Our People
Lowell Milken
Founder
Lowell Milken's lifelong commitment to strengthening K-12 education has led to some of the country's most innovative means to dramatically advance educator effectiveness.
Dr. Joshua Barnett
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. Joshua Barnett is the chief executive officer for NIET, responsible for overseeing all of the organization’s operations including service delivery, research and evaluation, professional learning and learning technology development, policy and communications, financial operations, and higher...
Nicole Bolen
Senior Director of Services
With over 23 years of experience, Nicole Bolen supports districts and schools in NIET's networks and serves on the content development team, contributing to various NIET projects.
Vicky Condalary
Senior Vice President of Services and Partnerships
Before serving as senior vice president of services, Vicky was executive director of the LA BOLD Project, assistant director of school services and was the project director for TAP Connect, a SEED grant in partnership with Texas Tech and five independent area school districts.
Patti Cruz
Senior Director of Services
Patti started with NIET in 2009 when she joined ASU Prep Academy as a TAP master teacher. She then went on to support the AZ Ready for Rigor Grant.
Dr. Tanée Hudgens
Vice President of Research and Evaluation
As vice president of research and evaluation at NIET, Dr. Tanée Hudgens is responsible for establishing, managing, and overseeing research and evaluation initiatives within the organization.
Molly Kwas
Chief Financial Officer
As chief financial officer, Molly provides leadership, management, and oversight for all fiscal activities related to the operations of NIET.
Dr. Davita Lancelin
Vice President of Services
As the Vice President of Services at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, Dr. Lancelin brings more than two decades of experience in strengthening teacher effectiveness and student outcomes through school, district, and state-level partnerships.
Stephanie Mosqueda
Senior Vice President of Strategic Projects
Stephanie Mosqueda oversees NIET’s strategic projects which include special projects, events, educator pipeline, and NIET’s web-based tools.
Dr. Patrice Pujol
Senior Executive-in-Residence
Dr. Patrice Pujol serves as senior executive-in-residence at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET). In this role, she is responsible for the advancement of NIET's strategic plan and business development activities.
Todd Setterlund
Director of Communications
Todd Setterlund currently serves as NIET's Director of Communications, leading strategies to highlight and share the impact of NIET’s work with partners from across the country. His work with NIET draws on over 20 years working in education and communications. Prior to joining NIET, Todd served as...
Amber Simpson
Senior Director of Strategic Projects
Amber Simpson spent much of her 20 years in education as a teacher leader before coming to NIET. She works alongside district and school leaders across Texas to strengthen systems and structures for increasing student achievement.
Kristan Van Hook
Senior Vice President of Policy
As senior vice president of policy at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Kristan Van Hook develops and implements strategies to build support for NIET's education initiatives, with a focus on increasing teacher and school leader effectiveness.
Britney Allen
Senior Specialist, South Central
Britney Allen has held several roles in various districts of teacher, instructional coach, master teacher, administrator, and most recently Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
Kennette Bardell
Senior Specialist, East
Kennette Bardell, an East Team Senior Specialist, joins NIET with 18 years of experience in education. She has held numerous roles in Texas and Louisiana including classroom teacher, mentor teacher, TAP master teacher, professional learning lead, literacy coach, and Director of Literacy.
Abby Barton
Partnership Coordinator
Abby Barton brings over 16 years of experience in educational leadership, instructional coaching, and curriculum development to her role as Partnership Coordinator at NIET. She supports districts and schools by fostering strong partnerships and contributing to NIET's mission of improving teacher...
Melissa Blossom
Senior Specialist, Midwest
Melissa Blossom joined NIET after serving as director of school improvement at the Indiana Department of Education. Prior to IDOE, she worked in secondary education as an administrator and social studies teacher.
Dr. Jennifer Board
Senior Specialist, South Central
Dr. Jennifer Board joins NIET as a Senior Specialist with 24 years of experience in education. During her tenure, Jennifer has served students, student athletes, and families of Ascension and East Baton Rouge Parishes as a classroom teacher, Instructional Coach, TAP Master Teacher, Assistant...
Robbin Boudreaux
Executive Assistant
Robbin Boudreaux supports NIET in assisting staff, and monitoring schedules, correspondence, telephone, and travel.
Jen Oliver Brady
Partnership Coordinator
Jen Oliver Brady provides on-site training, support, and in-depth coaching to district and school leaders, teacher leaders, classroom teachers and university faculty.
Nick Brassfield
Staff Accountant
As a Staff Accountant, Nick Brassfield assists the controller with general day to day accounting tasks and specialized projects to support NIET’s growth.
Bobbie Jo Bright
Senior Specialist, South Central
Bobbie Jo Bright brings more than 25 years of experience as an educator to her role at NIET and has served in a variety of school communities.
Teddy W. Broussard
Senior Advisor
In his recent years with NIET, Teddy Broussard has served as senior program specialist, project director, assistant director of school services, director of training and senior trainer.
Brandy Brown
Senior Specialist, South Central
A dedicated servant leader, Brandy Brown, has served several Louisiana school districts including Bienville Parish Schools, Monroe City Schools, and Caddo Parish Public Schools.
Angelina Burrows
Southeast Regional Director
As a lifelong educator and first-generation college graduate, Angelina Burrows is passionate about helping educators and school leaders become the best in their field.
Amy Campbell
Senior Specialist, TX IMPACT
Amy has served as TAP master teacher and district executive master teacher for nine of the last 12 years of service in public education. These opportunities, in multiple educational settings with learners of all ages and skills topped off with ever-growing TAP knowledge and experiences, are...
Shayla Canady
Senior Specialist, AREN
A lifelong learner, Shayla Canady has served in a variety of educational roles − including TAP mentor teacher, master teacher, and administrator − and holds a decade of experience using NIET's rubrics.
Kristina Carssow
Southwest Regional Director
Kristina Carssow has 18 years of experience as a campus teacher, TAP master coach, instructional coach, and assistant principal.
Danielle Chretien
Senior Specialist, South Central
Danielle Chretien is a servant leader and a perceptive educator with a consistent record of accomplishments in attaining and surpassing targeted goals.
Lauren Clark
Virtual and Learning Technology Services Systems Analyst
Lauren Clark assists with designing support documentation and tutorials, serves as a resource for internal and external training, and provides technology support to partners, field staff, and NIET leadership.
Starla Collins-Ross
Senior Specialist, South Central Team
Starla Ross is a passionate and innovative leader with over 20 years of experience committed to creating equitable learning experiences for adults and children in public and charter schools.Starla’s educational experiences include serving as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, principal,...
Matt Connor
Controller
As controller, Matt Connor assists in financial and accounting functions of NIET with the goal of helping the organization meet its mission.
Robin Cornet
Senior Specialist, AREN
Robin has over 15 years’ experience in education and now her work is centered on coaching rural districts in Arkansas to implement best practices of highly effective schools, increasing teacher effectiveness, and positively impacting student achievement.
Bobby Cox
Executive-in-Residence
Bobby Cox is responsible for expanding the reach of NIET's work, relationships, and partnerships in Tennessee, Alabama, Iowa, and Kentucky. Bobby joins NIET after serving Warren County Schools, Tennessee, for 29 years − including eight as superintendent.
Jill Crain
Senior Specialist, School Services
Jill joins NIET with 23 years of educational experience, and currently supports Louisiana partners.
Jill Crossley
Senior Specialist, West
Jill Crossley is an NIET Senior Specialist for the West Team and lives in Arizona. She joins NIET after serving in a variety of positions for 31 years. Jill served as principal and district administrator in the Osborn School District in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to that she was both a Mentor Teacher...
Alison Cutler
Staff Writer
Alison Cutler is a Staff Writer with an award-winning background in journalism and communication. Constantly pursuing the human element of a story, Alison found her niche in narrative reporting and writing. Her previous experience in both local and national publications has equipped her to reach...
Dr. Angela Davis
Director of Professional Learning
Dr. Angela Davis' experience in a variety of roles in education and passion for increased student achievement have inspired her to ensure equitable instructional practices are present in all classrooms.
Tasha Dawson
Senior Specialist, Federal Grants Secondary
Tasha is a dedicated and passionate professional educator with over 18 years of experience in the field. With a strong background in English/Language Arts in secondary grade levels, Tasha is committed to empowering and fostering a love for learning.
Kathleen (Kat) Deleon
Senior Specialist, Southwest
As a Senior Specialist at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET), Kat works to support educators and the work they do each day.
Andrea Divine
Senior Specialist, East
Andrea Divine joins NIET with over 16 years of educational experience. She is a multifaceted educator who has served in numerous roles, including an Elementary Teacher, TAP Mentor Teacher, TAP Master Teacher, Instructional Coach, Professional Development Specialist, and Academic Facilitator for the...
Scott Duncan
Senior Specialist, East
Scott Duncan works to support districts across the state of Tennessee in strengthening instructional leadership practices, teacher effectiveness, and teacher and administrator observation systems.
Dr. Hang Duong
Research Associate
Bich-Hang Duong is a member of the Research and Evaluation team at NIET. She designs and conducts studies to improve the quality and effectiveness of NIET’s initiatives in teacher preparation and professional development for educators and school leaders.Hang holds a PhD in Comparative and...
Dr. Sherrie Fairchild-Keyes
Senior Specialist, East
Dr. Sherrie Fairchild-Keyes joins NIET after a 25-year career in public education. She has served as a secondary science teacher in Tennessee and Florida and, most recently, as a school administrator.
Betsy Fera
Senior Specialist, West
Betsy Fera serves as a Senior Specialist for the West Team at NIET. Betsy brings over 25 years of experience in public education, starting her career as a classroom teacher and taking on various roles throughout the years. Betsy has been affiliated with NIET since the early 2000’s, having served...
LaDazha Ford
Senior Specialist, South Central
LaDazha Ford joins NIET after serving as a TAP mentor and master teacher Ascension Parish. She believes that to positively impact students, there must be a plan and process for intentional instructional support.
Trey Forrester
Senior Specialist, Southeast
Trey Forrester is an NIET senior specialist in South Carolina. He joins NIET after serving as an educator at diverse levels and specialties for 15 years.
Erin Foster
Senior Specialist, School Services
Erin Foster primarily provides support for NIET's Indiana partner schools, capitalizing on her drive to influence positive change for students through her zeal for working with educational leaders.
Amy Gayle
Regional Assistant Director, South Central
Amy Gayle is an instructional leader with a passion for positive school culture and strong teacher support. Prior to NIET, she served in a variety of different roles in education, including classroom teacher, coach, master teacher, and administrator.
Amrit Ghimire
Controller
Amrit serves as the Controller for NIET. In this role, Amrit owns the accounting function for the organization along with the annual audit process and supports in budget development, management, and financial reporting. Amrit oversees the staff accountant and is responsible for all aspects of...
Nicole Gonzalez
Senior Specialist, Southwest
As a former district science coordinator, Nicole has worked with teachers, instructional coaches, and administration to strengthen instructional practices to improve students’ science achievement.
Angela Griffis
Senior Specialist, Southwest
Angela Griffis supports district and school leaders in implementing best practices of highly effective schools, increasing teacher effectiveness, and positively impacting student achievement.
Dr. Karen Grose
Senior Specialist, West
Karen is an NIET Senior Specialist for the West Team and lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Karen has extensive educational experience including that of a classroom teacher, instructional coach, technology coach, TAP master teacher, assistant principal, and principal.
Venitia Guerrieri
Executive Assistant to CEO
Venitia has been an advocate for teachers since 2004, when she started her career in Financial Services assisting them with their investments for retirement. Later, she volunteered at the elementary school her children attended, which led to helping teachers in the classroom as a Para Educator. Now,...
Chrissy Hadden
Human Resources and Payroll Generalist
Chrissy enjoys the day-to-day aspects of working in human resources, from helping staff members with payroll, preparing for retirement, and understanding their benefits, to writing policies to ensure a safe and healthy work environment.
Theresa D. Hamilton
South Central Regional Director
Theresa Hamilton oversees all statewide initiatives and at-large partnerships in our South Central Region, and is a central point of contact for NIET's Louisiana higher education partnerships.
Kim Herring
Senior Specialist, East
Kim Herring joins NIET after serving Cumberland County Schools for 31 years as a high school math teacher, then district administrator of school information and testing coordinator. She has broadened her impact on state and district committees on math and data.
Dr. Saul Hinojosa
Executive-in-Residence
Dr. Saul Hinojosa serves as executive-in-residence at NIET. In this role, he is responsible for expanding the reach of NIET’s partnerships across Texas. Dr. Hinojosa served as Superintendent of Schools for Somerset ISD for 15 years and established strong collaboration with NIET which resulted in...
Pilar Holtrop
West Regional Director
Pilar Holtrop serves schools and districts in the West, and brings two decades of experience with NIET's work in the state.
Christina Hulin
Regional Assistant Director, South Central
Christina’s successful experiences leading high-quality professional development and data studies, coaching teachers at a variety of levels, as well as her knowledge of the NIET Teaching and Learning Standards Rubric, make her passionate about her work with NIET.
Terry Hussey
Senior Specialist, Midwest
Theresa Hussey is a senior specialist on the Indiana Team. Prior to joining NIET, she served as both a mentor and master teacher at Goshen Junior High in Goshen Indiana. In the more than ten years she served as a teacher leader, Theresa supported aspiring teachers, new teachers, and experienced...
Tracy Hypolite
Director of Services
Tracy Hypolite joins NIET team with 30 years of dedicated experience in the field of education.
Marquita Jackson
Senior Specialist, South Central
Marquita Jackson joined NIET with 30 years of educational experience. Her work began in Tangipahoa Parish School System as a classroom teacher and further developed into elementary and middle school principal.
Sarah Jolly-Swift
Senior Specialist, South Central
Sarah Jolly-Swift joins NIET after serving Louisiana's Rapides Parish School System for the past 13 years. Sarah is a passionate advocate for educational equity and access to effective instruction for every child, every day.
Tiffaney Kelly
Senior Specialist, South Central
Tiffaney's work as centers on supporting schools and district personnel to positively impact instructional practices and improve student achievement.
Angie Kendall
Senior Specialist, Midwest
Angie joins NIET after having served as a TAP master and mentor teacher in Perry Township Schools, Indiana, for seven years, as well as having worked in Reading Recovery and Project Lead the Way.
Dr. Ruhi Khan
Director of Educator Pipeline
Dr. Ruhi Khan has been an educator for over 20 years, serving in Arizona's Deer Valley School District and at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
Jodi Leckbee
Senior Specialist, TX IMPACT
Jodi Leckbee has worked as a project director for the SEED 1 and SEED 2 grant projects, an executive master teacher, and senior specialist with schools in Texas and across the U.S. for going on 12 years.
Dr. Trevor Leutscher
Senior Researcher
Dr. Trevor Leutscher's work at NIET involves conducting studies to evaluate and improve NIET's programs.
Dr. Lori Line
Midwest Regional Director
Lori has been an educator for over 30 years. For the first 18 years of my career, Lori was an elementary teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal.
Dr. Handrea Logis
Director of Research
Dr. Handrea Logis supports all aspects of the NIET research activities, such as monitoring data collection efforts for the SEED grants, performing quantitative analysis to evaluate the impact of NIET's initiatives, as well as providing data and research support for various projects.
Marjorie Manuel-Rabun
Senior Specialist, South Central
Marjorie is a dedicated educator with a rich and diverse background in education. Her journey in the field of education began as a TAP (Teacher Advancement Program) teacher, where she honed her teaching skills and passion for education.
Parker Marano
Digital Content Manager
Parker Marano has joined NIET as a Digital Content Manager with his years of experience in social media management and content creation. In college, he discovered a love for web design and development, and decided to pursue his degree in that field. While working in his previous positions, he was...
Abigail McKamey
Senior Specialist, LIN
Abigail’s mission in education is to support every child in reaching their unique potential through the collaboration and shared-learning of excellent educators.
Liz Miller
Regional Assistant Director, Southwest
Elizabeth Miller brings over 25 years of service in a variety of roles in public education in both Louisiana and Texas school systems.
Kelly Minick
Senior Specialist, Southeast
Kelly Minick's educational experience spans nearly two decades in South Carolina. Prior to her time at NIET, she spent 14 years as a secondary English instructor who worked to grow learners' love of writing, critical thinking, and to build their ability to see the world with a multi-lens approach.
Jennifer Morales
Project Coordinator
A Los Angeles native, Jennifer Morales grew up playing a myriad of sports, some of which took her to and through college - including playing ice hockey at Arizona State University (ASU). After a semester as a Journalism major, she returned to her athlete roots and earned a B.S. in Exercise Science...
Claire Murray
Director of Services
As an English Language Arts teacher and response to intervention coordinator, Claire empowered students to find their voices and celebrate learning. She has served as a mentor teacher, master teacher, and regional master teacher for SC TAP.
Dr. Ann Nielsen
Director of Virtual and Learning Technology Services
Dr. Ann Nielsen is an accomplished educator and scholar committed to advancing educational excellence and promoting student success. With an expansive career trajectory, Dr. Nielsen's professional contributions reflect her dedication to educational improvement.
Rossette Osamba
Senior Specialist, TX IMPACT
As she approaches the 20-year milestone in education, Rossette Osamba strives to serve as a resource to school teams in providing professional developments that aid in their improvement of practices and exemplary leadership.
Ashley Owes-Jones
Operations Coordinator
Ashley Owes-Jones has years of professional experience across different educational settings. Before joining NIET, she served as the Director of Operations for a primary charter school in Scottsdale, AZ. There she lead extracurricular programs, financial billing, marketing campaigns, and...
Lindsey Parker
Associate Director of Professional Learning
In addition to ensuring existing services and materials are representative of current research and partner needs, Lindsey works with colleagues to develop innovative training and support materials for implementation across multiple projects.
Tammy Peterson
Billing Specialist
Tammy Peterson supports the finance team as a Billing Specialist. She comes from a strong background with experience as an Accounting Specialist, Administrative Assistant and Customer Service Manager. She prides herself in dedication and accuracy.
Keely Potter
East Regional Director
Keely Potter brings her background as an educator and a director at the Tennessee Department of Education to NIET, where she primarily supports schools in the state.
Carrie Pullins
Senior Specialist, East
Carrie joins NIET after serving as a district mathematics coordinator, master teacher, and secondary mathematics teacher.
Courtney Rayburn
Senior Specialist, LIN
Courtney Rayburn has over a decade of urban, rural, and suburban educational experiences including serving as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, testing coordinator, and RTI coordinator.
Stephanie Reiners
Senior Specialist, South Central
Stephanie Reiners joins NIET after serving 29 years as an educator in Acadia and Lafayette Parish School Systems.
Dr. Rhea Ren
Research Associate
Dr. Rhea (Rong) Ren has recently joined NIET as a research associate with a linguistics and language teaching and learning background.
Megan Rischard
Director of Business Operations
Megan Rischard supports NIET’s organizational partnership development, project management and contracting efforts as the Director of Business Operations. She brings years of business management, customer service, and finance experience to the role.Megan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the...
Paulette Rowell
Sr. Manager of Virtual Learning Technology Services
As senior manager of virtual and learning technology services, Paulette Rowell provides technical assistance support for multiple web-based platforms that integrate NIET best practices.
Dr. Sarah Schmaltz Saltmarsh
Senior Specialist, AZ PRIME
Dr. Sarah Schmaltz Saltmarsh joins NIET as a seasoned educator with extensive experience in public education.
Dr. Tad Savage
Senior Specialist, Southwest
Dr. Tad Savage brings 33 years of experience as a student-centered leader who prioritizes relationships and character development.
Dr. Ann Shaw
Senior Advisor
Dr. Ann Shaw has over 25 years teaching experience and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Throughout her career Shaw has served as a regional master teacher for SC TAP, master teacher, instructional coach and teacher.
Tanjela Sims
AZ PRIME Director
Tanjela Sims boldly embraces a growth mindset, positivity and a "can-do" spirit as a senior program specialist.
Kimberlyn Slagle
Senior Specialist, South Central
Kimberlyn Slagle brings 24 years of experience to her role at NIET. Her core values include coaching, facilitating, and leading with respect, integrity, and compassion.
Courtney Smith
Senior Specialist, South Central
Courtney Smith joins NIET with over 15 years of experience as a Louisiana Educator. Her most recent roles include Principal and Executive Master Teacher/TAP Coordinator in Claiborne Parish. Courtney's passion is ensuring all students are provided the opportunities for success through building...
Robert Stell
Senior Specialist, Southwest
Robert Stell brings 26 years of Texas public education service to NIET. He has served as a fifth grade teacher, a sixth grade teacher and a Title I reading teacher.
Lydia Stevenson
Senior Specialist, East
Lydia Stevenson has spent the last decade in education in Louisiana schools, which she brings to her role as senior specialist.
Christa Stewart
Senior Specialist, East
Christa Stewart joins NIET with over 20 years of experience in education. Prior to joining our team, Christa worked as an educator and instructional coach, and also holds a license in administration.
Natalie Szakacs
Executive Specialist, East
Natalie Szakacs works with district and school partners to increase their impact on instructional excellence and student achievement.
Laura Tew
Senior Specialist, Southeast
Laura Tew supports schools across South Carolina and Tennessee, bringing over 20 years of teaching experience to her NIET role.
Lucia Thallas
Events Manager
Lucia Thallas is a member of the Events Team at NIET. She oversees the events from start to finish and ensures that no detail is left behind.
Christina Valdes
Federal Award Senior Manager
Christina Valdes supports the senior director of grant management and business operations in the oversight and management of NIET's sponsored projects as well as NIET's grant management practices, policies, and procedures.
Robin Variest
Senior Specialist, South Central
Robin brings 26 years of experience in public, parochial, and charter schools in Texas and Louisiana.
Sandra Walker-Parker
Senior Specialist, South Central
Sandra Walker-Parker is a New Orleans native and has been an educator in Georgia and Louisiana for over 20 years, with the latter 16 years being spent in NIET schools.
Amanda Warwick
Senior Policy Associate
Amanda Warwick supports NIET's policy efforts at the federal and state levels.
Tiwanaha Washington
Senior Specialist, South Central
Tiwanaha has 20 years of experience in education. She has served as a classroom teacher, TAP Master Teacher, and in a district level leadership role. For the past ten years, she has worked in St. James Parish serving as a Curriculum Facilitator, Supervisor, and Instructional Director. Tiwanaha holds...
Devon Willis-Jones
Director of Service Operations
Devon Willis-Jones' dedication to the education profession spans over 15 years. Prior to her NIET role, Devon served as principal of Jeanerette Elementary School in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, for seven years.
Dr. Chastity Wilson
Senior Specialist, South Central
Chastity has over 20 years of experience in public education and has worked to build capacity in district and building-level administrators across Louisiana.
Jennifer Woods
Senior Specialist, Southwest
Jennifer Woods joins NIET with over 24 years of educational experience at the secondary and district levels.
April Woolard
Senior Specialist, South Central
April joins NIET with 23 years of experience in Education. She has taught in Texas, North Carolina, and Louisiana. April has experiences in both elementary and middle school settings serving as a classroom teacher, TAP Mentor Teacher, Academically Intellectually Gifted Coordinator and Assistant...
Jessica Worthington
Senior Specialist, AZ PRIME
Jessica joins NIET as Senior Specialist and will primarily be supporting the AZ prime grant schools. With 19 years of experience as an educator and leader in the Avondale Elementary School District, she is a true TAP System multiple career paths educator who after teaching for five years served as...