About Us

Our Mission
We partner with communities to imagine and create more equitable, relevant, and effective schools. Using research, we convene, coach, and build capacity to improve outcomes and experiences for all students.

Our Vision
Students, educators, and communities partnering as agents of change to design:

Classrooms that empower
Schools that respond
Systems that liberate

Our Core Values

icon_values_curiosity

CURIOSITY

We begin with inquiry so that we can learn, grow, and build a culture of continuous improvement alongside our partners.

icon_values_compassion

COMPASSION

Culturally responsive school change work can be challenging, uncomfortable, and personal. Our strengths-based approach is infused with compassion and hope.

icon_values_collaboration

COLLABORATION

We ask for feedback, listen, and respond to improve our services, working to ensure that our partners find sustainable success.

icon_values_research

RESEARCH

We anchor our approach to a strong research base, highlighting studies led by and focused on people with marginalized identities.

icon_values_equity

EQUITY

We approach all of our work with an equity lens. No matter the project focus or target audience, we work to increase awareness about systemic inequities that are at play.

icon_values_community

COMMUNITY

We value local solutions that center community perspectives. We seek input and recommendations from all school stakeholders to support inclusive decision-making.

Our Team

Our board

helayne_circle

Helayne Jones
Independent Education Consultant; Throughline Learning Board Chair

soumangue_circle

Soumangue Basse
Chief Executive Officer, Akamai Brands LLC and Founder, Ti Leaf Capital

Melanie Dukes

Melanie Dukes
Founder, EdVenture Lab & Strategic Advisor, OBC at Southern Education Foundation

travonnie_circle

Travonnie Mackey
Co-Founder & Chief Program Officer, Empact Work

Arun_Circle

Dr. Arun Ramanathan
CEO, PowerMyLearning

Sean Lane

Sean Lane
SVP Portfolio Operations, PSG

noah_circle

Noah Wepman
Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal; Throughline Learning Board Treasurer

Davion_Circle

Dr. Davion R. Lewis
Superintendent, Essexville-Hampton Public Schools

Karl_circle

Karl Rectanus
Educator, Entrepreneur, Advisor, Investor

Paula Talty

Dr. Paula Talty
Interim Dean for the School of Education at CCSU

Our staff

shawn_circle

Shawn Rubin
Executive Director

malika_circle

Malika Ali
Chief Innovation Officer

steph_c_circle

Stephanie Castilla
Chief Operating Officer

cathy_circle

Cathy Sanford
Director of Communications

karina_circle

Karina Rodriguez
Director of Research & Analytics

heidi_circle

Heidi Vazquez
Program Manager

rebecca_circle

Rebecca Roberts
Data Analyst

maeve_circle

Maeve Murray
Communications Manager