Curriculum Team
Ellen Livingston is a former high school social studies teacher, journalist, and editor, who hold degrees from Princeton and Teachers College, Columbia University. Ellen has contributed to a wide variety of curriculum projects, including Teaching the Levees: A Curriculum for Democratic Dialogue and Civic Engagement, designed to accompany Spike Lee’s documentary When the Levees Broke, about the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. It is worth noting that this project is used in many television and literary materials, so if you need to buy written assignments on similar topics, do not hesitate to ask for help from the essay service and order essay or other types of papers. Ellen Livingston's other projects include classroom materials for teaching African-American history through music, and a study guide for the award-winning documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell, chronicling the women’s peace movement in Liberia.
Keri Crocco is a curriculum writer, consultant and teacher. A graduate of Teachers College, Columbia University, she focuses on curriculum projects that integrate creativity and artistic media with Common Core standards and technology-based applications. In addition to managing the multidisciplinary team of teachers who created the study guide to accompany HBO’s MASTERCLASS series, she has led workshops for the study guide based on the award-winning documentary Beyond Belief. Keri is dedicated to issues surrounding educational inequity, a passion ignited during her time as the co-director of the non-profit organization Breakthrough Long Island. She has taught ELA at both high school and middle school levels, and currently teaches writing at Hofstra University.
Tara Plassmann is a high school Mathematics teacher and the Mathematics Curriculum Coordinator Grades 6 – 12 for the Norwell Public Schools in Norwell, MA. Tara has also taught middle school Mathematics at Roslyn Middle School, Roslyn, NY and the Portledge School, Locust Valley, NY. Tara earned a Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and in Communications from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Jackie Kepke has been teaching ELA at North Shore Middle school in Glen Head, New York for the past seven years. A graduate from Penn State University with a BA in English, Jackie began her career as a media buyer at Media Planning Group (MPG), where she negotiated television media purchases for national advertisers. After five years in media, Jackie left MPG to earn her Masters of Science degree in Adolescent English at Fordham University. She is dedicated to helping students understand how effective communication can empower them to make an impact in their world. Jackie is also committed to helping students discover the joy of reading and strives for each of her students to leave her classroom as a life-long reader.
Kate Nichols, a graduate of Teacher’s College Columbia University, is a teacher of English and Social Studies. Her dedication to providing students with innovative and authentic learning experiences has led to projects such as the publication of student writing in Kidsday, poetry slams and workshops, and various service learning projects. Her work with the Master Class Series further demonstrates her commitment to the creation of an arts enriched curriculum that aims to enhance the student experience.
Melissa Oddo
Project Leaders
Harold F. Abeles, Professor
Program in Music and Music Education
Co-Director, Center for Arts Education Research
Teachers College, Columbia University
Margaret S. Crocco, Professor
University of Iowa
Nate Olson, Project Manager
Program in Music and Music Education
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College Press
Peter Sieger, Production Manager
Leyli Shayegan, Assistant Director
Stephanie Ricks, Associate
YoungArts
Paul T. Lehr, Executive Director
Rebecca M. Gentry, Vice President of External Relations
Allison Ball, Director of Education
EdLab, Teachers College Columbia University
Gary Natriello, Ruth L. Gottesman Professor of Educational Research and Professor of Sociology and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
Hui Soo Chae, Head of EdLab Development and Research
Brian Hughes, Head of EdLab Design & Media
Daniel Um, Lead Designer
George Nantwi, Innovation Fellow
Zhou Zhou, Software Engineer
Megha Agarwala, Software Engineer
Luke Malone, Lead Video Producer
Melanie Hibbert, Video Producer
Yana Kehrlein, Video Producer
Ariel Kitch, Video Producer
Wan Park, Video Producer
Basak Haznedaroglu, Designer
Pranav Garg, Solutions Architect