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.
Chad Aldis
Chad Aldis is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he had positions in education advocacy as a state director for StudentsFirst and as the executive director of School Choice Ohio. Prior to that, Chad was the Director of Scholarship Programs at the Florida Department of Education where he oversaw the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program and the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. He received his law degree from Florida State University and his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Mississippi.
Chad Aldis is a program officer in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he had positions in education advocacy as a state director for StudentsFirst and as the executive director of School Choice Ohio. Prior to that, Chad was the Director of Scholarship Programs at the Florida Department of Education where he oversaw the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program and the Tax Credit Scholarship Program. He received his law degree from Florida State University and his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Mississippi.
Lori Drummer Armistead
Lori Drummer Armistead is a program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to her role with the foundation, she served as director of state projects at the national non-profits Alliance for School Choice and Advocates for School Choice. Previously, she was the director of public affairs and the director of the education task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council. Armistead began her career serving as the legislative advisor to Ohio’s then-Assistant Majority Leader. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
Lori Drummer Armistead is a program officer for the Systemic K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Prior to her role with the foundation, she served as director of state projects at the national non-profits Alliance for School Choice and Advocates for School Choice. Previously, she was the director of public affairs and the director of the education task force at the American Legislative Exchange Council. Armistead began her career serving as the legislative advisor to Ohio’s then-Assistant Majority Leader. She received a bachelor’s degree in English from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.
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.
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 the deputy director of the K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he served on, and then directed, the public sector team that launched the Massachusetts public charter school initiative in the late 1990s. Prior to that, he worked as a writer and public policy analyst documenting attempted reforms of American education. Ed began his career as a high school English teacher.
Ed Kirby is the deputy director of the K-12 Education Reform Focus Area. Before joining the foundation, he served on, and then directed, the public sector team that launched the Massachusetts public charter school initiative in the late 1990s. Prior to that, he worked as a writer and public policy analyst documenting attempted reforms of American education. Ed began his career as a high school English teacher.
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.
Kelsey Moskitis
Kelsey provides program support of grants in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform focus area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a grant writer at the American Indian College Fund. Kelsey is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Political Science and will begin her M.P.A. at the University of Colorado, Denver, in the fall of 2013.
Kelsey provides program support of grants in the Systemic K-12 Education Reform focus area. Prior to joining the foundation, she was a grant writer at the American Indian College Fund. Kelsey is a graduate of the University of San Francisco with a B.A. in Political Science and will begin her M.P.A. at the University of Colorado, Denver, in the fall of 2013.
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 program officer for 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 program officer for 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.