Team

Emily is the Director of Talent, providing strategic direction in the areas of recruitment and selection for the talent pipelines across BPE—the teacher residency, Promise Corps, teaching academy schools, and central staff. Prior to joining BPE, she worked for Young Voices, a RI non-profit organization working to transform youth into powerful advocates who partner with major state leaders to create systemic reform and policy change. Emily holds a BA in English from Juniata College and a MA in Humanities and Social Thought from New York University. When not working, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends (including a growing number of nieces and nephews!), reading, running while listening to podcasts, learning and unlearning.

A lifelong learner, Mr. Heckstall hails from Middletown, Conn. and attended Trinity College in Hartford, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Neuroscience. While completing his Master of Education from Lesley University, Mr. Heckstall became a Teach For America corps member and worked as a science and special education teacher at what is now the Dearborn STEM Academy. Mr. Heckstall remained working in schools as a teacher, a Dean of Students and finally his most recent school-based role as Co-Principal of the 9th Grade Academy of Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Mass.

As Chief Improvement Officer, Ed Liu oversees research and data across BPE's programs and schools. Before joining BPE, Dr. Liu was Assistant Professor of Educational Administration at Rutgers University, and he began his career as a high school history teacher and as founding co-director of Summerbridge Portland (a Breakthrough program). Dr. Liu holds an EdD from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he was an original member of the Project on the Next Generation of Teachers and co-authored "Finders and Keepers: Helping New Teachers Survive and Thrive in Our Schools" (AACTE Outstanding Book of 2005). He also holds an MBA and AM in Education from Stanford University, and a BA in History from Yale.

Jesse Solomon founded the Boston Teacher Residency program in 2003, Previously, he taught middle and high school math for 10 years — at the King Open School in Cambridge, Brighton High School, and City on a Hill Public Charter School. He was a founding faculty member, lead teacher, and a member of the board of directors at City on a Hill, where he began and directed the Teachers' Institute, a school-based teacher preparation program. Mr. Solomon has been an instructor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is a National Board-certified teacher. He holds a BS in Mathematics from MIT and an MEd from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The Barr Foundation named Mr. Solomon a Barr Foundation Fellow in 2009 for his leadership, and he is also a Pahara-Aspen Institute Education Fellow. He serves on the Board of Directors for Cambridge College, and is a member of Deans for Impact. Contact: jsolomon at bpe dot org

Melanie Winklosky joined BPE in 2012 as the Chief Advancement Officer, leading BPE's team responsible for public and private fundraising and communications. Melanie has been working in public education for nearly 30 years and has raised more than $50 million to support students, educators, and programs. Before joining BPE, she was the Vice President of Development and Operations at Mass Insight Education, and spent 13 years at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She holds a BA in Psychology from Saint Vincent College and an MA in Human Development from Boston College. Melanie is the proud mother of a high school student and a college student, and writes fiction in her spare time.

Mr. Andrade received both his Bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Masters in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston (UMASS Boston). Mr. Andrade has a strong passion to empower and prepare our young scholars to be future leaders. He believes Black Lives Matter and is truly committed to addressing social justice issues while improving the urban education system. “I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will.”

Tania Baez, Dearborn STEM Academy's new Work Based Learning Manager brings 7 years of experience working with youth in student support roles. As the Work Based Learning Manager, Tania brings to the role a wealth of knowledge and experience cultivating internship partnerships and laying the foundation not only for schools but also businesses to create internship programs designed for high school students. Tania holds a Bachelors Degree in World Languages and Culture and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Higher Education in Student Affairs.

Tasheena Burnett leads the team of coaches responsible for the teacher preparation program in the Secondary Grades. Since graduating BTR in 2011, Tasheena spent a combined ten years in BPS teaching and serving as a Data Inquiry Facilitator. Throughout her career as a middle school English Language Arts Teacher, she has worked as a Collaborating Teacher, Grad Coach, and Summer Institute Director in BTR. She has earned an Ed.D in Higher Education Leadership at Regis College. A passion for relevant, rigorous, and hands-on learning and a desire to be a part of a team that can define and measure success in student learning drives her work. Her inspiration comes from her students, their families, and fellow teachers whom she sees as mentors, many of whom she met as a resident in BTR herself, to teach and lead through a collaborative approach.

Monique Davis served as a recruiter for the Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) since the organization’s inception in 2003, recruiting talent on a local and national level and building relationships and cultivating partnerships. She currently oversees placement of BTR graduates in Boston schools and coordinates a network of over 250 alumni. Previously, Ms. Davis worked as an employment manager at the Home for Little Wanderers, a Boston-based non-profit human services organization. She has also worked for the Vinfen Corporation and the Boston Stock Exchange. Ms. Davis earned a BA in Finance and Accounting from Northeastern University and an Executive MBA from Dartmouth College in Minority Business.

Mardi is a marketing professional with 17 (ish) years of experience scaling programs and products, and telling an organization's story. She has worked in the sports industry as well as in technology, and holds a BA from Amherst College. Find her in the backcountry on the weekends, especially in New Hampshire's White Mountains. She also writes about racial equity and access in outdoor culture. Media inquiries, contact mfuller@BPE.org

As a graduate of the BTR program and former employee of BPE, Felicia is pleased to be returning as a science coach this year. For the past fifteen years, Felicia has worked as a middle school science teacher and induction coach in Boston and Cambridge. Felicia lives in Jamaica Plain with her two young children and her husband, David (who she met in cohort 4). In her free time, Felicia enjoys cooking, biking, and listening to audiobooks on long walks.

Helene joined BPE in Spring 2020 as the Advancement Associate. Prior to BPE, Helene worked for several years at Year Up where she held positions in operations and events. A Dorchester/Roxbury native, Helene is excited to be a part of an organization that serves youth in these communities. In her spare time, Helene is an avid concertgoer and enjoys recording music.

As Development Manager, Narges will manage all public grants, conduct research and analysis related to BPE revenues, and collaborate with other departments to advance BPE’s fundraising and communications work. Before joining BPE, Narges was Manager of Institutional Partnerships at World Food Program USA where she managed a portfolio of faith-based organizations, non-governmental and civil society organizations. She led on institutional research, prospect, and cultivation of partnerships to diversify and strengthen revenue channels.



Narges holds a BA in International Studies from Muhlenberg College and a MA in International Human Security Studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. When not working, Narges enjoys reading, hiking with her two dogs, exploring different cuisines, and painting.

Marcie Osinsky has overseen BTR’s teacher preparation curriculum since 2003. With her BTR colleagues, she continues to innovate and improve the residency experience, blurring the boundaries between course and field work, keeping BPS students’ achievement at the center of residents’ teaching, and building collaborative communities to engage teachers in ongoing learning and development. Marcie began her education career teaching the first and second grades in the Cambridge Public Schools. Her experiences there led her to explore how partnerships with community and educational institutions can support teacher preparation, student achievement and the role of teacher leadership in urban schools. She then became a liaison between Wheelock College and the Young Achievers Science and Math Pilot School in the Boston Public Schools, working with college faculty and public school educators to design a year-long internship program focusing on mathematics and equity. Ms. Osinsky holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Masters in Education from Lesley University.

I grew up in China and came to the States to pursue masters' degrees. I joined BPE in fall 2018 as an intern and turned into full-time when graduated from Suffolk University with MSA & MST. I like watching soccer games, reading and travelling in my spare time.

As director of mathematics at Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter school, I oversee the school’s math program and provide instructional coaching/support and professional development for DSNCS teachers and Boston Teacher Residency teaching residents. I also teach the BTR Elementary Math Methods course. My work -- firmly rooted in the belief that all children are capable of powerful mathematical thinking and problem solving -- is focused on building teachers’ capacity to: 1) help students develop positive math identities and believe in the inherent value of their mathematical ideas; 2) promote equity through intentional disruption of practices that perpetuate marginalization, exclusion, and unjust outcomes.

Grace joined the financial department in August 2016. She graduated from Wuhan University of Technology with a bachelors in accounting, and worked five years as an accountant in China. Grace also holds an associate degree in accounting in the US and is pursuing a degree in taxation. She is so glad to be part of BPE. In her free time she enjoys watching movies, traveling, and hanging out with friends.

Lilly Siu, Ed.D, oversees ELA curricular decisions, professional development, and instructional coaching at the Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School (DSNCS), and serves as the Language and Literacy methods instructor for the Boston Teacher Residency (BTR). Dr Siu holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an Ed.D from Harvard University. Her research interests include student engagement, social and emotional education, and critical theory and pedagogy. Dr Siu is a mother of three, a daughter of immigrants, and a native of San Francisco, California.

Jason Wheeler serves as the Director of AmeriCorps and Dudley Promise Corps. His experience was catalyzed by his extensive involvement in a variety of national and community-based programs working on systemic issues at the root of social injustice. Jason’s work is intentionally positioned at the intersection of some of our countries most urgent human rights, education and equity issues. Jason has worked locally and nationally on issues related to the inclusion of traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities; including people with disabilities, individuals from diverse racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth.

Chelsea Voake leads curriculum development for the Dearborn STEM Academy's pathways. Prior to joining BPE, Chelsea worked at Prospect Hill Academy Charter School in Cambridge where she built Prospect Hill's teacher training program and facilitated the school's design and adoption of an instructional vision grounded in restorative practices. Chelsea earned her BA in geography and environmental studies at Dartmouth College, her MAT in secondary history instruction at Brown University, and her EdM in school leadership at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Outside of education, Chelsea's primary passions are playing outside and eating ice cream.