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Noah has served as a School District of Philadelphia Assistant Superintendent since 2020. In this role, he oversees Learning Network 4, partnering with school leaders to focus on student achievement, equity, and emotional/social development. Prior to joining the School District of Philadelphia, Noah served as the principal and then CEO of Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter, the only all-boys public school in Pennsylvania. Under his leadership, Boys’ Latin maintained an average college matriculation rate of 85% and an average college persistence rate of 77%.
Noah has been an educator since 1998. Prior to becoming a principal, Noah served as Assistant Principal, Acting Director of Guidance, and middle school English teacher. Noah was named University of Pennsylvania’s Educator of the Year (2017) and received the YMCA Achievers Excellence in Service to Youth Award. Noah is a contributing author to Repositioning Educational Leadership (Teachers College Press. Columbia University). He has served on the boards for Philadelphia Charters for Excellence and North Carolina Outward Bound School. Noah grew up in Harrisburg, PA.
Sara Ray Stoelinga is the President & CEO of Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Rockford. In her role at Easterseals, Sara oversees a broad portfolio that includes three campuses of Easterseals Academy which serves students with autism, numerous Head Start and Early Head Start centers, 2 Child-Family-Connection centers, district training in special education and community-based programs for low income families and people with disabilities. Easterseals is nearly $60m operating with more than 650 employees, serving 30,000 families each year.
Prior to her role at Easterseals, Sara was most recently the Sara Liston Spurlark Director at the Urban Education Institute and a Clinical Professor in the Committee on Education at the University of Chicago. Sara spent 22 years at the Institute, going from intern, to graduate research associate, to researcher, to senior director, to director. Sara was also a professor at the University of Chicago, teaching courses to undergraduates on school reform history and policy and sociology of education. Sara has written and spoken extensively on urban school reform history and policy, including articles, op eds, research reports and 2 books with Columbia University’s Teachers College Press.
Sara received a B.A. and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago.
An accomplished executive with more than 30 years of diverse financial experience, Tim O’Shaughnessy is the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Aramark U.S. Food & Facilities operations. As Senior Vice President, Tim oversees reporting and analysis of results and operations, audit and controls, capital investment, growth and operations support, and overall strategic financial leadership for 10 of Aramark’s business units, including Sports + Entertainment, the Workplace Experience Group (Dining, Refreshment), and both Collegiate and Next Level Hospitality. As CFO, Tim also focuses on ensuring a deep pipeline of talented finance and accounting professionals for the company.
Tim first joined Aramark in 1989; in 2007, he departed his role as SVP and CFO of Aramark’s Business, Sports & Entertainment Group, and moved on to serve as Chief Financial Officer for St. Joseph’s Prep and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He also spent nearly two years at La Salle University in various roles, including as interim president.
Tim is a Founding Board Member of Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, a Former Board Member of Polonia Bank, and a Former Audit Committee Member for Holy Family University.
Tim holds a BS in Accounting from LaSalle University and an MBA from Wharton (University of Pennsylvania).
Joe Neubauer was Chairman of the Board of ARAMARK Corporation, a leading global provider of professional services including food, hospitality, facility and uniform services, from April 1984 until February 2015. Joe joined Aramark in 1979 as Executive Vice President of Finance and Development, Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors. He was elected President in 1981, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 1983 and Chairman in 1984. He held the title of CEO until May 2012. During his tenure at the helm of Aramark, the company grew from a $2.5 billion business largely concentrated in the United States to a $13 billion global services provider.
Prior to Aramark, Joe held senior positions with PepsiCo, Inc. from 1971 to 1979, including Senior Vice President of PepsiCo’s Wilson Sporting Goods Division and Vice President and Treasurer of the parent company, PepsiCo, Inc.
From 1965 to 1971 he was with the Chase Manhattan Bank, serving in several capacities from Assistant Treasurer to Vice President of commercial lending.
Joe serves on the Board of Directors of Mondelez International. He is Chairman of the University of Chicago’s Board of Trustees and also Chairman of the Barnes Foundation’s Board. He was formerly a director of Verizon Communications, Macy’s, Inc., and Tufts University.
Joe has been recognized throughout his career for civic and professional achievements. He was conferred with Papal Honors, Knight in the Order of St. Gregory The Great in 2016. In 2015 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He received the William Penn Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a business person in the greater Philadelphia business community in 2013. For his civic involvement, he received the prestigious Philadelphia Award in 2012. Also in 2012, Joe was a Great Immigrants – Pride of America Honoree by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. In 2010 he was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal from the University of Virginia for setting high standards in corporate and civic leadership. He received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship as well as recognition as a Financial Times Outstanding Director in 2005. In 1994 he was inducted into the prestigious Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. He has been a member of the American Philosophical Society since 2007.
Joe received his Bachelor’s Degree from Tufts University and his Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago, and in 2017, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Technion. He received honorary degrees previously from Tufts University, Drexel University, Franklin & Marshall College, and Widener University.
Stephanie Naidoff, Esq. served as Philadelphia’s City Representative and Director of Commerce from 2004 to 2008. In this position, she was the city’s Chief Economic Development Officer and its official representative for cultural programs and special events.
Stephanie was responsible for developing and implementing the City’s economic development strategy. She led a process to create an Economic Development Blueprint which served as a guide and stimulus for much of the City’s recent progress. The Blueprint laid out the Mayor’s signature initiatives regarding downtown commercial development, neighborhood revitalization, waterfront transformation, civic and cultural development, and expansion of the knowledge industry. In conjunction with this role, she was the Mayor’s liaison to the business, arts, and hospitality/tourism communities. She also supervised the Airport and coordinated the City’s role with respect to all of the related Economic Development agencies. As City Representative, she was responsible for numerous city-wide special events such as Live 8 and the Olympics bid.
Prior to her appointment as Commerce Director, Stephanie was the founding President of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. In the four years she served as President, the Center went from a long delayed dream to a $275 million architectural masterpiece on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts, complete with an operational endowment and well-regarded management team.
Earlier, Stephanie had a successful 30+ year career as a lawyer, starting with public service. She served for 13 years in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ultimately becoming the Chief Counsel for the Mid-Atlantic states. She became the first General Counsel for Thomas Jefferson University where she served for 14 years, overseeing the University’s legal, insurance, government affairs and community relations programs. She then practiced law at the firm of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius where she was a corporate lawyer focused on the restructuring of health care organizations.
Stephanie also built an impressive portfolio of civic activities. She served on the board of CoreStates Bank and the William Penn Foundation. She was the founding Chair of the Wachovia Regional Foundation and the Pennsylvania Women’s Forum and served on the boards of numerous other locally-based cultural and civic organizations. She is currently a board member of the University of Pennsylvania health system (Penn Medicine), Philadelphia Schools Partnerships, the Curtis Institute, and the Free Library. In Aspen, she is on the board of Aspen Public Radio and the Aspen Music Festival and School. She is the recipient of numerous awards from the League of Women Voters, the American Red Cross, the Girl Scouts, Woman One, and the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania.
Stephanie received her JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1966 and her BA from Goucher College in 1963. She is married to Michael A. Naidoff, MD, and they have one son, Dan who is a film editor. She lives in Philadelphia and Aspen.
Prior to joining the School Leaders team, Hannah served as the founding Director of Learning at College Together. At CT, she built the organization’s core academic program and designed coaching practices for student success. Her support structures lead to accelerated rates of AA and BA degree attainment with most students attaining a degree in 2.1 years.
Hannah is passionate about both education and service and over the past 15+ years, she has held various roles in school and nonprofit settings. Prior to CT, she was the Program Manager at Year Up Greater Philadelphia and a founding teacher at the Academy at Palumbo. At Palumbo, she taught English and helped develop schoolwide traditions and structures for student success. Hannah also facilitated teacher professional development with the Philadelphia Writing Project and is an advisory board member of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators. A three-term AmeriCorps alumna, Hannah also has strong roots in service; highlights include directing large-scale volunteer initiatives with Mayor Nutter’s Office of Civic Engagement and the 2016 Democratic National Convention. As a first generation college graduate, Hannah knows firsthand the power of collaborative support networks and has made giving back a cornerstone of all her work.
A proud Philly native, Hannah graduated from Central High School (259!). She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Columbia University and a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
As Program Manager of the Neubauer Fellowship in Educational Leadership, Star leads aspects of content design and program implementation, as well as communication of School Leaders’ programs and their impact.
Prior to joining School Leaders, Star was a Senior Impact Manager with City Year Philadelphia where she developed and managed partnerships with school administrators to ensure the implementation of City Year’s attendance, behavior and course performance interventions for students. She managed and coached teams of AmeriCorps members to serve and support scholars while developing their leadership potential.
It was through her hands-on experiences with young people, students, teachers, and administrators that Star witnessed the power of transformational leaders. She worked at S. Weir Mitchell Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Avery D. Harrington Elementary, and other schools, aiming to increase student outcomes and dismantle barriers that keep our scholars from receiving quality education. During her time at City Year, Star was designated as the Site Equity Point where she created social justice trainings and reports for educators and led implementation of the organization’s equity learning and practice.
Star is a graduate from the University of Maryland, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degree.
As Program Director, Latanya (Tanya) Simmons leads the Neubauer Fellowship in Educational Leadership and Senior Fellow (alumni) programming. Tanya is a 2019 Neubauer Fellow and Performance Partners Coach.
Tanya is an educator and leader whose purpose is to ensure that all students have access to excellent schools and equitable opportunities to pursue their dreams. She believes whole-heartedly in developing the whole child and is deeply invested in social emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and initiatives that affirm, empower, and promote the identity of all students.
Throughout her 20-year career, Latanya has had the honor and privilege of serving in both district and charter schools in New York, Newark, Trenton, and Philadelphia. She began her career as a third grade teacher and moved on to be a School Counselor, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Principal. Prior to joining our team, Latanya led and served as the principal at Mastery Charter Harrity Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia for 5 years. Under her leadership, Harrity’s kindergarten through second grade reading proficiency increased by 35%. Harrity was recognized by the School District of Philadelphia for two tiers of growth on the School Progress Report. In 2018-19, all student groups exceeded the standard demonstrating growth for English Language Arts (ELA) and Math as measured by the Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System (PVAAS).
Latanya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Africana Studies from Rutgers University, a Master of Science in Teaching from Pace University, a Master of Arts in Counselor Education, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from The College of New Jersey. Latanya grew up in South Jersey and is deeply committed to community service and activism. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and has a passion for traveling all over the world.
Dr. Edwin M. Quezada has nearly 35 years of experience working in education, serving in elementary, middle, and high schools as a teacher, school counselor, development professional, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, deputy superintendent, and, since March of 2016, superintendent of Yonkers Public Schools, an urban district of more than 3,600 staff and serving nearly 26,000 students across more than 40 schools. Quezada has a proven track record of developing educational leaders—planning and delivering professional development and experiences that bolster the leadership competencies required to create a school culture in which the needs of all learners are met—and implementing systems of support to create a district-wide educational culture focused on accountability, achievement, sustainability, and educational opportunities for all.
Under Quezada’s superintendence, the Yonkers Public School District became the highest performing of all Big Five districts in New York. For the past seven years, Yonkers held the highest graduation rates of the Big Five districts, achieving a 90% graduation rate for all students over the past three years and raising the on-time graduation rate for all diverse learners, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners. He also worked collaboratively with all stakeholders to lower the high school dropout rate by 61 percentage points since 2015.
Quezada is driven by the philosophy that all children can achieve at high levels when given quality instruction, a supportive learning community, and when learning with caring adults who value academic success. He is now dedicated to preparing and developing school and system leaders in order to create such an environment.
Quezada served as co-chair of the Yonkers My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, an initiative designed to address enduring opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color, launched by the Obama Foundation with a goal of ensuring that all young people can reach their full potential. In 2023, the Obama Foundation named Yonkers Public Schools one of four My Brother’s Keeper Model Communities, an acknowledgment of the positive impact on graduation rates for young men of color seen under Quezada’s leadership.
Additional accolades acknowledging Quezada’s work in community service and educational leadership include an Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from the University Council for Educational Administration; a Yonkers Commission on Human Rights 2018 Community Service Award; and a 2020 Leadership and Excellence in Education Award from the Association of Dominican-American Supervisors and Administrators.
Over the past five years, Quezada also worked in support of Yonkers Urban Leadership Academy (YULA), developed in collaboration with the Wallace Foundation, the New York City Leadership Academy, and Bank Street College of Education and focused on preparing those in the pipeline to serve as assistant principals in urban schools. He is also President-electS of the New York State Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.
Quezada earned a Bachelor of Arts in accounting and a Master of Science in school counseling from Herbert H. Lehmann College, a Master of Science in school supervision and administration from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Education in school leadership for teaching and learning from Walden University.
As a Leader Coach, Jovan, who is also a 2019 Neubauer Fellow, plays an instrumental role in supporting the organizational vision of achieving educational equity in Philadelphia so every child has an educational experience that prepares them for success.
Grounded in the ideology that education is a form of liberation, Jovan is a lifelong learner and leader that believes in creating spaces where all students can thrive and realize their fullest potential. As an educator that has focused on the social-emotional learning and growth in school communities, she believes that to create great classrooms that allow students to grow and learn, we must focus on the whole person of both students and staff.
Beginning her educational career teaching sexuality-based education, Jovan has spent the last 15 years serving in Philadelphia in both the School District of Philadelphia and Mastery Charter. Jovan began teaching Biology and Environmental Science for grades 9-12 before being promoted to Assistant Principal, and then Principal, serving as Principal of Kensington Urban Education Academy and Grover Washington Jr. Middle School prior to taking on the principalship at Girard Academic Music Program in 2018. As the school’s first principal of color, and with a focus on restorative practice and student voice, Jovan’s leadership elevated GAMP’s success metrics in attendance (increase in the number of students attending 95% or more), graduation (a 12.4% increase in the number of 9th-grade students on track to graduate), and academic achievement (a 9% increase in science achievement on the Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA)). In 2021, GAMP was named a Blue Ribbon School for Excellence.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jovan has earned a Bachelor of Health and Sports Studies from Miami University (OH), a Master of Education from the University of Pennsylvania, a master’s in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University, and a Master of Divinity from Palmer Theological Seminary. Jovan is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
As Director of Data and Evaluation, Sam is committed to helping the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders effectively use and grow data systems while guiding analyses to inform program design and evaluation. As an educator and immigrant, he always has gravitated to educational organizations focused on the academic success of all students. Professionally, Sam has over a decade of experience as an educator and administrator.
Before joining the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders, Sam served as the Director of Assessment, Research & Evaluation at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD). At SMMUSD, he helped guide the district’s comprehensive assessment plan and program evaluation efforts. Sam also supervised federal and state categorical programs, led data governance and analytical efforts, and regularly engaged with diverse stakeholder groups including the school board, parents, and staff.
Beginning his career teaching high school physics, Sam remains first and foremost a teacher at heart. His desire to make instruction engaging and relevant while maintaining rigor drove him to use hands-on labs and activities, videos, demonstrations, and small group sessions to supplement traditional lectures. This focus also led him to add computer programming into his course curricula and guide students in the building/launching of amateur high-power rockets in the California desert. Outside of the classroom, Sam also served as a vice principal and program coordinator.
Sam holds a Master of Science degree in Physics from California State University, Long Beach and a Bachelor of Science degree in Astrophysics from University of California, Los Angeles. Amongst other notable achievements, Sam was a recipient of the prestigious NASA Graduate Student Researchers Program Fellowship.
As Program Director, Matt Kelley leads the Performance Partners Program, Leaders of Leaders, and school system partnerships. Before joining the Philly School Leaders team, Matt worked at the Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP). As the Director of School Investments, Matt led a portfolio that supported over 65 schools across the city of Philadelphia. He provided professional development and technical assistance to support schools to transform grant funding into outstanding results for students. He designed and facilitated a two-year Instructional Collaborative focused on increasing student outcomes and managed six Communities of Practice in the areas of literacy, math, special education, instructional coaching, data & assessment, and talent.
Before joining PSP, Matt served for nearly seven years as the founding Principal of DRW College Prep, a campus of the Noble Network of Charter Schools in Chicago. Under his leadership, the school was one of the top-ranked for ACT growth out of over 100 non-selective high schools in Chicago and 83% of students from the school’s first two classes matriculated into college. Prior to DRW College Prep, Matt taught English for eight years in a variety of school settings, including as a Teach For America Corps Member in the Arkansas Delta region, at an international private school in Mexico City, and at Noble’s Rauner College Prep in Chicago.
Matt is a Philadelphia area native, who graduated from Penn Charter. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Brown University and a Masters degree in School Leadership from the Summer Principals Academy at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Shakia Harris serves as Program Associate at the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders and performs a diverse range of responsibilities including operational, logistical, and administrative tasks to support program efficiency and effectiveness.
Prior to joining School Leaders, Shakia was a Parent and Community Organizer with Mastery Charter Schools where she developed and managed partnerships with parents and community leaders to work on local issues of safety and resources for children. She managed and coached parent leaders to take action while developing their political skills.
She worked as a coordinator with Refuse To Quit Academy where she learned how to help families conduct action plans to work on their shortcomings and overcome obstacles. She learned this skill by working as a social worker at Northeast Treatment Centers for 5 years. There she learned how to navigate the Philadelphia Family Court, and speak on behalf of the family while also connecting them with resources. Shakia has 8 years of experience working in a multitude of School District of Philadelphia campuses as therapeutic staff support to children, teachers, and staff. There she learned how to collaborate and strategize for the best possible outcomes for everyone.
Shakia is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she earned her bachelor’s degree.
Alex Grumbacher joined PASL in September 2023 as the Director of Operations. Alex has spent over 20 years working for nonprofit, membership-based organizations, working for various organizations throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and South Carolina. He has extensive knowledge of operational and organizational effectiveness, with experience in stabilizing the financial outlook of several synagogues, the care and stewardship of historical properties, the complete development and execution of COVID-19 plans, grant writing, and security procedure development and implementation. With an eye toward problem-solving, Alex is excited to bring his experience and knowledge to PASL at this time of organizational growth.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Delaware. He received his Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Rutgers University, and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the same institution. Alex resides in South Jersey with his wife, two kids, and rescue dog, Philly. He is an avid Philadelphia sports fan and enjoys trying new restaurants, listening to podcasts, and traveling to new places.
As Operations Manager, Sasha contributes to the Philadelphia Academy of School Leaders in diverse ways including organizational and administrative operations and general programmatic support.
Sasha discovered her passion for education while volunteering in Philadelphia public schools. This led to a role as an Americorps VISTA with The Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development, working with Alexander Adaire Elementary School. During her time at Adaire, Sasha worked to develop, expand or maintain 80 partnerships or events. Her work focused on supporting the school’s improvement plan through partner-provided services and/or events. These many partnerships and events helped increase enrollment, improve attendance, and show progress on test scores.
Sasha has two children who have both soared in Philadelphia public schools. She is a graduate of University of Houston and lives in Philadelphia.
Timothy McKenna was named Assistant Superintendent of Post-Secondary Readiness in 2024, and leads the district’s Office of Assessment and the Office of Evaluation, Research, and Accountability. Prior to this appointment, McKenna spent two years as Deputy Chief of Accountability in the Office of Evaluation, Research, and Accountability.
Prior to this role, Tim served as President of Central High School, Philadelphia’s oldest public school. Under his leadership (2012-2021) as the school’s 14th President, Central High School earned recognition from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the School District of Philadelphia for its continued excellence in academics. In 2021, the Lenfest Foundation donated $100,000 to support Central’s 9th Grade Summer Bridge Initiative, fully funding the program for four years. In 2013, Central won the Governor’s Award for Academic Excellence and is annually recognized with the highest possible overall rating (“City Leader”) on the School District of Philadelphia School Progress Report (SPR). In 2019 Central was again recognized as a Model School by the SPR with an overall score of 85.
Tim has been an educator since 1996. Prior to his role at Central, Tim was Principal at Furness High School (2008–2012) and led the school to a 10% increase in average daily attendance growth and meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirements. In addition, Tim was Principal at Frances Willard Elementary School (2006–2008), during which Willard Elementary achieved 20% gains in reading and 30% gains in math state assessment scores.
Tim’s professional honors include the Schoolmen’s Club of Philadelphia Martin Glassman Commitment to Education Award (2018), the Philadelphia Public League Coaches Association’s Administrator of the Year award (2009-2010), and ASPIRA, Inc. of Pennsylvania’s High School “Principal of the Year” award (2009-2010). Prior to becoming a principal, Tim served as reading specialist, school-based teacher leader, and teacher. Tim grew up in Philadelphia and attended St. Joseph’s Preparatory School.
