Tara Ranzy, Founding School Leader has worked as an educator in the city of Philadelphia for over fourteen years. Ms. Ranzy has a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies, a Masters in Elementary Education, and a Masters in Educational Leadership. She has successfully mentored children and adults as an Administrator, as a Middle and High school teacher. In 2010, she published her first chapter entitled From NightJohn to Sundiata: A Heritage Based- Approach to Engaging Students in Literacy from Teacher College Press’s Practicing What We Teach: How Culturally Responsive Literacy Classrooms Make a Difference. She is also featured in Addressing Culture Makes a Difference in Bridging Literacy and Equity: The Essential Guide to Social Equity Teaching. Ms. Ranzy loves writing, history, travel and fine dining.

Andre Landon, Founding Studio Educator has spent the last 11 years serving the community as a teacher and a coach. From 2003 to 2012, he has touched the lives of youth across the city as history, reading, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Geometry teacher. In his latest position, Andre taught at the Alliance for Progress Charter School as a Math Intervention Specialist where he devoted his time supporting children who struggled with different mathematics concepts. In addition to teaching, Andre has also offered his time and support coaching basketball in the Philadelphia Public League, Amateur Athletic Union, and the Keystone association. Andre is committed to making a difference because he truly believes that it takes a village to raise a child. He supports the Building 21 instructional model and looks forward to continuing to aid in the betterment of Philadelphia’s youth.

Thomas Emerson, Founding Studio Educator graduated from Villanova with a Bachelor’s degree in English. He earned his Masters in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been teaching at the School of the Future for the past seven years, where he wrote the senior project and directed the school’s drama program.

Eilis Hood, Founding Studio Educator Eilis comes to Building 21 after seven years of teaching English and Social Studies at the middle school level in Philadelphia. She has been a fellow with the Teachers Institute of Philadelphia, a member of her school’s Leadership Team, and was the 2014 Grand Prize winner of the Philadelphia Phillies Lesson Plan Contest. She is excited for the opportunity to design instruction and to introduce a new model of learning to the students of Philadelphia. Eilis graduated from Lafayette College with degrees in Government and Law and English, and holds a Masters degree in Secondary Education. Aside from teaching, Eilis is a lover of sports, world travel, and food.

Ayris Colvin, Founding Special Education Educator has devoted her educational background and career to the improvement of urban schools. She is especially dedicated to school reform that supports individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Ohio University, a Master’s Degree in Urban Education from Temple University, and years of experience teaching special education in both urban and non-urban environments, she is well aware of the challenges that many students face. She has worked as a special education teacher in inner city Philadelphia, where she has contributed to the achievement of various students with learning and intellectual disabilities. In addition, she has worked with students with an array of behavioral and emotional struggles. By creating an environment of high expectations, individualized supports and positive relationships with students, she has helped some of the most struggling students achieve their goals.

Jodi Klue, Founding Studio Educator began teaching in Philadelphia in 2010 after spending several years studying and working in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. While overseas, Jodi’s primary focus was exploring the role of education in transforming conflict in multi-ethnic communities. Since coming to Philadelphia, she has been focused meeting the needs of all learners as both an ESOL and Special Education teacher. Jodi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, a Master of Arts degree in Development Studies, and a Master of Education degree in Special Education. She is certified to teach English and Special Education in Pennsylvania.

Hilary VanAnda, Founding Studio Educator was a scientist in an organic chemistry laboratory at The Scripps Research Institute and has bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Chemistry from Bryn Mawr College. After teaching English at Northeastern Agricultural University in China, she moved back to the U.S. in 2010 to become a Philadelphia Teaching Fellow. She has since shared her passion for science, math and learning with students in Philadelphia public school ages 12 through 21. Other passions include: sewing, traveling, hiking, cooking and trying new foods.

Serkaddis Alemayehu, Founding Studio Educator has been teaching mathematics in Philadelphia city schools for several years. She aspires to provide her students with relevant, rigorous, and real world learning experiences. She believes in the combined power of a positive learning environment, culturally relevant lessons, and question driven pedagogy in capturing student interest and teaching students the value of sustained collaborative work to arrive at a solution to tangible and abstract problems. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and English from the University at Buffalo as well as an M.A. in African American Studies from Temple University and an M.S.Ed in Secondary Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Jamie Roberts, Founding ESOL Teacher Before becoming a teacher with the School District of Philadelphia 11 years ago, Jamie was an award-winning journalist for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the Bucks County Courier Times. She has been a classroom and ESOL teacher for students ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, coached elementary school chess teams for a decade and has taught mindfulness to children and teen-agers for four years. Jamie received her training as a teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction at The Mindfulness Institute at Jefferson University’s Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine.

Clare Kobierowski, Founding Fitness and Wellness Coordinator is the holder of an Eastern University’s Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education/Health and Physical Education Certification. Clare Kobierowski has been a teacher of Health and Physical Educator in the School District of Philadelphia since 2005. During this time, Kobie has had the privilege of teaching 9th graders at School of the Future as well as The Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush. Kobie enjoys encouraging young people to develop the same passion that she has for total body wellness. Kobie really believes in “practicing what you preach.” She practices yoga, meditation, rowing, running, cross-fit and coaching. Kobe’s coaching experiences include rowing, track and field, volleyball, yoga and personal training. At the top of her list of priorities are caring for her two daughters and being a wife.

Meesha Harris, Founding Lead Advisor brings her passion for working with high school students to the Building 21 team. She has been a School Counselor with the School District of Philadelphia for over eight years and has worked with high school students in Philadelphia from various backgrounds and walks of life. Meesha loves helping her students explore the endless possibilities of what life has to offer after high school through career and college exploration and character development coaching. She also served as mentor and Program Director for a female adolescent mentoring program for the last six years.

Rebecca Jervey, Founding Studio Educator has worked in various educational institutions for over a decade. She has taught dynamic science and math classes in the city of Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Prior to that, she developed and administered youth ministry programs at a few churches. Her career working with students began leading summer camp programs, after school apprenticeships with middle school students, and high school math tutoring sessions. During her career, Ms. Jervey has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physics and Astronomy, a Masters in Education with a focus in leadership development, and is a highly qualified teacher with Pennsylvania certifications in both Physics and Mathematics.