Dr. Becoats has 30 years of experience in Education, which includes serving as
Assistant Superintendent in the School District of Philadelphia before William Penn. Some of his most notable achievements there include developing a school equity turnaround model for 19 schools serving more than 9,000 students in grades K-12, developing and implementing instructional data protocols for 19 network schools in grades K-12, successfully training 19 principals on research based data-driven instructional practices, and increasing the number of Network Schools showing improvement in student achievement by 80% within one year. He has also worked for Distinctive Schools in Rockport, Illinois, for Durham Public Schools, Guilford County Schools, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina, and for Baltimore City Public Schools.

Dr. Becoats earned a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2001, Master of Science Degree in Finance from Johns Hopkins University in 1992, and Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Lincoln University in 1988.

Dr. Jeffrey Geihs began his career in 1995 within the Clark County School District (CCSD). He began his career as a high school English teacher and retired as an Associate Superintendent over school turnaround. Jeff led efforts that increased achievement gains, closed achievement gaps, increased attendance, and graduation rates, decreased disciplinary infractions, and increased enrollment in honors and Advanced Placement coursework.

In 2019 Jeff was appointed to the position of Executive Director of the Nevada Association of School Administrators (NASA). Under his leadership membership has increased by over 1000 new members offered a blend of credit bearing workshops, conferences, and high-level institutes, formed relationships for NASA with elected officials, community activists, and educational providers, and, in turn, partnerships increased exponentially. Dr. Geihs, with the support of the NASA Board, has formed and seeded The Silver State Education Foundation (SSEF), which is designed to “grow our own teachers.”

Executive Director of Forest City Education Foundation

Executive Director of Lake Oswego Schools Foundation

Executive Assistant/Board Secretary of Insight PA Cyber Charter School

Christiane Buggs joined PENCIL as CEO and President in January 2024. Though most recently the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Tennessee Educators of Color Alliance, Buggs has more than 10 years of experience in education in Nashville. She is a Nashville native and former Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) student who went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physics and two master’s degrees in education before returning to MNPS as a middle school math teacher and eventually a member of the MNPS Board of Education.

During her time with the MNPS School Board, she has had the opportunity to manage a $1.2B budget that serves the social, emotional, and academic needs of 83,000 students across 159 schools.

Angela Lynch has a passion for growing nonprofit organizations and building capacity, bringing over 25 years of nonprofit management and fundraising experience to her current role as executive director of the Chambersburg Area Education Foundation.

Angela earned a bachelor's degree in American Studies from The Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in College Student Personnel – Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University of Ohio. She successfully completed a mini-MBA from Rutgers University in Social Media Marketing as well as earning a certificate from the Penn State Management Institute. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and a Certified
Education Foundation Leader (CEFL). She has also completed coursework in organizational leadership as well as strategic planning at Eastern University and Nova Southeastern University.

Angela is president of the Franklin County PA Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association, a board member of the Exchange Club of Chambersburg, PA, and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the National Association of Education Foundations.

Megan is ED of Rock Hill Schools Education Foundation in Rock Hill, SC. Megan graduated from Florida State University. Her husband also works in the nonprofit world, which keeps them playfully competitive. They have four children. She has implemented numerous successful programs and partnerships that bring meaningful impacts to her district including "Educator for a Day" and "Back the Pack". Megan is finishing her CEFL and serves on the Marketing Committee for NAEF.

Ralph serves as ED for Dorchester Two Educational Foundation in beautiful Summerville, SC. In two years, D2EF has increased annual revenue by more than 450% and more than doubled individual donors. Ralph is a new CEFL, a 2023 graduate of TogetherSC Leadership Seminars, and serves as a board member for NAEF. Ralph's wife is a middle school AP and they have two children and two great danes.

Mary Chance has served as president of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations since 2008 after serving as the executive director of the Alachua County education foundation for ten years, diversifying the scope of work for that foundation significantly and increasing annual revenue from $100,000 to $1.2 million.

The President is the senior-most position in the Consortium and reports directly to the board of directors. Primary responsibilities include supervising board development, public affairs, partnership and resource development, program and administrative activities, and overseeing compliance with all local and state
regulations regarding the organization.

Makayla Buchanan joined the staff in August 2022 following her 3.5 years serving as President & CEO of the Clay Education Foundation, where she increased revenues from $100K to $500K and launched new programs centered around teacher and student success. She is an active nonprofit board member and volunteer, serving on a variety of local and statewide steering committees and councils. Prior to transitioning to the nonprofit industry, she spent 3 years in government affairs.

Keegan M. Bell, CFRE is a creative strategist and servant leader with 20 years of experience leading non-profit missions dedicated to education, youth development, arts, environment, and healthcare sectors.

He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) – one of the leading education foundations in the nation with more than $8M in annual revenue. As a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) for more than a decade, he is committed to the advancement and lifelong learning in ethical and effective fundraising. One of his favorite and most fulfilling roles is in helping active and inspire Boards and leadership volunteers to become more actively engaged to help take their organizations to the next level of impact. His volunteer leadership service includes currently serving on NAEF Board of Directors (Co-Chair Membership), and formerly with AFP, Orange County, CA Chapter Board of Directors, including as Chapter President in 2017.

Erica Keating is a dynamic leader with a background in Communications and Marketing from Saint Louis University. As the Executive Director of Lindbergh Schools Foundation, she transformed annual donations from $30,000 to an extraordinary $1.5 million in just five years.

Formerly a successful graphic design business owner and dedicated school district volunteer, Erica Keating values collaboration and
inspires her team through direct communication and leading by example.
Erica’s transformative leadership has left an indelible mark on the Lindbergh Schools Foundation, serving as an inspiration to foundation leaders nationwide. She is considered a leader in donor engagement and stewardship, corporate partnerships, and non-profit strategic development and she eagerly shares her insights and experiences with fellow education foundations.

Nicole Anderson has served as both the Executive Director of the CPS Foundation as well as the Marketing & Communications Director of Columbus Public Schools since 2019. Prior to this she worked as the Vice President of Public Relations for Columbus Physical Therapy located in Columbus, Nebraska and the Marketing and Event Coordinator for Wendell Pittenger Golf Operations in Oakdale, Minnesota. In her current position she has been able to help the foundation support the strategic plan of the school district while incorporating foundation stories of giving back into the District communications.

Karin Cox, President, MFA is a speaker and consultant with senior leadership experience in nonprofit and business sectors. The author of Fundraising Leadership: The Essential Guide for Nonprofit Board Members, Karin developed the widely adopted Cox Grid first presented in Fundraising Practices and Principles, the definitive fundraising text published by Jossey-Bass.

Dave Smith, Senior Executive VP, CFRE served as President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City for 25 years. Under his leadership, the organization grew its annual operating revenue from $1 million to more than $8 million and net assets from $2.5 million to $18 million. He also worked with the YMCA as Vice President for Resource and Community Development and was Sports Information Director at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He was elected to the Kansas City, Missouri School Board as an at-large member, was re-elected and served two terms as KCPS School Board President.

With almost 20 years of experience working in nonprofit technology and sales and relationship
management, James brings the perfect blend of experience for his role as Partnerships Manager at Bloomerang. In addition to his work experience, James volunteers with Project Grows, a community farm in Virginia, serving on the Board and on Volunteer Nights with the organization.

Cathy Newman is the Executive Director of the St. Johns County Education Foundation dba Investing in Kids (INK!), the direct support organization to the St. Johns County School District, the public school district serving over 52,000 students in St. Johns County, Florida. As one of the fastest growing counties
and school districts in the State of Florida, the nationwide teacher shortage is a critical issue in St. Johns County. Cathy is a member of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and recently received her CEFL.

Katie LaPointe is the Director of Implementation at Educators Thriving. She is a skilled and experienced facilitator of professional learning, who brings an improvement science lens to each aspect of her work and truly loves supporting educators on their well-being journey. Katie's career has included roles as a
behavior interventionist, elementary teacher, and instructional coach for new faculty. She holds her Bachelor's in Education and Psychology and her Master's in Educational Leadership.

Renee Oldham serves as the Executive Director of the Mt. Vernon Education Foundation, showcasing a profound commitment to education and community development. Over the past six years, her visionary leadership has propelled transformative initiatives, including Parent University and The HS Career Biz Roundtables. Through her efforts, over 1M has been raised to support classroom needs.

With a rich career spanning 27 years, Renee is recognized for her expertise in strategic planning, public-private partnerships, and elevating educational outcomes. Beyond education, she demonstrates proficiency in areas like affordable housing, downtown development, entrepreneurial ventures, business incubation, and enterprise zones.

She has held esteemed positions as the President and Treasurer of the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations. Currently, she actively contributes as the Vice President of the Hancock Planning Commission and serves as the Secretary for both the Hancock County BZA and the Greater Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce. As an alumnus of Indiana University and Bowling Green University, Renee holds various certifications, including being a Kauffman Foundation Certified Facilitator, and with esteemed institutions such as the National Trust and the National Business Incubation Association.

Mike Taylor serves as CEO of the Knox Education Foundation (KEF). His work at KEF is focused on transforming public education through the expansion of best practices, creation of innovation in the classroom, and development of research-based solutions that bring a continuous improvement approach to address the challenges facing public schools.
Mike earned a bachelor's degree in business from University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a Master of Public Administration from Gardner-Webb University. He also holds Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and Certified Education Foundation Leader (CEFL) certifications. He is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and serves as Chair of the National Association of Education Foundations Board of Directors. He has been a featured speaker at numerous industry
conferences.

Mike has 30 years of non-profit management and fundraising experience, including 15 years of leadership in the education foundation industry. Prior to joining KEF in 2023, he served as CEO of the Henrico Education Foundation in Richmond, Virginia, and Executive Director of the Mountain Education Foundation in Signal Mountain, Tennessee.

Kathryn Starke is a national literacy consultant and founder of Creative Minds Publications, and educational publishing and literacy company based in Richmond, Virginia. She has a BS in elementary education and MS in literacy and culture from Longwood University. Starke has helped over 200 elementary schools achieve literacy success. She is the creator of the 8th annual Tackle Reading event supported by the NFL and is the author of A Touchdown in Reading: An Educator's Guide to Literacy Instruction.

Sarah is a marketer and brand geek with 9 years of experience in the nonprofit tech space in the form of technical writing, customer service, content strategy, brand management, public relations, and communications. After graduating from Florida State University with an English degree, she served as an AmeriCorps tutor and spent 8 years as a teacher and writing instructor.

Shanda is the inaugural staff member, hired in 2016, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the ESF, signifying a significant step in the Foundation's growth and professionalization since its inception in 2006.  

Under her leadership, the Foundation serves the Eudora Schools, which supports approximately 1,700 students in a small but vibrant town.  Her leadership at the Eudora Schools Foundation exemplifies the significant impact that dedicated individuals can have in small  communities. Shanda pioneered the ESF's 24-hour Give Day.  Starting with a modest goal of $15,000, the initiative saw remarkable success, raising $43,000 in its first year and growing to $60,000 in its third year. Through her and her board's strategic vision, commitment to innovation, and focus on community engagement, they have not only elevated the ESF but also profoundly influenced the educational landscape of Eudora, setting an example for smaller education foundations.

After a career in journalism, covering education throughout the country, Danielle Nadler was tapped to lead the Loudoun Education Foundation in 2020. She leverages her background in communication and her passion for relationship building to spur people and companies to dedicate their talents and resources to make a difference in the lives of students and educators. She strongly believes that the quality of a local economy is directly tied to the quality of the local public schools,
and she works to connect business and school leaders for the benefit of the whole community.

Her work over the past three years to increase the profile and impact of the Loudoun Education Foundation was recognized by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce when she was named the 2023 Loudoun County Nonprofit Leader of the Year.

Renée Dawson is the Director of Teaching and Learning for Career and Technical Education, Computer Science, and Community Connections in Loudoun County Public Schools with over 24 years of educational experience. Her undergraduate work began at Berea College in Berea, Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University where she received her
undergraduate degree in French Education.

She studied and lived in Paris and Nîmes France as part of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies program through Murray State University. She received a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Shenandoah University and is currently a Doctoral candidate in Educational Leadership
program. Innovation in education, community partnerships, and student and staff empowerment drive her educational philosophy and support the needs of her school division.

Kim Crumrine has served on the Royse City ISD Education Foundation Board since 2012, most recently as the Executive Director since January 2018. Under her leadership the Foundation has witnessed notable achievements, including a substantial increase in overall fundraising.

Her strategic vision and commitment to enhancing programming have played a pivotal role in elevating the foundation's impact on innovative and creative initiatives. Her long standing commitment reflects a deep passion for enhancing the learning environment and contributing to the growth of both educators or students. Her leadership has driven inititives that align with the foundation's mission, ensuring a positive impact on education within Royse City ISD.

For more than 25 years Robin has served in a variety of nonprofit roles in K-12 philanthropy, national association management, and community foundation philanthropy which have provided her with unique insights, and a wide array of tools and resources to help nonprofits and their leaders thrive. She and others on The Callahan Collaborative team facilitate virtual and in-person consensus-based conversations to develop strategic plans, facilitate engaging board and staff retreats and visioning sessions, and conduct board trainings. 

She helps nonprofits harness the transfer of wealth by starting or growing their planned giving programs. She also supports executive leadership transitions by conducting salary and benchmarking surveys, succession planning and leadership searches.  She led the Issaquah Schools Foundation (WA) for 16 years, and the National Association of Education Foundation (precursor to NAEF). She is an instructor in the CEFL Program and lives on the beautiful Puget Sound in WA state.  

Stacy Baier has more than 25 years of experience in educational philanthropy. In her role as Senior Vice President, Florida Community Engagement, Operations and Strategic Partnership, she leads Helios’ staff engagement with the community and stakeholders to improve quality, access, and achievement across the birth-16 education continuum. She also oversees operations in the Florida office.

In her past role as CEO of the nationally recognized Pinellas Education Foundation, Dr. Baier led all development, program and administrative activities at the Foundation while cultivating a strong working relationship between the philanthropic, business and school communities. She has also served as president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) and as vice president and program director of College and Career Readiness for Helios. She has also served as executive director of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Dr. Baier received her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Education from Harvard University. Most recently, she was recognized for the third time in Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leaders in the category of nonprofits/philanthropy.

As Director of Research and Evaluation, Kimberly Lent Morales works closely with foundation grantees to learn from community investments to maximize student success.

Prior to Helios, Ms. Lent Morales was assistant director for research and policy at Florida College Access Network (FCAN), where she provided data and advocacy technical assistance and support for local college access networks and various FCAN partners across the state. She was seen by her colleagues at FCAN to be instrumental to that organization’s success in the advocacy and policy. Ms. Lent Morales worked at FCAN for more than five years, including as a senior research associate, focusing on K-12 and higher education data and policy analysis. Before FCAN, Ms. Lent Morales served as senior social and behavioral researcher and research coordinator for the University of South Florida/The Villages Health Partnership. She also has served as graduate research assistant at Hillsborough County Public Schools and the Harrell Center for the Study of Family Violence at University of South Florida. 

Ms. Lent Morales has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Florida, and a master’s degree in public health and is earning a doctorate in curriculum and instruction, with emphasis in measurement and evaluation, from University of South Florida. 

Lisa Fasting is the Chief Programs Officer at the Pinellas Education Foundation. Prepared with a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University, Lisa has dedicated her career to serving both higher education and the non-profit sector. With over two decades of experience, she has been an integral part of the Pinellas Education Foundation since 2004, primarily steering the impactful Take Stock in Children program. Since assuming the role of leading the programs teams in January 2020, Lisa has brought vision and leadership to the Foundation, driving its mission forward with passion and dedication.

Growing up in a family of educators, with both her mother and brother being teachers, Lisa's commitment to education runs deep, fueling her pursuit of excellence in educational initiatives. 

Rachael Tutwiler Fortune serves as President of the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, an independent think-and-do tank working to close the opportunity gap by activating community support, connecting partners, and advancing effective ideas for student success. Having served in government, non-profit, district and school-based roles, Rachael draws upon significant professional experience at all levels of the education system. A Jacksonville native, Rachael returned to her hometown as JPEF’s Executive Vice President in 2017 before being appointed president in 2018.     

Rachael previously served on the senior leadership team at America’s Promise Alliance as Senior Director of the GradNation Campaign. She was a 2013 Presidential Management Fellow and served as a Program Officer in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, DC, where she managed a portfolio of multi-million-dollar Race to the Top grants and supported state education agencies to advance education reform efforts during the Obama Administration.

Rachael holds a master’s degree in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from Stanford University and a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of North Florida.