Meet our
Harmony Educator Advisory Group

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Aimee Gallant is passionate about providing high-quality SEL instruction for her students and the entire school. She has been the SEL lead for the school for the last four years and is currently teaching 1st grade. This is her 23rd year in the classroom.  Aimee is originally from New York but has called Virginia home for 22 years. She loves to travel with her husband, daughter, and son.

Enhancing students’ social and emotional well-being through innovative resource access drives Alejandro Diasgranados’ work and passion. As an elementary educator at Whitlock Elementary School in Washington, D.C., for the past 10 years, he has secured a school laundry grant from the Washington Commanders and collaborated with Drew Barrymore to provide 265 laptops during COVID-19. Alejandro has been recognized as the D.C. Teacher of the Year and National University Teacher of the Year.

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Allison Robb brings over a decade of dedicated experience in education. With seven years in special education and three years in administration, Allison is committed to fostering a well-rounded approach that supports and develops the unique needs of all stakeholders. Allison looks forward to collaborating with Harmony to learn more about this beacon of innovative and inclusive education.

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Ana Navarro De Ruiz has served as a bilingual student support specialist at a virtual school in Los Angeles, California for nearly five years. She has a background in engineering and holds an MBA degree. She found her love for education thanks to her children who were homeschooled. Her passion for SEL and its implementation comes from providing every child with the tools to reach their full potential and thrive as active members of their communities.

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Anderson Manuel, an elementary teacher in Massachusetts for the past 27 years, holds a master’s in early childhood education. He has taught Kindergarten through third grade and currently teaches first grade. Anderson mentors new teachers through the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP) and serves on his school’s Instructional Leadership Team. He is an avid reader, researcher, singer, and writer in his spare time.

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Leading with asset-based practices, Ashley Rhoads’ core values are around equity and inclusivity. For the last 24 years, she has been employed by the fourth-largest urban school district in California.  In Long Beach Unified School District, she has held a range of leadership positions including a special education teacher, an inclusion and special education curriculum coach, and now, a transformative social emotional learning facilitator. Ashley currently resides in Southern California with her husband and two amazing children.

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Claudine James is a national board-certified teacher who  teaches 8th-grade English in Central Arkansas. Her recognitions include the 2018 National University Teacher of the Year (Arkansas), 2019 Henry Ford Innovation Nation Innovative Teacher, and 2023 Grammar Educator of the Year. She also has an ESL endorsement and was the 2021 TESOOL Educator of the Year for her state. Dubbed as “Social Media’s Favorite English Teacher”, she uses her language skills to teach grammar lessons to her over 5.7 million followers on TikTok and 155,000 subscribers on YouTube, which led her to receive the 2023 AdColor Influencer of the Year award.

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Building relationships and offering high-quality SEL opportunities for students drives Connie Michael’s classroom community. Connie has taught elementary K–5th for 34 years. Inspired by her love for science, Connie threads social and emotional strategies through collaborative work and exploration activities. She’s originally from Washington State, but she has worked on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana for the last ten years.

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Cristy Fernandez has been working in the educational field for over 18 years. Cristy is a skillful teacher whose dedication to and energy for supporting students, families, and colleagues is inspiring and warming to many people. In Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), Cristy has become a “go-to” educator in her district. She has supported the district-wide implementation of SEL by translating her site-based leadership and experience to in-service course offerings for educators, speaking to visitors and distinguished guests who want to learn more about SEL in a school setting, and supporting the design of district-wide SEL Implementation Guides for teachers.

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Daryl Williams began his career in education as a middle school math teacher for six years before becoming an instructional coach. His hard work resulted in him garnering a National Board Certification, two Teacher of the Year awards, and his master’s degrees from Johns Hopkins University and the University of North Carolina, respectively. He currently serves as an assistant principal and continues to make strides toward supporting educators who want to elevate their classroom practices and enhance student growth.

Emily Gasca is a passionate multilingual reading specialist and a multi-tiered system of support lead at Sadlowski Elementary in Chicago Public Schools.  Prior to her current role, she spent over 15 years working as a kindergarten teacher. Emily has a passion for literacy and the social and emotional well-being of all her students and colleagues. Emily received a 2023 Meritorious Service Teacher Award, and her work has been recognized at the national level. Emily is married and has three children who love to go on adventures and find new spots to enjoy as a family. 

As the TSEL coordinator for Long Beach Unified School District, Esther Deth supervises curriculum and instruction for TSEL, health, and physical education. Last school year, she co-led an effort to implement Harmony curriculum across 50+ elementary and TK–8 schools and supported the use of CASEL’s 3 Signature SEL practices in secondary content areas. She also oversees the implementation of the Local School Wellness Policy through the district’s School Wellness Council. She previously worked as a principal, assistant principal, and as a National Board-Certified teacher in Los Angeles.

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As a middle school teacher and a coach with over 20 years of experience with Northside Independent School District, George supports students’ and teachers’ social and emotional well-being across various learning environments. George commits to collaborating with colleagues to create programs that prioritize social and emotional learning (SEL) as a tool to build and sustain positive relationships.

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Kara Burnett is a dedicated elementary educator in New York with over 12 years of experience. Her focus is on nurturing students’ social and emotional well-being through engaging lessons and strong personal connections. She is passionate about creating joyful, memorable learning experiences for her young learners. Outside of her profession, Kara enjoys spending time with her two daughters, husband, and golden retriever. 

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Jennifer Wienke is the current program development coordinator for Out-of-School Time (OST) programming in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District after ten years as an OST coordinator in North Pole, Alaska. In her off time, she is the owner and director of the trauma-informed theater company, Fairbanks Academy of Children’s Theater. 

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Jessica Martinez has been teaching using SEL strategies for over six years since she was first introduced to Harmony Academy.  She believes that every child needs to be met right where they are and encouraged to grow in their knowledge of themselves and those around them.  With the SEL content and grade-level standards, she is teaching the Whole Child and helping them to become compassionate citizens of the world. 

Josh Monroe is the co-host of “What the World Needs Now” podcast that aims to provide inspiration to educators around the world. He was awarded the KSRZ 104.5 (2013)  and the KQKQ 98.5 (2020) Teacher Award, and a finalist for the Generational Award from Class Intercom (2021). Developing a classroom community built on empathy and love is something Mr. Monroe intentionally works to do each year. Monroe Believes that this type of learning environment is critical in helping students not only be successful in class, but beyond, as they prepare to inherit society. Mr. Monroe currently lives in Omaha with his wife, three children, and two dogs.

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Originally from Michigan, Josie McClain earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from Hope College in 2016 and earned her Master of Arts in Social Emotional Learning from National University in 2021. Josie is passionate about SEL, culturally responsive practices, and brain breaks. She has shared her research on culturally responsive practices and brain breaks at multiple educational conferences and published a book about the benefits of brain breaks in the classroom. In 2023, she was named a top ten finalist for the Arizona Rural Teacher of the Year.

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Kendrick Kumabe is the author of “Coaching Young Champions: Social Emotional Learning Considerations for the Virtual/Hybrid Educator.” He has championed the role of social and emotional learning inside the classroom. As an education consultant with over 20 years of experience in the field, Kendrick has enjoyed traveling around the country, supporting principals, teachers, and students as they plan and implement SEL lessons into their school culture and curriculum.

Lee Eisen facilitates his SEL lessons within the restorative circle setting, giving students a platform to check in with each other and reflect on their own self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. In his spare time, you will find him on his bike and playing all genres of music.

As the SEL facilitator at Lafayette Elementary School, Mary Seidman has led the schoolwide implementation of Harmony by building the capacity of the teachers. Mary is originally from Lima, Peru, and she strives to help students accept and affirm their cultural identities. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her four children, and her two mini dachshunds. 

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Melissa Collins’ classroom is her “happy place,” where she enjoys working with her bright and brilliant urban students. She is an expert in teacher leadership and voice, and she advocates for global learning, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, as well as high standards for all students. Melissa has received several awards including  the 2024 McGraw Hill Pathfinder, Amazon Future Engineer Teacher of the Year, 2019 National University Teacher of the Year (Tennessee), Global Teacher Prize Finalist (Top 50), and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

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As a special education teacher, Melissa Mule is committed to bringing out the best in each of her students. She strives to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment where every child feels valued and capable. By tailoring her teaching strategies to meet individual needs, she helps her students overcome challenges and achieve their fullest potential. Her passion, patience, and unwavering belief in their abilities inspire her students to grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

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Melody Hawkins is an award-winning, accomplished educator, author, consultant, SEL ambassador, and visionary educational leader. As an organizational innovation doctoral student at National University, Melody is fueled by a commitment to address disparities in K–12 education. Melody has received many accolades such as National University Teacher of the Year in 2021. Now, Melody focuses on improving access to science education in her city’s urban-based schools and embedding racial equity and social-emotional academic development into the culture of youth-serving community-based organizations.

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Michael Dunlea has been teaching for 21 years in preschool, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades. He holds a master’s degree in educational technology from New Jersey City University and a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Mount Holyoke College. He has received several honors and was selected as a 2020 Varkey Foundation Global Top Teacher Prize Finalist, 2020 NEA Global Fellow, and the 2018 Presidential Award of Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Michael lives with his wife and children in southern coastal New Jersey where he is an active member of his community.

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Olivia Leone is currently a 5th grade teacher in Millburn, New Jersey. She taught in New York City, specifically in the South Bronx for ten years. During her journey in New York City, she received two master’s, one in elementary education with an emphasis in reading and a Master of Arts in Social and Emotional Learning from National University. Olivia was the National University Teacher of the Year for the Northeast Region in 2021. When Olivia is not teaching, she enjoys doing yoga and spending time with her family. 

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Sarah Frayer’s contributions to education are marked by her innovative teaching approaches and her advocacy for SEL as a foundational component of student development. Her leadership in integrating SEL into curriculum frameworks reflects her belief in the transformative impact of social and emotional learning and resilience-building on academic achievement and personal growth. Sarah completed her Master of Arts in Social Emotional Learning at National University and was honored as the National University Teacher of the Year (Washington D.C.) in 2019.

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Stephanie M. Johnson is an elementary and national board-certified teacher in early/middle childhood literacy.  Stephanie is a first-generation college graduate who earned a bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina, and a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Gardner-Webb University. Stephanie’s drive and passion for advancing excellence and equity for every student, supporting educators, and elevating the teaching profession are reflected in her work as an educator.

Providing high-quality and equitable SEL instruction to ALL students drives Stephanie Karlstrum’s work and passion. She has been an SEL instructional specialist for the last four years and was a classroom teacher for the prior seven years. Stephanie is originally from Washington State, and she has called Colorado home for the last 12 years. Her husband, two young daughters, and golden retriever enjoy hiking, biking, and traveling. 

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“Mr. Wiz” — as his students call him — is a staunch advocate for the teaching of social and emotional learning so that each student can reach their full potential. He first piloted Harmony in his classroom in 2016 and helped support Harmony districtwide in 2018. His work has been featured in the educational journals EdSurge and K–12Dive and his Inspire/Harmony Webinar is used in university and school districts as a professional development component. Tom was honored as National University Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Mr. Patel oversees the company’s philanthropic partnerships and investments throughout the U.S. Before joining Novo Nordisk, he spent more than 25 years with non-governmental organizations, designing, implementing, and evaluating community development projects worldwide. He has worked in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the U.S. on infectious disease control, chronic disease prevention and management, community resilience, disaster response, and climate change adaptation. His expertise includes community development, strategy design and execution, relationship building, and impact assessment.

Dr. Arnold is currently the Credential-Rich Pathways Director at National University, he previously serviced as department chair for Global Innovation and Social-Emotional Learning within the Sanford College of Education. He spent the first half of his career focused on media arts (film, games, and design) before transitioning to teaching and administration in those disciplines. His current research interests center on humane emerging technologies. Early in his career, he worked as an editor for Nickelodeon Animation Studios in the late ’90s on shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants.

Christina Cipriano, Ph.D. (she/her), is an associate professor at the Yale Child Study Center and director of the Education Collaboratory at Yale University. She is also the author of the forthcoming book Be Unapologetically Impatient. Committed to translational science, Dr. Cipriano’s research systematically advances equitable and inclusive social-emotional learning science and practice for researchers and schools worldwide. An award-winning expert in the science of learning, development, and open science practices, she is the principal investigator of numerous major grants and has published over 100 papers, commentaries, and reports in top-tier journals and media outlets. Learn more at drchriscip.com.

Mr. Adams serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Urban Assembly. He joined the organization in 2014 as the Director of Social-Emotional Learning, where he created the Resilient Scholars Program (RSP), a unique approach to integrating SEAD into curricula and classroom practices across the Urban Assembly network. RSP has since expanded into a national program, serving schools and districts in Los Angeles, Houston, Syracuse, and beyond. In 2022, Mr. Adams was named one of Crain’s 40 Under 40 honorees, and in 2021, he received the Champion of Equity Award from the American Consortium.

Dr. Deborah Bergeron (or Dr. B, as she is known to students and educators) has dedicated over 30 years to supporting children’s growth and development. In January 2021, she joined the National Head Start Association as the Deputy Director of Community Engagement and Innovation. She works to unite the Head Start and Early Head Start communities, provide essential support for high-quality programming, and remind educators that they are the backbone of Head Start and Early Head Start. Her favorite mantra, borrowed from Head Start, is: “Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher.”

With a remarkable 28-year tenure serving CCSD families, Ms. Diaz has a rich background in education, including 16 years in the classroom. Over the course of her career, her passion for engaging families became increasingly evident. Motivated to advocate for families, she took on the role of family engagement project facilitator for six years. Driven by her unwavering commitment to family involvement, Ms. Diaz equips schools with research-based practices and programs designed to engage families and positively impact student achievement.

Dr. DePaoli serves as a Senior Researcher and Director of the Whole Child Policy Table at the Learning Policy Institute. She also co-leads the Whole Child Education team, focusing on students’ social and emotional learning, well-being, the science of learning and development, and centering policy and practice around the whole child. She has over a decade of experience teaching and conducting research and policy analysis in K–12 education. She began her career teaching middle school students before later teaching courses in educational foundations at the University of Akron and Ohio State University.

With over 20 years of experience as an educator and six years leading school counselors in the fourth-largest school district in California, Mrs. Komatz is committed to fostering environments where students feel loved and valued. As a relationship-centered, equity-focused leader, she believes in the power of each person’s story and works to ensure every student is seen and heard. Holding a Master’s in School Counseling and an Administrative Services Credential, she believes that when students feel supported and cared for, they thrive both academically and socially. Her passion lies in making a lasting, positive impact on every student’s journey.

Dr. Ray’s career spans designing technology in classroom and museum settings and directing technology research through Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s Center for Science Outreach and Johns Hopkins University. As a district administrator for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, she led the award-winning design, implementation, and evaluation of instructional technology programs, including online and blended learning environments, redesigned physical learning environments, a virtual high school, and redefined school libraries. Dr. Ray is internationally recognized for her work in online and blended learning and flexible learning environments.

A Houston native, Mr. Taylor’s impactful career began in 2001, dedicated to creating welcoming environments for all youth. Recognized for his collaboration and dedication, he has received numerous awards and invitations to speak at national conferences. As the District Executive Director of Youth Development, he oversees operations for over 170 after-school elementary programs and 20 camps. His priorities include student and staff safety, professional development, and sustaining community partnerships.

Dr. Strayhorn is a prolific and influential scholar in education, psychology, and diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Named one of the country’s “Top Diversity Scholars” by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and recognized as a “Bridge-Builder” between academic and student affairs, he has authored 12 books, including the award-winning College Students’ Sense of Belonging (2nd ed., 2019), and over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and academic publications.

Mr. Martinez-Black (he/they) bridges research, practice, and policy in social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD), math pedagogy, and equity in civic institutions. At the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), he focused on empowering parents and caregivers to partner with school staff and communities. He has designed and led adult learning experiences throughout his career, often intersecting mathematics, equity, and SEAD.