Chicago, IL

About

Errika Baker is the Director of Personalized Learning for Chicago Public Schools. Prior to joining the PL Team, Errika served for nearly four years as the principal at the University of Chicago Charter School - Donoghue Campus. During her tenure as principal, she led her school through a personalized learning redesign process and was a Breakthrough Schools award winner. Errika is a native Chicago South Side resident, where she was born and raised.

About

Jessica Bee is the Senior Marketing Manager at LEAP Innovations. She has spent the last decade marrying her PR skills with a passion for transforming the learning experience for Chicago's youth. As LEAP's Senior Marketing Manager, she executes experiences that connect the broader education community to learning innovation.

About

Gina Grant, the Director of Community for CLX, is an urban educator and administrator with 20 years of experience leading district-wide STEM initiatives and systemic changes for Chicago Public Schools. Gina has also been a leader in out of school time where she advocates for equity, champions innovation and collaboration with community-based organizations, and brokers relationships and strategic partnerships while developing pathways to careers and workforce.

About

Sana has more than ten years of experience working in education, nonprofits, and philanthropy. She is currently the Executive Director at the Chicago Learning Exchange. Sana’s passion and experience are deep and vary in range from her time as a teacher in Chicago and India to her work on girls’ and women's issues with Oxford's Said Business School, to her development of a learning ecosystem through Hive and Chicago City of Learning.

About

Chris Liang-Vergara is the Chief of Learning Innovation at LEAP Innovations. He brings experience teaching at all levels and types of K-12 schools in multiple countries, and advising the U.S. Department of Education, to support LEAP's innovation. He has supported school implementation and design and overseen the development of the LEAP Learning Framework.

About

Phyllis Lockett is the founder and CEO of LEAP Innovations, an organization headquartered in Chicago that works with schools to catalyze and ignite education innovation and prepare students for the changing world of work. As the president and CEO of New Schools for Chicago, she helped raise more than $70 million to support opening 80 new public schools. Recently, Phyllis was named a contributor to Forbes, where she writes about education innovation and the future of learning.

About

Sybil is a systems change leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting institutions in achieving equitable outcomes for under-resourced youth and families. As a clinical and community psychologist, she leverages her academic training to facilitate the translation of research into effective practice in urban schools and communities. The key to her success as a leader in the education space in Chicago is her ability to be a convener-facilitator, listener, coach, and collaborator.

About

Courtney Reilly is the Director of Market Development for LEAP Innovations, where she focuses on making proven LEAP tools available nationwide. Prior to joining LEAP, she spent 10+ years advising for-profit firms on strategy, operations, financing, and acquisitions. Courtney also leads the K-12 Program for the ASU GSV Summit, the annual convening of 5,000+ attendees focused on raising outcomes through scaled innovation across the PreK to Gray talent development spectrum.