As Chief Operating Officer at Knox Education Foundation, Jill oversees operational, grantmaking, and evaluation efforts to advance the organization's mission of improving educational outcomes for Knox County students. While assisting with the development of strategic initiatives and innovative programs, she facilitates the foundation's engagement with funders, Board of Directors, and external partners to ensure seamless alignment with the foundation's strategic goals. Jill played a crucial role in the KEF, PIVOT, KCS relationship that allowed for the pilot program to occur.

Session:

Breakout Session 403 - Investing in Principals as the Lever for School Improvement

Nicole Anderson has served as both the Executive Director of the CPS Foundation as well as the Marketing & Communications Director of Columbus Public Schools since 2019. Prior to this she worked as the Vice President of Public Relations for Columbus Physical Therapy located in Columbus, Nebraska and the Marketing and Event Coordinator for Wendell Pittenger Golf Operations in Oakdale, Minnesota.

In her current position she has been able to help the foundation support the strategic plan of the school district while incorporating foundation stories of giving back into the District communications.

Sessions:

• Breakout Session 404 - Discover Something Greater Than Yourself: Community Collaboration

• TED Talk Presentation - I Love Public Schools: Are You Sharing Stories That Can Be Shared By Others?

Rachel Alterman Wallack, MSW, has a passion for helping organizations bring meaningful youth voice to strengthen their impact. After serving as founding executive director for VOX ATL, building a start-up nonprofit into a sustainable youth-development organization, she transitioned into developing strategic partnerships and trainings to build capacity in youth-impacting organizations.

She has consulted with youth-serving organizations and foundations, and presented with youth at a variety of conferences, including National Afterschool Association, Beyond School Hours, and National Summer Learning Association. Rachel believes fundamentally in the power of youth voice to transform people, programs and communities.

Session:

Breakout Session 203 - Youth Engagement: Top 10 Things Organizations Can Get Wrong About Meaningful Youth Engagement - and How To Get It Right!

Terri Burchell serves as the Executive Director of the North Platte Public School Foundation. She is an experienced marketing and fundraising professional with a proven track record in higher education and the financial industry. Terri is highly skilled in relationship management, organizational development, training, team building, and volunteer management, showcasing her ability to lead and inspire teams while fostering meaningful connections.

Session:

Breakout Session 504 - Making a Change with Change: How The North Platte Public School Foundation Significantly Elevated Their Fundraising Results in Just a Few Days 

Prior to taking the helm at MCPSEF, Kristen was a career educator. She has taught preschool through graduate level, working in classrooms to the state level policy in multiple states across the country. Kristen is deeply committed to equity and inclusion, particularly for individuals with disabilities. Her mission is to make the corner of the world she occupies a little bit better through service and kindness.

Kristen is a graduate of Dartmouth College (Bachelor of Arts); University of Hawaii-Manoa (Master’s in Special Education and Certificate in Diversity and Disabilities Studies); Harvard Graduate School of Education (Doctorate in Education Leadership); and Washington State University (Superintendents Program).

Session:

For more than 25 years Robin has served in a variety of nonprofit roles in K-12 philanthropy, national association management, and community foundation philanthropy which have provided her with unique insights, and a wide array of tools and resources to help nonprofits and their leaders thrive. She and others on The Callahan Collaborative team facilitate virtual and in-person consensus-based conversations to develop strategic plans, facilitate engaging board and staff retreats and visioning sessions, and conduct board trainings. 

She helps nonprofits harness the transfer of wealth by starting or growing their planned giving programs. She also supports executive leadership transitions by conducting salary and benchmarking surveys, succession planning and leadership searches.  She led the Issaquah Schools Foundation (WA) for 16 years, and the National Association of Education Foundation (precursor to NAEF). She is an instructor in the CEFL Program and lives on the beautiful Puget Sound in WA state.  

Sessions:

• Breakout Session 302 - Relaunch or Tune Up? Getting Your Foundation to the Next Level 

• TED Talk Presentation - Creating Clarity: Why Every Education Foundation Needs an MOU with Their School District

Alayna Cate is a public education advocate and nonprofit professional serving as the Director of Partnerships for Nashville-based 501(c)(3), PENCIL. Cate became a K-8 music teacher in 2016, quickly realizing the systemic failures impacting public education. This spurred her decision to pursue a Master of Education Policy from Vanderbilt University.

From there, Cate was drawn to the nonprofit sector and thus discovered PENCIL. Cate is a member of 2023 Nashville Leadership Public Education (LPE) and 2024 Nashville Emerging Leaders (NEL), continuing to grow as a leader in the local public education sphere.

Session:

Breakout Session 104 - Building and Sustaining Community Partnerships in Schools

Elsa P. Chagolla has served as the Executive Director of the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation since November 2019. With over 25 years of experience, she specializes in building community partnerships, program design, and leading successful fundraising efforts. Elsa’s previous roles include Executive Director at the Glendale Educational Foundation and key leadership positions at LA Promise Fund and the U.S. Department of Education.

A first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about expanding educational opportunities. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Public Policy from the University of Southern California.

Session:

Breakout Session 502 - Lynwood Alumni Center Fosters Success and Community

Mary Chance has served as president of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations since 2008 after serving as the executive director of the Alachua County education foundation for ten years, diversifying the scope of work for that foundation significantly and increasing annual revenue from $100,000 to $1.2 million.

The President is the senior-most position in the Consortium and reports directly to the board of directors. Primary responsibilities include supervising board development, public affairs, partnership and resource development, program and administrative activities, and overseeing compliance with all local and state regulations regarding the organization.

Session:

Breakout Session 202 - Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations: Insights from 27 Years of Local and Statewide Education Foundation Leadership

Windy Clayton is Partner Engagement Officer for Knox Education Foundation. She previously served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal of Beaumont Magnet Academy in Knox County Schools.

Session:

Breakout Session 103 - Creating Community-Based Systems to Scale Business-Education Partnerships That Impact All Students

Brad Corum is the Academies Coordinator for Knox County Schools. He previously served as a teacher, assistant principal, and Executive Principal for Karns Middle, Karns High School, and Carter High School.

Session:

Breakout Session 103 - Creating Community-Based Systems to Scale Business-Education Partnerships That Impact All Students

Executive Director of the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center, Dr. Erin Crisp, has been leading the GYO center's work since its launch in January 2023. As the state with the first federally registered teacher apprenticeship program in the US, and as the state with the largest number of registered teacher apprentices, Tennessee has been a leader in this work.

Dr. Crisp, a career educator, and her team in the GYO center have uncovered programmatic design elements that lead to great success as well as risks to be avoided.

Session:

Breakout Session 602 - The ROI of Growing Our Own

Karin Cox, MFA, has helped Kinetic clients raise hundreds of millions of dollars through customized, research-based counsel and guidance. She has served in senior leadership roles in nonprofit and business sectors, and is an author, frequent presenter and senior consultant.

Karin is the author of Fundraising Leadership: The Essential Guide for Nonprofit Board Members Who Want to Make a Lasting Difference. She developed the widely adopted Cox Grid, which was first presented in Fundraising Principles and Practice, the definitive fundraising text published by Jossey-Bass. Karin serves on the board of Kentucky to the World.

Session:

Breakout Session 601 - Preparing for a Successful Campaign

Emanuel Enciso joined the Lynwood Partners Educational Foundation as Program & Development Coordinator in March 2024. A proud alumnus of Lynwood Unified School District and a first-generation college graduate, he earned two Associate degrees in Liberal Arts & Communications from Long Beach City College before completing a Bachelor’s in Communications: Advertising & Public Relations at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he served as President of Sigma Pi Fraternity International. Passionate about public relations, Emanuel is dedicated to leveraging his skills to make a meaningful impact on his Lynwood community through his work with the foundation.

Session:

Breakout Session 502 - Lynwood Alumni Center Fosters Success and Community

Bio coming soon!

Session:

TED Talk Presentation - I Love Public Schools: Are You Sharing Stories That Can Be Shared By Others?

Amy Galloway is the co-founder and executive director of PIVOT: School Improvment Leaders. She spent 15 years working in schools in Nashville, Philadelphia, and New York City as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She was the principal of a neighborhood elementary school that was the lowest performing elementary school in the state. Under her leadership, the school moved from the bottom 5%, the priority list, to the top 5%, the reward list, within four years.

Amy transitioned to the Tennessee Department of Education where she oversaw role specific professional learning networks for principals, assistant principals, and principal supervisors across the state. She and her co-founder, Zoë Beckham, launched PIVOT to equip and empower leaders in the higest need schools to drive results for every student.

Session:

Breakout Session 403 - Investing in Principals as the Lever for School Improvement

Sylvia Gastelbondo is the Chief Technology Officer at Arreva, bringing over 25 years of experience as an IT professional. She has specialized in developing and delivering cost-sensitive solutions for mission-critical environments and has held executive management positions across various industries, including insurance, financial services, and information technology. Sylvia also plays an active role in community life as a donor, volunteer and advocate.

Session:

Breakout Session 504 - Making a Change with Change: How The North Platte Public School Foundation Significantly Elevated Their Fundraising Results in Just a Few Days 

Kate serves as the Director of the Tennessee Grow Your Own Center (TN GYO Center). She has worked for the UT System Office and Tennessee Grow Your Own since December 2022. With a rich background in education, she holds a doctoral degree in education with an administrative endorsement, a master’s degree in reading education, and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, all from East Tennessee State University.

Before joining the TN GYO Center, Kate contributed to the field of education in various impactful roles, including senior specialist at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, associate principal of Kingsport City Schools, and interventionist and Read to be Ready coach consultant for the Tennessee Department of Education. Her career began as a dedicated kindergarten and first-grade teacher at Kingsport City Schools.

Session:

Breakout Session 602 - The ROI of Growing Our Own

Ralph Hayes is ED of Dorchester Two Ed Foundation in SC. He has implemented innovative STEM programming that has invigorated students and educators for his district of 27,000. From solar panels in their agriculture program to tie new age tech with farming to hydroponics directed at students with special needs to integrating technology to PE classes, his creative ideas blend traditional learning and cross-curricular instruction with unique methods. Ralph is a proud CEFL.

Session:

Breakout Session 604 - Next Gen STEM: Impactful & Innovative Programming

Dr. Kimberly R. Hill is the Director of Project Excellence and Community Engagement Coordinator at the University of Tennessee's College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS). A dedicated educator and advocate, Dr. Hill has extensive experience in creating pathways for student success through early college access and leadership education. She has spearheaded initiatives like the Distinguished Community Lecturer Award and Project Excellence, emphasizing community-university collaboration. Dr. Hill’s expertise in community engagement and her leadership role in the CEHHS Leadership Studies program make her a seasoned professional in fostering impactful partnerships that bridge academia and the community.

Session:

Marc Hill is a community coach with Ford Next Generation Learning. Previously, he served as President of the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and in leadership at the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor's Office in Nashville, TN.

Session:

Breakout Session 103 - Creating Community-Based Systems to Scale Business-Education Partnerships That Impact All Students

Laura Hite is Executive Director of Chesterfield Education Foundation. She joined CEF during a time of multiple leadership transitions and a financial crisis, and reorganized the budget so that both revenues and expenses made more sense to the Board and staff. She has a Master's degree in Arts Management and over a decade of experience with nonprofit budgets. She will complete her CEFL in December 2024.

Session:

TED Talk Presentation - Making Dollars Make Sense

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Africa, Erica Jones brings over 15 years of philanthropic experience to the Education Foundation leadership table. As an expert in successfully creating employee giving programs, Erica has designed and implemented impactful initiatives that engage employees and foster a culture of philanthropy within the Carteret County Public School Foundation.

Her passion for connecting communities to causes and her dedication to changing the conversation about public education make her a powerhouse in her field. Erica’s commitment to empowering educators and enhancing educational opportunities drives her success, making a meaningful difference in the lives of students, staff, and the broader community.

Session:

Breakout Session 401 - Growing Our Own: The Homegrown Teachers Initiative

With over 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector and in various roles focused on sales and relationship management, Emily brings the perfect blend of experience to her role at Bloomerang. As National Accounts Manager, Emily seeks to cultivate and preserve partnerships with new national nonprofit organizations, affiliates, and existing partners. She engages with prospects and current customers around the country to showcase solutions and unique offerings that Bloomerang provides for growing nonprofits.

Session:

Breakout Session 402 - From Boomers to Zoomers: Proven Tactics to Inspire Your Team as They Engage with Donors Across Generations

Matt Leighty, Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, is a seasoned grant writing expert with over 12 years of experience. He has secured more than $150 million in grants across various sectors, including education, energy, and community development. Matt's expertise spans multiple federal departments, including the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. His innovative approach to grant writing, coupled with his adaptability to emerging technologies, positions him as a leader in integrating AI tools into the grant acquisition process. Matt's proven track record in securing major funding for educational initiatives makes him uniquely qualified to guide foundations in leveraging AI for grant writing success.

Session:

Breakout Session 201 - AI-Assisted Grant Writing - Turning Grants from Chore to Opportunity

Josh Mahlik is Director of Partnership Development for Fork Farms in Green Bay, WI. His company leads the way in hydroponic gardening and their Flex Farm system has proven to be a success in districts throughout the world. Prior to working for Fork Farms, Josh was Regional Director of Environmental Innovations for for Duet Resource Group and was a Product Manager for Brady Corporation. He has a demonstrated history of bringing innovative solutions forward and for developing partnerships to reduce environmental impacts.

Session:

Katie Mixon is the Director of Educational Initiatives at KEF, where she oversees Priority Based Grants, One Book Read City and other educational programs. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education and master's degree in curriculum and instruction. Before joining KEF, she served as a classroom teacher and instructional coach in both TN and NC. Katie holds certifications as an Early Childhood Generalist from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and as a Reading Specialist from the Tennessee Department of Education.

Sessions:

Breakout Session 603 - Breakout Session 603- Funding What Matters:  Aligning Grants With Educational Priorities

David Moore has extensive experience working directly with local education foundations including ongoing longstanding strategic partnerships with Champions for Learning (Collier County, FL), the Education Foundation of Sarasota County (FL), and the Consortium of Florida Education Foundation. Additionally, David previously led planning for over a number of education foundations.

Session:

Breakout Session 202 - Triumphs, Trials and Tribulations: Insights from 27 Years of Local and Statewide Education Foundation Leadership

Dr. Maria I. Panizo is the Director of Data, Evaluation, and Strategy at KEF, where she oversees data collection, analyzes state and local data, and supports projects aimed at improving academic outcomes and identifying areas for improvement. She holds a Ph.D. in Research and Program Evaluation from the University of Miami and has extensive experience in educational research, strategy development, and program evaluation. Dr. Panizo has also led initiatives that apply best practices and use data-driven insights to support continuous improvement in educational outcomes.

Session:

Breakout Session 603 - Breakout Session 603- Funding What Matters:  Aligning Grants With Educational Priorities

Beth Becker currently serves as the Executive Director of the Thunderbolt Foundation which supports the Littlestown School District in Littlestown PA.

Previously, she taught 6th grade for 34 years at Maple Avenue Middle School in Littlestown PA. The Thunderbolt Foundation brought the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to children in the Littlestown School District in August of 2024 and are leading efforts to expand the program to all children who reside in Adams County.

Session:

TED Talk Presentation - Bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to Your Community

Gail Rothman, CEFL, is a Senior Consultant with The Callahan Collaborative who, over her 25-year career, has helped nonprofit enterprises grow, develop and thrive. Gail led the Decatur Education Foundation for 14 years and built it into a high-impact organization with $2 million in assets. She is passionate about coaching and supporting education foundation leaders and boards who seek to increase their impact and engage more deeply with their community.

Gail was part of the first cohort of the National Education Foundation Certification Program and served as the Chair of the NAEF Industry Leadership Council. She is a frequent presenter at NAEF Conferences and is known for her authentic and highly collaborative leadership style.

SessionS:

• Breakout Session 203 - Youth Engagement: Top 10 Things Organizations Can Get Wrong About Meaningful Youth Engagement - and How To Get It Right!

• Breakout Session 302 - Relaunch or Tune Up? Getting Your Foundation to the Next Level

Mike Rossi is a graduate of Penn State University's College of Education and spent the first portion of his career as an English teacher in Title I public schools. He also holds a Masters in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University and currently serves as Director of Data & Outcomes for PENCIL.

In his role, he works primarily as an intermediary between public schools and community partners to assist in data tracking and relationship management. Throughout his career, he has specialized in aligning diverse stakeholders to achieve shared goals for student and community success.

Session:

Breakout Session 104 - Building and Sustaining Community Partnerships in Schools

Copland Arnold Rudolph is the Executive Director of Asheville City Schools Foundation, a nonprofit whose mission is to collaborate with our community to do whatever it takes for all Asheville City Schools students to thrive. Under her leadership, ACSF has become a powerful conduit for student leadership by adding ACSF student board members. ACSF has undertaken significant racial equity work through the student-led Racial Equity Ambassador Program which has recently won the 2024 Dudley Flood Center's History Counts award.

Session:

Breakout Session 503 - Beyond Listening to Youth Voice: From Ideas to Action

Molly Servais is a senior consultant for Match Nonprofit Consulting. She has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, and leadership. She has worked for national nonprofit organizations including the Arthritis Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the YMCA. Molly’s vast experience includes developing annual giving programs, special events, grant writing, corporate and foundation relations, board development and governance and volunteer management. In addition to professional nonprofit management and fundraising experience, Molly has also served on numerous non-profit boards.

She recently served as Chair of the Morris Educational Foundation for three years which was recently named #1 in the country for education foundations of its size. Molly earned her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and completed the National School Foundation Association’s Education Foundation Leadership program through National University.

Session:

Breakout Session 101 - How to Make Sure Your Donors "Get the Message"

Jay Shively is the Chief Development Officer of the Henrico Education Foundation (HEF), located in Richmond, Virginia. HEF services more than 48,000 students PreK-12th grade in 72 education centers. These facilities are located in diverse suburban, rural and urban communities across Henrico County.

Jay joined HEF in 2017 and has raised more than $23 million to support public education in Henrico County. He is a strong advocate for public education and has a tremendous skill set. Jay plays an integral role in advancing HEF’s mission by developing donor strategies, increasing fundraising opportunities and ultimately helping to close the opportunity gap for Henrico County students. Jay has more than 22 years of non-profit management and fundraising experience.

Session:

Breakout Session 301 - Leveraging School District Career & Workforce Development Programs to Maximize Corporate Giving and Engagement 

Savannah Stamates is the Development Director for Anchorage School District and oversees all Discretionary grants, fundraising, and donations for the school district. Savannah has a Masters degree in Social Work, nine years of experience in K-12 education and discretionary funding management, and $85 million secured from federal, state, and local sources to support equitable education for all students.

Her knowledge and expertise in navigating complex systems, strategic planning, systems analysis, and grant management has supported the educational transformation in two of the largest school districts in the country.

Session:

Breakout Session 204 - Academies of Anchorage: A Case Study for Strategic Grant and Fundraising Strategies