Education Reform Staff
Jim Blew
As a consultant to the Walton Family Foundation, Jim Blew provides strategic direction to the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. He previously directed various campaigns for the Alliance for School Choice and its predecessor, the American Education Reform Council. He has also worked for political and marketing communications firms in New York and California. In 1997, he helped found the highly successful Watts Learning Center charter elementary school in South Los Angeles. Jim received a B.A. from Occidental College and an M.B.A. from Yale University.
As a consultant to the Walton Family Foundation, Jim Blew provides strategic direction to the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. He previously directed various campaigns for the Alliance for School Choice and its predecessor, the American Education Reform Council. He has also worked for political and marketing communications firms in New York and California. In 1997, he helped found the highly successful Watts Learning Center charter elementary school in South Los Angeles. Jim received a B.A. from Occidental College and an M.B.A. from Yale University.
Fawzia Ahmed
Fawzia Ahmed is a senior program officer with the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, Fawzia served as a senior director with Arabella Advisors. Fawzia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K., and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, New Haven, Conn.
Fawzia Ahmed is a senior program officer with the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, Fawzia served as a senior director with Arabella Advisors. Fawzia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, U.K., and an MBA from the Yale School of Management, New Haven, Conn.
Sarah Burns
As focus area coordinator/grants manager for the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, Sarah Burns manages the operational aspects of its public charter school grant-making process and education reform activities. Prior to joining the foundation she was Development Director for the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. Sarah holds a B.S. in Merchandising and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Education Policy from the University of Kentucky.
As focus area coordinator/grants manager for the foundation’s Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, Sarah Burns manages the operational aspects of its public charter school grant-making process and education reform activities. Prior to joining the foundation she was Development Director for the Central Kentucky Youth Orchestras. Sarah holds a B.S. in Merchandising and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Education Policy from the University of Kentucky.
Annie Hsiao
Annie Hsiao is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was the Director of Education Policy at the American Action Forum. Her prior experience also includes being Director of Government and Community Relations at the National Endowment for the Humanities and working for a non-profit building a museum on the American Revolution. Her work has appeared in Politico, National Review, Weekly Standard, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Daily Caller and other publications. Hsiao received her B.A. in Political Science and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, her Master in Education Policy from Harvard University, and was a Publius Fellow at the Claremont Institute.
Annie Hsiao is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was the Director of Education Policy at the American Action Forum. Her prior experience also includes being Director of Government and Community Relations at the National Endowment for the Humanities and working for a non-profit building a museum on the American Revolution. Her work has appeared in Politico, National Review, Weekly Standard, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Daily Caller and other publications. Hsiao received her B.A. in Political Science and Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, her Master in Education Policy from Harvard University, and was a Publius Fellow at the Claremont Institute.
Jamie Jutila
Jamie Jutila is an associate program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. She current works with grantees in the Denver area. Jamie previously worked on education and non-profit-related issues for U.S. Senator Max Baucus in Bozeman, Montana. She received a B.A. from Gonzaga University and is currently working towards an M.P.A. at University of Colorado – Denver.
Jamie Jutila is an associate program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. She current works with grantees in the Denver area. Jamie previously worked on education and non-profit-related issues for U.S. Senator Max Baucus in Bozeman, Montana. She received a B.A. from Gonzaga University and is currently working towards an M.P.A. at University of Colorado – Denver.
Ed Kirby
Ed Kirby is a senior program officer on the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. He began his career as a high school English teacher. He served on, and then directed, the public sector team that launched the Massachusetts public charter school initiative in the late 1990s. Before his work in Massachusetts, Kirby worked as a writer and public policy analyst documenting attempted reforms of American education.
Ed Kirby is a senior program officer on the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. He began his career as a high school English teacher. He served on, and then directed, the public sector team that launched the Massachusetts public charter school initiative in the late 1990s. Before his work in Massachusetts, Kirby worked as a writer and public policy analyst documenting attempted reforms of American education.
Marisol Logan
Marisol Logan is a program officer specializing in charter schools for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation Marisol served as the organizational strategy manager for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools where she focused on building the capacity of charter school state associations nationwide. Marisol has also worked as a government consultant specializing in strategic planning, organizational development and facilitation for a variety of federal agencies. Marisol holds a B.A. in political science and C.L.E.G. (communications, legal institutions, economics and government), and a Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in nonprofit management, both from American University.
Marisol Logan is a program officer specializing in charter schools for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation Marisol served as the organizational strategy manager for the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools where she focused on building the capacity of charter school state associations nationwide. Marisol has also worked as a government consultant specializing in strategic planning, organizational development and facilitation for a variety of federal agencies. Marisol holds a B.A. in political science and C.L.E.G. (communications, legal institutions, economics and government), and a Master of Public Administration, with a concentration in nonprofit management, both from American University.
Bruno V. Manno, Ph.D.
Bruno V. Manno is senior advisor for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he was senior program associate for education with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and before that senior fellow in the Education Policy Studies Program at the Hudson Institute. From 1986 to 1993, he worked in the United States Department of Education, holding several senior positions, including assistant secretary for policy and planning. He received a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Dayton, a Ph.D. from Boston College. He is the co-author or author of numerous books and articles on K-12 education policy and reform.
Bruno V. Manno is senior advisor for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he was senior program associate for education with the Annie E. Casey Foundation and before that senior fellow in the Education Policy Studies Program at the Hudson Institute. From 1986 to 1993, he worked in the United States Department of Education, holding several senior positions, including assistant secretary for policy and planning. He received a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Dayton, a Ph.D. from Boston College. He is the co-author or author of numerous books and articles on K-12 education policy and reform.
Caleb Offley
Caleb Offley is a program consultant for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as a public affairs officer for the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and as project coordinator for the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Education. He also served as media liaison for the quarterly journal Education Next. Caleb received a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in history from the University of Hawaii.
Caleb Offley is a program consultant for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, he served as a public affairs officer for the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and as project coordinator for the Hoover Institution’s Koret Task Force on K–12 Education. He also served as media liaison for the quarterly journal Education Next. Caleb received a B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in history from the University of Hawaii.
Kellie O’Keefe
Kellie O’Keefe is a senior program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a program officer in the areas of early childhood through higher education at the Daniels Fund and managed research for the organization. She has also held positions at the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, Riverside Software, and the Times Mirror Foundation. Kellie holds a B.A. in history from Colorado State University and an M.A. from Regis University in nonprofit management.
Kellie O’Keefe is a senior program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a program officer in the areas of early childhood through higher education at the Daniels Fund and managed research for the organization. She has also held positions at the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, Riverside Software, and the Times Mirror Foundation. Kellie holds a B.A. in history from Colorado State University and an M.A. from Regis University in nonprofit management.
Abigail Schumwinger
As a consultant to the Walton Family Foundation's Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, Abigail Schumwinger primarily manages the team's strategy for the Milwaukee Market Share Demonstration Site. She previously worked for a non-profit implementing the Gates Foundation-sponsored initiative to start 50 new, small high schools in Milwaukee. She has also worked as a researcher for School Choice Wisconsin and the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington. Abigail received a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.P.A. from the University of Washington - Seattle.
As a consultant to the Walton Family Foundation's Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, Abigail Schumwinger primarily manages the team's strategy for the Milwaukee Market Share Demonstration Site. She previously worked for a non-profit implementing the Gates Foundation-sponsored initiative to start 50 new, small high schools in Milwaukee. She has also worked as a researcher for School Choice Wisconsin and the Center on Reinventing Public Education at the University of Washington. Abigail received a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.P.A. from the University of Washington - Seattle.
Anne Stoehr
Anne Stoehr is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, working in the Washington, D.C., office. She focuses on grantees in the D.C. and Boston area, and nationwide charter school facility investments. She is a 2009 alumni of the Education Pioneers’ Fellowship program. Her prior experience includes public accounting work with PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as teaching and business development work in East Africa. Anne received a B.B.A. from The College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina.
Anne Stoehr is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, working in the Washington, D.C., office. She focuses on grantees in the D.C. and Boston area, and nationwide charter school facility investments. She is a 2009 alumni of the Education Pioneers’ Fellowship program. Her prior experience includes public accounting work with PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as teaching and business development work in East Africa. Anne received a B.B.A. from The College of William and Mary and an M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at The University of North Carolina.
Sherman Whites
Sherman Whites, program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, joined the foundation after working in New Orleans as part of the Broad Foundation’s Residency in Urban Education. Previously, he worked as an operations team leader for Target Corporation, and as an adjunct instructor at North Carolina Central University. Sherman earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Florida A&M University, and a M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.
Sherman Whites, program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area, joined the foundation after working in New Orleans as part of the Broad Foundation’s Residency in Urban Education. Previously, he worked as an operations team leader for Target Corporation, and as an adjunct instructor at North Carolina Central University. Sherman earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Florida A&M University, and a M.B.A. from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina.