About Us

Dr. Aisha Haynes is the Director of Storytelling on the Prepared To Teach team, leading the project’s focus on shifting the narrative around teacher preparation. Prior to this role, she supported a college access program and was a classroom high school teacher in Brooklyn, New York. Aisha’s scholarly research focuses on the experience of historically excluded communities navigating public institutions. Aisha holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from New York University. She previously earned her Master’s degree in teaching at Fordham University and her Bachelor’s degree in English literature at Villanova University. Aisha enjoys travel with family and friends.

Brigid Brennan is the Director, State and Federal Policy & Finance at Prepared To Teach, leading the project’s work to facilitate state players’ and local partnerships’ understanding of policy and funding affordances that can further their work.

Prior to joining Prepared To Teach, Brigid was an Associate in Education Research and Supervisor for the Office of Accountability in the New York State Department of Education, and worked in research and evaluation for New Leaders, an alternative residency model principal preparation program.

She gains energy from quality time spent with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and new puppy.

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As Assistant Director of Media and Communications, Charlotte Wells produces the Prepared To Teach monthly newsletter, manages social media accounts, develops graphics and video, and works with partners to achieve their communication goals. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Temple University, focusing on educational psychology. Previously, she was an Assistant Preschool Teacher at The Goddard School and worked on the School System Partnerships & Programs team at the Bank Street Education Center. She is currently earning her Master’s in Education from Bank Street College and enjoys painting and drawing in her free time.

Divya Mansukhani is the Director of Partnership Learning, leading the organization’s learning agenda that adds new knowledge to the field and supports state and local shifts in the teacher preparation ecosystem. She received a Master’s in Public Administration with a specialization on Urban & Social Policy from the School of International & Public Affairs at Columbia University. She brings with her a strong and extensive background in qualitative and quantitative research methods as well as international experiences in the education sector. Divya enjoys travel and cooking.

Elizabeth A. Price brings a strong educator's point of view to the storytelling and movement-building work. Their interdisciplinary work as an educator, social policy analyst, social worker, and community organizer focuses on developing a teaching philosophy to "tune every forte" to support people's navigation of the self and the world. Price taught her first class at 12, a seed that would culminate in 10 years of teaching experience and serving over 1,500 students.

Francheska Santos is the Assistant Director of Partnership Learning for Prepared To Teach. As Assistant Director, Francheska is responsible for management and outreach communication, data collection/analysis, and resource creation related to the national network’s learning agenda and other state/local partner needs. With a deep commitment to equity and justice, her work assists preparation program and school district partnerships in their efforts to align whole school improvement with quality and affordable preparation pathways, emphasizing the benefits of teacher residencies. Francheska is a graduate of Amherst College and received a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.

Gretchen Mills is the Director of Communications & Engagement for Prepared To Teach. She is responsible for communications strategies and leads logistics, production, and releases for the team’s resources.

Gretchen previously served as a special education coordinator in Newark, New Jersey, before completing a Master of Arts in Urban Education Policy at Brown University. Before joining Prepared To Teach, Gretchen worked in STEAM education in New York City public schools.

She lives in the Midwest with her family and enjoys drawing with her daughter.

Karen proudly leads the amazing Prepared To Teach team in its effort to make paid residencies the norm for teacher preparation. Before founding the organization, she led education programs at Wagner College, directed the Institute for Urban Education at The New School, was national director for research and evaluation at New Leaders, and served as faculty in Educational Leadership at The University of New Mexico. Her doctoral work at the University of Chicago focused on how education policy, law, and finance can better serve equity goals. For fun, she and her husband Steve love to walk, especially along beautiful desert trails in New Mexico and in the urban wonderland of Central Park.

Dr. Reka Barton is the Director of the National Learning Network on the Prepared To Teach team. She works with and supports local partnerships across our National Learning Network. She brings to the work expertise in teacher education from multiple perspectives and positions, as well as experience in leading innovative programming and change at the higher education level.

Reka graduated with her PhD in Education from San Diego State University and Claremont Graduate University. She previously earned her Master’s in Teaching and Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Virginia. Reka enjoys live music, sunset views around the world, and sewing.

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Zachary Paull is the Project and Systems Manager, working with team members in areas like cross-project management, operations and administration, and fostering connections with the field. Previously, he worked as a Staff Writer & Researcher and Research Consultant on the team. Zachary is a former secondary social studies teacher, earning his Bachelor’s degree from Ohio Wesleyan University and certification to teach in Ohio. Experience as a teacher informed his decision to enter education policy advocacy, completing his master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University in education policy, specializing in data analysis and research methods. He enjoys hiking and camping.