enrichment programs, finance, operations, human resources and advancement. Through her work as an executive search consultant with Talent Citizen and Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group, she advised nonprofit leaders and boards on strategic talent acquisition and succession planning. Lisa also served as former Vice President of Operations at a rapid growth finance and business consulting firm where she co-founded and served as Managing Chair of a corporate charitable foundation.

Lisa earned her B.A. in English from Boston College and J.D. from Suffolk University Law School. She holds a Certification in Leading Professional Service Firms from the Harvard Business School of Executive Education, and was honored as a Corporate Citizen by Boston Business Journal for her philanthropic leadership.

Indu Chugani Singh | Consulting Leadership Coach

Prior to joining the LLA team in August 2021, Indu served for eight years as the Dean of Teaching and Learning at Milton Academy, where she led and designed professional learning programming for the faculty of the upper school. While at Milton, Indu also served as an instructor in the Independent School Teaching Residency (ISTR) at the Penn Graduate School of Education. Indu’s commitment to teacher inquiry and reflection guides her work, particularly in relation to teacher growth and identity development. Indu has also taught English at the Winsor School in Boston, MA, and at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH. For eight years, Indu served as a faculty associate at the Institute for Writing and Thinking at Bard College.

David Corvi | Consulting Leadership Coach

David has spent the past 13 years as an educational leader in some of our nation's most underserved and disadvantaged communities. He most recently served as the Regional Manager of Philadelphia Metro for Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI), a non-profit working with pre-k through 5th grade teachers to improve early literacy instruction so children become powerful readers, writers, and thinkers. Prior to CLI, David served five years as Principal at Forest Hill Elementary in Camden City, New Jersey. During those years, David led the school community through significant growth and development in the areas of student and staff culture, family engagement, and data-driven and standards-based instruction.

As a Teach For America alum, David remains committed to the movement of educational equity in our nation and approaches his work with a culturally responsive pedagogical philosophy. During his time as a corps member, he worked as a founding teacher at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School not only to ensure student academic growth and achievement, but also to establish school-wide procedures and policies while creating a supportive environment for positive student culture.

David holds Principal certifications in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He is a proud alumni of The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education where he earned a Masters in Education. David earned a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Ithaca College.