Member Directory

Lisa Hollenbach is Senior Digital Manager for Education Post. Prior to joining Education Post, Lisa developed digital and content strategy for Teaching Channel. She served on the Bill and Melinda Gates Teacher Advisory Council from 2014-2017 and was active in the planning and execution of several Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teachers and Teaching (ECET2) convenings at both the regional and national level. Lisa attended both private and public schools in Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and holds a bachelor’s in secondary education social studies, a bachelor’s in public policy, a minor in women's studies and a master’s in community psychology and social change. A former educator, Lisa taught for more than 15 years in both traditional public school and public charter school settings. She also served as a leader of her local and regional teachers association from 2001-2016. Lisa has worked with several universities throughout her career and is currently an adjunct professor at the Pennsylvania State University, teaching courses in sociology, psychology, education and their intersections. She is passionate about helping education advocates share their stories and creating an equitable education system that serves all students.

Cathy Crocco (She/her) has been a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public Schools since 2017. While she wishes that she could say that what drew her to substitute teaching was a love of teaching random subjects and a passion for educating the next generation the truth is that she was drawn to the steady paycheck and flexibility that substitute teaching in one of the largest school districts in the US provides. She enjoys her job most days and finds it is not all that dissimilar from her true passion of working in theater as a director, stage manager, and performer- both jobs provide ample opportunities for her to say “no” and be ignored no matter
what she says. They also provide her the opportunity to lead and guide minds of all ages and help people discover their own passions and strengths.

Haley Taylor Schlitz is a third-year law student, author, public speaker and respected thought leader on the issues students of color face in navigating gifted and talented programs in our public schools.

Sharif El-Mekki is the Founder and CEO of the Center for Black Educator Development. The Center exists to ensure there will be equity in the recruiting, training, hiring, and retention of quality educators that reflect the cultural backgrounds and share common socio-political interests of the students they serve.

Nolberto Casas is a community activist and member of the Hispanic Community Collaborative and the Chicago Gig Alliance. He is also a father of two CPS students and a passionate advocate for in-person instruction.

Lucy Goebel attends 10th grade in Michigan. She enjoys volleyball, reading, and exploring nature. She is passionate about gun control and plans to continue her writing with an English major from Eastern Michigan University.

Ajibola Elizabeth Junaid is a senior at Wendell Phillips Academy High School in Chicago. She is a Student Voices Fellow at Chalkbeat.

Melissa Lewis is the principal of Pedro Albizu Campos High School. She earned her Bachelor’s in Education at DePaul University. She earned a Double Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from National Louis University.

Prabsimarn Kaur is a high school student in the Chicago Public Schools.