• Jarrod founded Improving Education out of a desire to improve educational systems and create a new approach to educational reform that empowers teachers, schools, and communities to make change. He has extensive experience as a teacher and leader in Baltimore City Public Schools, and has served on multiple state and national commissions focused on a variety of educational initiatives. Jarrod has spent years studying and refining practices of Improvement Science in education and is at the forefront nationally in using this methodology to improve student outcomes and educational systems.

  • Maura is a native Marylander and has had the opportunity to interact with its school system as a student, parent,and educator. She has experience teaching and supervising in schools throughout Maryland, especially focusing on students with learning and social differences and those who have experienced trauma. After beginning her career as a classroom teacher in Prince George’s County, Maura worked for several years at City Springs, in Baltimore City, before pursuing her career as an Administrator. Her past leadership roles include Head of School at Compass Academy in Baltimore County and Assistant Principal at the School for Tomorrow in Montgomery County. Maura is extensively trained in Restorative Practices and completed her Master’s degree with the International Institute for Restorative Practices. She is interested in how strong relationships and social-emotional learning integration support academic gains. Maura joined the Improving Education team in 2018 as a coordinator and was promoted to Director in 2021.

  • Kayon joined our team as a Coordinator in June 2021, bringing with her a wealth of experience from the Baltimore Public School Systems where she served as an Educator. Her journey with us began after she participated in the 2020-2021 inaugural iFellowship program, where she showcased her dedication and forward-thinking approach to education with Learning in a Box. Throughout her tenure in Baltimore, she held various positions, from Lead PreK educator to serving as a content specialist for Teach for America and Early Childhood Coach for the district, underscoring her commitment and broad expertise in early childhood education. Kayon is deeply passionate about the development of the whole child, advocating for a two-generational approach that enhances learning experiences for both children and their families through the creation of Play-Learn-Repeat(PLR).

    Kayon’s academic journey is as impressive as her professional one. She earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Counseling Psychology and Business Management from Washington Adventist University. Her pursuit of excellence then led her to obtain a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Johns Hopkins University, followed by a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Capella University. Her extensive education and diverse experience in the educational sector make her a vital asset to our team, where she continues to inspire and innovate in her role.

  • Lindsay Arnold assumed the role of Coordinator with Improving Education in July 2023, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in early childhood education to the organization. Prior to her tenure at Improving Education, Lindsay dedicated eight years to teaching, with her most recent four years spent within the Baltimore City Public Schools system. Throughout her teaching career, Lindsay has had the privilege of instructing students across multiple grade levels, including Pre-K3, Kindergarten, Second, and Third Grade. Her diverse classroom experiences have equipped her with invaluable insights into the unique needs and challenges of young learners.

    Lindsay holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Elon University, where she laid the foundation for her pedagogical knowledge and instructional skills. Complementing her undergraduate studies, she pursued advanced education, earning a Master's degree in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University. Driven by her passion for advocating for children and families, Lindsay is dedicated to creating inclusive, supportive, and culturally responsive learning environments. She believes that every child deserves access to high-quality education that honors their unique identities and backgrounds.

  • Rosie joined the team as a Coordinator in 2023 after participating in the 2020-2021 inaugural iFellowship program. Prior to joining Improving Education, Rosie was an Educator in the Baltimore Public School Systems for more than four years and a Special Educator in the Carroll County Public School Systems for 2 years. During this time she gained experience in educating diverse populations and maximizing the potential of every child. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She also obtained a certificate in Special Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is passionate about utilizing technology-driven teaching techniques, fostering inclusive environments, and continuously seeking opportunities for professional collaboration.

  • Shana joined the All Children Ready team as a Coordinator in 2022 after participating in the Early Literacy Networked Improved Community (NIC) in 2017-2019. Prior to joining Improving Education, Shana was an educator for the children in Baltimore City. During this time, she was the lead teacher for Head Start and a teacher for students in grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade in the Baltimore City Public School System. Shana also served on the administration team and she served as the reading interventionist for students in Kindergarten-2nd grade. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Messiah University and her Master’s degree in Reading Education from Towson University. Her passion is with literacy. She wants to provide teachers with the skills, strategies, and concepts needed to support the development of lifelong readers, writers, and thinkers.

  • Marc has spent his career partnering with practitioners and researchers to build data systems and infrastructure to both support and conduct rigorous research to address practical problems. The Improvement Colaboratory brings together his two passions: research-practice partnerships and educational continuous improvement.

    Marc has been an educator for over twenty years. Prior to co-founding theImprovement Colaboratory Marc was the managing director of the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) and an associate professor of education policy at Johns Hopkins University. His research has been funded by organizations such as the Institute of Education Sciences, the National Science Foundation, the Spencer Foundation, the Abell Foundation and the Annie E. Casey Foundation and has appeared in high impact peer-reviewed journals such as Educational Researcher, the American Education Research Journal, Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, the American Journal of Education and Urban Education.

    Marc received his PhD (Leadership and Policy Studies) from Vanderbilt University and his MS (Secondary Education) and BA (History) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

  • Nat has a vision for Improvement Science in education where schools are empowered to improve their own quality. To this end, Nat has focused his career on research into the quantitative methodology of improvement science as well as the development of practical tools and methods to assist in school improvement. Nat has been an educator for fifteen years including ten years teaching physics and computer science to high school students in Connecticut. Prior to co-founding the Improvement Colaboratory, Nat was an assistant research scientist with the Baltimore Education Research Consortium (BERC) in the School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. Nat received his PhD (Education) from Johns Hopkins University, his MA (Teaching) from Fairfield University and his BS (Applied Physics) from Grove City College.

  • Wendy joined the Improving Education team in 2018 after having been involved with Bedtime in a Box from its inception. Wendy manages the operations, purchasing, partnerships and development for our Bedtime in a Box and Learning in a Box programs, as well as provides organization-level support for operations and finances. Wendy spent the first 20 years of her career as a Legal Analyst negotiating complex financial contracts and advising traders and business units on applicable legal rules and regulations.

  • Linda joined the team in August 2023 after a 9 year career with Feeding America-partnered food banks. She brings to the team a keen eye for inventory control, warehouse management, logistics, and process improvement. She is currently managing Bedtime in a Box and Learning in a Box production, inventory and warehouse maintenance, as well as making Box deliveries in our van to schools and partner organizations across the state of Maryland.

  • Keyona joined our team full time in November 2022 and has been a key player ever since. As an Associate, Keyona is responsible for packing and customizing Bedtime Boxes and Learning Boxes, receiving and tracking inventory, and helping to keep all aspects of our warehouse operating smoothly.