• 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.

  • Jamie joined Improving Education in May 2026, bringing extensive experience in educational leadership, literacy instruction, and curriculum development. Before joining the organization, she partnered with school districts and Head Start programs across the country to support the implementation of digital curriculum solutions through her work with two education-focused organizations.

    Prior to transitioning into the education technology space, Jamie spent more than a decade serving Baltimore City Schools as an elementary teacher, reading coach, assistant principal, and district curriculum writer. She has also supported educator development as adjunct faculty in Towson University’s Instructional Leadership and Professional Development Department and as an Elementary Literacy Instructor with the New Teacher Project.

    Jamie earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Misericordia University, a Master of Education in Elementary Education from Towson University, and a Graduate Certificate in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys teaching fitness classes and cheering on Baltimore sports teams.

    Driven by a passion for literacy and student success, Jamie is dedicated to collaborating with educators and families to create inclusive and supportive learning environments where every child feels valued, empowered, and equipped to succeed.  She believes that intentional teaching and meaningful relationships are key to helping students reach their fullest potential.

  • 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.

  • Kelly joined the team as a Coordinator in September 2024. With her experience as an educator in the Howard County and Baltimore Public School Systems, she has a deep understanding of curriculum development and instructional strategies. Kelly has strong collaboration skills, enabling her to work effectively with teachers, administrators, and support staff to enhance student learning. Having taught primary grades, she has developed the ability to adapt her approach to meet the diverse needs of students. A proud Baltimore City native, Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in teacher leadership from National University.

    Her passion lies in building strong literacy skills in our students, instilling in them the confidence to become proficient readers. Kelly is committed to nurturing resilience and fostering meaningful connections within a positive and supportive learning environment.

  • 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.

  • Adara joined our Team in September 2024. She 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.

  • Abbey joined our Team in October 2025. She is responsible for packing and customizing Bedtime Boxes and Learning Boxes, receiving and tracking inventory, and delivering Bedtime Boxes and Learning Boxes to our Partners.