DAN PASETTE (CHAIR)

Dan is the VP of Engineering, Core Server at MongoDB. Prior to joining MongoDB, Dan worked several jobs related to digital music, content, and media at LimeWire, MTV Networks, Sonicnet, iXL, and Electronic Book Technologies. Dan has extensive experience growing and managing startup organizations and strategically organizing staff. He is also a technology expert, currently managing a team of 100+ employees at an international company with $300+ million in venture capital financing. Dan holds a degree in computer science from Brown University.

ALEX SHUB  (VICE-CHAIR)

Over the course of his 25 years in education, Alex led the design and development of over 135 new schools, improving educational outcomes for 70,000+ students. Alex was the founding principal of Essex Street Academy and then served as executive director of the Office of New Schools in NYC.  In 2015 Alex founded SEN to bring the successful practices developed in New York to other districts around the country.

VERONICA CONFORME (TREASURER)

Veronica Conforme is a Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Greenhouse E3. She joined Greenhouse in June of 2023 after leading UP Education Network for six years in Massachusetts. She previously served as Chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) of Michigan from 2014 to 2017. As Chancellor of the EAA, Veronica oversaw the state district focused on transforming the turn around of schools in the City of Detroit, spearheading important improvements in those schools by reversing long standing trends for students in math and reading. For over a decade, she served in senior leadership roles in the NYC Department of Education including Chief Operating Officer overseeing a $23 billion budget and 130,000 employees. Veronica also worked as Vice President for the Access to Opportunity campaign at The College Board.

LAUREN STARR (SECRETARY)

Lauren Starr is a real estate agent for Compass in New York City, specializing in sales on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Prior to this position, she had a career as a freelance photojournalist for 15 years. In the last 20 years she has helped advise, support, and raise money for three schools in New York City. She was on the alumni board of her own alma mater, The Dalton School, and also helped Essex Street Academy in lower Manhattan and Community Roots in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Lauren received her BA from Brown University and a graduate degree in photojournalism from the International Center of Photography in New York.

CLARA MARKOWICZ

Clara Markowicz’s career in production started right after graduating from Brown University in 1994, when she worked as an assistant to a documentary filmmaker. In 2001, she cofounded Original Media, a television and film production company. She produced and executive-produced many television projects including popular reality shows like Miami Ink, Storm Chasers, and The Rachel Zoe Project, as well as the critically acclaimed independent films The Squid and The Whale, Half Nelson, and A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. Clara is co-chair of the board of The Brotherhood-Sister Sol, a nonprofit that provides holistic support for underserved youth in New York City, and is a longtime supporter of Essex Street Academy, whose annual fundraiser she spearheads.

EDUARDO CONTRERAS

Eduardo currently serves as COO for the School Empowerment Network and has more than 15 years of experience managing programs and administrative operations within large government agencies and nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and Mexico. Previously, Eduardo served as chief operating officer for the New York City Department of Education’s (NYCDOE) Division of Portfolio Planning, where he led finance, grant management, procurement, and human resources teams. Eduardo received his Master of Business Administration from Yale University.

JEFFREY PENN

Jeffrey Penn is New York-admitted attorney with expertise in executive compensation and employee benefits. He has practiced at a leading New York-based international law firm and is currently advising a multinational technology company with the employment-related aspects of its mergers and acquisitions activities. Jeff received a BA in anthropology from Brown University and a JD from Columbia University School of Law. For several years, Jeff has been a board member of the Montessori Day School.

KEN BLACKLOW

Ken Blacklow is a partner at The Cue Group, which provides management and strategic consulting to corporations, nonprofits, government, and new philanthropists in the areas of branding, capacity building, economic development, and workforce development. Ken received a BA from Harvard University and an MPA from the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs.

LILIBETH DE LOS ANGELES

Lilibeth is an educator with eight years of experience teaching kindergarten, Art, and Science. She has been a grade team leader for three years, developing Spanish, Science, Dance, and PE teachers by holding professional development sessions, observing techniques, and giving feedback. In her spare time, Lilibeth enjoys painting. In 2019 her paintings were featured in an anti-gun violence event at the Brooklyn Museum. In 2021 she painted her first mural. Since then, Lilibeth has been looking for her next art venture and inspiring young minds to do the same.

YEIMMY TORREZ

Yeimmy is an educator, implementation strategist and facilitator of diversity equity and inclusion work. She is passionate about ensuring that folks have equitable access to resources in all aspects of life, including the right to vote and quality education regardless of zip code. With 10 years of experience in teaching, training educators, and implementing different organizing campaigns within NYC, Yeimmy continues to exercise her passion for education equity and aspires to be a leader that fights for social, economic and racial justice in and out of the classroom.