Massachusetts Staff

Born and raised in the Midwest, Priya has spent the past 10 years working with schools and organizations that focus on improving educational outcomes for urban students. After receiving her degree in Child Development from Tufts University and a Master of Arts in Education from Columbia University's Teachers College, Priya spent three years teaching at The Bronx Guild, a Big Picture Learning school in the South Bronx, one of the nation's most underserved communities.

Brandy F. Oakley is a Mattapan-native and Boston Latin School graduate. Brandy graduated from Syracuse University magna cum laude with two Bachelor’s degrees in Policy Studies (B.A.) with an urban education reform concentration, and Social Work (B.S.). Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Brandy taught 3rd grade in Baltimore, MD, as a Teach For America Corps Member.

Laura Gardner graduated from Dartmouth College in 2010 with a major in Psychology and minor in Education Policy. At Dartmouth, she dedicated her extra-curricular pursuits to understanding and alleviating educational inequities, serving as a mentor, research fellow, teaching fellow, and intern in the office of Representative Barney Frank. As the Development Manager, Laura is responsible for managing grant and donor relationships for the MA state affiliate.

A Massachusetts native, Anika comes from a long line of teachers and educators. Her own educational exploits led her to Princeton University, where she earned a BA in European History. Following graduation, Anika spent nearly a decade in theater management, including three years touring the US. Through these and other travels she saw how the difference in access to quality education, even in communities separated by just a few miles of highway, can greatly impact children’s lives and opportunities.

Luz, an American of Puerto Rican descent, was born and raised in Springfield and is a product of the Springfield Public Schools. Luz became an advocate for her community at a very young age, with early involvement in education excellence initiatives, supporting the community’s elderly population, and volunteer work with HIV patients.