Our team
We're a diverse team with strong personal connections to TalkingPoints’ mission. We're committed to driving student success by building strong partnerships across families, schools, and communities.
Adam Carruthers
Account Executive
Adam Carruthers
Account Executive
Adam has witnessed firsthand primary and secondary education in Europe and higher education in the United States. This enlightening journey has led to an appreciation regarding the importance of reliable, accurate, and unlimited communication between students, families, and teachers. He is an avid devotee to sharing the positive message of change that comes with accessible technology for students of all populations.
He brings to TalkingPoints over 7 years of progressive consultative sales experience as a top-performer working in the K-12 educational content market serving school districts nationwide. Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Science & Global Studies from Benedictine University and is elated to be presented with the opportunity to connect students, teachers, and parents through the TalkingPoints platform.
Adam Lindstrom
Account Executive
Adam Lindstrom
Account Executive
Adam joins TalkingPoints with over twelve years of experience in education as both a science teacher and a district administrator for educational technology and instruction. In 2019, Adam decided to move into the EdTech space, using his skills and background to have a greater impact on education, helping educators and students. Adam brings with him a deep understanding of systems processes and decision-making around supporting and implementing educational technology within a school district.
He is passionate about supporting TalkingPoints’ mission and is excited to help bring such an important communication and family engagement tool to educators and families. Adam holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Science from Richard Stockton University, NJ, a Teaching certification, and a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Monmouth University, NJ.
Adrienne Luczkow
Research Manager
Adrienne Luczkow
Research Manager
Adrienne strives to use data and analytics to ensure accountability to beneficiaries and drive decision-making. Adrienne received a MASc in Data, Economics, and Development Policy from MIT. She has worked as a research assistant in impact evaluation at the World Bank and has led monitoring and evaluation for education nonprofits in the US, Tanzania, and Costa Rica. Previously, she worked as an EFL teacher.
Agustín Cabral
Development Coordinator
Agustín Cabral
Development Coordinator
Agustín is excited to contribute to TalkingPoints’ mission of providing equal opportunities for students. With his extensive background as a backend developer, he hopes to make a difference in the lives of young learners. With 10 years of experience, a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and a deep understanding of technical solutions, he takes pride in being part of a team that is dedicated to creating a positive impact on education and promoting a brighter future for all students.
Anke Weiss
Senior Product Designer
Anke Weiss
Senior Product Designer
As a parent in the public school system, Anke has experienced first hand the challenges teachers and parents of all backgrounds have to overcome to ensure an equitable education for all kids.
Anke brings almost 20 years of experience as a product designer to her role at TalkingPoints. One of her greatest joys and motivators has been creating products and services that make an actual difference in people’s lives. Anke has always been surrounded by educators and is most excited when helping companies and nonprofits in the education sector. Anke originally studied photography in Berlin before moving to California. In San Francisco she honed her design skills at SFSU Multimedia Studies Program long before UX design was even a profession.
Antares Nieves
QA Specialist
Antares Nieves
QA Specialist
Antares comes to TalkingPoints with over two years of experience as QA Specialist. Antares is passionate about TalkingPoints’ mission and understands how education deeply impacts lives and can open doors to opportunity. She is excited to use her skill set towards helping others.
Antonio Bracco
Senior Software Engineer
Antonio Bracco
Senior Software Engineer
Antonio is passionate about evidence-based work that can be used to help others. As TalkingPoints’ Software Engineer, Antonio develops new solutions and software for TalkingPoints’ partners.
Antonio has a degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on telecommunications from the Republic University in Uruguay.
April Beasley
Senior Partner Success Manager
April Beasley
Senior Partner Success Manager
April has over 20 years of experience in education. She started her career in secondary math and then moved to technology education. Partnering with Pitsco Education, she helped develop curriculum for students in elementary school to engage young learners in math, science, and technology through hands-on lab activities. After moving into leadership, she served as an Assistant Principal, Technology Director, and a Data Analyst prior to leaving K-12 education for the ed tech industry. Prior to joining TalkingPoints, she used her love of numbers and Big Data to provide support and guidance to districts across the country to identify and address achievement gaps and improve student success.
As a member of the Partner Success Team, April is responsible for guiding partners to effectively use the TalkingPoints solution to further improve educator to family communication and help build a sense of community. April earned her Master’s degree in Technology Education and her Educational Specialist degree in Leadership and Administration from Georgia Southern University. April is driven to help others and loves being able to make an impact on her community through her work at TalkingPoints.
Aram Gugusian
Head of Engineering
Aram Gugusian
Head of Engineering
Aram is a full stack developer with over 10 years of experience developing software. He has extensive experience on Web infrastructure and Networking and has architected the TalkingPoints web and mobile app. Aram has a master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Catholic University in Uruguay.
Ariadna Candir
Translation Program Manager
Ariadna Candir
Translation Program Manager
As a former teacher, Ariadna witnessed the struggles families in the US faced when their home world language was not English. After she moved on to become a District Translator in one of the nation’s most diverse school districts, she advocated for parents and students, created resources and provided professional development to teachers and administrators on translation technologies to bridge the communication gap.
Ariadna has 18 years of experience as a professional translator, editor and proofreader with over 15 translated books that have been published. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad del Valle de México, and speaks 4 languages.
Ash Cruz
Support Specialist
Ash Cruz
Support Specialist
Ash deeply connects to many of the communities TalkingPoints serves. Having grown up in a Spanish-speaking immigrant household, Ash recognizes student success is a team effort, and they are committed to helping bridge language barriers between schools and families. They are thrilled to be a part of the Support team to ensure everyone can find success with TalkingPoints, no matter their background.
Ash joins TalkingPoints from the higher education field, where they worked to reduce equity gaps related to college knowledge and basic needs for first-generation students. Ash graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a double major in Education Sciences and Urban Studies.
Ashlynn Taylor
Sales Development Representative
Ashlynn Taylor
Sales Development Representative
Ashlynn joins TalkingPoints with over 2 years of experience in sales. In 2021, she began her sales career as a salesperson for Eliot Management Group. Later, she joined Fuel Sales to enhance her skills and further her career.
Ashlynn is passionate about introducing EdTech which promotes overall wellness to schools, staff, students, and families. She is excited to join the TalkingPoints team and continue this mission.
Asia Reed
Sales Development Representative
Asia Reed
Sales Development Representative
Asia spent three years working directly with young people through AmeriCorps and in Child Care as a Camp Counselor. During this time, she learned the true value of education, mentorship, community building, and advocacy. She pursued an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy; hoping to improve the social and emotional well-being of others, and ultimately facilitate healing and change. In 2022, she decided to use her educational and professional experience at Fuel Sales Academy as a Sales Development Representative.
Asia obtained her B.A. in Women’s Studies from Washington State University. During college, she served as a member of the YWCA, a student recruiter for Interdisciplinary Studies, and a volunteer dispatcher for Women’s Transit. She is thrilled to continue her journey with TalkingPoints where she will use her passion for collaboration, advancement, and education to reach families nationally.
Belén Grajales
Software Engineer
Belén Grajales
Software Engineer
Belén is an enthusiastic person who enjoys accepting new challenges and providing high-impact solutions. With more than 4 years in the IT industry, she specializes in solving problems related to product quality (QA).
Belén is currently studying for a degree in systems analysis at ORT University. Belén’s involvement in education includes teaching as a high school Chemistry teacher, and a degree in Dental Biochemistry that has allowed her to teach at the Universidad de la Republica (UdelaR).
Bethany Kreider
Product Manager
Bethany Kreider
Product Manager
Bethany is passionate about improving educational equity globally. She believes that the intersection of education and technology has immense potential to create a positive impact, and is thrilled to get to support students by increasing family engagement as part of the Product team at TalkingPoints.
Over the past ten years, Bethany has worked across the education sector, from classroom teaching in the U.S. and Indonesia to conducting educational research, to curriculum development and working in EdTech. Bethany studied Elementary Education at the University of Tampa and later earned a master’s degree in International Education Policy and Management from Vanderbilt University.
Brett Wheeler
Account Executive
Brett Wheeler
Account Executive
Brett has spent his career partnering with school districts across the country beginning with supporting curricular programs and most recently working with districts to help support equity and diversity via their literacy programs.
Brett holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Northern Illinois University. Brett is passionate about helping reduce barriers for families to be actively involved in their student’s education and looks forward to positively impacting student outcomes through his work at TalkingPoints.
Bruno Galli
Junior Software Developer
Bruno Galli
Junior Software Developer
Bruno studied Electrical Engineering at Republic University in Uruguay and has over 6 years of experience in the technology sector. He is passionate about using his background to build a better future. Bruno joined TalkingPoints to collaborate on the development and maintenance of web and mobile apps.
Chris Dudak
Senior Manager, Product Management
Chris Dudak
Senior Manager, Product Management
Chris is passionate about bringing people together across language barriers. As a parent who changed school districts during the Covid pandemic, he has seen firsthand the importance of establishing communication between schools and families, and the trust that follows when this level of communication is maintained.
Chris has an M.A. in Translation (Spanish > English) from Kent State University. A linguist by training, he began his career in localization operations before moving on to implementing machine translation solutions and ultimately transitioning into product management. In his role on the Product team at TalkingPoints, he brings together this unique skill set to focus on quality and breadth of translation, ensuring successful communication and better outcomes for students and their families.
Chris Sorrell
Account Executive
Chris Sorrell
Account Executive
Chris brings over fifteen years of sales experience to TalkingPoints, making the jump into K-12 EdTech in 2019. He’s worked to support educators with a variety of impactful instructional technology tools; covering classroom engagement, digital assessment, and student mental health support. Chris takes pride in being a consultative partner and provides a continuous system of support so that teachers and administrators feel confident investing their time, energy, and resources into these solutions.
Chris is a father, and he joins TalkingPoints because he knows that teachers and families deserve the ability to communicate clearly and consistently to support the well-being and success of their children. TalkingPoints helps eliminate traditional barriers to communication, making more equitable family engagement possible for schools and districts. Chris graduated from the University of Iowa.
Ciro Gronrroz
Junior Software Developer
Ciro Gronrroz
Junior Software Developer
Ciro brings a rich background in software development to his role, with a strong focus on applying technology into society, aligning perfectly with TalkingPoints’ mission to enhance education through technology.
Outside of work, Ciro is an avid sports enthusiast, and enjoys running and cycling, which complement his dynamic approach to software development. Ciro holds a degree in Information Technology from the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC).
Claudine Ryan
President
Claudine Ryan
President
As a first-generation college go-er, Claudine personally experienced how invaluable education can be. As a parent and community member, Claudine believes that parents, regardless of their own backgrounds, can be tremendous champions in their children’s educational success. Claudine has spent her career in technology for the past 25 years, focusing for the past decade on building technology for social impact at scale for nonprofit education organizations, previously as COO & Head of Product at GreatSchools and now as President of TalkingPoints. Claudine studied information technology at the University of Virginia and has an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Business.
Crissie Tucker
Controller
Crissie Tucker
Controller
Over the course of the past 8 years, Crissie has played a vital role as a leader of the finance department in the nonprofit sector, guiding and overseeing various financial operations and strategies. Her expertise and dedication have been instrumental in ensuring the financial stability and success of the organizations she served. Through her strategic decision-making and meticulous attention to detail, she has successfully navigated the ever-changing financial landscape, adapting to new regulations and market trends to drive sustainable growth and the organization’s mission. Crissie enjoys actively engaging with the community, making a meaningful impact through her dedicated efforts and noteworthy achievements, and delivering exceptional results that reflect her unwavering passion for service.
Crissie obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Indian River State College, where she gained a strong foundation in financial management, auditing, and taxation. She is a dedicated professional who is committed to staying up-to-date with the latest industry practices and regulations. As a testament to her expertise, she is a proud member of the prestigious American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), an organization renowned for its commitment to excellence in the field of accounting.
David Golkin
Principal Product Manager, Solution Incubator
David Golkin
Principal Product Manager, Solution Incubator
David is passionate about unlocking ways to make learning more accessible to all students and removing barriers that prevent educators from teaching at their best. He began his career teaching elementary school in Harlem where he experienced firsthand the impact of building strong and trusting relationships with families can have on student achievement and he is excited to further that mission at TalkingPoints.
For the last decade, he has worked in product development at various EdTech companies where he specialized in creating innovative products and experiences through a focus on customer research and iterative experimentation. David studied Psychology at Williams College and later received his masters in General and Special Education from Touro College, and an MBA from the Wharton School.
Davis Jett
Data Integration Manager
Davis Jett
Data Integration Manager
Davis joins TalkingPoints with over 6 years of experience in the Extract, Transform, and Load (ETL) field, and 5 years of experience in the EdTech industry. He is eager to assist the TalkingPoints Data Integration Team in making product usage fun, easy, and impactful for our partners. In his free time, Davis enjoys listening to and dancing to music, relaxing in the backyard, and grilling.
Dimetri Duckrey
Partner Success Manager
Dimetri Duckrey
Partner Success Manager
Dimetri is passionate about improving outcomes for all students – regardless of what languages they speak at home or the zip code in which they live. During his time as a secondary teacher and in the ed tech space, he has seen what is possible when families are engaged and advocating for their scholars. He enjoys bringing families and schools closer together through his work with TalkingPoints.
Dimetri graduated from Rutgers University with a double major in Political Science and Spanish Linguistics and later earned his master’s degree from the University of North Carolina Charlotte in Foreign Language Education. He is a Fulbright scholar and had the opportunity to teach English at a Brazilian university before teaching high school Spanish in Charlotte, NC and Camden, NJ.
Divya Das
Production Designer
Divya Das
Production Designer
Divya is a skilled visual designer from Mumbai, India, with a passion for crafting aesthetics. She leverages her design prowess to amplify causes close to her heart. Her creative journey has been recognized through features in publications and exhibitions across the nation, including her noteworthy undergraduate thesis.
Divya has made impactful contributions to several distinguished organizations, including 826 Valencia, Essie Justice Group, The ACLU, The SF LGBTQ Centre, and Fern Design. Thriving in collaborative settings, she embraces opportunities to acquire new skills and master innovative tools.
In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, playing video games, and scrolling through dog videos on Reddit while sipping chai.
Dominique Tunzi
Strategic Data Project Fellow
Dominique Tunzi
Strategic Data Project Fellow
Dominique is passionate about the use of data and research to build equitable systems and structures that support student well-being and success. Prior to TalkingPoints, she worked on early childhood and socioemotional/behavioral intervention evaluations and technical assistance projects for SRI International. She started her career trajectory in education and youth research as an AmeriCorps reading interventionist. Dominique holds a PhD in Community Research and Action from Vanderbilt University.
Emma Berry
Director, Partner Success
Emma Berry
Director, Partner Success
Emma is driven by student success — and knows that starts when schools and families work as a team. As a former English teacher in rural and urban multilingual communities, she grounded her instruction in the power of language and voice. Emma sees her role at TalkingPoints as a natural extension of her classroom experience to ensure all families and teachers have access to the tools to communicate effectively.
In addition to her time in the classroom, Emma is a graduate of the University of Richmond and worked as an instructional coach and learning experience designer for teachers. She is thrilled to be the Director of Partner Success at TalkingPoints and to increase family engagement in service of students.
Evelyn Hulsey
Director of Operations
Evelyn Hulsey
Director of Operations
Evelyn joins TalkingPoints with over a decade of project management and leadership experience in the software industry. After building a strong foundation in client-facing initiatives, Evelyn pivoted to focus on internal programs supporting operational excellence and scalability within growing software organizations.
Evelyn has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Melbourne. As Director of Operations, Evelyn drives strategic TalkingPoints initiatives and implements best practices across the organization, allowing us to maximize our impact on the communities we serve.
Facundo Echevarria
QA Analyst
Facundo Echevarria
QA Analyst
For Facundo, education is the fundamental key to building a more equitable and just world. It is essential that everyone has access to quality education, regardless of their socio-economic background, geographical location, or any other circumstance. As someone who enjoys helping others and believes in equal opportunities for all, Facundo is excited to contribute to TalkingPoints as a QA Analyst.
One of Facundo’s main objectives is to help people, and this position at TalkingPoints has given him the opportunity to do so. With his software testing studies and experience in personal attention, he has hopes to contribute to helping all students who deserve opportunities and fight every day to be better.
Felicia Marshall
Senior Data Engineer
Felicia Marshall
Senior Data Engineer
Felicia brings decades of teaching experience, extensive technical expertise, and a data-driven approach to improving processes and products to her role at TalkingPoints. She comes from a family of educators covering the full spectrum of ages and currently teaches a college class remotely to students all over the world. Throughout her career, she has taught a wide range of subjects, including programming, robotics, machine design, manufacturing processes, and Computer-Aided Design (CAD). In addition to teaching, Felicia has also worked in technical writing and training, quality assurance and test automation, software development and delivery metrics, value stream mapping and process improvement, data pipeline architecture and CI/CD, and data observability with associated dashboards and alerts. Felicia holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Brigham Young University.
Growing up with first-generation American friends, Felicia developed a love for various cultures and languages. This passion was further strengthened by formal schooling in foreign languages. She is driven by seeing the impact of education improving the quality of life, particularly for those in underserved communities.
Felipe Aranda
Sales Development Representative
Felipe Aranda
Sales Development Representative
Felipe began his career in sales as a bank teller and fell in love with offering products and services specifically to customers whose first language was not English. As a seasoned professional, his current focus lies at the intersection of sales and the EdTech community, a field that has been particularly invigorating for him. He has carved out a niche that aligns seamlessly with his passion for connecting with people. Throughout his career, he has thrived on engaging with customers, building lasting relationships, and driving business success.
Felipe is excited to be part of the TalkingPoints team because he resonates with the product on a personal level. As a child, he had to interpret school assignments, letters and even bills to his parents. Felipe is fluent in Spanish and his two cats, Mochi and Zoe, have become the unofficial mascots of his journey.
Gabriel Castiglioni
Senior Software Architect
Gabriel Castiglioni
Senior Software Architect
Gabriel is our lead iOS developer and designer with extensive experience in both areas. He studied Computer Science at Republic University in Uruguay and is passionate about building products that address social problems.
Gonzalo Silva
Senior Software Engineer
Gonzalo Silva
Senior Software Engineer
Since childhood, Gonzalo has been interested in using technology to make a positive impact in the world. At TalkingPoints, Gonzalo brings over 3 years of experience as a software engineer and is passionate about using his skill set to drive student success. Gonzalo holds a degree in Computer Science from the University of the Republic Uruguay.
Guillermo Rodriguez
Software Developer
Guillermo Rodriguez
Software Developer
Guillermo studied Industrial Engineering at Republic University in Uruguay. His passion for TalkingPoints’ mission and software engineering led him to join our team as a junior software developer. He is excited to collaborate on building products that address social problems.
Guillermo Siriani
Database Administrator
Guillermo Siriani
Database Administrator
Guillermo is passionate about using technology to improve education and helping parents stay engaged in their children’s education. After years working for financial institutions, he felt the need to move to a more fulfilling path and joined TalkingPoints so that he could use his skills to support teachers, families and students.
As our lead AI software engineer, Guillermo works on improving our machine translations and natural language processing capabilities. He is a first generation college graduate and has a degree in Computer Science at Republic University in Uruguay with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing.
Heather Dooley
Senior Director, Brand Marketing & Communications
Heather Dooley
Senior Director, Brand Marketing & Communications
Heather is inspired by how education can empower students to reach their potential and help build productive healthy communities. As a public school parent in a diverse district, she’s seen how fostering positive connections between schools and families can make a big difference in student learning and the important role that access and inclusion play in building these relationships.
She has spent most of her career in digital marketing, including nearly a decade working in the nonprofit education sector to advance the adoption of effective school practices and help parents understand and use education data. Heather is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College, where she studied history and French.
Heejae Lim
Founder and CEO
Heejae Lim
Founder and CEO
Heejae Lim is the Founder and CEO of TalkingPoints. Previously, Heejae worked on education reform for public schools in the Middle East. She also served as Chief of Staff to a special advisor to the Secretary of Education in the UK. As a consultant at McKinsey, she advised the Gates Foundation and Teach First UK. Heejae is a graduate of Oxford, LSE and has an MBA from Stanford Business School where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and has been recognized as an Echoing Green Fellow, Stanford Social Innovation Fellow, Ashoka Changemaker and Forbes 30 under 30 to change education.
Joaquín Piedra Cueva
QA Specialist
Joaquín Piedra Cueva
QA Specialist
Joaquin loves computers and has always wanted to be a part of the IT world. He grew up in a household where education was highly valued. As a QA Analyst at TalkingPoints, he gets to combine his passion for computers and his dedication to education.
Jocelyn Gutierrez
Senior Support Specialist
Jocelyn Gutierrez
Senior Support Specialist
As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Jocelyn is passionate about ensuring everyone has access to an equitable educational experience. From both personal and professional experience, Jocelyn has seen the positive correlation between family engagement and student success. Jocelyn brings the compassion and skill set needed to be the liaison between teachers and families at TalkingPoints.
Jocelyn is a graduate from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus on empowering marginalized communities to pursue active and healthy lifestyles. She also is a proud AmeriCorps Alumni where she supported families and students access mental health resources.
José Soarez
Software Engineer
José Soarez
Software Engineer
José enjoys learning new technologies and using them to improve education for children. José brings over four years of experience as a full-stack engineer to TalkingPoints and worked in QA before becoming a developer. José has a Programmer Analyst degree from ORT University.
Kaleigh Dimillo
Support Associate
Kaleigh Dimillo
Support Associate
Kaleigh is a former educator whose experience in education began in 2015, teaching 5th grade and focusing on Elementary Education and Special Education. After completing her undergraduate studies, she earned a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a Reading Specialist certification from Valdosta State University.
Her passion for fostering student growth and supporting teachers has always been at the heart of her work. After the birth of her son, Graham, Kaleigh made the decision to step outside the classroom, seeking a role where she could continue to make an impact. This led her to TalkingPoints, where she integrates her dedication to education by helping bridge communication gaps between teachers and families. Since joining the team, Kaleigh has found great fulfillment in empowering educators and families with the tools they need to create stronger connections and ultimately support student success.
Kara Davis
Senior Philanthropy Manager
Kara Davis
Senior Philanthropy Manager
Kara is passionate about human rights issues and believes language access and human rights go hand-in-hand — access to information in your preferred language is critical to your livelihood, happiness, and success. That’s what inspired her to join TalkingPoints and drives her role as Institutional Philanthropy Manager. She brings nearly a decade of development experience in education, family engagement, and, most recently, the language industry, supporting the growth of a variety of entities reaching immigrant, refugee, and global communities.
Kara graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Journalism from New York University and received a Master of Arts in International & Intercultural Communication with a concentration in human rights and migration from the University of Denver.
Katherine Frazier-Archila
Director of Philanthropy
Katherine Frazier-Archila
Director of Philanthropy
Katherine has a passion for educational equity and is committed to ensuring all students thrive in school. With well over a decade of fundraising experience, she has served in various leadership positions at national and San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits focused on youth services and public education. Prior to joining TalkingPoints, Katherine was the Director of the Philanthropy Team at KIPP Public Schools Northern California. In 2012, she earned a Master of Social Work degree from Georgia State University with a concentration in community partnerships.
As Director of Philanthropy at TalkingPoints, Katherine partners with funders who share TalkingPoints’ vision of transforming our education system through robust family engagement. As a parent herself, Katherine knows firsthand the important role that families play in the social-emotional and academic well-being of a child.
Katie Fodor
Operations Manager
Katie Fodor
Operations Manager
Katie is passionate about educational equity for all students and families, and working towards policy reform to rectify the injustices in the current educational landscape. She has a wide scope of knowledge in non-profit and educational operations, and tactical experience in understanding the needs of educators. As a former administrator, Katie has seen firsthand the tremendous impact that parent engagement has on student outcomes and is happy to be a contributing part of a team focused on increasing that effort.
As the Operations Manager at TalkingPoints, Katie is responsible for ensuring effective high-level systems and processes to ensure our team is logistically sound and able to focus on providing service and innovation for the folks we serve in schools and classrooms. Katie received a Bachelor’s degree in Human & Consumer Science with a minor in Business Administration from Ohio University.
Katie Rivard
Senior Product Designer
Katie Rivard
Senior Product Designer
Katie began her career teaching high school English in Memphis, which sparked a passion for designing equitable and impactful experiences that allow all students to thrive. She spent the next decade working as a teacher and an instructional coach and partnering with families to foster inclusive classroom communities and create memorable learning experiences for students.
In addition to her time in the classroom, Katie brings experience working in several capacities across the ed tech industry, including sales, customer success, and product design. Katie studied English and Political Science at the University of Notre Dame and later returned for a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has a deep understanding of the motivations and challenges of teachers and administrators, which will help inform her work designing impactful, user-centric experiences for students and families. Katie is excited to join the TalkingPoints team, and create products and services that will make a difference in the lives of students and families.
Kevin Chavez
Senior Manager, Support & Data Integration
Kevin Chavez
Senior Manager, Support & Data Integration
Kevin is passionate about giving a voice to families who speak English as a second language. As a child of two immigrants, Kevin grew up acting as an interpreter for his parents and teachers.
Kevin brings over six years of experience and is dedicated to helping teachers and families connect with one another. Kevin is finishing his bachelor’s degree from San Francisco State University where he is majoring in liberal studies and minoring in marketing.
Kiki Greenacre
Data Integration Support
Kiki Greenacre
Data Integration Support
Kiki joins TalkingPoints with over 4 years of experience in the data field and 2 years of experience in the EdTech industry. She is eager to assist the TalkingPoints Data Integration Team in making the product easy to use for all partners. In her free time, Kiki enjoys painting, sketching, reading, and playing with her cat Mittens.
Kristie Werner
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Kristie Werner
Senior Product Marketing Manager
Kristie has a passion for education and as a parent herself she understands the importance of school and family engagement and partnership and the role it plays in bettering student outcomes.
Kristie brings a diverse background to TalkingPoints, including many years of marketing, customer support and program management experience. She has been working in Ed Tech since 2015, with not-for-profit organizations that are highly mission driven.
As the senior product marketing manager at TalkingPoints, Kristie helps educators better understand and recognize the value and benefits of the TalkingPoints products. In addition, she helps bring the voice of customers and their needs to the TalkingPoints team.
Kristie completed her undergraduate work at Portland State University and earned an MBA from the University of Oregon.
Kristin Daniels
Partner Success Manager
Kristin Daniels
Partner Success Manager
Kristin is inspired and energized when new voices are heard in education! Kristin’s career started in the classroom and her innovative experiences led her to a career in education technology. Prior to joining TalkingPoints, Kristin worked as an innovation consultant with districts across the country to identify top ideas from educators and students and launch them into a structured innovation pipeline for testing and implementation.
Kristin has spent her career advocating for educators and students and is thrilled to be at TalkingPoints on the Partner Success Team where she is able to help elevate the voices of families! Kristin has a B.A. in Psychology from Northwestern University and a M.Ed in Elementary Education from DePaul University.
Krystal Key
Senior Compliance Manager
Krystal Key
Senior Compliance Manager
Krystal has a passion for helping others and positively impacting her community. She values the role accessible technology has in allowing all families to be involved in and fuel their child’s education. Krystal graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Krystal uses her combined experience to support internal operations so that the team can maximize its impact on empowering students, families, and teachers.
Laila Brenner
Head of Philanthropy
Laila Brenner
Head of Philanthropy
Laila has over 20 years of fundraising experience and has served in various positions at Habitat for Humanity, The Trust for Public Land, Craigslist Foundation, and KCETLink. Prior to joining, Laila was with Code for America where she spent 6+ years scaling philanthropy and helping millions access food and other basic needs. Laila earned her Masters in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and is co-author of the book Nonprofit Fundraising 101.
As Head of Philanthropy at TalkingPoints, Laila leads the organization’s fundraising team and philanthropic revenue strategy. Laila views fundraising as an act of love and an invitation for others to help change the world. Outside of work, Laila keeps busy with two kids, chickens, and a variety of rotating hobbies.
Lauren Fogel
Director of Product Management
Lauren Fogel
Director of Product Management
Lauren is dedicated to driving impact and social change by working at the intersection of technology and social service – she is excited to bring that focus to TalkingPoints. For over 20 years, Lauren held product development leadership positions in both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. She led the expansion of a resource information and referral platform that supports under-represented communities and led the development of online products in higher education STEM disciplines that are in use by millions of students around the world.
An experienced mentor and coach, Lauren co-founded a cross-functional mentor group and donates her time to different organizations. Earlier in her career, Lauren lived in Asia and those experiences of living in dramatically different cultures continue to influence her work and perspective. Lauren graduated from Haverford College in Pennsylvania with a degree in English Literature and Women’s Studies.
Leah Walker
Senior Director of Research
Leah Walker
Senior Director of Research
Leah is an accomplished and forward-thinking leader with a passion for improving educational outcomes for students through the innovative use of technology. Leah earned a PhD in Education from UC Berkeley and has gained extensive experience in research and technical leadership roles at prominent companies such as NWEA, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Amira Learning, and Amplify. With her strong values-driven approach, Leah is committed to making a positive impact on educational outcomes for students.
As Senior Director of Research, Leah leads a highly skilled team of researchers who specialize in educational research, survey design, and machine learning. Together, they collaborate on exploring new avenues for research, support ongoing product improvements, and analyze the impact of TalkingPoints on students, families, and educators.
Lucia Alfaya
QA Specialist
Lucia Alfaya
QA Specialist
As an academic researcher, Lucia has learned to be proactive and apply her analytical skills when facing challenges. Her work experience has also taught her to be inquisitive and adapt to different situations. She has seen how education impacts and opens doors and is excited to share this experience with others.
Lucia has a BA in biochemistry and is finishing her PhD in chemistry at the Universidad de la República. She has also studied Web Development and Big Data.
Majo Pais
Office Manager
Majo Pais
Office Manager
Majo is passionate about supporting student success through technology. Prior to joining TalkingPoints, she worked in the travel industry. Majo has a technical degree in accommodation and travel management and enjoys photography in her spare time.
Marcelo Rodriguez
QA Automator
Marcelo Rodriguez
QA Automator
Marcelo is excited to continue his career in Quality Assurance (QA) at TalkingPoints. As a child, his family instilled in him an appreciation for studying and education by reading books to him and nurturing his curiosity. He is eager to pursue his passion for QA and help other students discover the same appreciation for education that his family helped him find.
Martín Calcagno
Senior Software Engineer
Martín Calcagno
Senior Software Engineer
Martín Mislej
QA Lead
Martín Mislej
QA Lead
Martín brings more than four years of experience in the testing field to TalkingPoints. He previously worked as a testing consultant, improving workflows and methodological processes for different organizations. In relation to education, Martín worked as a coach and professor teaching testing courses.
Mauricio Sabaj
QA Specialist
Mauricio Sabaj
QA Specialist
Mauricio joins TalkingPoints with a BA in Mass Communication and Media, as well as 13 years of experience working as a content manager on various websites. He is excited about the growth and professional challenges that his role as a QA Analyst will bring.
Mauricio acknowledges the significance of TalkingPoints’ social and educational mission and strongly believes that it is essential to work in an environment where he shares the same objectives.
Michael Phan
Data Engineer
Michael Phan
Data Engineer
Growing up in an English-learning family, Michael understands the crucial link between family involvement and students’ achievements. He strongly believes that when families are engaged, students thrive. And that’s why he sees breaking down the language barrier as the crucial first step in closing the gap.
Michael has many years of experience working in the EdTech space and is passionate about using data as a driving force to help students in their academic careers. Using the power of analytics, he loves the insights that data can provide to educators and drive the direction of progress. As a Data Engineer, he advocates for the accessibility of data, recognizing its immense power for everyone.
Moritz Mueller
Senior Account Executive
Moritz Mueller
Senior Account Executive
Moritz (Mo) has been a dedicated professional in education technology since 2016, bringing nearly a decade of experience to his role at TalkingPoints. Throughout his career, he has worked with leading companies like DreamBox and Renaissance, where he has been instrumental in forging strong partnerships and driving positive student outcomes.
Mo’s passion for supporting families, students, and educators is further fueled by his wife, who is a high school biology teacher in their local district. This personal connection to education inspires Mo to champion transformative technologies that enhance student achievement and foster a collaborative educational environment.
Nancy Lee Bromberger
VP, Strategic Partnerships
Nancy Lee Bromberger
VP, Strategic Partnerships
Natalia González
Junior Software Developer
Natalia González
Junior Software Developer
Natalia joins TalkingPoints with a strong belief in the importance of motivation, particularly for children, and the essential role parents play in supporting their child’s education. She is excited to join TalkingPoints as a Junior Software Developer and contribute to its mission of fueling students’ learning, growth, and future success.
Nelson Campos
Senior Software Engineer
Nelson Campos
Senior Software Engineer
Nicole Turney
Director of Philanthropy
Nicole Turney
Director of Philanthropy
Nicole is dedicated to supporting organizational growth through strategic philanthropy and senior-level engagement. She has advised on investments as diverse as international development and mental health for UNICEF, The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, and many others. She earned her MA from University College London in International Economy, State and Society, where she researched the pivotal role of teachers in media education in the Czech Republic. She also served in AmeriCorps and holds two BA degrees in Politics and Film and Digital Media from UCSC.
As Director of Philanthropy, Nicole drives TalkingPoints’ impact by expanding philanthropic support for low-income, underserved families. As a first-generation college student from a similar background, she is committed to advocating for equity in the education system and actively seeks partnerships with philanthropists and funders aiming to bring about transformational change.
Pablo Márquez
Senior Software Engineer
Pablo Márquez
Senior Software Engineer
Pablo is passionate about using his technology background to improve education. Pablo studied Biochemistry at the Science University of Uruguay and computer science in the private sector. His academic work included combining biology and programming as a bioinformatician, and he tried to find key genes that help combat diseases caused by parasites, like Toxoplasmosis.
In addition to his academic work, he has worked as a game developer in several educational and children-oriented projects. Pablo joined TalkingPoints to collaborate on the development of the web and mobile apps, working on adding new features and improving the experience and accessibility for parents and teachers alike.
Paige DeLozier
Senior Engagement Marketing Manager
Paige DeLozier
Senior Engagement Marketing Manager
Ramiro Moreira
Software Engineer
Ramiro Moreira
Software Engineer
Ramiro enjoys facing challenges and developing technological solutions that bring social impact. He believes education is the best way to provide equal opportunities and finds pleasure in developing software for educational purposes. Ramiro has a degree in computer analysis from the University of the Republic Uruguay. He is continuing his education in Robotics and Artificial intelligence. He also has experience as a Math teacher and semi-senior web developer.
Rita Kirzhner
Senior Data Product Manager
Rita Kirzhner
Senior Data Product Manager
As an immigrant and an NYC public school alum, Rita deeply resonates with TalkingPoints’ mission. Growing up in Brooklyn, Rita went to school with students from a variety backgrounds, countries, and languages, and gained firsthand insight into how important family engagement is to student success. She is thrilled to be supporting immigrant and under-resourced communities and improving access to resources in education.
Rita has a decade of experience leveraging technology to address complex problems and drive meaningful change. She previously worked in HR tech, helping transform hiring to be more equitable, effective, and efficient, and helping individuals realize their career potential. Before transitioning to startups, Rita worked in management consulting at Ernst & Young (EY), advising financial institutions on harnessing AI/ML technologies to drive business innovation. Rita holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Psychology from Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter College.
Robyn Etzler
Events Manager
Robyn Etzler
Events Manager
Robyn is a detail-oriented B2B Marketing and EdTech corporate event organizer specializing in helping companies grow through events. She is a creative, out-of-the-box thinker and problem solver who is strategic and data driven while being hands-on to ensure TalkingPoints is seen as ‘Best in Class’ at events. Robyn is a collaborative team player with building internal and external relationships to maximize achievement of goals. When it comes to budgets, she is a tough negotiator with a proven track record of getting the most out of every dollar.
Prior to B2B Marketing and EdTech corporate event planning, Robyn was a former educator. She received a BA in Education at the University of Florida, then continued her education at Teachers College, Columbia University with a MA in Special Education. Robyn is mission driven, wanting all children to be successful on their educational journey. She believes that an education is the foundation to allow students to become productive citizens in our society.
Rosina Vera
Director of Project Management, Engineering
Rosina Vera
Director of Project Management, Engineering
Rosina is dedicated to delivering quality products and possesses extensive experience in project management within the IT sector. In the field since 2015, she excels in facilitating collaboration across various departments and ensuring effective task completion. Joining the company as Director of Project Management for Engineering, Rosina is passionate about leveraging technology to transform education. She believes in the pivotal role education plays in shaping our world and is enthusiastic about contributing to its evolution through technological innovation. Rosina is particularly excited about fostering parent-school integration to enhance the educational experience for all stakeholders.
Ryan McLaughlin
Senior Marketing Operations Manager
Ryan McLaughlin
Senior Marketing Operations Manager
Ryan has built his career in the EdTech industry for the last 13 years, focusing primarily in the K-12 sector while also serving as a professor in Higher Ed. Combining his BS in Computer Science from St. Norbert College and MBA from the University of Iowa, Ryan found his true passion in marketing technology and digital marketing. He is a Certified Digital Marketing Professional through the Digital Marketing Institute and a Professional Certified Marketer in Digital Marketing through the American Marketing Association.
As the Senior Manager of Marketing Operations, he analyzes marketing technology systems and digital marketing as a whole. He enjoys working with the marketing team to build repeatable and sustainable lead generation processes and marketing campaigns that spread the TalkingPoints mission.
Sara Hathaway
Senior Product Manager
Sara Hathaway
Senior Product Manager
Sara cares deeply about connecting people with the information, resources and networks they need to thrive. As a former children’s librarian in multilingual, resource-constrained communities, Sara worked closely with families trying to navigate the challenges of equitable access to information and education. Witnessing the immense impact moments of connection can have for an entire community, she moved into product management in 2018 to dive deeper into the possibilities at the intersection of communities, equity and technology.
At TalkingPoints, Sara’s background in public service and building technical products will help her as she works closely with our users defining and developing meaningful, user-centered solutions. Sara holds a bachelor’s degree in French from Miami University and a Master’s of Library and Information Studies from the University of British Columbia.
Sergio Sánchez
Senior Data Engineer
Sergio Sánchez
Senior Data Engineer
Sergio is passionate about using his research and data skills to empower people who have historically been underserved by the traditional power structures. Sergio’s work lives at the intersection of public policy, data, and tech. Born to a family of educators, Sergio understands the impact education has on individuals, families, and communities.
Shannon Crawford
Senior Account Executive
Shannon Crawford
Senior Account Executive
Shannon joins TalkingPoints after a distinguished career partnering with school districts nationwide to support their communication goals, including 14 years at SchoolMessenger. Her dedication to the field is fueled by her role as a mother of school-aged children, driving her commitment to supporting school administrators in nurturing future leaders.
Shawna Hemphill
Senior Philanthropy Operations Manager
Shawna Hemphill
Senior Philanthropy Operations Manager
As Philanthropy Operations Manager, Shawna manages the systems and tools that support the fundraising team. She brings over 15 years of experience in fundraising and finance and a commitment to equitable educational outcomes to the TalkingPoints Team.
Shawna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and certifications from the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations in Non-Profit Management and Accounting Fundamentals.
Simón Miera
Senior Partner Success Manager
Simón Miera
Senior Partner Success Manager
Simón has a wide range of knowledge related to education and holds a Masters degree in Education from Lesley University. He has utilized his experiences to lead professional development for school districts throughout the nation and help educators build systems supporting their district’s multi-tiered system of supports goals.
Stephanie Kaufman
Head of Product
Stephanie Kaufman
Head of Product
Stephanie is all-in to help move the needle for social change. Closing the equity gap in education can have an immediate and drastic social impact in the US. Stephanie believes that the intersection of education and technology will make this possible. She is excited about the opportunities that TalkingPoints provides for students and families who face equity gaps every day.
Having come from a family of educators, Stephanie has spent the majority of her career in EdTech. Her experience in both sales and product management shaped Stephanie into a user-obsessed advocate for students and educators, and she will use that passion to impact and improve TalkingPoints. Stephanie graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in English Literature and Cinema Studies.
Sujeiry Gonzalez
Community Partner Success Manager
Sujeiry Gonzalez
Community Partner Success Manager
A former teacher and Parent Liason, Sujeiry believes in empowering multilingual families by equipping them with information and providing them with access. Born in NYC to Dominican parents, Sujeiry knows first-hand the importance of family advocacy and engagement. She has a passion for bridging the communication gap between multilingual families and school administrators.
Sujeiry is a graduate of Rowan University with an MA in Writing Arts and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a BA in Communications and Psychology. She is also a New York State licensed ELA educator. Sujeiry loves being able to continue to make an impact through her work at TalkingPoints.
Todd Bishop
Director of Sales
Todd Bishop
Director of Sales
Todd serves as the Director of Sales at TalkingPoints, where he leverages over a decade of experience in the education technology sector. Over the course of his career, Todd has played instrumental roles in shaping sales strategies for organizations like DreamBox Learning and Renaissance Learning. With a deep-seated passion for driving student outcomes through innovative technology solutions, Todd firmly believes in the transformative power of education in shaping our society. He holds both graduate and postgraduate degrees in language studies, further underlining his commitment to the educational field.
Veronica Tappe
Director of People
Veronica Tappe
Director of People
Vrinda Kokje
Senior Manager, Marketing
Vrinda Kokje
Senior Manager, Marketing
Vrinda is a creative, data informed and results focused marketing strategist. She believes that impactful marketing campaigns serve as a powerful tool to convey your unique story to potential buyers – creating relevance, building context, and forging a strong connection with them. She has spent more than 10 years driving revenue pipeline by building engaging integrated programs for B2B SaaS organizations.
Vrinda thrives on challenges, inspired by growth and positive change. For her, education wasn’t just schooling, it was her springboard to overcome obstacles and forge her own path. As an immigrant and a public school parent, she wants to leverage her marketing expertise to equip educators with tools and tech they need to ignite the love of learning in their students. Vrinda strives to see communities come together and support student success.
Xiaoyuan Tan
Research Scientist
Xiaoyuan Tan
Research Scientist
Dr. Xiaoyuan Tan has over a decade of experience in educational research and evaluation. Before joining TalkingPoints, she served as a Senior Research Scientist for the Arizona Department of Education, working on evaluating state-wide initiatives that were designed to improve K-12 public education. She also worked as a psychometrician and an educational product developer for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Being a first-generation immigrant herself and with both of her children attending a public school, Dr. Tan fully understands the challenges faced by children from underserved multilingual immigrant communities. She strives to promote the TalkingPoints platform as a valuable tool that allows families and schools to work together to close achievement gaps and accelerate learning for all students.
Board of directors
Heejae Lim
Founder and CEO
Heejae Lim
Founder and CEO
Heejae Lim is the Founder and CEO of TalkingPoints. Previously, Heejae worked on education reform for public schools in the Middle East. She also served as Chief of Staff to a special advisor to the Secretary of Education in the UK. As a consultant at McKinsey, she advised the Gates Foundation and Teach First UK. Heejae is a graduate of Oxford, LSE and has an MBA from Stanford Business School where she was an Arjay Miller Scholar, and has been recognized as an Echoing Green Fellow, Stanford Social Innovation Fellow, Ashoka Changemaker and Forbes 30 under 30 to change education.
Dan Braga
Board Chair
Dan Braga
Board Chair
Tyler Coats
Treasurer and Board Member
Tyler Coats
Treasurer and Board Member
Tyler Coats is the CEO of Falcon Critical Care Transport, a $20m revenue business employing over 250 personnel in the SF Bay Area. Formerly Tyler was the Managing Partner of Cascadian Capital. Tyler also served in the US Navy aboard the USS Henry M. Jackson, a strategic nuclear submarine, where he led over 70 personnel with overall responsibility for the operation of the nuclear reactor as Head Engineering Officer and Officer of the Deck. Tyler has an MBA from Stanford GSB and has a B.S. in Quantitative Economics and Applied Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy.
Max Polaner
Secretary and Board Member
Max Polaner
Secretary and Board Member
Max is a member of New Profit’s portfolio investment team and serves as a “Deal Partner” providing strategic advising and support to individual portfolio organizations.
Prior to New Profit, Max worked in education non-profits for over 15 years, most recently as Executive Director of iMentor NYC (a former New Profit grantee), which provides mentors to 4,000 NYC public high school students, and before that as CFO of Achievement First (another former New Profit grantee), which serves over 12,000 K-12 students in 32 charter schools in New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Max’s passion for education and social justice sprung from his experience as a public middle school math teacher in Hayward, California at the beginning of his career. In the intervening years, Max was also a consultant at McKinsey and Company, a serial entrepreneur and the head of quality control at Polaner Preserves, the company started by his great-grandfather, Max.
Max has a Master in Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from Harvard Business School, a BA in Philosophy from Yale and his secondary teaching credential from San Francisco State.
Join us to make a difference, to change lives
Our team
Our fast-growing team is focused on the best experiences for our teachers and families.
At TalkingPoints, we are passionate about changing our education system for the better, and we believe deeply in the value of what we do. We bring an empathetic, entrepreneurial spirit to our work—and we have fun while we’re at it!
What we offer
- An incredible opportunity to build a mission-driven, rapidly growing startup tech nonprofit
- Competitive salary, full coverage health insurance, unlimited vacation, 401K, commuter and flexible spending benefits
- Casual work environment in San Francisco Bay Area; supporting flexible/remote
Our organizational values
User & mission orientation
We are devoted to our mission with empathy towards the communities we serve.
All in together
We go above and beyond the job description, working together as a team.
Agile & action-oriented
We get things done, knowing that our progress is urgent to our communities.
Always learning
We are always learning, with a growth mindset, to reach our our full potential.
Boldly courageous
We take risks in order to achieve big things.