Cohort 17 At A Glance

Jennifer Beltramo

Educational Consultant

Jennifer Beltramo is passionate about forming and supporting school leaders, fostering collaborative cultures, and developing systems to ensure the learning of every child. Her most recent tenure as superintendent in the Diocese of San José provided a unique opportunity to unify a network of 26 schools, fostering shared purpose, beliefs, and the collective development of systems to transform the ministry. Anchored in a collaborative and iterative approach, she supported the schools in elevating educational practices, opening the doors to a diversity of learners, and redesigning financial structures to promote just compensation while also ensuring financial accessibility. Prior to San José, Beltramo served for 16 years in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and director of academic excellence. She received her Bachelor of Arts, Master of Education, and Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame and has served as adjunct faculty at three Catholic universities. When not walking with school leaders, she loves spending time with her daughters, Savannah (12) and Eliana (3). 

Jeannette Boursiquot-Charles

Diocese of Rockville Centre

Jeannette Boursiquot-Charles, Ed.D., is the Assistant Superintendent of School Support for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. She has spent her entire professional career (27 years) in Catholic education. Her career began in the Diocese of Brooklyn working as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. Additionally, she serves as an Adjunct faculty member in School Building Leadership (SBL) and School District Leadership (SDL) programs at Molloy University. She attended Bernard Baruch College, Touro College, and Long Island University. Currently, she serves as an advisory board member for The De La Salle School. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending her sons’ football games, reading and spending time with her husband, three sons, and family.

Jennifer Carter

American Federation for Children

Jennifer Carter is senior advisor for the American Federation for Children in Oklahoma. Carter played an active role in the adoption of Oklahoma’s first statewide school-choice program that allows any family to access private-school education, the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program. She also helped expand Oklahoma’s Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship program to not only include children with special needs but also foster and adopted children. That program provides recipients with state funds to attend private school. Carter has been active in school choice efforts since she served as campaign manager and chief of staff for former Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi, a charter-school pioneer in Oklahoma and staunch supporter of school choice. In her professional career, Carter has also been an Assistant Insurance Commissioner for Government Relations at the Oklahoma Department of Insurance and as Director of Legal Services/Government Relations for a non-union education association. In her work for the teachers’ association, she successfully helped teachers decertify the National Education Association affiliate as the district’s teachers’ bargaining representative. Carter holds a Bachelor of Arts in Letters from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Comparative and International Law from the University of Tulsa. Carter is a wife and mother to two school-age children.

Tom Costanza

Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops

Tom Costanza is currently Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops and President of Citizens for Educational Choice. He has focused his legislative work on promoting Catholic Education and School Choice in Louisiana. Currently, Costanza is working to implement Education Savings Accounts and Parental Choice in Louisiana. As Executive Director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, he works with policies to strengthen families. Prior to serving in these two roles, Costanza was a Division Director for Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Kendall Crawford

St. Augustine High School

Kendall T. Crawford is a dynamic leader and advocate for education, equity, and community engagement. He currently serves as the Director of Student Affairs & External Engagement at St. Augustine High School, where he leads student life initiatives, alumni relations, and strategic partnerships that support holistic student development. He is also deeply involved in alumni and civic leadership as Executive Director of the Beta Tau Alumni Association of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he has led major fundraising campaigns and mentorship initiatives. His work helped secure more than $250,000 in capital support for scholarships, programming, and institutional advancement. A proud HBCU graduate and believer in the power of legacy, KT, as he is affectionately called, is passionate about creating pathways for students through education, experiential learning, and professional exposure. His leadership philosophy centers on the pillars of visibility, leadership, and capital, which he integrates into every project he leads. Known for his ability to connect people, mobilize resources, and move ideas into action, Crawford continues to shape programs and initiatives that uplift communities and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Sarah Currier

Archdiocese of San Francisco

Sarah Currier is the Associate Superintendent for School Systems and Culture in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. In this role, she supports Catholic school leaders with systems planning, leadership development, and school culture. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus on Literacy in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University. Currier is currently pursuing a PhD in Education Leadership Policy at Texas Tech University. Before joining the Archdiocese, Currier served as principal of a TK–8 Catholic elementary school. She has taught students from Kindergarten through 12th grade in a variety of school settings. Her work focuses on supporting strong instructional practices, effective leadership teams, and school environments that reflect Catholic identity. 

Daion Daniels

Indiana Department of Education

Daion Daniels, Ph.D., is the Director of Research at the Indiana Department of Education. Prior to this role, Dr. Daniels was a Ph.D. student and candidate in the Education Policy program within the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas. His research primarily focuses on school choice and school finance, informed by his personal experience with school choice, as he used a private school voucher to attend a Catholic high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, from 2014 to 2018. Upon his early graduation in December 2025, Dr. Daniels became the youngest student to receive a Ph.D. from the department, at just 25 years old.

Ronda Dry

Step Up for Students

Ronda Dry is the senior director of customer experience at Step Up For Students. As a former classroom teacher, assistant principal, and principal, she is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in education. She has a proven track record of leadership and employee development through effective coaching, mentoring, and team building with an excellent ability to build rapport at all levels across the organization. In addition, she has co-authored the new report, "'How Do I Stay In It But Not Stay In It?’: Leaving a Classroom But Starting a School.”

Danyela Egorov

Families for New York

Danyela Souza Egorov has over 10 years of professional experience in business, government and nonprofits, with a focus on strategy, advocacy and management. Egorov has worked at Families for Excellent Schools, California Charter Schools Association, New Leaders and Boston Public Schools. She started her career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Co., holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and was the founding board chair of Brooklyn RISE Charter School. She is a member of New York’s Community Education Council 2 and founder of Families for NY. Egorov is passionate about supporting educators who are creating great schools for the most vulnerable children. She has worked on opening 12 charter and district schools. Egorov grew up in Brazil and lives in New York City with her husband and two sons.

Chris Fay

Diocese of Memphis

Chris Fay, Ed.D. serves as the President of the Catholic Schools in the diocese of Memphis in Tennessee. Fay is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana and attended Christian Brothers University (CBU) in Memphis, where he met Rena, his wife of 25 years. Fay earned his Master’s degree from CBU and his doctorate from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. His research focused on sustaining innovation in K-12 education, and he was awarded a research fellowship for his work in the field. Fay served as a school leader at Christian Brothers High School (CBHS) in Memphis for 17 years and has been in his current role at the diocese of Memphis since June 2024. Fay has presented at national conferences and served as the president of the Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators (LASSCA). He has served in Catholic education since 1998 as a teacher, coach, athletic director, admission counselor, and administrator. In his spare time, Fay enjoys the great outdoors, cooking, and spending time with his wife and children.

Michael Fierro

Blessed Sacrament Catholic School

Michael Fierro has served as Principal of Blessed Sacrament Catholic School in the Archdiocese of San Antonio since 2006. A lifelong advocate and product of Catholic education, he received his formative instruction from the Sisters of Divine Providence, the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, and the Brothers, Sisters, and Priests of Holy Cross. He earned his undergraduate degree in Government and International Relations from the University of Notre Dame and went on to complete both the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows Program and the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program. Fierro has contributed to the broader Catholic educational community through his service on the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) Department of Elementary Schools Executive Committee and the Principals’ Advisory Council for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. In 2010, he was honored as an Outstanding Leader in Catholic Education. His professional interests include strengthening Catholic identity, early childhood education, parish-school collaboration, the accreditation process, and mentoring school leaders. He is also actively involved in preparing for the implementation of School Choice in Texas, advocating for its importance and potential impact on Catholic schools across the state.

Kristen Foster

Seton Catholic Schools

Kristen Foster, Ed.D., brings experience and passion for urban education. She has dedicated her entire professional career to building relationships with leaders, staff and families to ensure that all students have access to opportunities that advance their education. Through coaching and leadership, Foster empowers administrators and teachers to be mission-aligned and focused on student achievement and social emotional well being. As Seton’s Chief Education Officer, Foster develops directors, principals and school leadership teams to successfully integrate mission, shared values and educational outcomes into school communities. Prior to joining the Seton team, she held leadership roles at Milwaukee College Prep including her roles as principal and Middle School Director. She also taught middle school, developing instructional strategies to meet and exceed student learning objectives. Before relocating to Wisconsin, Foster taught in Wichita, Kansas where she implemented best practices in urban education instruction and behavior as a lead teacher. In this role, she assisted students designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for growth. She earned her Doctoral Degree in urban educational leadership from the University of Southern California. She also holds a Master’s Degree in educational leadership with curriculum and instruction from National Louis University in collaboration with the KIPP Leadership Institute. Her bachelor’s degree in urban elementary education is from the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Spencer Garrett

Cardinal Hayes High School

Spencer Garrett currently serves as the Director of Special Education at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx. He has worked in the South Bronx and Harlem since 2018 in both a public charter school and various Catholic elementary schools, since moving to New York from his native California. He has a deep interest in understanding how to improve learning in schools, particularly as we continue to navigate the downstream effects of the pandemic, in particular when it comes to supporting and maintaining Catholic institutions in low-income communities. Later this year he will be transitioning to a role at Seton Education Partners as the Director of Elementary El Camino, a network of Catholic after school programs housed at Brilla Public Charter Schools in the South Bronx. In his free time, he enjoys baking, going to the theatre, and praying and serving with Sant'Egidio, a Catholic lay organization.

Dale Hammer

North Carolina State University

Dale Hammer is a Ph.D. student at the North Carolina State University College of Education with a concentration in educational evaluation and policy analysis. Hammer’s research interests focus on teacher, school leader, and district leader preparation and development. More specifically, he seeks to study NC’s teacher shortage, the preparation of school and district leaders as instructional leaders, and coaching models that build sustainable capacity in school districts. Hammer is a full-time student and graduate research assistant working with faculty members on NC Restart School, principal data use, and two-way dual language immersion program research projects. He has worked in education for 14 years as a math teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, and STEM program founder and director. Hammer has also worked for a curriculum company as a curriculum writer, professional development writer, and district level implementation coach. Hammer attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his undergraduate and master’s studies. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his two kids, engaging in intellectual pursuits with his wife, training for long distance races, and playing in a local cover band.

Mindy Hart

Archdiocese of Dubuque

Mindy Hart has served as the Associate Director of Education in the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Dubuque for the past twelve years. Prior to this role, she was principal of Immaculate Conception Elementary School in Charles City, Iowa, and began her career as a public school teacher. In her current position, Hart developed and leads the Teacher Leader Academy, a program designed to build sustainable systems of leadership within Catholic schools across the Archdiocese. With the recent implementation of Educational Savings Accounts in Iowa, she plays an active role in guiding schools on strategic use of funding to support enhanced programming and long-term planning. She is deeply committed to inclusion and advocates for the full participation of students with special needs in Catholic education, ensuring they are welcomed, valued, and supported. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys gardening, reading, attending live music events, and spending time with her family.

Brian Hickey

Ohio Catholic Conference

Brian Hickey is in his third year as Executive Director of the Catholic Conference of Ohio (CCO). He directs a staff of lobbyists for the bishops of Ohio and oversees various Church collaborations in Ohio, including among superintendents, Catholic school accreditation, and social outreach programs. Hickey previously worked in the Middle East as a teacher and coach at a Palestinian high school and with Caritas Internationalis in the Horn of Africa. He also spent time in Nepal and India with Catholic Relief Services. He holds a Master in Global Affairs degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he met his wife, Kelli, and served as an assistant rector. They have one child in Columbus, Ohio, and enjoy return trips to South Bend, especially in the fall.

Colleen Hroncich

Cato Institute

Colleen Hroncich is a policy analyst with Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. Each week, she profiles interesting programs, learning centers, and policies in her Friday Feature blog series. Hroncich’s commentaries have been published in a variety of publications, including The Hill, U.S. News & World Report, the Washington Examiner, the Daily Signal, and The Federalist. Recently, she contributed a chapter to an upcoming book on Catholic microschools that will be published by Catholic University of America. She has also testified before Congressional and state legislative committees and appeared on several radio and television shows. A mother of four—whose children experienced public, Catholic, cyber, and home education—Hroncich lived school choice before she began working to advance it. After 17 years as a stay‐at‐home mom, she re‐entered the policy world through the Koch Fellow Program in 2017. Hroncich spent nearly four years working for educational freedom with the Commonwealth Foundation in her native Pennsylvania. She was also a visiting fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum. Hroncich has a degree in economics from the University of Maryland. Following college, she interned at the American Enterprise Institute and then joined the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy in Pittsburgh. Separate from her education work, she is the author of The Whistling Irishman: Danny Murtaugh Remembered, a biography of her grandfather, who managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to the World Series victories in 1960 and 1971.

Jen Kowieski

St. Columbkille Partnership School

Jen Kowieski is the Head of School at Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton, Massachusetts, a vibrant preschool through Grade 8 Catholic school in partnership with Boston College. A proud graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Kowieski is an alumna of both the ACE Teaching Fellows program and the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program. With over two decades of experience in Catholic education, she has served in a variety of roles from classroom teacher to school leader, always grounded in a commitment to academic excellence, inclusive community building, and faith formation. Kowieski was honored with the 2011 NCEA Distinguished Teacher Award and has presented at national conferences on math education, social justice education, and social-emotional learning. Her leadership is rooted in the Jesuit tradition of forming students to be people for and with others, and she believes meaningful school reform begins with strong relationships and mission alignment. In her free time, Kowieski enjoys running, biking, learning Spanish, and exploring new places.

Alexis Laroe

Step Up for Students

Alexis Laroe was born and raised in a small town in Vermont where her dad served on the local school board which initially sparked her interest in education policy and involvement in local politics. She went on to attend college at the University of Tampa, which brought her to Florida, and receiving a graduate degree from Florida State University kept her there. Laroe is the Legislative Affairs Director at Step Up for Students. She has been representing Step Up for Students in the Florida legislative process for six legislative sessions, including during the time that Florida passed universal ESAs. In her role, Laroe builds relationships with lawmakers, partner organizations, and stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes of all policy impacting Florida's scholarship families. In 2024, she was recognized as a “Rising Star” in Florida Politics. Outside of work, Laroe enjoys volunteering as a Sunday school teacher and spending time with her family. 

Kyle Lee

Diocese of Lexington

Kyle A. Lee, Ed.D., currently serves as the Superintendent of Schools for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington. Prior to taking his current role, Lee served as Principal at Seton Catholic School in Lexington; Academic Standards Coordinator at the Kentucky Department of Education – Office of Teaching and Learning in Frankfort; and Administrative Dean at STEAM Academy in Lexington, Kentucky. Further, Lee’s education background includes eighteen years of educational service as an elementary school principal and classroom teacher in both Kentucky and Tennessee. Through continued support of new teachers, pre-service principals, and educational leaders, Lee serves as an Adjunct Professor at Anderson University in Greenville, South Carolina. He received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Kentucky, Rank I Superintendent Certification from the University of Kentucky, Masters in Educational Administration from the University of the Cumberlands, and Bachelors in Music Education from Morehead State University. As a practicing Catholic and parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Lee understands and values the benefits of living a life centered on the teachings of Christ. He resides in Versailles, Kentucky with his wife, Emily, and four children, Michael, Christopher, Joseph, and Elizabeth. 

Amanda Livermore

Cristo Rey Orlando

Amanda Livermore serves as the Founding President and CEO of Cristo Rey Orlando High School, which opened in the fall of 2025. She led the effort to bring the school to life through the feasibility phase, campus development, and launch of its founding year, guiding the vision of forming students for college, career, and lives of purpose. Prior to this work, Livermore served as Vice President at Bishop Moore Catholic High School, advancing the mission of Catholic education among students, faculty, alumni, and families. She has served the Diocese of Orlando since 2003 in roles supporting Campus Ministry, Young Adult Ministry, Marriage Preparation, and International Missions. Livermore studied Psychology at Samford University and earned her master’s degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University New Orleans. She serves as an Advisor to the Ginsburg Institute for Child Health Equity and has held leadership roles as President of the Orlando Chapter of Legatus and President of the Board for Young Catholic Professionals and the UCF Catholic Campus Ministry Advisory Group. Amanda regularly presents at national conferences, retreats, and professional development gatherings across the country, and in 2025 she was honored as one of the Orlando Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business. Amanda and her husband, Jason, have been married since 2002. They enjoy spending time outdoors with their two children, Isabel (20) and Sammy (18).

Grant Mantooth

General Dynamics Information Technology

Grant Mantooth works as a Financial Analyst at General Dynamics Information Technology, a business unit of Fortune 100 company, General Dynamics. A product of K-12 Catholic education, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with minors in History and Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Virginia. While at UVA, he served in various leadership roles within McIntire School of Commerce organizations primarily focused on pro-bono consulting for social enterprise startups. A fellowship at The Heritage Foundation, the #1 global think tank for impact on public policy, exposed Mantooth to the intersection between policy and education during his undergraduate studies. After graduating from UVA, Mantooth earned his Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame. As an ACE Teaching Fellow, he taught middle school (6th-8th grade) social studies, math, journalism, grammar, and writing at Holy Redeemer Grade School in Detroit, Michigan. Presently, he is interested in researching the educational impacts of young boys experiencing fatherlessness, delving into the challenges facing higher education in prison programs, and further exploring the nexus between business, education, and public policy. Mantooth resides in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan area.

Adriana Marrero

Cristo Rey Boston

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Adriana Marrero is a globally experienced social studies educator and passionate advocate for educational equity. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame’s ACE Teaching Fellows and ENL Hernandez Fellows programs, Marrero then spent three years teaching in Santiago, Chile as part of the University of Notre Dame’s ChACE Program, where she served as a 'Professor Jefe', mentor teacher, and curriculum designer in bilingual classrooms. Her work abroad deepened her commitment to multilingual learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and international collaboration in Catholic education. She currently teaches World Religions and Social Justice in America at Cristo Rey Boston High School. Outside of work, Marrero enjoys hiking, ultimate frisbee, reading, cooking (and eating!).

Ryan Mayer

Archdiocese of San Francisco

Ryan Mayer is Director of the Office of Catholic Identity Assessment & Formation for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, where he works closely alongside the Department of Catholic Schools. He spent 20 years as a Catholic high school teacher and administrator, teaching classes in theology, literature, and bioethics, as well as developing faculty induction and school leadership team formation programs. In addition to serving on Catholic school boards, he has presented and consulted in the areas of school culture, Catholic identity integration, mission articulation, and Catholic school leadership. Mayer holds undergraduate degrees in philosophy, theology, and literature, masters degrees in theology and philosophy, as well as a masters in educational leadership from the Mary Ann Remick Educational Leadership Program at the University of Notre Dame, where he served as a teaching assistant in a course on Catholic School mission and culture. Mayer and his wife have four children who attend Catholic schools. He enjoys coaching baseball, eating good food, playing Lego with his kids, and traveling to Italy.

Sarah Milligan

Institute for Quality Education

Sarah Milligan serves as the Assistant Director of Community Engagement for the Institute for Quality Education (IQE) and co-host for IQE’s podcast, “Education Matters with My School Options.” She has been passionate about school choice and education advocacy since she interned at the statehouse in 2011 when the first piece of Choice Scholarship (voucher) legislation passed the Indiana state legislature. Since then, Milligan has been involved in campaigns and working in government at the local, state, and federal level. In 2021, she joined IQE once again to work on the passage and implementation of the largest expansion to school choice in the state in over a decade. She has been an asset to raising awareness and advocating for school choice across the state resulting in record breaking numbers of participation in the programs. Milligan is a 2015 graduate of the Indiana Leadership Forum and a 2025 graduate of the Richard G. Lugar: Excellence in Public Service Series. She is the 7th District Vice Chair for the Indiana Young Republicans. She enjoys volunteering for her party and serves as a precinct committeeman in Marion County. Originally from Southern Indiana, she now lives in Downtown Indianapolis in the Fountain Square Neighborhood with her fiancé, Aaron Minnich.

American Federation for Children

Ashling Preston is the Director of Federal Affairs at the American Federation for Children, where she leads AFC's work to ensure successful rollout and future expansion of federal school choice. She brings years of experience in the education space. She managed the Catholic education portfolio at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and served in the offices of United States Senators Marco Rubio and Tim Scott. Prior to coming to D.C., she taught high school English in Memphis, TN as a Teach for American corps member.

Fr. Jeff Putthoff, SJ

Diocese of Venice

Father Jeff Putthoff, SJ, has served as an educational consultant, using his expertise in data, strategic planning, Salesforce, and trauma-informed care to improve youth education and organizational life. He has played a key role in raising scholarship funds for over 150 schools across the United States, with a current focus on the Dioceses of St. Petersburg, Venice, and Salt Lake City. His work reflects a deep commitment to empowering young people and fostering healing communities by removing financial and educational barriers.

Mary Rice

St. Joseph Grade School

Mary Rice is a middle school English and history teacher originally from South Bend, Indiana. She most recently worked at St. Cletus School in Gretna, Louisiana, where she taught sixth- and seventh-grade students in grammar, writing, and history. Rice graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor of arts in the Program of Liberal Studies (Great Books) and Theology, both serving to frame her classroom approach. Rice then pursued her M.Ed. through the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Teaching Fellows program and graduated as a member of the 30th cohort. She is excited to expand her educational competence in the area of education policy with respect to school choice; her professional interests include educational access, equity in education, and student formation through teacher mentorship. In the fall, she will be teaching MS ELA and religion at St. Joseph Grade School in South Bend, Indiana. 

Shaileen Riginos

Diocese of Charleston

Shaileen Riginos is the Associate Superintendent for Accreditation, Strategic Planning,and Government Programs for the Diocese of Charleston. She leads transformative efforts across 31 Catholic schools in South Carolina. Over the past fifteen years in Catholic education—including nearly a decade as a K–12 principal—Riginos has helped shape a mission-driven vision for academic excellence and Catholic Identity rooted in Gospel values. She has led curriculum development, teacher formation and evaluation systems, and instructional improvement through data-informed practices and

collaborative professional learning across a geographically dispersed system. Her recent work includes a School Health Vitality project to provide targeted support for each school and a turnaround project with one of the diocesan schools. Riginos champions school choice by guiding school leaders through the Education Scholarship Trust Fund (ESTF) state regulations to expand access to Catholic education. Above all, Riginos sees her work as a vocation, with her most important responsibility being to serve as a trusted advisor to school leaders on operations, compliance, and policy. She cherishes time with her family—especially cooking together—and enjoying the outdoors during their beloved annual ski trip.

Kenta Sachen

Curriculum Associates

Kenta Sachen is a data analyst for Curriculum Associates currently living in Boston’s North End. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in data analytics, he joined Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellows program. Through ACE, he taught 5th grade at Indianapolis’s St. Philip Neri Catholic School for two years while working towards a M.Ed. Wanting to work with educational data to positively impact schools from outside the classroom, Sachen joined Curriculum Associates whose i-Ready products provide assessment and instruction support to over 13 million students around the country. As a data analyst, he provides actionable insights to educators at the school and district level. Sachen continues to have a strong passion for education, serving as both a tutor and aftercare assistant at a local Catholic school, and hopes to return to working in schools in the future. In his free time, he enjoys long-distance running, finding new recipes, and updating his Letterboxd account. 

Katie Sater

St. Pius Catholic School

Katie Sater has 17 years of diverse teaching experience, having worked in Catholic, public, and charter schools. A proud alumna of Teach For America, she began her career with a deep commitment to educational equity and continues to advocate for student-centered, inclusive learning environments. Sater holds two master’s degrees from the American College of Education, one in Educational Technology and another in Educational Leadership, which have informed her approach to innovation in both classroom practice and school-wide initiatives. Her expertise bridges the gap between theory and implementation, empowering educators to adapt to evolving student needs and technological advances. In addition to her work in K–12 schools, Sater serves as an adjunct summer faculty member for the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) program at the University of Notre Dame, where she mentors and supports new teachers entering the profession. Throughout her career, she has led efforts in curriculum development and professional development, and is passionate about creating culturally responsive classrooms and fostering teacher growth. Sater resides in South Bend with her husband, Kyle, and two children, who attend Catholic schools, deepening Katie’s passion for strong educational reform.

Jim Schurrer

DePaul Cristo Rey High School

Jim Schurrer is a passionate and mission-driven Catholic educator dedicated to forming students in both faith and academics. As principal of DePaul Cristo Rey High School, he has strengthened the school’s Catholic identity while driving significant improvements in student achievement, faculty retention, and school culture. Before his role at DePaul Cristo Rey, Schurrer served as Dean of Faculty at St. Xavier High School, where he mentored teachers, developed a comprehensive professional development program and helped guide the school through the transition to a new bell schedule. He also served as a member of the English department and an assistant cross country coach. Schurrer holds two master’s degrees from Bowling Green State University and a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. As a frequent presenter on faith leadership, Catholic school culture, and educational best practices, he remains committed to ensuring that Catholic schools continue to form young people who are intellectually prepared, spiritually grounded, and mission-driven in their lives. Most of the time, Schurrer can be found training for various half marathons and cheering on his two kids in their activities.

Pam Schwartz

Archdiocese of Seattle

Pam Schwartz, PhD, is the Assistant Superintendent for Governance & Leadership in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Schwartz has been an educator in Catholic schools for 28 years, serving previously as a middle school teacher, a PreK-8 school principal, then moving to her current role at the Office for Catholic Schools in 2022. In June of 2024, she earned her PhD in Educational Leadership from Seattle Pacific University; her dissertation focused on the lived experiences of novice Catholic school principals in the Archdiocese of Seattle. Schwartz currently serves as an adjunct professor and university supervisor in the principal certification program at SPU. In addition, she serves on the USCCB Advisory Council for Catholic Education Policy (ACCEP). In her spare time, Schwartz enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her two adult children, and walking her beloved Golden Retriever.

AJ Simons

Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy

Alison Simons is an experienced academic leader with 10 years of expertise in education. Currently serving as the Academic Dean at Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy (HFCA), she supports Humanities as a reading coach and oversees curriculum. Simons played Division 1 college soccer at Clemson University, where she was featured on ESPN. She holds a passion for fostering academic excellence and is dedicated to nurturing scholars capable of transforming their world. In addition to her educational leadership, Simons is currently working on a professional development plan and research paper, drawing from the National Institute for Literacy’s "What Content-Area Teachers Should Know About Adolescent Literacy." With her background in both leadership and athletics, Simons brings a well-rounded approach to her work in education, aiming to support and empower both teachers and scholars at HFCA.

Ryan Smith

Protiviti

Ryan Smith, M.Ed., works as a Senior Consultant within the Business Performance Improvement practice of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. A product of Catholic education since Pre-K, Smith graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2021 with a degree in Business Analytics. Upon graduation, he joined the 28th cohort of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows, where he earned his master’s degree in Education while teaching high school mathematics in Philadelphia. Throughout his time in Philly, Smith enjoyed living in community with fellow ACE teachers and connecting with his students outside of the classroom, most notably as a baseball coach and retreat moderator. As he gains valuable corporate experience in his current role with Protiviti, Smith hopes to eventually marry his interests in business and education to continue supporting Catholic education. In particular, the areas of development and alumni relations pique his interest. In his free time, Smith enjoys baking, reading, and competing in various fitness races across the country.

David Hudson Tuthill

Step Up for Students

David Hudson Tuthill works as a government affairs analyst for Step Up For Students, the nation’s largest education choice organization. He has worked at Step Up for eight years across marketing, advocacy, and media affairs prior to his current role. He attended Tallahassee College and Florida State University and is the product of education choice, having attended K-12 public magnets schools in his hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida. He is a fifth generation Floridian and is the owner/operator of River & Root Farm, an organic blueberry u-pick and agritourism destination on the Upper Santa Fe River in Alachua County, Florida, where he lives with his family.

Nicholas West

Heart of Mary Catholic School

Nicholas West is an Alabama native with a strong foundation in Catholic education, having attended Catholic school from Kindergarten through 12th grade. He holds degrees in Computer Science and Cybersecurity from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. West is the founder and owner of NDW Tech, a technology company based in Alabama that provides services in software development, cybersecurity, and IT consulting. In addition to his work in the tech industry, West remains committed to education and community service. He serves as a computer science teacher and board member at Heart of Mary School, where he helps guide the next generation of students in both academics and technology. As one of the earliest recipients of a tax credit scholarship under Alabama’s school choice program, West experienced firsthand the impact of educational opportunity and remains an advocate for expanding access to quality education.

Jamila Wiltshire

Step Up for Students

Jamila Wiltshire brings a rich and diverse background in education to her role as Director of Learning Development at Step Up For Students. Her educational journey began in public school, continued through a performing arts magnet program in middle school, and culminated at an Episcopalian private high school, an experience that gave her a well-rounded perspective on different learning environments. Wiltshire earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Rollins College and her master’s in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She began her career teaching communication skills at Job Corps before spending 18 years in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where she served as a teacher, reading coach, and assistant principal, primarily in under-resourced communities under the Education

Transformation Office. After taking two years off to spend time with her daughters, Wiltshire joined Step Up For Students as a Regional Manager and now leads the Learning Development team. Her team is responsible for overseeing all external training, educational initiatives, and event support, ensuring alignment with organizational goals through strategic collaboration. Outside of work, Wiltshire enjoys quality time with her teenage daughters, serves as a youth leader at her church, and loves discovering new restaurants. Her passion for education and community shines through in everything she does.

Steven Wojcikiewicz

Learning Policy Institute

Steven Wojcikiewicz began his career in education as a member of the 4th cohort of the Alliance for Catholic Education Teaching Fellows program, teaching high school social studies and band in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In his over two decades of experience across the field of education, he has served as an experiential educator aboard sailing vessels, a teacher education professor and program coordinator at Western Oregon University, and as Director of the Pacific Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Portland. He has also held education policy positions at the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, DC, and at Deans for Impact in Austin, TX. He is currently a Senior Researcher and Policy Advisor at the Learning Policy Institute in Palo Alto, CA. He is a co-author of the books Preparing Leaders for Deeper Learning and Preparing Teachers for Deeper Learning along with numerous reports, articles, and presentations on educator preparation practice and policy, state educator workforce systems, and the application of learning theory to improve instruction and training. Wojcikiewicz has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Teaching from the University of Portland, and a B.A. in History and Economics from the University of Notre Dame.