Meet Our Current Public Education Champions

Kristina Dugan is a passionate advocate for education, community development, and social justice. As the Director of Development at ACHIEVEability, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of West Philadelphia residents, she leverages her expertise in resource development to drive systemic change and empower communities.

With over 15 years of experience in fundraising and philanthropy, Kristina has a proven track record of securing vital resources to support initiatives aimed at ending generational poverty, promoting education, and ensuring affordable housing for all. 

As a member of the PA Public Education Champion cohort, Kristina is excited to collaborate with like-minded individuals to advocate for equitable education opportunities throughout Pennsylvania.

Emily is a native and current resident of Pittsburgh, PA. She has four current Pittsburgh Public Schools students and one 2024 graduate of Pittsburgh Public Schools. Her and her family returned to Pittsburgh in 2022 after six years living in Austin, Texas, and has been doing advocacy related to public education equity and dismantling the school to prison pipeline at both the state and local levels since 2017.

Margaret has a MBA from the University of Phoenix. She has a Master in Elementary Education. Margaret is a parent advocate with Children First, and has taught in the public school sector and the parochial sector.

Erin Small is a former high school English teacher who currently works as a substitute teacher and spends a great deal of her time volunteering in her community. She is a Court Appointed Special Advocate for CASA of Lancaster-Lebanon Counties, advocating for children in the foster care system. Additionally, she has run for a position as a school board director and plans to run again in 2025. Erin served as a Public Education Fellow in the 2023-2024 cohort and is excited to be a part of the program again. Advocating for fair and adequate funding for public education. She also is serving on the steering committee for Public Education Advocates of Lancaster (PEAL), a grassroots organization supporting public education countywide.

Gloria is a retired teacher, coach, and school counselor. She is presently volunteering for Advoz (a mediation and restorative justice program) in Lancaster, Pa and working on conflict resolution and anger management curriculum for our local high school and helping to facilitate peer mediation training for that school as well.

Dr. Ebonie Lamb is a former classroom teacher with 21 years of experience teaching each grade from PreK to 12th grade. During those years Ebonie served many roles: special education teacher, family and community engagement coordinator, high school counselor, elementary and middle school behavior specialist, English as a Second Language teacher, and curriculum writer.

Ebonie holds a doctoral degree in Administrative and Policy Studies with a concentration in Urban Education from the University of Pittsburgh, a Master’s in School Counseling from Duquesne University, and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction with an English as a Second Language certification from Point Park University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Duquesne University, majoring in Elementary and Special Education.

Ebonie served as a 2022-2023 PA Teach Plus Fellow of the Culturally Affirming Schools workgroup and co-wrote the Unpacking the PA Culturally Relevant Sustaining Education competencies. Ebonie was a 2023-2024 PA Teach Plus Senior Fellow co-leading the Reimagining Teacher Preparation Workgroup. In her role as a facilitator for PA Teach Plus, Ebonie assisted the fellows’ efforts to provide recommendations to the PA Department of Education regarding Chapter 354, which pertains to the preparation of professional educators.

Georgette is an English teacher in a juvenile placement facility and has done this work for the last six years. She runs Know Better Do Better Pennsylvania which brings awareness to the issues faced by children in state care. She is a foster parent, mom and grandmother, and currently lives in NW Pennsylvania but is originally from Beaver County.

Ashley is a Project Manager for a Healing-Centered Engagement organization by day and a Columbia University Graduate student by night. She considers her most important role as being a mom to a little girl. Her work is centered in advocacy, policy, and humanity.

Stacie Leap has been a dedicated professional in the behavioral health field since 2008, working with diverse populations across various settings. Her experience includes addiction recovery, mental health wellness, co-occurring disorders, dementia and Alzheimer’s care, psychiatric rehabilitation, and supporting homeless adults and youth. She is a trained peer specialist and recovery specialist, as well as a certified instructor for Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Mental Health First Aid.

In 2016, Stacie lost her eyesight due to domestic violence. Despite this life-changing event, she remains unwavering in her mission to empower herself and those around her. As an advocate, she works tirelessly to promote accommodations for blind children and parents within Philadelphia’s public and charter school systems. A survivor of domestic violence, Stacie shares her journey of recovery at various podcasts, conferences, workshops, and conventions nationwide.

Stacie currently serves as the President of the Pennsylvania Association of Blind Parents (PABP) under the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. In this role, she leads peer support groups, book discussions, and health seminars for blind parents and grandparents via Zoom. Through her advocacy, she strives to reduce the stigma surrounding blindness and eliminate barriers to accessibility, demonstrating that blindness does not limit her ability to live a full and meaningful life.

Stacie credits her faith in God and her daughter, Alana, as the greatest sources of motivation for her work and advocacy efforts.

Dr. Trisha Moller lives in Bethlehem PA with her husband and two sons. She is a Math professor at Moravian University and an active member in local and national organizations, such as MAA, AWM, SVDP and AAUW. Trisha is a passionate advocate for public school education and serves as a PA Proud Parents of Bethlehem leader. The group’s mission is to educate parents and our community about issues that impact public school funding and empower parents, students and neighbors to make our voices heard. With her dedication and compassion, Dr. Trisha Moller strives to help everyone, including herself, become the “best version of yourself.”

Ziad Munson first began thinking seriously about our schools after witnessing an attempt to censor several books in his district, something he naively believed was a thing of the past. Shocked into paying more attention to education issues, he soon learned how broken Pennsylvania’s school funding system is. He has been a public advocate for our schools more than a decade now and served two terms on the school board in East Penn (2013-2021). He created a regular blog, which is now a popular newsletter (munson.substack.com), to share information and perspectives on education issues with the community.

Ziad is a professor and chair of the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at Lehigh University. He received his BA from the University of Chicago and his PhD from Harvard University. He lives in Emmaus PA with his wife and two children, and spends his free time on board games, camping, cooking (not to mention eating!), cycling, and soccer.

Tasliym is the Chief of People & Culture at Urban Homesteading Assistance Board (UHAB) and has more than 15 years of experience shaping organizational culture with a focus on fostering unity. Tasliym has a BA in Urban Planning from Metropolitan College of NY, an MS in Organizational & Strategic Leadership from Neumann University, and is a Doctoral Candidate, having completed all formal coursework for studies, in Business Administration with a focus in HR Leadership at Thomas Edison State University. Tasliym currently serves as an elected member on the Chester-Upland School Board, various committees promoting youth legal system reform, and a Director and Governance Chair for Voice of Witness. Tasliym is an Alumna of PEC Cohort 2.

Heidi is a 60ish mother of five adult sons, two with special needs who will likely live with her for life. Her experiences of narcissistic abuse, divorce, single parenting, and advocacy on behalf of children with Down syndrome and autism have changed her perception of our educational and legal systems.

Heidi was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana, where she was involved in broadcasting from the age of 14, participating in an award-winning innovative satirical television program called “Beyond Our Control” which you can find on Wikipedia. She pursued her interest in broadcast journalism at Northwestern University where she received her BSJ and MSJ. She purchased her first Apple Macintosh as a college student in 1984. As the only Mac user working on “The Computer Chronicles” at WITF-TV in Harrisburg in the late 1980s, she had access to demo software and taught herself to create databases. Later, as a full-time mother and military wife, she continued to learn new technologies such as video editing and website design.

Over the years, Heidi has done extensive volunteer work that included counseling engaged couples, teaching fertility awareness, supporting breastfeeding mothers through La Leche League, teaching CCD, serving on a homeowners association board, creating databases and websites for youth sports programs and homeschool co-ops, organizing class reunions, administering a pet food program for The Pet Pantry in Lancaster, and participating in peer support groups for parents of children with special needs. She is frequently invited to local schools to give presentations on Monarch butterfly migration … and to demonstrate unicycle riding.

In November 2016, Heidi pulled her head out of the proverbial (political) sand. In 2021, she and three other mothers staged a seven-week write-in campaign for the school board in Penn Manor School District in Lancaster. After witnessing voter intimidation during that campaign, she volunteered as a poll worker and was assigned as a Judge of Elections in a local precinct where she utilizes her organizational skills, sense of humor, and empathy to ensure fair treatment of all voters who cross her path.

She has homeschooled, private schooled, and public schooled her children, and has happily teamed with professionals in two school districts to meet the complex needs of her special kids. She mentors and encourages other parents to cooperate with their IEP teams. She supports and is grateful for public education, and believes that when parents choose other options, they should pay for them (as she did!)

Donna is a retired knowledge management and technology professional with 32 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She is also a graduate of the 2023/24 Public Education Champions Program!

When she is not spending time with her family or being active outdoors, she is volunteering locally in support of public education and environmental conservation. Donna served 10 years on the Boyertown School Board and is currently leading the Boyertown Forward PAC, a non-partisan team supporting the election of high-quality, pro-public education school board candidates who are committed to the educational needs of ALL of the community’s children. Her passion is centered around 5 tenets:
1. Find your calling and act boldly for what you stand for.
2. Every child deserves a quality education and public education is the only institution in America required by law to meet the educational needs of EVERY child regardless of {basically anything}.
3. Our children are our future! As Albert Einstein said, “We can’t solve today’s problems with the
same thinking we used when we created them”.
4. A collaboration between schools and families is essential to every child’s success in school.
5. Things are NOT as divisive as they seem. If the large majority of us in the middle can come
together, we can achieve great things.

Kait is a passionate public education supporter, driven by a lifelong connection to the classroom. As the child of two teachers, she grew up immersed in the world of education, attending Pennsylvania public schools and later enrolling her own children in the same system.

A dedicated member of Public Education Advocates of Lancaster County (PEAL), Kait serves on the steering committee and as the managing editor of their quarterly publication. She works tirelessly to raise awareness about public education issues and to advocate for equitable, inclusive policies that benefit all students and their families.

Emily Pugliese (she/her) is the proud parent of two Philadelphia public school students and a strong public school advocate. She has spent the past 7 years pushing for better learning conditions for all students in Philadelphia. Emily is the Policy and Program Director at Green Building United, a non profit organization focused on creating a sustainable, healthy, and resilient environment for all. Emily lives in the Mt Airy section of Philadelphia with her husband, 2 kids, and 2 dogs.

Previous Public Education Fellow Beth Sviben worked for the Leadership in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, has a BS in Public Policy from Penn State, active in state and local campaigns since 2010, a member of the Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee of SAG-AFTRA New York since 2009, a member of the Legislative Committee of Pennsylvanians for Fair Funding since 2021, and has been Central Dauphin School Board Director since 2019 and Assistant Board Secretary since 2021. Beth ran for Central Dauphin School Board because she wanted the best possible for her nephews attending the district. After losing narrowly in 2017 she was sworn in December 2019. The pandemic quickly hit a couple months later. All district buildings went online and Board meetings were held via zoom. May 2020 she voted against her first tax increase. Even a small tax increase when people were losing their
income during a national health crisis was troubling. From the beginning of her time on the Board Ms.Sviben advocated that districts should be better funded by the State and needed to get away from the notion that one of school boards sole functions is to levy taxes. She started tracking legislation from the PA House Education Committee and talking to legislator friends. Beth has been honored to speak at press conferences, write op-eds and to speak with Legislators on both sides of the aisle regarding reform and is definitely honored to return to the Ed Voters Public Education Fellow cohort and to continue the fight.

Halee is a program manager at the Pittsburgh nonprofit The Education Partnership. Through the Adopt-A-School program, over 18,000 students in the Pittsburgh area receive their own school supply kit full of essentials each year.

Heather is a writer, artist, and community organizer born and raised in Northwest Philadelphia. She attended Philadelphia public schools K-12 – and her son has just started his own public school journey, attending kindergarten at their neighborhood school. She also serves as a member of the Communications Committee for the Alumnae Association of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. Heather is a published author and co-director of Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, a space for Philadelphia artists and performers to share and grow their skills and talent.

Kimberly is a Human Service professional with 8+ years of experience serving as Administrative Support for multiple programs that assist individuals, families, and communities. She has 15+ years combined of Case Management, Event Management, Human Resources, and Executive Administrative experience.

Ms. Glenn graduated from Philadelphia Community College with an associates in behavioral health and human services Kimberly serves as the Program Director for Successful Aging Career Institute and has served as a Community Outreach Coordinator and Communications Coordinator for the Home and School Association for both Highland Park Elementary and Beverly Hills Middle School. In 2023, Kimberly was elected to the Upper Darby School District School Board.

Ms. Glenn believes that families, schools, and communities must work together to provide children with a safe environment that allows for a holistic education, helping them reach their full potential to become productive, innovative, and compassionate leaders for future generations in our society.

Genevieve is a parent and has a career in human services. She understands the importance of recognizing the humanity in each individual, and wants to ensure learners in her district (and everywhere) have access to a public education where they feel safe to focus on learning.

Cassandra is a Montgomery County native and currently resides in Warminster township in Bucks County, PA. She received her undergraduate degrees from George Washington University and Regis University in Medical Laboratory Technology and Nursing respectively. She received her graduate degree from Western Governor University in Nursing Informatics.

Cassandra began a life of service early by serving in the U.S. Army as well as taking care of patients in her care as a nurse. She prides herself on being an agent of change and meeting patients, the community, students, and parents where they are. She continues to advocate for safe schools and safe nurse staffing ratios in Pennsylvania.

Ariel is a parent, scientist, former teacher, and product of a public school education. She has served on the Fox Chapel Area School District Board of Directors since she was elected in 2022 and serves as chair of the board’s Projects and Planning Committee. Ariel has worked in education and nonprofits for over 15 years, most recently as the Director of Audience for the public radio program Science Friday. She is currently studying Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.

Billie Jean is entering her third year as a School Counselor in Southern York County School District, which is also her 11th year as a School Counselor and 15th year in education. She left education in 2014 to complete her Doctorate in Psychology and worked in community mental health for four years before starting at her current position.

She has worked as a School Counselor at the middle school and high school level; her teaching experience includes an urban high school and alternative middle school. In addition to her membership with PSCA and ASCA, she volunteers her time with the Board of NASW-PA and PSEA. She enjoy giving back to and helping promote the professions she belong to. These experiences firmly established her desire to work in high-paced environments that also provide an opportunity to work with historically marginalized populations.

After obtaining her Doctorate in Psychology, she continued providing outpatient therapy and conducting psychological evaluations under supervision of a Licensed Psychologist. Following her passion for working with youth who demonstrate externalizing behaviors, she assumed the role of MST Supervisor with Adelphoi for four years, providing mentorship to clinicians conducting in-home treatment to adolescents and their families. All of her roles have required that her be well-versed in working with diverse populations and advocate for those who may not be heard. She bolstered her understanding of diverse populations through the completion of certificate programs related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as participating in the Mission Capital program, Implicit Bias Circles. She co-facilitated the Seeing White Series Workshop that NASW-PA provides for CEUs.

Beth Brindle first became an advocate for public school funding in 2011, following the extreme cuts to school funding in then-governor Tom Corbett’s first state budget. At the time, her two oldest sons were in elementary school in the Coatesville Area School District in Chester County, PA. Those children are now in college, Beth’s youngest son attends Coatesville Area Senior High School, and the fight for full and fair school funding continues.

Beth currently serves as District Office Director for Pennsylvania State Representative Danielle Friel Otten, a role she has held since December 2018. Before stepping into her legislative staff role, Beth was Communications Director for the Danielle for PA Committee.

During her children’s early years, Beth worked as a self-employed freelance writer and editor, allowing her the flexibility to become involved in PTA leadership, serve as chair of the school district’s Parent/Administrator Liaison Committee, and become further involved in school funding advocacy. She is an active member of the Coatesville branch of the NAACP. Beth previously worked in the corporate world, holding various roles in strategic communications, content development, and leadership.

A graduate of Coatesville Area Senior High School, Beth received a B.A. in advertising from Penn State University and a master’s in journalism from Temple University.

Pat is a retiree already engaged in working for adequate and equitable education funding and is looking forward to linking with others through Education Voters PA.

Maureen is from Ohio and is a United Church of Christ pastor in Tower City, PA. Her husband is also a pastor. She has two grown children, Aria and Ian. She got involved with Education Voters because the Williams Valley school district had to make drastic cuts and enrollment in charter schools is snowballing. She’d like to see the school district thrive and every child succeed!

Teri Mickle is a proud product of public schools and has dedicated her career to opportunities in education and lifelong learning. As the Director of Articulation at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, she brings over 20 years of experience in education, with special focus in post-high school outcomes and academic partnerships to support development in STEM careers. Teri is also a dedicated advocate for ADHD and neurodiversity, committed to fostering inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive. A mother of three students in the West Shore School District, and spouse to an educator/coach, she understands the critical role that public schools play in shaping strong communities. Her passion for education is rooted in first hand experience, as a student, parent, and educator, and she works diligently to ensure that public schools continue to be a cornerstone of opportunity and success for all.

She is a graduate of Mechanicsburg Area High School, earning a M.Ed. in Teaching and Curriculum from Penn State University, and a B.A. degree in History, with a minor in Art History and a concentration in Secondary Education at West Chester University.

Marisa Shaaban is a 20 year resident of Philadelphia and the parent of three children who attend Philadelphia public schools. Marisa’s career in government relations focused on education and health care issues on the local, state and federal level. At Syracuse University, she worked in government and community relations—organizing students, representing the university in state and local government issues, and engaging with local civic groups. As the Director of Government Relations for the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council, she advocated for uninsured and underinsured populations in the Philadelphia region. Marisa currently serves as the Director of Constituent Affairs for a PA State Representative where she oversees district outreach and communications.

In 2019, Marisa was one of 13 people appointed by the Philadelphia School Board of Education to the Parent and Community Advisory Council to help amplify the voices of parents and community members. She is an elected Committee Person and Secretary for Ward 5, vice president of the Washington Square West Civic Association, vice president of the Philadelphia Crosstown Coalition, and serves on City Year’s Women’s Leadership Committee, which unites women to support the service of City Year AmeriCorps members in Philadelphia schools while also inspiring women’s empowerment.

Originally from Western PA, Brandi has resided and worked in and out of Eastern PA and New Jersey as a school counselor and coach for the past 20 years. She has been employed across both elementary and middle school settings and currently serves on the board of directors for the Pennsylvania School Counselor Association.

Hollie Mendenhall is an educator, musician, parent, and ally. She is in her 25th year teaching music, and has worked with grades K-12, focusing on general music, chorus, elementary instruments, and musical theater. Mendenhall has also served as music department chair since 2020, and participates in curriculum council, PDAC, Behavior committee, incident command team, team leaders, car rider arrival and dismissal lead, and is music director for the HS production team. As a parent, she has been vocal in her school district regarding policies affecting LGTBQ+ students, has participated in school board meetings, and has volunteered with Lititz chooses Love, Free Mom Hugs, Music for Everyone, ukulele uprising, and power packs.