Below are some of our current and former on-site program staff. We are proud that some of these staff are now part of our Central Team and that 41% of our on-site staff are non-white. We are equally proud that we are retaining approximately 70% of our on-site staff.
Throughout her career in education, Katherine has advocated for students to receive the highest-quality of education regardless of their zip code or family circumstances. She was named New Jersey’s 2000 State Teacher of the Year, and served as President and CEO of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.
Katherine spent 26 years in the classroom as a middle school librarian and at ETS, led the development of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificates for Library Media and Literacy. She led the development of performance-based assessments in four states and worked with six states to develop a common continuum of practice. She also served as Director of Policy and Partnerships for the Center for Educator Effectiveness at Pearson, working to support research into educator practice and self-efficacy and led the development of the Teacher Leader Model Standards and co-led development of the Model Code of Ethics for Educators.
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Ashley Bencan has been a coach, a teacher, a student-athlete, a policymaker and, most importantly, a good listener. Working in the education sector is challenging and sometimes isolating work, however through many different opportunities and great colleagues she has found it rewarding.
Ashley attended Rollins College where she was a two-sport athlete and completed her honors psychology thesis on ‘Quality Out of School Time Programming through the Central Florida YMCA.’ When weighing the options of a master’s in public policy at American University or Teach For America, Ashley chose TFA. After five years of teaching middle school ELA and Social Studies in North Philadelphia and earning her master’s from UPENN GSE, Ashley joined the New Jersey Department of Education. Over the course of her time there, she impacted the following areas of policy and practice: Recruitment, Preparation and Recognition; Data Reporting and Visualization, and as the Director of Strategic Operations she led the internal efforts to systematically improve the agency.
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Before stepping into her current role, Amy held the position of Vice President of Government Affairs at Panorama Education and spent 13 years at Educational Testing Service, progressing through various leadership roles. Her tenure encompassed spearheading business development initiatives for both cognitive and non-cognitive assessment programs. Amy is a Strategic Advisor for Panorama Education, steering strategic growth and ensuring sustainability. Additionally, she holds a position as a Trustee on the Board of Directors for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year (NNSTOY).
Amy’s dedication extends beyond her professional roles, as evidenced in her extensive volunteer contributions to the Association of Test Publishers (ATP). She has held multiple roles within the organization, including the Board of Directors, Education Division Leadership, EdTech and Accessibility SIG leadership, numerous Innovation Committees, ECPS Summit Executive Committee, hosting the New World of Testing event, and presenting at numerous Innovations in Testing panel discussions. Amy is currently serving as the Innovations Awards Chair.
Amy graduated with a B.S. in Business Management before obtaining an M.A. in Education from the University of Phoenix (UoPX). She currently holds an ABD status in her pursuit of a doctorate in Management UoPX.
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Jessica is an experienced educator who cares deeply about her students. She has thirteen years of teaching experience, four years of curriculum coordinator experience, and nine years of being a middle school advisor. Additionally, she worked on a reading research project for The Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at The University of Texas at Austin.
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Prior to consulting, Jill served as Chief Impact Officer for BBYO where for five years she ran US Operations, strategic planning, program content, and membership growth – overseeing approximately 60% of the organization’s 165 full-time employees. Notably, Jill led BBYO through the pandemic restructure including the development and implementation of a short and long-term strategic plan. Prior to BBYO, Jill served in leadership roles in the public education sector where she served as the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education leading the design and implementation of New Jersey’s ESSA plan (a statewide strategic plan to deliver educational supports to disadvantaged students) and in a series of progressive leadership roles at the Chicago Public Schools.
Earlier in her career Jill also worked in the for-profit sector where she launched consumer products for Starbucks and advised Fortune 500 companies on talent strategy at Mercer HR Consulting. Jill holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BA in economics from Tufts University.
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Prior to joining the NJTC, he had been working with individuals with disabilities and their families, helping them to manage their participation in the Personal Preference Program, a Medicaid-waiver home and community-based services program that enabled them to receive paid personal care assistance services from family members, friends, and others. Before that, most of his professional career has been in the organized Jewish community with State of Israel Bonds, the Jewish Partisan Educational Foundation, Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, and Young Israel of East Brunswick.
Bertin earned a B.A. in Political Science at New York University and an Ed.M. from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education.
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Jessica serves on many committees that include curriculum writing, SEL initiatives, I&RS/RTI, student ambassadors, strategic planning, multicultural literacy, before school book clubs, summer reading kick-offs, and continues to lead research-based literacy initiatives in her building.
Jessica also worked as an adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey; observing preservice teachers and guiding in the delivery of literacy lessons for their future classrooms. Most recently, she has joined the New Jersey Tutoring Corps and has served as an instructional coach in numerous locations to support both tutor and student growth.
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Taneisha joined the Corps in January 2023 as an Instructional Coach for its embedded school day program, where she oversees the logistics of tutoring sessions onsite. She firmly believes that every child can learn with the support of passionate advocates who are willing to meet them where they are.
Taneisha holds a Doctorate in Education specializing in Special Education, a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Montclair State University, and a Master of Arts in Education from Saint Peter’s University.
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Andrea has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Rider University and has been the Vice President of the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Board of Education since 2021, where she has been the chairperson to the Educational Programming Committee and the Personnel Committee. She has also been an advocate for all students and an active
member in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee as well as the Policy committee.
Andrea serves as Site Coordinator for the Hamilton Schools and a Regional Program Manager. She believes all students can learn when given the proper resources and support.
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Jenny will never forget her firsthand experience of being a former ESL student in her early years of school, and was inspired by a compassionate teacher who took the time to get to know her. This experience fueled her dedication to helping others.
Jenny has also worked extensively in Property Management for a number of years and organized resident services for previously homeless Veterans in her last position. With her background as a Project Coordinator combined with her teaching experience, Jenny hopes to bring a unique perspective into this role and prepare scholars for a successful future.
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After graduating from Rowan University in 2012 with dual Bachelor Degrees in Elementary Education and Geography, Tierney embarked on a journey marked by relentless pursuit of excellence. With over ten years of experience, her time in the Vineland Public School District saw her not only serve as a kindergarten and first-grade classroom teacher but also take on various leadership roles, including Google Workspace Professional Development leader, Curriculum Author, CLI Model Classroom Teacher, LinkIt Liaison, and Novice Teacher Mentor. Her outstanding contributions were acknowledged when she was named Educator of the Year for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Tierney also has experience as an NJTC tutor and Instructional Coach. She recognizes the profound effect high-impact tutoring can have in bridging learning gaps. Tierney has witnessed firsthand the transformative power NJTC’s embedded school day and after-school programs have on empowering scholars to overcome obstacles and laying the foundation for their future success.
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Dalitza first joined NJTC as a tutor serving scholars K- 8th grade at the Boys & Girls Club. She delighted in getting to know each scholar and watching them reach their daily academic goal. Now her focus is ensuring that scholars are matched with compassionate and dedicated educators.
Before coming to the Corps, Dalitza served in the medical field for nearly 20 years in various capacities. Now she is dedicating her talents to programs that impact our little ones.
Dalitza earned a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration with a concentration in Information Systems from Ashford University. She also attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey, where she earned her Master’s of Science in Management.”
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In her capacity as a NJTC Site Coordinator, Mariely oversees the seamless operation of the program, ensuring that all logistical aspects are well-managed. Her priority is to ensure that both tutors and scholars have the resources and support necessary for success.
Mariely’s commitment to student achievement is evident in her tireless efforts to create an environment that fosters learning and growth. As an Assistant Hiring Manager, Mariely actively seeks out educators who not only possess the requisite skills but also share her passion for empowering students. Her goal is to build a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of the scholars they serve.
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Ashley joined NJTC in January 2023 as a Site Coordinator in Newark, NJ. Prior to joining NJTC, Ashley served as a School Operations Manager at a charter school in Camden and for Newark Public Schools in Newark, NJ
Before being an Operations Manager, she worked as a teaching fellow with Citizen Schools where she co-taught lessons with a certified teacher and managed the operations for after-school programming of 6-8th grade students. Through her work experience, Ashley has learned that teachers aren’t the only people who impact students’ lives, it takes a healthy school community to allow students to thrive.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Journalism from Ramapo College of New Jersey. She is an entrepreneur and also serves as a Trustee for a non-profit organization.
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Rene’s teaching career spanned 33 years supporting learners in the Trenton Public School District as Kindergarten teacher, 1st grade teacher, 5th grade teacher, and K-8 Technology teacher.
She received her Bachelor’s of Science degree from Trenton State College as well as earned her Master’s of Arts in Education in Curriculum Design with an emphasis in Technology from Grand Canyon University. She has a passion for helping scholars succeed through the quality instruction and tutoring that the NJTC team provides.
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He has experience using content management systems and programming languages to create attention-grabbing and informative websites. Previously, he volunteered his time working remotely for an adolescent-focused non-profit
organization based in Spain.
Working for the New Jersey Tutoring Corps was the next natural step in his career as he thoroughly enjoys working with organizations whose goal is to uplift and better the lives of others.
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A Michigan native and graduate of Spelman College, Sheila’s career has spanned education, entrepreneurship, and creative services. Her businesses, including a personalized greeting card company and a tutoring & remediation service for children with learning differences, honed her ability to tailor communications for different audiences.
Since 2014, SDurden Creatives has allowed her to apply this adaptability to a wider range of clients. Sheila enjoys the challenge of helping organizations find their unique voice and communicate it through beautiful, effective designs.
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Chelsea was selected among 125,000 teachers as the 2016 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year; as a teacher, Chelsea was hand-selected by the Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education to lead first-ever statewide policy initiatives. Her work received national attention and was presented to state education agencies across the country.
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Dr. Oswald believes deeply that behind every data point is a child and behind every child is a story. Untilwe know those stories, we will never completely understand the data. As such, he values the “wholechild” approach to education and understands that children learn best in an environment where they feel safe, have a voice, and can genuinely be themselves.
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Amir’s love for athletics and education is reflected in his role as a football coach at Central High School, Newark, where he has coached since 2019. His coaching philosophy emphasizes leadership, academics, and mental health, guiding students through college recruitment and academic success. His hands-on approach has fostered a strong culture of discipline and achievement, helping young athletes excel in sports and personal development.
In addition to his role at NJTC, Amir has worked with prominent organizations like HelloFresh and Orange Moon LLC, where he contributed to operational efficiency and training development. This further solidified his commitment to education and mentoring future leaders. Amir continues to inspire and make a meaningful impact in both academic and athletic spheres through his varied roles.
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