MTC is staffed by a group of talented and passionate professionals, steadfast in their commitment to our mission and dedicated to the success of all students. Along with our member schools, our team is at the very heart of our organization and the engine of our success.
Susan Bell
Senior Director of Member School Engagement
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With nearly two decades of experience working in public school systems, Susie will support MTC’s network of member schools as they work together and within their high schools to implement a Mastery Transcript. Susie had previously served as the superintendent of the Windsor Locks Public Schools and had also served Windsor Locks High School in a variety of other roles, including principal and director of guidance. Highlights of her accomplishments include working with colleagues and community members to raise academic expectations by eliminating course levels that held students to low expectations and working with her team and the Board of Education to develop the vision and systemic changes needed to make personalized and mastery-based learning a reality for all children in Windsor Locks.
Lauren Cardella
Product Manager
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Lauren uses her interpersonal, analytical, and technical skills to help ensure that MTC’s software products meet the needs of our member schools and align with our organizational goals. She comes to MTC from the world of government Software as a Service (SaaS), where she worked as a software engineer. Though new to education, she has first-hand experience with the promise of non-traditional educational models, first as a graduate of a public liberal arts college with no grades or credit hours and self-directed curriculum, and more recently through a non-profit coding bootcamp focused on diversifying the tech workforce.
Mike Flanagan
Chief Executive Officer
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Mike Flanagan is the CEO of the Mastery Transcript Consortium (MTC), a growing group of high schools creating a digital high school transcript that opens up opportunity for each and every student — from all backgrounds, locations, and types of schools — to have their unique strengths, abilities, interests, and histories fostered, understood, and celebrated.
Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap till May, 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Association of Independent Schools, where he led a complete redesign and relaunch of their School and Student Services financial aid platforms.
Mike oversaw the design and development of Mastery Transcript software products, connecting with members and advisors to manage the MTC product roadmap till May, 2021. He is an experienced education technology executive, most recently having served as CEO of the Services Division at the National Association of Independent Schools, where he led a complete redesign and relaunch of their School and Student Services financial aid platforms.
Tamika Guishard
Director of Communications and Development
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Tamika brings nearly twenty years of pedagogical storytelling to her role directing MTC communications and development. From national partnerships to film production sets, she's boldly spearheaded conversations amongst individuals and organizations who had never collaborated. Tamika's driven to center marginalized voices within any space she occupies.
Elena Hamilton
Member Engagement Coordinator
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Elena works directly with member schools to support them in their transition toward mastery learning and use of the Mastery Transcript. Before joining the MTC team, she worked as a coordinator for a citywide high school internship program in Nashville and served as a diverse learning teacher in Chicago. Elena is driven to help all young people have equitable access to pursue and attain their postsecondary goals.
Lisa Hicks
Chief Operating Officer
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Lisa brings to MTC over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of research, policy, and practice to advance student-centered learning. Throughout her career, she has partnered with local, state, and national leaders to help develop and scale innovative models and to promote systems reform in K–12 and postsecondary education. As a senior manager at organizations including the Christensen Institute, Jobs for the Future, and Campus Compact, Lisa has honed skills in leading high-performing teams and building their capacity for impact. She has consulted with nonprofit organizations and foundations in the areas of strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, and program planning. In addition, she served as executive director of a state-level education reform commission in Delaware.
Edgar Montes
Director of Higher-Education Engagement
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Edgar brings extensive knowledge and an unwavering commitment to providing access, equity, and opportunity to all students, especially students in underserved communities. He brings more than 15 years of experience in supporting schools, districts, county offices, and state agencies as they work toward transforming their educational systems and practices to better prepare students for success in college, career, and life. Prior to joining MTC, Edgar served as the executive director of a California statewide initiative to scale up a multi-tiered system of support focused on advancing the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral development of the whole child through the Orange County Department of Education. Edgar also served as director of state and district partnerships for the College Board’s western regional office, college counselor at High Tech High Media Arts, and admission counselor at the University of San Diego.
Ben Rein
Senior Director of Outreach and Partnerships
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Ben works closely with the education community—both active members as well as those who are interested in the work we are doing, to further our mission and vision. Ben has spent the prior 25 years as an independent school teacher and administrator. His independent school journey has taken him from a history teaching internship at the Culver Academies, through teaching stints at Saddle River Day School and the Haverford School in Philadelphia. Ben spent 14 years at Haverford, moving from the classroom to administration, before leaving to become Upper School Head at the Collegiate School in Richmond, VA. Ben left Richmond to assume the duties of Headmaster at the University School in Cleveland, OH, before moving to pursue the work with the MTC. Ben earned his BA in American Studies from Amherst College, and an MS Ed in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
DJ Roth
Director of Product Management
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DJ manages the technical aspects of developing the Mastery Transcript platform, bringing together product, design, and development to realize the MTC product roadmap. She brings expertise from over 15 years in technical product and project management in education technology, gained across a wide spectrum of environments, from Ohio State University, to McGraw-Hill School Education, and, most recently, as an Operations VP for a startup custom software firm. Contact her at roth@mastery.org.
Patricia Russell
Chief Learning Officer
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Patricia Russell is an experienced teacher and was the dean of studies at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, when she joined the board of directors of the Mastery Transcript Consortium in 2016. She subsequently served as the interim executive director and started as the Chief Learning Officer in 2018.