Our Education is directed by a group of eight young people who come from across the nation:

Catherine Casazza (Director of Strategy & Operations).
Catherine currently attends the University of Southern California: "It is my duty to help those who are not receiving the public education they deserve because my own education has been such a fortunate opportunity." Cathernie writes that if she could meet any person from the history of the world that it would be, " Gandhi. He has always been an inspiration to me, and meeting someone who worked selflessly and peacefully to better the lives of so many people would be amazing."  Catherine loves to act and sing and hopes to major in theatre next year. She is also one of two members of the Youth Advisory Board who also serve on Our Education's full Board of Directors.

Sebastian Johnson (Executive Director)
Sebastian is a 2009 Truman Scholar and a senior at Georgetown University, where he majors in Political Economy. He served as the student member of his local board of education in Montgomery Country, MD from 2005 to 2006 during his senior year in high school. Sebastian wants to pursue a career in teaching and urban planning, with a focus on gentrification issues, economic development, and urban regeneration.

 

Kelly Mercer (Director of Communications)
Kelly is a Freshman at Wellesley College in Boston, MA: "I strongly believe that education will decide the future of America.  If our children and schools continue to fall behind, we will reach a point where there may be no solving the crisis that will ensue."  Kelly is an avid participant in her school's mock trial and Model United Nations programs, and she enjoys talking with peers about causes like the fundamental right to high quality education!
 

Matt Phan (Director of Information & Research)
Matt attends the University of South Florida: I whole-heartedly believe in the goal for a right to a high quality education for all students in America."  When asked about his future career aspirations, Matt says that he, "loves books and would want to work for the Library of Congress."  To any avid readers out there, he recommends the book Wicked, upon which the musical was based!

 

Kiara Ray (Director of Student Outreach-East)
Kiara attends SUNY Stony Brook University on Long Island, NY. Kiara attended public school from grades 2 to 12 and says that “Going school in three states has allowed me to see the up and downs of a lot of schools and the infinite number of problems students have to deal with.” She hopes that by being a part of Our Education she can “help change the education system in this country so that no one, no matter where they are from are not denied a quality education.” Her future career plans are currently undecided but she hopes that no matter what she does, it will make a difference in the lives of others.

Dalton Shaughnessy (Director of Strategy & Operations)
Dalton attends the University of Wisconsin: "I feel very strongly about improving the education system. It directly affects me and I hope I can help others by helping to create a more effective learning system." When asked if he could meet anybody from history, Dalton said that he would want to meet J.R.R. Tolkien because of his, "intense creativity and an incredible ability to imagine anything. I am sure just talking with a mind like that would open up new perspectives on just about anything".  Dalton is also an avid snow-boarder, Harry Potter, and Chipotle burrito fan!






Andrew Speen (Director of Communications)
Andrew is a freshman at Villanova.  Andrew is serving on Our Education's Youth Action Board because he "genuinely believes that young people should be empowered to bring about critical changes in our nation’s schools. Individuals of any race, of any social class, and from any state, should be able to attend a high quality school that offers excellent opportunities to all of its students."  Andrew is interested in business and entrepreneurship. In addition to his work with Our Education at Andover High School, he is a member of the school's cross country, indoor track, and outdoor varsity track teams.




Tiffany Tran (Director of Student Outreach-West)
Tiffany is a Senior at UCLA:  “I strongly believe that every student deserves a high quality education because that could be their second chance to life. It’s simply just not right that where a person is born dictates the quality education they receive.”  When asked about her future career aspirations, Tiffany says that she would love to be an international news reporter and help make documentaries about ignored issues in third world countries.

Aaron Tang – Founder
Aaron has served as the co-director of Our Education with co-founder Ethan Hutt from 2005 - 2007, and directed the organization from 2007 - 2009 until the current leadership team took charge.  Aaron is a twenty-five year old graduate of public schools in Painesville, Ohio.  He is a 2005 graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in political science and currently attends Stanford Law School.  He has also taught 8th grade US History in Saint Louis public schools and taught middle school in inner-city Cleveland.

Aaron is a 2004 Truman Scholar, 2005 USA Today All-USA College Academic First Team honoree, and recipient of the 2005 Alpheus Henry Snow Prize given by Yale University Faculty to the graduating senior who “through the combination of intellectual achievement, character and personality... has done the most for Yale by inspiring in his or her classmates an admiration and love for the best traditions of high scholarship.”  He was named one of the “World’s Best Emerging Social Entrepreneurs” by Echoing Green, and is a 2005 winner of the American Eagle Outfitters Live Your Life competition for his work on Our Education.  Read Aaron’s latest entry in Our Education blog.