About the Telescope Network

Shakera Ford Walker is the Assistant Superintendent of Teacher Leadership and Development for the Boston Public Schools. In this role, Shakera designs and facilitates professional learning experiences for teachers and school leaders and creates teacher leadership opportunities that support school improvement efforts and career growth for educators. In addition, Shakera collaborates with district leaders and the BTU Director of Professional Learning to develop and implement BPS’ teacher leadership vision and strategy. 

Paul Tritter is the first Director of Professional Learning for the Boston Teachers Union. This position is collaboratively funded by the union and the district administration in order to promote collaborative approaches to improving professional learning across the system. In this role, Paul works closely with Central Office and Union leadership, and with teachers and school leaders, to bring educator voice to district decision making and planning.

Alison Mosher is a Lead Networker for the Telescope Network and an Instructional Coach with 20 years of experience in education. She spent 12 years as a history teacher and 8 years as a coach and professional learning coordinator. A National Board Certified Teacher, she was also recognized as the BPS Educator of the Year in 2012. In her current role, Alison is dedicated to fostering collaboration among BPS educators, empowering teacher leaders to lead learning for their peers, and spreading effective practices across the district. She holds a M.A.T. from Northeastern University and a C.A.G.S. in Educational Leadership from UMass Boston.

Mark Lonergan is a Lead Networker for the Telescope Network and an Instructional Coach. Before becoming a Networker, Mark taught math at Boston Arts Academy for 14 years. He also worked as the founding Consulting Teacher with Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) for 4 years. He has contributed to the “Peer to Peer” column in the BTU newspaper and has helped to teach the “Observation and Feedback” training course for new evaluators. He is also the father of two BPS graduates and one current BPS student.

Malcolm Andrews Jr. has 16 years experience in urban education and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Lesley University. Dr. Andrews currently serves as a Networker for the Telescope Network and an Instructional Coach at Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA). Prior to becoming a Networker, Malcolm worked for two years as an Instructional Coach at TechBoston Academy, following a decade as an ELA and History teacher for students in a substantially separate setting. 

Malcolm’s work toward increasing equity for marginalized students and supporting educators of color is the topic of his recent TedX talk “How our unconscious habits shape relationships”  and led to his receipt of the inaugural “A Beautiful Resistance Award for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership.” This year Malcolm will be presenting at the National Council for Teachers of English. Most recently he has been a keynote speaker leading learning at the Thrive 24 Conference (Newton, MA), Middlesex School (Concord, MA), and the LeBlanc Therapeutic Day School (Lowell, MA).

Garcie Champagne is a Black teacher leader and doctoral  student at Southern New Hampshire University where she is pursuing a degree in educational leadership. Her research interest is to support schools in creating equitable and innovative ways for educators and students to work and learn. Champagne has over 10 years of experience working within the alternative high school setting within the Boston Public Schools. As an instructional leader, evaluator, and coach, Champagne is passionate about creating professional development and equity workshops that support families and school communities in applying culturally and linguistically sustaining practices for all students. She coaches educators to tackle anti-blackness by being intentional with the choice of materials, activities, and resources used in instruction. Champagne’s work has been featured in podcasts by Boston Teachers union  as well as the Teacher Collaborative. She was also featured in WGBH news for her advocacy around equitable policies for overaged students in Boston. In her personal life, Champagne spends her time gardening, spending time with family and friends, and being intentional about what it means to seek black joy and liberation in all the spheres of her life.

Amanda Hathaway is a Networker for the Telescope Network and an Instructional Coach at English High School. Prior to working as an instructional coach, Amanda worked as a Program Director in the Math Department. Amanda started her career in BPS in 2006 as a high school math teacher and taught in alternative education in the district for 12 years. Outside of her passion for education, Amanda is a beginner student of many disciplines including yoga, tennis, Portuguese, and parenting a teenage daughter.

Oluwanifemi (Nifemi) Kolayemi is a dedicated educator with over a decade of experience in instructional design and teacher coaching. She taught in Boston Public Schools for eight years, most recently teaching both introductory and AP Physics at the O'Bryant. A significant portion of her work is dedicated to creating more favorable classroom conditions for black and brown youth to see themselves as capable doers of science and math. She serves as a Math and Belonging Coach for the University of Michigan and as a Senior Fellow with the Knowles Teacher Initiative, where she designs and facilitates professional development to help math and science teachers improve their instructional practices. Her coaching is centered on collaborative problem-solving and fostering a sense of belonging in the classroom to boost both teacher effectiveness and student achievement. She holds an Ed.M. in Teaching and Curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a B.A. in Chemistry from Amherst College.

Catherine Stoddard is a Networker for the Telescope Network and an Instructional Coach at Ellison Parks Early Education School. Before becoming a Networker,  Catherine  worked as a K2 teacher. During her 14 years as an early childhood educator, Catherine has developed a passion for leading colleagues in conversations to understand student work and providing professional learning opportunities for educators.  She worked as a teacher leader at the John Winthrop School, a successful turnaround school, and she has been a National Facilitator and coach for Critical Friends Groups.