Staff

Jennifer Ahn

Chief Design Officer

Jennifer is the Chief Design Officer at Lead by Learning, where she works to leverage the transformative power of learning. Jennifer leads Lead by Learning’s certificate program and...

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Mizgon Darby

Executive Director

Mizgon’s world is driven by serving communities that are frequently ignored, do not have access to the resources they need to thrive, and are brimming with hope. In...

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Sarah Sugarman

Senior Director of Programs

Sarah believes in the power of learning communities that honor teachers’ professionalism, where colleagues supportively challenge each other to hone their practice in service of equitable outcomes for...

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Malia Tayabas-Kim

Director of Program

Malia is a proud Oakland native and is a product of the Oakland Unified School District. Growing up in a family of educators, she chose to give back...

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Nina Portugal

Director of Program Innovation and Visibility

Nina is passionate about students, equity, and continuous improvement. Nina spent 9 years teaching High School English, 7 of which in Oakland Unified School District focusing on English...

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Mahru Elahi

Lead Program Facilitator

Mahru is a Lead Program Facilitator with Lead by Learning and supports the building of communities centered around transformation, equity and inquiry. Mahru began...

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Brooklyn Joseph

Lead Program Facilitator

Brooklyn (she/her) is a Lead Program Facilitator with Lead by Learning and is passionate about coaching, innovative teaching, and life-long learning.  Born and raised...

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Nhi Truong

Lead Program Facilitator

Nhi Truong is deeply invested in working with educators and students to use education as transformative tools to liberate ourselves and the world. She is an OUSD alumna,...

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Joni Nebril

Administrative Assistant

Joni provides administration and event coordination for Lead by Learning. It’s through her experience working in hospitality and restaurant management that she realized her passion was working with...

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Aija Simmons

Teacher Advisor

Aija specializes in creating safe, non-evaluative spaces to meet teachers where they are and move them forward. She advises Lead by Learning on the design of a teacher...

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Hillary Walker

Hillary Walker

Teacher Advisor

Hillary brings an extensive background in coaching and mentoring teachers to her role as a program advisor for Lead by Learning. She is in her twelfth year of...

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Dr. Anna Richert

Anna Richert

Founder & Advisor

Anna is the founder and Faculty Director of Lead by Learning, with a decades-long passion for studying teacher learning. Her teaching and research interests center on the preparation of and...

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Daniela Mantilla

Daniela Mantilla

Teacher Advisor

Daniela has dedicated her career to creating spaces where students and teachers feel safe to share both their uncertainties and their new understandings. She currently teaches third grade...

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