Chrishonda Smith serves as Chief People & Culture Officer at Edmentum. In this role, she plays a central role in shaping Edmentum's organizational culture through her leadership across strategic initiatives, from developing a world-class leadership team to guiding company diversity, equity and inclusion programs. As a recognized leader in the areas of Human Resources Strategy, Organizational Development, Executive Coaching, Talent Management, and Diversity Leadership, she’s collaborated with organizations across the healthcare, retail, financial, and non-profit industries. Her results-driven approach has made her a sought after thought-leader, facilitator, and speaker.

Chrishonda is a certified Executive Coach and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management from Davenport University, Advanced Strategic Diversity Practitioner Certification from Cornell University, and designation as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. She has been honored with induction into both Who’s Who in Black Detroit and Who’s Who in Black Columbus, is the recipient of the 2022 Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) Mentor Maven Award and was recently named 2022 HR Impact Awardee by Columbus Business First.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Chrishonda currently resides in Columbus, Ohio with her family.

My Why: I have spent my career focusing on the advocacy and advancement of equity…for all. This is an opportunity for me to serve at an organization that is focused on equity in education which gives children the ability to thrive. Being an Edmentor gives me a chance to continue advocating for a level playing field using technology as the enabler.

I love that I can wake up every day and be around people who share my commitment to teaching and learning. Edmentum is committed to personalizing learning for every student we serve, as well as supporting teachers in their mission to support every student. We will not stop pursuing our goal to ensure every student in this country can learn and be successful.

Bio: Nikki has spent nearly a decade in education, serving as a third, fourth, and fifth grade teacher during her time in the classroom. She experienced the power of Edmentum programs firsthand while leveraging them to drive outcomes with her own students. She joined Edmentum in 2020 as a Customer Success Manager helping to spread program best practices to propel greater success for students throughout southern Indiana. She appreciates any opportunity to go on "field trips" in her current role, helping other teams wherever she can. Nikki is also grateful for the many deep friendships she has formed here at Edmentum, and the wisdom gleaned from her colleagues.

My Why: As a former educator I fought each day to remove learning barriers for my kids. In the classroom, I was impacting 25-30 students per year, but here at Edmentum in my role as a CSM I help teachers to remove learning barriers for students all over Indiana. As a co-chair of We Can Learn, I hope to expand my impact. I hope to increase our capacity to meet student needs in programs and schools that needs us the most, but do not have the resources to make that happen. As educators, we often went above and beyond to fight for what our kids needed, especially those with highest need. I hope to continue that work in this role.

Bio: Philip has over 25 years of experience in the education space in diverse roles across school districts and educational technology companies. His career journey began in Atlanta Public Schools (GA) where he worked to drive instructional technology usage in the classroom and ultimately served as the Student Information System Manager for the district. With extensive knowledge in classroom technology, student data collection process and procedures, and state reporting and operational efficiency, Philip would go on to lead the implementation of the current Student Information System in Clark County School District (NV) as the district’s Project Manager. Thereafter he continued his professional growth in three edtech organizations leading implementations of hardware, software, and program services in 30+ school districts across the continental United States prior to joining the Edmentum family.

In 2019, Philip started his Edmentum journey as an Education Program Manager supporting CMOs and Enterprise Accounts. In his most current role as Strategic Partnerships Program Director, he continues to engage with all areas of the organization and leadership to build strong, robust relationships and engagement strategies to maximize success outcomes for all internal and external stakeholders. Philip also maintains his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the Project Management Institute.

A native of Atlanta, Ga., Philip earned his BA in Finance from Morehouse College and Program Management Certification from Georgia Tech School of Distance Learning. Since his time in college, Philip has also found time to work with local and national civic organizations and non-profits to drive economic opportunities in communities of need over a span of 30 years. He continues to reside in his hometown with his wife. Philip is a very proud father of an adult son and teenage daughter, and he is proudly embracing his newest role as a grandfather to his first-born grandson.

My Why: As the son of a mother who dedicated 56 years to educating students in Atlanta Public Schools, I have always felt it most appropriate to ensure that educational opportunity be an integral part of everything I do. Coupled with one of the first things instilled in me at Morehouse College, “to whom much is given, much is required”; I find myself in the position to merge my passion to provide opportunity to all who need reinforcement to reach their fullest potential with my specific professional skills, capabilities, and opportunity resources. My why is really my “Why not!” Why would I not use my passion and acquired skills to assist in the facilitation of pathways for hope, education, and accomplishment to anyone within my impact zone.

Bio: Julie has been an educator since 2001. She joined Edmentum in 2019 and taught Social Studies within Edmentum’s EdOptions Academy for two and a-half years. Advancing the needs of underserved youth across the world is one of Julie’s main focuses. She volunteers yearly to travel with students abroad spreading a message of peace through understanding so young people have the opportunity to learn firsthand that we are more alike than we are different. She also serves on the Board of Directors for A Mighty Change of Heart, an organization that supports children in foster care, and on several local boards for Girl Scouts. Julie holds a BS in Education from Bucknell University and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College.

My Why: Julie believes that to touch, to shape, and to grow the mind of a child is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Bio: Amela has always had a passion for Math which ultimately led her to her Finance and Accounting career. She graduated in 2012 from Iowa State University with her Bachelors of Science in Accounting. Amela’s industry and work experience is a little diverse. She spent most of her career in the manufacturing industry working for a nutritional ingredients manufacturer in Iowa, followed by a pet supplies manufacturer based out of the Dallas, TX area.

She then moved into a full-time, stay-at-home mom role when her first daughter was born. After a year in that overworked and underpaid job, she decided to switch gears and start a job with a propane company based out of Montana – don’t worry, she kept her daughter and even decided to give her a sister.

Amela joined Edmentum earlier this year in April and has since spent her time supporting the Instructional Services group by providing riveting financial reports and assisting them with many of their data and information needs. Amela was born in Bosnia, spent the majority of her childhood in Germany, and is now living in Minnesota with her husband, 2 daughters, and German Shepherd.

My Why: “Once you’re done with school yourself, you never really think about the importance of education until the day you become a parent and realize the immense responsibility of molding another human being. That is what education and good teachers do – they mold the next generation into responsible and productive citizens of the world.”

Bio: Brianna is a passionate marketer, fundraiser and lifelong learner. Currently, she is a Consultant for Crescendo Fundraising Professionals where she plans, organizes and manages fundraising studies and capital campaigns for nonprofits and municipalities. Prior to joining Crescendo, Brianna served as a Marketing Manager for Edmentum. She holds a BA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from The University of St. Thomas and an MBA from Concordia University, St. Paul.

My Why: Brianna believes that education is the building block of every strong community. Everyone has a right to exceptional education so they can reach their full potential!

Bio: Madison is a committed marketing professional and former educator. She previously served as a Teach for America Corp Member in Dallas, Texas, teaching both kindergarten and 3rd grade. During her time in the classroom, she became passionate about connecting educators with online programs and instructional best practices that improve teaching and learning for today’s students. She has been a member of the Edmentum team since 2014, serving in a number of marketing roles, including currently as a Product Marketing Director. Madison earned an A.B.J. in Advertising from the University of Georgia.

My Why: I believe a student’s zip code shouldn’t seal their fate on academic opportunity. Teaching in inner-city Dallas and understanding firsthand the educational disparity between that experience and just 40 minutes outside of the city in the suburbs, where I grew up, became the impetus to drive change. Our next generation of learners deserve better—they are our future!

Bio: John Robert joined Edmentum in 2015 as a Business Development Manager for South Carolina and North Carolina. Currently, he serves as an Account Manager for districts across North and South Carolina. Prior to joining Edmentum, he was a public-school educator in for twelve years. He served as a seventh-grade science teacher, middle school assistant principal, district hearing officer, and principal of an alternative program. While under his leadership at the alternative program, John Robert transformed the way teaching and learning had traditionally been taught at the alternative school by creating a blended model of instruction utilizing online software. John Robert earned a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Clemson University (Go Tigers!) and a Master of Education in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.

My Why: “To give back to the world of education a portion of what has been poured into me as a student. John Robert was diagnosed with a learning disability early in his education career. He attended afterschool tutoring and resource class until he was able to overcome his learning disability in middle school. He had wonderful teachers, coaches, and administrators who believed in him, and for him to have an opportunity to return a small portion of that investment is the least he can do.”

Bio: Mark Radcliffe began his career education over 20 years ago as a computer support contractor in elementary classrooms. Quickly becoming hooked on working with students, Mark worked to gain his certification and ultimately began work as an instructional technology specialist supporting technology integration and project-based learning across Pennsylvania.

After several years in schools, Mark became a Director of Professional Learning for a not-for-profit school consortium and adjunct faculty member in teacher preparation programs. Mark joined Edmentum in 2015 as an education consultant for California and has since moved to the position of Learning and Enablement Advocacy Director. Mark leads Edmentum’s customer facing domain expertise team and advocates for the needs of sales and services teams globally.

Mark earned his BSc from Manchester University Science and Technology Institute and MSc and teaching certification from Bloomsburg University of PA. Originally from the UK, Mark lives in New York with his partner and three children.

My Why: “Education is a true panacea. There is no problem that cannot be solved via the application of a quality education. What better way to leave the world better than how you found it than by helping to continuously improve the Education industry”

Bio: Dr. Jayne C. Lammers is the Director of Learning Design for Edmentum. In this role, she helps ensure that Edmentum’s products and solutions are designed to accelerate learning in ways that leverage research-based best practices and consider the realities of teachers’ work and students’ needs.

Her career in educational technology builds on previous work as a proprietary software trainer, secondary classroom teacher, and tenured associate professor. She earned her Master’s in Reading Education at the University of Central Florida and Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University.

Her academic research explores learning at the intersections of students’ interests and technology’s affordances, always attending to how her findings can contribute to equitable classroom practice. In 2019, she earned a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to research the digital literacy practices of secondary students in Central Java, Indonesia. She is a 2024 Divergent Award honoree for “Excellence in Literacy in a Digital Age Research.”

Dr. Lammers is on the editorial board for The Reading Teacher and The Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, and she was an associate editor for AERA Open. Her scholarship appears in Teachers College Record; Learning, Media and Technology; Research in the Teaching of English; Written Communication; Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, and elsewhere.

My Why: I believe in the life-affirming opportunities available through education and am committed to ensuring equitable learning opportunities for all students. Serving on this board allows me to contribute my expertise and channel my passions to significantly impact the lives of the learners we aim to serve.

Bio: Ruairi has been involved in education for almost two decades. After obtaining an MA from the University of Edinburgh, he spent a number of years in classrooms across the UK, Czechia, and Vietnam. It was here that he first started creating online educational content, a role that instilled a passion and firm belief in the power of effective education technology. That commitment followed Ruairi through over a decade of professional roles in the industry. Currently, Ruairi serves as an International Business Development Manager at Edmentum. Based in Derry, Northern Ireland, Ruairi is also a father of two young daughters and is an armchair fan of a multitude of sports teams.

My Why: Access to meaningful and engaging education should not be subject to the lottery of birth. The chance to help level the playing field, to give opportunities to those who would otherwise be left behind, is a powerful motivator.

Bio: Diane has over 30 years in education, across both traditional and virtual classrooms. In her current position with Edmentum, she serve as an instructional coach supporting teachers across the globe to increase classroom connection, culture, and success. Diane's focus has always remained on the student and what is needed to give each and every student the hope to succeed, the skills to thrive, and the belief that they do make a difference in our classroom, community, and world.

Throughout her career, Diane has been involved with organizations that focus on youth sports, adult life-time activities, and community service activities. She believe it is important for each of us to feel we have a place in our local community as well as to provide support for the different needs within any given community. Diane's service has included leading the local youth sports leagues to helping with Meals-on-Wheels.

My Why: I am to help everyone Believe in themselves and all that they are. Children and adults need to feel heard and seen for who they are. When a person’s eyes light up with excitement from learning and doing something successfully – that is my joy. I will continue to try to make ripples allowing all people to believe in themselves and all that they can be.

Bio: Dr. Michelle D. Barrett is Vice President of Research and Learning Engineering for Edmentum. In her current role, Dr. Barrett guides Edmentum’s research policies and agenda and the design and instrumentation of technologies that improve learner outcomes. Following a first career as a mechanical engineer, Dr. Barrett started her career in education in the classroom, teaching middle and high school mathematics. She has since served as a policy analyst for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, a consultant within the Colorado Department of Education, and in research, technical, and leadership roles at CTB/McGraw-Hill and Pacific Metrics, and ACT. For the past 15 years, her primary career focus has been the development of software, algorithms, and analytics for assessment and learning solutions. Dr. Barrett is published in the Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics, the Journal of Educational Measurement, and Psychometrika and has contributed to book chapters on the topics of measurement and learning engineering. She holds certifications in Scaled Agile, Lean Six Sigma, and Pragmatic Marketing. Dr. Barrett chaired the IEEE Industry Consortium on Learning Engineering SIG on AI and Adaptive Technology in 2018-2019, served on the Program Board for the 2020 and 2021 Human Computer Interaction International Adaptive Instructional Systems Conferences, and currently serves as a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed journals. She is also on the Board of Directors of the AIS Consortium, an IEEE-ISTO non-profit organization with a mission to support the adoption and advancement of products that use artificial intelligence and advanced technologies to help people learn. Dr. Barrett earned her Bachelor of Science from Stanford University, her Master of Education from Harvard University, a graduate certificate in large scale assessment from the University of Maryland, and her Doctorate of Philosophy in research methodology, data analysis, and measurement from the University of Twente, Netherlands.

Bio: Eddie Crosby is a results-oriented education technology executive with diverse administrative, curriculum, and instructional experience. He was named Territory Manager of South Carolina in December 2020 and is responsible for building and leading the development of the sales and market access strategy to optimize the adoption and appropriate use of Edmentum's product portfolio.

Eddie's 20+ year career spans multiple areas in education, including teaching, administration, consulting and sales. He has demonstrated consistent success across a variety of disciplines within the education profession including growth, learning and development, market access, retention and managed markets. Eddie has a passion for leadership, creating a culture of high engagement, and a commitment to successful student outcomes.

Bio: Shannon Arczynski has always had a passion for education, starting at the age of 8 when she and her neighborhood friends would play school, Shannon often being the teacher. Shannon started her educational journey as a high school English and yearbook teacher. Having a love for reading she quickly got her master’s in reading education and became a literacy coach. As a literacy coach, Shannon created and led professional development in her brick-and-mortar school and in the district. Shannon became a professional learning developer for the district where she found excitement in leading her fellow colleagues in best practices and new trends in education.

After several years of her role with professional development, the culture, mission, vision, and values brought Shannon to Edmentum in 2020. Shannon took on the role of Academy Professional Learning and Development Coordinator. Since this position Shannon has moved to Instructional Services Communication Manager.

Shannon earned her BS from Florida State University and her MS from Florida International University. She has been involved with a myriad of philanthropies over the years and is excited about her new opportunity with We Can Learn. Shannon and her dog Dash, split their time between Florida and Virginia, and they enjoy traveling every chance they get.

My Why: I don't believe that people just stop learning. People need to find the joy in new things. I hope that through my passion for life, reading, and education the people I encounter catch that spark to continue to grow.