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 members, our team is at the very heart of our organization and the engine of our success.
Eddie Arteaga
Executive Director, Higher Education Engagement
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Eddie is a strategic, innovative, learner-focused professional and joins MTC with over 20 years of higher education experience with a focus in enrollment management, predictive modeling, admissions and operations management and program development. He is a dynamic, strategic and forward-thinking leader with ability to focus on key issues from both high-level and detailed perspectives with an expertise in team and people development, program and structure implementation. Eddie has worked in both private and public universities as well as The College Board and most recently Capture Higher Ed where he served as Enrollment Solutions Consultant.
Susan Bell
Executive Director, Programs
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With nearly two decades of experience working in public school systems, Susie supports MTC’s network of member schools as they work together and within their high schools to implement a Mastery Transcript or MTC Learning Record. 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.
Jason Cummings
Director of Member Engagement
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Jason is a dedicated education leader with extensive experience in competency-based learning and innovative program design. In his previous role as Director of Student Programs at Global Online Academy (GOA), he led a global competency-based student program serving over 3,500 students annually from 140+ schools. During his tenure, Jason led the student programs’ transition to competency-based learning, drove substantial enrollment growth, and enhanced program quality through strategic leadership and data-informed decision-making. Jason brings his expertise in designing and scaling systems that prioritize personalized and mastery-based learning to MTC where he works to support member schools and districts in their evolution toward competency-based approaches to teaching, learning, reporting and credentialing. A skilled facilitator and thought leader, he has guided educators and school leaders worldwide on topics like AI integration, change management, and assessment design.
Arlyss Gease
Executive Director, Operations
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Arlyss comes to MTC from a background in education technology and strategy. Arlyss previously led business operations for the Praxis teacher licensure business at ETS, including planning and finance, with a major role in relaunching their test registration website in 2024. He previously worked at Chegg and Thinkful, where he held successive roles in finance, analytics, and growth.
Elena Hamilton
Senior Project Manager
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Elena works directly with member schools to support them in their transition towards competency-based learning and use of the Mastery Transcript or MTC Learning Record. 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.
Peter Laipson
Senior Fellow
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Peter joins MTC with over 25 years of leadership experience in educational institutions from high school to graduate school. Most recently, he served as the founding Chief Academic Officer at High Meadows Graduate School of Teaching and Learning, an innovative, competency-based teacher education program developed in collaboration with MIT. Prior to joining High Meadows, Peter was Provost and Vice President of Bard College at Simon’s Rock, the nation’s only residential early college. Having begun his teaching career in independent schools, Peter taught for more than a decade as a teacher and dean at Concord Academy, where he also served as Head of the History department and Dean of Faculty.
Lily Newman
Cohort Engagement Lead
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Lily Newman has been working with and supporting the development of competency-based education since joining the founding team of an EL Education school in 2004. She has engaged in this work at the classroom, school, system and state level, as well as with non-profits. She is deeply passionate about rethinking education systems to launch students on a path to their futures with the real knowledge and skills necessary to thrive.
DJ Roth
Senior Product Manager
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Darunee (DJ) is a seasoned product leader with 20+ years of experience driving innovation in education technology. She excels at aligning technical solutions with business goals, fostering collaboration, and delivering impactful digital products. Her home base is Columbus, Ohio, but DJ favors camper life with her partner, Steve, and their two sons. When she's not on the road, she stays busy with a wide-ranging array of "projects". Just ask.
Erika Wirkala
Product Operations Associate
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Erika is an operations professional who supports MTC by partnering closely with executive leadership across product, operations, and strategy. She brings over five years of experience in remote-first environments, where she has managed workflows, coordinated cross-functional stakeholders, and maintained systems that support decision making and organizational growth. She began her career in administrative and marketing roles and later moved into operational support for mission-driven education organizations, where she focuses on product execution and continuous improvement.