Join Us Today

make a donation

Upcoming Events

Thu., Aug. 19, 2010
Pledge to see Waiting for Superman

Pledge here http://film.waitingforsuperman.com/ to see Waiting for Superman so it comes to a theater near you and more folks join the movement.


Location: http://film.waitingforsuperman.com/
When: 12:00 AM
More Info



All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.quote

— John F. Kennedy

About Us

Board of Directors

Sidney Hawkins Gargiulo - Hawkshaw Capital
John Petry (chair) - Gotham Capital
John Sabat - SAC Capital
Joe Williams - Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)
Brian Zied - Maverick Capital

Staff

Executive Director - Van Schoales

van_schoales.jpgVan Schoales is the Executive Director of Education Reform Now, a national education policy and advocacy non-profit organization fighting to dramatically improve the quality of public education for America's most disadvantaged children.  He was most recently a program officer at the Piton Foundation where he oversaw a portfolio of investments on state policy, district reform and new school development. He has previously been a high school science teacher, principal and school non-profit leader working as an education reform advocate. Van has launched or help start a number of non-profits including the Odyssey Charter School, Bay Area Coalition of Equitable (formerly Essential) Schools, Denver School of Science and Technology, A + Denver, EdNewsColorado and Get Smart Schools.

 

Chief of Staff - Brienne Bellavita

Brienne Bellavita joined Education Reform Now (ERN) in the fall of 2007.  Prior to her role as the Chief of Staff, Brienne served as the Program Director of ERN, working to build up the organization's programs promoting proven education reform policies.

Previous to her work at ERN, Brienne worked for the City of New York as an Investigator at the Civilian Complaint Review Board, where she investigated allegations of police misconduct.  As a civil servant, she developed the applied skills necessary to deliver on public sector challenges and gained invaluable experience working with many segments of the population.

Previously, Brienne lived in London, England, where she served an internship in the British Parliament working for Keven McNamara, MP, a member of the Labour Party in the House of Commons.  

 

Office Manager - Beverly Francis

Beverly is a New Yorker by zip code, but a true Floridian at heart. Beverly joined the staff of Education Reform Now (ERN) in the Fall of 2008. Her passion for advancement in public education derive both from being a product of the public education system, and being surrounded by a family of educators.

Prior to her work at ERN, Beverly worked in the news and entertainment industry. She credits her experience as a TV journalist for her growing involvement and awareness of domestic issues.
 
Beverly graduated from Florida International University in Miami, FL with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism.