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Team6

Dr. Molly Ness

Vice President of Academic Content

Molly Ness is a former classroom teacher, a reading researcher, and a teacher educator. She holds a doctorate in reading education from the University of Virginia, and spent 16 years as an associate professor at Fordham University. With four books and numerous peer-reviewed articles, her research focuses on reading comprehension, teachers’ instructional decisions, and dyslexia.

In 2019, Molly began the End Book Deserts podcast to bring attention to the issue of book access and equity. Molly serves on the Board of Directors for the International Literacy Association and on the elementary advisory panel for Penguin Random House.

Who We Are

We all have personal stories and motivations that connect us to the Learning Ally mission. Our strength comes from embracing our differences, enjoying and respecting each other, and sharing a passion and commitment to providing equity in education so each student is able to achieve their academic and life goals.

Leadership

“I've always had a personal interest in creating equity and access for all learners, no matter where, or to whom they were born. At Learning Ally, we’re doing that.”

Patrick Brennan

Vice President of Government Relations

“As a former classroom teacher, I am all too familiar with the challenges they face. I came to Learning Ally to join in partnership with Districts and to support building literacy leadership so that teachers have all the resources they need and deserve to support their students in success. ”

Renee Davenport

Vice President and General Manager
of Education Sales

“After decades of selling to increase investor value, I am thrilled to apply my experience to helping students succeed. Learning Ally is a rare opportunity to work with an equally talented team while changing lives.”

Sam Edla

Vice President of Technology

“I see myself in the faces and the struggles of the students we serve. My best day at Learning Ally was being asked by an 8 year old student if she could just give me a hug, because Learning Ally had changed her life. I am proud to be part of an organization that deserves hugs!”

Andrew Friedman

President and CEO

“Because I have dyslexia in my family, I know what it means to struggle to read. I like knowing that we’re making that struggle a little less for our students.”

Cynthia Hamburger

Senior Advisor

“I’ve worked at companies focused solely on profit, but at Learning Ally, when we say that we’re focused on helping students and educators first and foremost, we really mean it. I really appreciate that we’re making a difference.”

Jeff Ho

Chief Machine Learning & Innovation Officer

“I'm excited to collaborate with like-minded passionate literacy advocates around effective instruction for all children. I'm thrilled for the chance to impact the professional lives of teachers and the literacy development of students.”

Molly Ness, Ph.D.

Vice President of Academic Content

“A curiosity cap sits atop my head daily. I not only get curious. I stay curious and run headlong into a daily commitment to learn and grow. This curiosity has driven me to smash the literacy divide by sparking a flame of understanding and enthusiasm in others.”

Terrie Noland, Ph.D., CALP

Vice President of Educator Initiatives

“As a child of educators and a former adjunct university professor myself, I've witnessed far too many students with an acute lack of the literacy skills necessary for success in college and career. We're helping them change their trajectories.”

Lee Peters

Chief Operating Officer

“My former students, the educators I’ve worked with, my son and the millions of students who struggle to learn to read, inspire me to do this work. There’s a science to this work of literacy and we need to equip every educator to become literacy leaders, whether they teach Pre-K or Chemistry.”

Missy Sherburne

Chief of Growth and Strategic Partnerships

“My dream is for other diverse populations to stand on my shoulders to achieve more. That’s only possible if I make a concerted effort to remove all obstacles and help pave the foundation through an organization that embraces DE&I.”

Andrew Singleton

National Director, Engagement and Inclusion

“As the daughter of two NYC educators, I saw firsthand the profound impact teachers can have when they engage their students in learning. Our work at Learning Ally is my part in supporting educators in transformational change and smashing the literacy divide.”

Elissa Tomasetti

Vice President of Marketing

“I believe that the ability to read and grow in one's education is directly linked to one's degree of freedom in life...and what’s more important than that?”

Steve Valvano

Vice President of Great People,
Human Resources

“My work here at Learning Ally feels a lot like "coming home.” Having started my career in the classroom, I've learned how to make the lives of students and teachers a little better. It also allows me to be a part of others' classroom practice through the solutions, software, and instruction we deliver.”

Heather Wiederstein

Vice President of Solutions Development

“I have the opportunity to create life-changing impact through providing the tools that increase a student's ability to learn. Helping students reach their full potential is absolutely the best use of my time and knowledge.”

Tim Wilson

Chief Financial Officer