Umme Salma
Founder/Director
Umme Salma is the Founding Principal of New York Academy, a progressive American school in Hyderabad, and the Founder and Executive Director of EdPodium. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Notre Dame de Namur University in California. Originally from Hyderabad, Umme earned her Bachelor’s in Child Psychology and Master’s in Educational Administration from Santa Clara University, California. After working as a teacher and administrator in California, she specialized in Early Childhood Education, training at Bing Nursery School and Stanford University.
Umme is passionate about connecting teaching and learning and believes in the transformative power of educators. Her vision includes expanding teacher training in India through brain-based research and collaboration, evidenced by her successful pilot program with Notre Dame de Namur University.
Dr. Caryl Hodges
Board Member
Hodges joined NDNU from the University of San Francisco, where she was associate dean of the School of Education and an assistant professor in Teacher Education. With over 30 years in teaching and administration across all educational levels, she helped launch USF’s Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language in China and previously consulted for Broderbund Software on curriculum and educational software.
Hodges is active in several professional organizations, including the American Association of University Women and the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She holds an Ed.D. in International and Multicultural Education from USF and an M.A. in Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning from Sonoma State University.
Dr.Susan Charles
Board Member
Dr. Susan Charles has over 30 years of experience in K-12 education and more than 15 years in higher education. She current;y serves as the Program Director for MA Education, School Administrator Credentials, and DEIL programs at Notre Dame de Namur University. Originally from Dominica, she has lived in the Bay Area since 1975, working with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) for 28 years in various roles, including Human Relations Specialist, Counselor, Director of Special Services, and Principal.
She is a trainer in emotional intelligence with 6Seconds and collaborates with schools in India, China, and beyond. In 2002, she initiated a partnership between PAUSD and Santa Clara University to train new administrators, later expanding it to other districts. Currently, she is the Director of the M.A. in Administration program at Santa Clara University and the M.A. in Education and Curriculum at Notre Dame de Namur University.
Dr. Charles serves on multiple community boards, including the Advisory Board of Palo Alto YWCA and Girls Middle School. She holds a B.A., M.A. in Counseling, Administrative Credentials from Santa Clara University and U.C. Berkeley, and an Ed.D. from Fielding Graduate University. In her spare time, she enjoys family, gardening, cooking, and hopes to spend more time at the beach and pursue research and writing. Her goal is to influence educators to positively impact children’s lives.
Dr. Robert Ferrera
Board Member
Dr. Robert Ferrera is a Professor of Education and Director of the Multiple Subject Credential Program at Notre Dame de Namur University in California. He has served as Assistant Superintendent of Student Services in Santa Clara County and Superintendent in multiple U.S. districts. Additionally, he has taught at the University of St. Thomas and Grand Valley University and co-founded a teacher-training program in Hyderabad, India.
Dr. Ferrera has published six works and presented at various professional organizations. He is a member of ACSA, AASA, ASCD, CCTC, and Phi Delta Kappa. He earned his Doctorate in Education from USC, a Master’s from San Francisco State University, and a Bachelor’s from the University of San Francisco. His accolades include the “Distinguished Service to Students and the Preparation of Teachers” award at the 2014 CCTE Spring Conference and the Kent Award for Outstanding Partnerships from the San Mateo School Board.
Jennifer Winters
Board Member
Jennifer Winters is the Director of Bing Nursery School and Lecturer at Stanford University in the Department of Psychology. Bing Nursery School is a laboratory school within the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University that serves 450 children, ages 2 through 5. She has 33 years of experience in the field of early childhood education as a teacher, administrator, advocate, mentor and leader. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Maryland and a M.A. in Child Development from San Jose State University. She has presented locally, nationally and internationally on numerous topics in the field of early childhood education.
She has a passionate commitment to serving young children and their families by reaching out and sharing the knowledge and experience in child development at Bing Nursery School with the parent community and with early childhood educators from around the world. She believes strongly that for young children play-based learning is best for their development across all domains – cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. She is an advocate for play-based learning for young children around the globe.
Bhavna Narula
Board Member
Bhavna Narula is currently a middle school Principal in Los Altos, California. Through the course of her career spanning two decades, Bhavna has taught preschool through graduate school students as well as led district wide improvement efforts in student support systems and teacher learning. In her current role, Bhavna has led school wide change to standards-based grading, implemented co-teaching as an instructional model to support all students and built a school climate and culture rooted in universal design for learning and inclusion.
Bhavna truly believes that it is the engagement of all stakeholders including parents and teachers that creates transformational change in education. Amplifying and empowering student voice and choice in all aspects of instructional decision making as well as school wide decision making are Bhavna’s guiding principles.
Brooke Crosby
Consultant
With extensive experience across all educational levels—from preK through high school—Brooke is a dedicated special education expert committed to transforming the learning experiences of students with diverse needs. Brooke excels in both special and general education settings, leveraging her skills to turn struggling students into enthusiastic, lifelong learners.
Currently, she works with educators in a low socio-economic community facing challenges such as homelessness, gang violence, and PTSD. Brooke is responsible for ensuring compliance with IDEA and California state laws in a district under court order, handling all special education paperwork and serving as the behavioral expert across schools. She holds a Master of Education in Cross Categorical Special Education from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Central Oklahoma.
Jayanti Tambe
Consultant
Jayanti Tambe Roy is faculty of Child Development and Sociology at De Anza College. She has held leadership positions as executive director and director at UCLA, Pacific Oaks College and Children’s School and at Stanford University. She is a published author of the books, “”An Alphabet Soup of STEM””, “”The Art of Math and Science”” and “”A Kaleidoscope of Children.”” She is a Peer Reviewer for NAEYC’s Higher Education Accreditation. Jayanti was credited with creating Pacific Oaks College’s Trauma Specialization in Early Childhood. Jayanti is experienced in both Title 22 and Title 5 programs. She has both nationally and internationally demonstrated abilities to adapt teaching methods and materials to students individual learning styles and cultural differences. She has taught early childhood education at De Anza College and at Santa Monica College at the undergraduate level, and at the bachelor’s and master’s level at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena.
She can speak several languages and considers this to be an asset while working with diverse families. She is committed to family engagement practices in the ECE setting, and in June 2010, was recognized for her efforts at the NAEYC Institute where Rainbow School, the program she supervised was recognized as one of the ten exemplary programs for engaging diversity. She is the recipient of the Rose Engel Award (CAEYC 2010) for innovation in teaching practices.
Through her appointment by several national associations, institutes and universities, she has been widely accredited for her innovation in teaching practices.
Dr. Shannon Perez
Consultant
Shannon Perez is a seasoned educational leader with nearly 20 years of experience in driving student success and school innovation. As the Assistant Headmaster at Ivy Collegiate Academy since 2022, she has excelled in school administration, curriculum development, and community engagement. Her leadership has enhanced curriculum design, increased student retention, and achieved 100% passing rates in the AP Capstone program.
Shannon has introduced Project-Based Learning, reduced suspensions by 46% through strategic discipline, and designed impactful professional development programs. Holding a Doctorate in Leadership from Vanderbilt University and various certifications, she is dedicated to student-centered learning and fostering dynamic educational environments.
Alice Whitt
Consultant
Ms. Whitt holds a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1999) and MA degrees in Special Education (SSU, 2005) and Education Administration (SFSU, 2017). With experience in special education and general teaching roles, she has worked as an Assistant Principal at New York Academy in Hyderabad and recently as a Technology Coordinator at Kentfield School District.
Her background includes roles at Agilent Technologies and managing an International Youth Hostel in Chicago. An active Petaluma resident, she has volunteered with The Petaluma Arts Center and given historical tours as Clara Belle Sproul. Ms. Whitt is passionate about integrating 21st-century skills into education and is excited to join the Petaluma High School community.
Julie Many de Meza
Consultant
With 45 years teaching mathematics in international schools and over 15 years leading schools in improving their mathematics programs and instruction, Ms. Many is passionate about supporting schools in preparing students to enter productive and meaningful careers. She focuses on setting dynamic student-centered classrooms, preparing teachers with a mindset that allows horizontal thinking in a very traditional subject matter, demonstrating the relevance of mathematics in our world and taking the fear factor out of mathematics making it accessible to all.
Stacey Wotton
Consultant
“Stacey Wotton has over a decade of international experience in curriculum design, inclusive education, and technology integration. She has held leadership roles at schools such as Qatar Academy and Escuela Campo Alegre, focusing on student-centered learning. Currently, as Associate Principal at ISY, she oversees the PreK-12 curriculum and leads inclusion initiatives. Previously, she collaborated with teachers to create differentiated learning experiences and implemented asynchronous programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stacey excels in building collaborative teams, integrating technology, and using data-driven strategies for personalized education. With a strong background in Humanities, she has redesigned curricula and facilitated professional development. As a consultant, she offers a global perspective and is dedicated to empowering educators to create dynamic, inclusive schools.”
Phyllis De Motta
Consultant
Phyllis De Motta is the Co-Coordinator for California Early Childhood Mentor Program & Adjunct Faculty at De Anza College. She has been teaching and caring for young children since 1980. She has held many positions: caregiver, preschool teacher, school age program, youth center director, family child care coordinator, assistant director, director, mentor teacher, family child care provider, and adjunct faculty. She has her AA from De Anza Community College, and her BA and MA from Pacific Oaks College.
Shelley Gonzales
Consultant
Shelley has directed several programs, including a college laboratory school, schools at Stanford University, and a parent cooperative preschool. She has also supervised Head Start and State Preschool programs and was the initiating director of a bilingual Preschool program. The programs all emphasized learning through emergent, STEAM based curriculum. Shelley believes in inspiring children to be passionate about the process of learning. She believes teaching children through the scientific method helps them to become critical thinkers.
Shelley has presented at national and international conferences and regularly conducts professional development workshops for educators. She has taught early childhood education at De Anza, Mission and West Valley colleges at the undergraduate level, and bachelor’s and master’s level courses at Pacific Oaks College.
