Dear John,

50CAN’s formula for success has always been pretty simple: recruit and support talented people who have a vision for change and a passion for students and their success. The disruptions of the pandemic made the need for leadership even more important in our work. Because of this, I’m excited to announce today that 50CAN is adding new leaders and staff to our state and national teams in order to build on the network’s momentum of the past two years as we chart a path to the education system of the future.

Paula White will be the next Executive Director of JerseyCAN beginning August 1. A former schoolteacher, Paula subsequently founded a public charter school, served as the New Jersey State Director for DFER and worked as the Chief Turnaround Officer for the New Jersey Department of Education. Most recently, Paula led the flagship New York City chapter of Educators 4 Excellence. Paula brings extensive experience to the network as an advocate and administrator, and both JerseyCAN and 50CAN are lucky to have her. As we near our first decade of impact for JerseyCAN, we are grateful to Patricia Morgan and Janellen Duffy for establishing a solid foundation for JerseyCAN and our work. Patricia and Janellen have graciously agreed to stay on through the transition and support our new Executive Director. 

In a homecoming to 50CAN, Alex Cassanova will take on the role of Vice President of Strategic Growth. A former Director of Development at 50CAN, Alex returns to the network after leading development at GO Public Schools and Educators 4 Excellence. Welcome back, Alex! We’re happy to have you and forgive your passing affiliation with the Arsenal football club.

Pelleo Badiane joins the GeorgiaCAN team as a Field Coordinator. A mother of a student with dyslexia, Pelleo’s own desire to work with parents to improve education in the state stemmed from the lack of support, resources and options her son was provided with in the system. Previously working with the Georgia Food Bank Association to ensure all parents had access to healthy food options, she’s now turning that same passion to education so that every family is able to send their children to a high-quality school.

Daniel Macy, born and raised in Albuquerque, is the new External Affairs Manager at NewMexicoKidsCAN. For the past decade, Daniel worked with the State Bar of New Mexico, where he helped the most vulnerable New Mexicans gain access to the legal system. His turn to education comes from a belief that education can be the conduit through which all dreams can be made possible. Daniel joins 50CAN’s community of photography and hiking aficionados and you can see some of his work on Instagram. 

Samantha Wilkerson joins the JerseyCAN team as Public Affairs Manager. A former teacher, Samantha has worked for district, charter and private schools, giving her a unique perspective on differing governance models in our education system. As a public policy fellow for the Newark Opportunity Network, Samantha worked with partner organizations to develop policy agendas and issue-based working groups. 

Ebonee Green, a doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, will join us as a Senior Fellow for the next year, where she’ll take on large, strategic questions in collaboration with our national team. A graduate of Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Ebonee enrolled at Harvard after more than a decade teaching in Chicago.  

We couldn’t be more excited to welcome these exemplary, passionate leaders to the 50CAN family.

If this sounds like the team you want to work with, we also have four open roles I would love you to consider. 

• A Chief of Staff to steer large-scale internal projects, lead strategic planning and monitor progress toward organizational goals.
• A Director of Development to create and execute fundraising efforts including online campaigns and integrated fundraisers.
• A Director of Finance to oversee financial systems and growth plans.
• Our TEN team in Colorado is hiring a Community Organizer to build relationships with parents and community leaders to be champions of parents’ efforts to deliver a better education for all kids.