UVA-PLE - People

DANI BARKEY, DISTRICT SUPPORT CHIEF

Dani Barkey is an experienced educator with over 23 years in various roles, including high school teacher, school administrator, and district office leader. Before joining the PLE, she served as the Deputy Superintendent for Warsaw Community Schools for ten years, where she emphasized supporting principals and fostering a collaborative environment between central office and school leadership.

During her tenure, Dani successfully led three cohorts through the UVA/PLE partnership, resulting in positive district changes and improved student outcomes as well as significant improvements in state accountability. She also served as the district's EL and Title I director, working to reform systems that historically marginalized underserved students. Dani's passion for educational improvement is further reflected in her doctoral dissertation, which focused on effective school improvement efforts through distributed leadership and robust support and accountability structures.

Dani holds a Bachelor's degree from Manchester University, a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, a School Specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision, and a Doctor of Education degree from Ball State University. She enjoys engaging with others to address the unprecedented challenges facing education today. In her spare time, Dani enjoys spending time with her two nearly adult children and husband in Northern Indiana. In her spare time, Dani enjoys walking, gardening and cooking for friends and family.

 

AKEISH FORSYTHE, SENIOR PROJECT DIRECTOR

Akeish Forsythe is an accomplished education leader, change management professional, and organizational development expert. With over 15 years of experience, she excels in strategic visioning, program analysis, and leadership coaching.

Akeish's expertise extends to assisting national and international governments, non-profit agencies, and educational institutions in succession planning, strategic implementation, and data management.

Akeish is recognized as an international thought-partner, supporting transformation in over 500 cities across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. With her ability to forge relationships and connect stakeholders across sectors, she contributes to the design and implementation of global, high-impact programs.

Her academic achievements, including a M.Ed from Johns Hopkins University, provide a solid foundation for her expertise in organizational development and education research.

 

SCOTT GUGGENHEIMER, CHIEF OF PROGRAMS

Before his current role, Scott served as director of leadership development for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) and prior to that as the executive director of African American Teaching Fellows.

In his current role, Scott collaborates with faculty from the Darden School of Business and public school practitioners from across the country to design and deliver high-quality learning experiences and leadership development for central office staff, district leadership, teachers, and school administrators.

 Scott's background is as an English teacher and administrator in a Title I high school in Washington, D.C. He earned his B.A in Psychology at Washington and Lee University.

 

LATOYA HARRISON, DISTRICT SUPPORT CHIEF

Before joining the PLE, LaToya served as the Chief Academic Officer in Chesapeake Public Schools. In this role, she oversaw all areas of teaching and learning, including curriculum and instruction, assessment, college and career readiness, academic support, and exceptional education for the division’s 47 schools. She also served as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and as Interim Superintendent in Suffolk Public Schools, where she led the division in increasing student achievement, improving graduation rates, and achieving full accreditation.

LaToya has also served as an Executive Director in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), where she helped pioneer the Central Elementary Zone, which provided strategic leadership and support to 49 Title I Elementary Schools. During her time in CMS, she supported various strategic staffing and talent management initiatives.

LaToya began her career journey in Washington, DC, serving as an elementary teacher and principal. She also founded SOAR Education, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provided academic and social support to students from disadvantaged communities.  LaToya holds an Ed.D. from the Urban Superintendents Program at Harvard University, an Ed.M. in Education Policy and Management from Harvard, an M.Ed. from Regent University, and a B.A. in Sociology from the College of William and Mary.

 

BIAZE HOUSTON, DISTRICT SUPPORT CHIEF

Biaze Houston previously served as a director in Aurora Public Schools, where she led the development support for curriculum and instruction in all core and electives content areas. Dr. Houston also led the system-wide scaling of the district's assessment strategy through the execution of the Data-Driven Instructional practices model; the programming, identification, and advanced learning plan development and implementation by the Gifted and Talented district team; and the planning & execution of associated professional learning for school-based and central office educators across the district.

Biaze has over a decade of school-level experience as a teacher, teacher leader, assistant principal, and principal. As a middle school principal and PLE participant, Biaze and her staff earned the Center of Excellence Award from the Colorado Department of Education for the level of growth achieved as a Title I school in 2017 and 2019, moving off the state accountability clock to the highest state performance rating.

Biaze holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colorado State University, a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from the University of Phoenix, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. In her spare time, Biaze enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.

 

RANDI LAUDISIO, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR of PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS

Randi Laudisio joined the UVA-PLE Operations Team in 2017, leveraging her skills in planning to execute transformational learning experiences for district partners. Her role includes designing and implementing strategies that bolster organizational efficiency and collaboration. Randi's expertise in planning was honed through her previous experiences, which span from work in the music industry to international program coordination for educational institutions. A James Madison University graduate, she has a deep-rooted commitment to public education, influenced by her family's educational background. Randi's knack for meticulous organization ensures that PLE programs and visits empower leaders to implement impactful changes in their respective systems.

 

LEIGHANN LENTI, CHIEF OF PARTNERSHIP

Leighann Lenti joined the UVA-PLE as chief of partnership in 2018. Before joining the UVA-PLE, she spent nearly three years at the College Board and five years at the New Mexico Public Education Department. While serving as the deputy secretary for policy and program in New Mexico, Lenti oversaw the state’s implementation of standards and assessments, school accountability, teacher evaluation, options for parents, pre-K and early literacy, college and career readiness, and school turnaround — including working with New Mexico school districts while they were PLE partners.

Lenti has over 20 years of experience working on education policy at the federal and state levels, including in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Department of Education, the New Mexico Public Education Department, and the Office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lenti earned an M.A. in politics and education from Teacher’s College at Columbia University in New York City and a B.A. in integrative and liberal studies for education from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

 

KALYLKA LINS, OPERATIONS ASSISTANT

As the Operations Assistant, Kalylka plays a pivotal role by handling administrative tasks for Executive Education programs, district visits, and the broader organizational framework. Bringing over seven years of hospitality expertise to the table, she previously held esteemed positions as the director of sales, marketing, and catering across Virginia's hotel industry. Before venturing into hospitality, Kalylka had an illustrious career in business administration in Brazil. Born in João Pessoa, Brazil, she transitioned to the United States in 2013. She is a proud alumnus of Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, where she earned her degree in Business Administration.

 

VIVIAN LUNDY, CLIENT OPERATIONS MANAGER

Vivian joined the University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education team as the Client Operations Manager in the summer of 2023. Vivian helps support and manage executive education programs like the virtual Thought Partnership Process and the Supervisor and Shepherd Summit by organizing schedules, logistics, communication, and materials while optimizing workflows along the way. She works in conjunction with the UVA-PLE operations team and field team to ensure successful delivery of in-district support and off-site engagement with the goal of providing extraordinary customer service and world-class programming.

Prior to joining UVA-PLE, Vivian worked in various education and research institutes, including the UVA Office of Undergraduate Admission, the UVA Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and the Advanced Studies in Culture Foundation, Clayborne Education, and Germanna Community College Tutoring Services. Her 7+ years of administrative and client relations experience helps her thrive in fast-paced, high-pressure environments that require a proactive, detail-oriented, organized, and collaborative team member.

Vivian earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia, which inspires her work in education, especially at her alma mater.

 

COBY MEYERS, CHIEF OF RESEARCH

In addition to his role with the UVA-PLE, Coby Meyers is an associate professor of education at UVA’s School of Education and Human Development. Before joining the UVA-PLE in 2015, Meyers was the senior researcher at American Institutes for Research (AIR), where he managed AIR’s work in the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Northeast and Islands. Meyers also led a beating-the-odds study for REL Midwest, working to identify schools achieving at higher levels than expected and analyzing organizational factors that might be related to those achievement levels.

Meyers has played integral roles in various school turnaround initiatives, an area in which he has presented and published, including co-authoring the book Turning Around Failing Schools: Lessons from the Organizational Sciences and multiple journal articles. He was recognized in 2012 with the Emerging Scholar Award by the American Educational Research Association special-interest group School Turnaround and Reform.

After working as a middle and high school literature teacher, Meyers attained a master’s degree in secondary education at the University of Kentucky and earned his doctorate in education leadership, policy, and organizations at Vanderbilt University.

 

SHASHWANTA (Shashie) MORTON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR of PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS

Shashwanta (Shashie) Morton has been in her current position with the organization for 17 years. Applying meticulous attention to detail, Shashie provides high-quality experiences for our partners during programs and site visits. She actively collaborates with various stakeholders, internally and externally, to ensure that PLE stays organized, achieves its goals, and remains a leader in the field of education. In her free time, Shashie loves to plan celebratory events, travel, and spend time with her friends and family.

 

ASHLEY PATEL, CLIENT OPERATIONS MANAGER 

Ashley supports the organization’s mission to drive systemic change in education by collaborating on partner development, logistics and program execution, while focusing on enhancing district and school leadership through strategic support, operational coordination and exceptional service.

Before joining UVA-PLE, Ashley was the Events Director for the Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation, where she developed and executed innovative special events to strengthen community support for the hospital. Prior to that, she dedicated a decade to advancing local community initiatives as the Director of Development for the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program, where she led fundraising strategies and campaigns to support the organization's mission and enhance community impact.

Ashley holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Management and a minor in Finance. Ashley’s extensive experience has fostered a deep commitment to serving underserved communities, and she is honored to work with UVA-PLE to enhance educational opportunities.

 

WILLIAM ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

William Robinson is the executive director of the University of Virginia's Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA-PLE). Robinson has been with the UVA-PLE since 2010, initially overseeing efforts to transform how the partnership supports district partners and builds executive education programs focused on systemic change.

Robinson is a graduate of Harvard Business School and an Education Pioneers alumnus. Before joining the UVA-PLE, he completed consulting work for various education organizations, including the D.C. Public Education Fund, the Center for Better Schools, and Stand for Children. Robinson began his career at McMaster-Carr Supply Co., where he helped manage its supply chain operations in Atlanta. Robinson earned his B.A. in economics from Princeton University.

 

ASHLEE SADDLER, DISTRICT SUPPORT CHIEF

Ashlee Saddler joined PLE from Aurora Public Schools (APS) in Aurora, Colorado where she was the Director of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education (CLDE). As the director, Ashlee oversaw the instructional programming of over 16,000 students in 58 schools who spoke over 160 different languages. Ashlee was previously a principal in APS and a PLE participant where she moved and maintained her school in Performance, the highest rating in the State ranking. Within PK-12 public education, Ashlee has a background in multilingual and multicultural learning, supporting students with disabilities, and mental health.

Dr. Saddler is a public speaker and passionate about leadership development. She has been dedicated to coaching and developing leaders in the business, educational, private, and non-profit sectors throughout Colorado. Ashlee earned her Master’s of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has worked in the mental health field in Illinois, Indiana, and Colorado. Ashlee earned her second Master’s Degree from Colorado State University in education and completed her doctoral studies at Baylor University. Ashlee’s passion for supporting and developing others has extended to her doctoral research, which centered around executive coaching and professional learning for principals.

Ashlee enjoys public speaking, leadership development, and continually growing and developing to enhance the experiences for those she serves. Ashlee is an avid traveler with her husband and children and pushes herself physically through rigorous weight training.