Meet the Team
At TeachUNITED we’re a passionate team grounded in the belief that every student in the U.S. deserves access to a high-quality education.We work hand-in-hand with educators, schools, and local partners to strengthen teaching and learning in rural and under-resourced communities across the country. Together, we’re more than colleagues; we’re a mission-driven community working to ensure all students can thrive.
Our People
We’re a purpose-driven team united by a belief in the power of great teaching. We bring diverse experiences and shared values to the table, and we know we’re stronger together. Across time zones and backgrounds, we collaborate with heart and humility to support educators and transform schools.
Team
Diego Adame
Chief Executive Officer
Stewart Bellina
Instructional Coach
Andrea Beson
Director, US Programs
Dr. Michelle Bigler
Instructional Coach
Brian Cathcart
Chief Financial Officer
Amanda L'Esperance
Sr. Director, Strategy and Growth
Kassidy Hetzel
Instructional Coach
Heather Hiebsch
Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
Dr. Brian Keefer
Instructional Coach
Natalie Lundberg
Director of U.S. Partnerships
Dr. Shawna Ortogero
Instructional Coach
Morgan Platt
Associate Director, Global Monitoring and Evaluation
Lydia Polanco
Instructional Coach
Emma Puckett
Programs and Operations Associate, U.S.
Vivian Rodriguez
Instructional Coach
Megan Shapiro
Development & Communications Associate
Dr. William Bryant Shaw
Instructional Coach
Jason Taylor
Administrative Consultant
Alea Thompson
Sr. Director, Impact and Programs
Joanna Watkins
Associate Director, Development & Communications
Stewart Bellina began her career in education as a school counselor and director of an alternative program at the high school level. After 13 years in that position, she was hired as the principal of San Juan Mountain School (SJMS) in the Archuleta School District. She and her colleagues started SJMS during the pandemic in the spring of 2020. Since then, her team has focused on developing a successful alternative school centered on community-building, academic rigor, wellness, and outdoor experiences. The results have been impressive, and Stewart’s passion for equality in education continues to drive her decisions as principal. Stewart has spoken at several education events, including the Colorado Association of Education Executives, the Colorado Healthy Schools Summit, and the San Diego Secondary Schools Showcase.
Diego Adame is CEO of TeachUNITED. An economist with an MBA focused on nonprofit organizations, he has led systemic education initiatives across Latin America, East Africa, and Europe for over a decade. Before joining TeachUNITED, he served on the Executive Leadership Team at the LEGO Foundation, managing global education investments, and as Chief Impact Officer for the Human Practice Foundation. As a former classroom teacher from a family of educators, he has firsthand experience training instructors, designing regional school programs, and developing data systems to verify measurable student outcomes. Originally from Mexico and currently based in Copenhagen, Diego is dedicated to working alongside our regional teams to equip teachers with the training and resources necessary to help every student succeed.
Andrea’s previous roles included Office Manager, Inside Sales, Lead SEL Solutions Specialist, SEL Implementation Manager, and Product Delivery Program Manager. Andrea loves to be a support to her teammates and is eager to continue to learn more about the industry to better support the customers we serve.
Emma Puckett is the Programs and Operations Associate at TeachUNITED. In her role of assisting program execution and financial growth, she is focused on improving quality of life by creating better education opportunities for all. Passionate about building stronger communities, Emma is committed to supporting innovative, mission-driven solutions that cultivate equity and sustainability.
With a lifelong interest in people and culture, Emma earned her undergraduate degree in Language, Culture, and Society, a program blending linguistics and anthropology to study humanity from many perspectives. She applies this background in her role to advance the mission of TeachUNITED and to make the most impact for kids and teachers.
Prior to joining TeachUNITED, Emma worked for non-profits championing sustainability; for San Diego State University researching student behaviors and beliefs; for Musée de la Libération to translate culturally appropriate placards; and teaching French students about American culture. Her extensive work caring for and teaching children — both domestically and abroad — has become an inspiration for her work at TeachUNITED.
In her work with education programs, Alea centers a cycle of continuous improvement that makes sure we are constantly looking for new ways to support students. Without question, Alea knows the power of education to change the world, both for any individual student and for our global future.
With over 25 years of experience in finance and an entrepreneur of multiple companies, Brian joins TeachUNITED as CFO. Brian brings a diverse background in accounting, finance, and management to successfully develop and grow client financial infrastructure.
Brian looks forward to building financial strategies to serve the long-term growth of TeachUNITED. Brian is passionate about social impact and has served on the boards of social enterprises in the past, working to reduce inequality.
Jason Taylor, 2024 CASE Middle School Principal of the Year, is a transformational leader who has been serving the people of Colorado since 2005.
Currently the Chief Operations Officer for Archuleta County School District in Pagosa Springs and an Administrative Leadership Consultant with Teach United, Mr. Taylor was also the Principal of Platte Valley Middle School for 12 years, taught MS/HS band, and even worked for a time on a drilling rig in Colorado’s DJ oil Basin. His diverse experiences and equally diverse skillset have allowed Mr. Taylor to connect with educators, students, and families from every background.
Educational Leadership and coaching have been a strong focus for Mr. Taylor for many years, and he has given direction and advice to administrators and teachers from across the state who have sought him out to learn the systems and structures that led Platte Valley Middle School to become one of the outstanding middle schools in Colorado.
In addition to his ventures in school leadership and consulting, Mr. Taylor also serves on the selection committee and steering board for the prestigious “Reisher Foundation Scholarship” and the Board of Directors for the “Colorado Association of Middle Level Educators (CAMLE).” Mr. Taylor is an accomplished public speaker whose professional presentations and motivational addresses have been well-received in many venues.
Outside of education, Mr. Taylor is a husband and father of three beautiful girls who are the center of his life. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running, cooking, and anything that involves the great outdoors (hunting, fishing, camping, etc).
Heather Hiebsch is Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor to TeachUNITED.
Heather co-founded TeachUNITED over a decade ago, built on a simple conviction: that supporting teachers is the most powerful lever for helping students learn, stay in school, and build a better future. Under her leadership, the organization grew to reach more than 50,000 teachers and over 2.5 million students across Africa, Latin America, and the United States, driving significant, measurable impact.
Prior to TeachUNITED, Heather was a founding school principal launching a nationally recognized, pioneering K-12 hybrid school. She is a Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur and Cordes Fellow, where she participates in a portfolio of social innovation and global education leaders. Heather has been a featured speaker, including the keynote at Digital Learning’s Inaugural Conference, a finalist for the Global MindED Inclusive Leader Award, and published as a case study of an education leader by the Christensen Institute, Evergreen Education, Project Tomorrow, EdWeek, and Forbes.
Natalie Lundberg is a strategic education leader with over 27 years of experience in K–12 systems, specializing in business development, cross-sector partnerships, and inclusive instructional design. She has successfully led multi-state growth efforts, secured high-value contracts, and cultivated long-term relationships with state education agencies, districts, and philanthropic partners.
Natalie currently serves as Director of U.S. Partnerships at TeachUNITED, where she supports national growth, partnership development, and the design of scalable education solutions. Her work focuses on aligning services with state and local priorities, leveraging diverse funding streams, and supporting school systems through professional development and blended learning innovation. She brings experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, with a strong emphasis on building sustainable, equity-driven partnerships in education.
Natalie holds a Master’s in English Learner Instruction and has extensive experience designing educator training aligned with Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), and equity-centered practices. She is deeply committed to building sustainable, locally rooted solutions that elevate teaching and learning in underserved communities.
Morgan has dedicated his life to improving the lives of students by equipping and supporting educators and leaders as decision-makers. Growing up as a child of poverty in a rural Native American community, Morgan understands first-hand the power education has to change the lives of individuals and communities.
Shawna Ortogero, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Shawna’s research interests include teacher preparation and development. She has experience with teaching diverse learners inclusive of students with mild to moderate and severe disabilities. Additionally, Shawna has served as a English Learner Tutor, Professional Development Specialist, Educational Consultant, District Resource Special Education Teacher, Assistant Principal, and Special Education District Educational Specialist. Shawna has also dedicated her expertise to mentoring and coaching teachers at various schools across Hawaiʻi.
Her passion lies in supporting teachers as they implement inclusive, blended learning strategies that prioritize differentiation and personalized learning. By combining research-based practices with real-world application, she empowers educators to improve engagement and outcomes for all students.
Kassidy is proud to be part of the TeachUNITED team and is excited to collaborate with educators and students nationwide to drive meaningful, sustainable change in education.
At the heart of Bryant’s work is a mission to inspire and empower his learning community. He focuses on improving student outcomes, fostering inclusive school environments, and building a trajectory of success for all learners.
Before leading at Casey, Bryant held administrative roles in both Aurora Public Schools and Boulder Valley School District, where he gained extensive
experience in strategic planning, school improvement, and instructional leadership.
A sought-after speaker and thought partner, Bryant has been featured on educational podcasts and has presented at industry events including the City of Thornton’s Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE).
Bryant holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Mississippi College, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington, and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of Dayton.
Driven by a commitment to equity and continuous growth, Michelle earned her doctorate in Education, Equity, and Transformation while mentoring and teaching aspiring educators. Her areas of expertise include coaching educators, leveraging educational technology to enrich learning, designing engaging curricula, facilitating job-embedded professional development, and conducting impactful educational research.
Michelle is thrilled to join the TeachUNITED team and actively contribute to positively shaping educational systems.
Vivian Rodríguez is an instructional coach at TeachUNITED. She is a trusted education leader who helps teachers refine their practice and fosters equitable, student-centered learning environments.
With more than 15 years of secondary education experience, Vivian has worked on several valuable projects, including leading STEM-aligned curriculum development at EDforTech and strategic programming as Managing Director at TODOS: Mathematics for All.
Before joining TeachUNITED, Vivian launched her career at various schools in Houston, where she was responsible for teaching high school math, mentoring early-career teachers, and developing interactive, standards-based lessons. Her expertise and commitment to equity-focused education have allowed her to be recognized as a leader in professional learning design and teacher development.
Vivian graduated with a B.S. in Mathematics with a Specialty in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Austin and holds an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston.
Megan is a lifelong learner driven by a genuine belief in equity and opportunity. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Justice and Peace Studies, in addition to a master’s degree in education. Megan began her career as a middle school humanities teacher through Teach For America and has since supported communications and content efforts for a variety of organizations. She is passionate about using her skills to empower educators and advance meaningful change.
Lydia Polanco is an instructional leader with 25 years of experience working in public and federal school systems. She has spent her career supporting teachers and leaders in national and global communities through coaching, professional development, and research based instructional practices.
As a professional learning program manager, she has led large-scale professional learning efforts across globally dispersed schools. Her work included facilitating virtual coaching cycles, building blended learning models, and designing tools to monitor the impact of instructional practices. She has also served as an instructional specialist, school principal, district curriculum & instruction director, and regional leadership coach.
Rooted in a deep belief in lifelong learning and continuous growth, Lydia holds three master’s degrees in Educational Technology, Educational Leadership and an MBA in Business Administration.
A proud advocate for equity in education, Lydia joined TeachUNITED to continue supporting educators in building meaningful, sustainable change in classrooms where it matters most. Outside of work, she enjoys time with family, exploring new learning tools, practicing photography and staying connected to her roots in the Southwest.
Before joining TeachUNITED, Dr. Keefer was responsible for overseeing the creation and implementation of high-quality professional learning programming for over 10,000 employees in a K-12 public school district. His expertise and commitment allowed him to be recognized as a state principal of the year.
Dr. Keefer graduated with a Doctorate in Education degree from the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia, with a dissertation focus on creating high quality, equitable professional learning opportunities for rural and nonrural educational leaders.
Board of Directors
Diego Adame
CEO, TeachUNITED
Sally Bloomberg, SECRETARY
Management Consultant & Certified Coach
Chris Devling
VP of Global Sales & Strategic Development, Corwin Press (a SAGE Publishing Company)
Scott Dooley, TREASURER
Software Director, University of Colorado Learning Engineering Virtual Institute
Leonora Dowley
Senior Lead, Philanthropic Coalitions, International Education Funders Group (IEFG)
Tony Moten
Managing Consultant, Cospero Consulting
Terry Nealon,
CHAIR
Board Chair, TeachUNITED
Board of Directors, Emeritus
Ross Wehner
Co-Founder, TeachUNITED
Advisors
Julie Allen
Director, Ed Redesign at Harvard Graduate School of Education
Emily Edwards
Sr. Director, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
Gene Frantz
General Partner CapitalG
Molly Hoehn
Global Strategy Advisor
Kago Kagichiri
Global Head of Innovation Sokowatch
Paul Pasin
Chief of Parish & School Operations Archdiocese Chicago
Julia Pettengill
Executive Director The Schooner Foundation
Bennett Rathbun
Program Officer for International Philanthropy Pilot House Associates
Eric Roza
Managing Director Vista Equity Partners
Katie Stoddard
Founder / President, Ed2Market
Dale Thoms
Co-Founder / CTO Backflip Studios
Interested in Joining Our Team?
We believe great teaching changes everything. Help scale a proven model for teacher support and student success, from small rural schools to national systems.
Building Teacher Capacity.
Improving Student Outcomes.
