Board

Anne Mahle is the senior vice president of Public Partnerships at Teach For America, where she leads its government affairs, federal and state funding, and public policy work. A 1992 Teach For America corps member, Anne taught a bilingual fourth grade class in the Rio Grande Valley before joining the staff of Teach For America in 1994 as the executive director of our Seattle region. From 1995-1998, Anne headed up Teach For America’s math and science initiative. In 2004, Anne returned to the staff of Teach For America as a managing director of recruitment, where she managed teams of recruitment directors until 2007, when she began leading Teach For America’s on-campus recruitment efforts across the country.

During her six-year hiatus from Teach For America, Anne received her JD at the University of California, Berkeley, where she was awarded the Brian M. Sax Prize for Excellence in Clinical Advocacy for her work in the International Human Rights Law Clinic. Upon graduation from Berkeley, Anne practiced law at the Minneapolis firm of Faegre & Benson where she litigated cases in state and federal court on behalf of private and pro-bono clients.

Anne serves on the board of directors of Girl Scouts River Valleys, EdAllies, and Minneapolis United Soccer Club. She is an Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow at The Aspen Institute. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband David and daughters Anat and Esther.

Jane McDonald Black is the Executive Director for the JAB Foundation and EdAllies’ Board Treasurer. With 30 years of nonprofit leadership experience in education and social services, Black currently serves on the Board for the BARR Center (founding Board Member), St. Alphonsus Catholic School, and Dougherty Family College, also contributing to the Great Minnesota Schools Advisory Council and Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission. Black is committed to fighting inequity within the state’s education system, recognizing Minnesota has the lowest math and reading scores in the nation for students of color.

Diarra Brooks is currently the Program Manager at GreenLight Fund Twin Cities where she utilizes her experience in both research and advocacy and works with communities to address persistent, unmet local needs and challenges. Prior to GreenLight Fund, Diarra worked as an organizer for education equity and community safety and has experience working as a research assistant in education policy and LGBTQ+ research spaces. Diarra holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor and a master's degree in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota. Her experiences and education enhanced Diarra’s passion for work centered around authentic community partnership and engagement, and she is committed to being a part of the fight to make the world a more just and equitable place in connection with people most impacted by injustice.

Ginya Davis is currently the Crisis Management Specialist for the Minnesota Department of Education where she serves as the statewide mental health crisis management lead within MDE’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center. She formerly worked for the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Department of Corrections. She has dedicated the last 20 years working for the State of Minnesota in different roles focusing on the interpretation and application of MN Statute. Ginya is a graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology. She is the mother of three biracial students who attend school within the Minneapolis Public School District. Ginya is passionate about social justice and creating environments for all kids that emphasize safety, inclusion, equity, and belonging.

Javaris identities as an African American male and is the Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Great MN Schools. The community that he aims to serve is all Black/African Americans but specifically all working class African American. Javaris has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities. Javaris also has a minor in African American & African Studies. In 2020 he became a 7th grade English teacher with KIPP, and in his 1st year of teaching he was recognized for having the 2nd highest growth data on standardized test scores. Javaris' hobbies & passion include music, jogging around the lake, and reading. In short, Javaris uses his racial equity lens when called upon.

Joshua currently works as principal at Red Wing High School and was previously an assistant principal for Brooklyn Center Community Schools. He began his career in education in 2003 as a physical education teacher in Oakland Unified School District, at Oakland Technical High School, where he moved into a teacher on special assignment role before becoming the assistant principal. Joshua was instrumental in the turnaround of the school. He moved to the Twin Cities after 2011 and has served in and around the metro area as a District Assessment Coordinator, instructional coach, Equity Teacher, assistant principal and principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from University of California-Berkeley; Principal Leadership Institute, and cleared his Minnesota administrative license through Hamline University.

Anil B. Hurkadli considers it his life's work to ensure people are equipped with the knowledge, skills, mindsets, and relationships necessary to thrive. Anil has had the privilege of doing that work across multiple sectors throughout his career and sees his commitment to improving educational and economic opportunities as deeply rooted in his family's immigration story.

Anil most recently served as Acting Deputy Director leading the Office of Educational Technology and Chief of Staff for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education. In those roles, Anil supervised national policy initiatives aimed at leveraging technology to transform education. His role involved advising Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and other senior agency officials and representing the Department at key national and international forums on issues related to artificial intelligence, digital equity, and digital health, safety, and citizenship.

Jenifer Loon is the executive director of People Reaching Out to People (PROP) and a former member of the Minnesota House of
Representatives, serving for five terms, representing Eden Prairie. In 2015, she was named Chair of the Education Finance Committee, a leadership position she held for four years, through the end of her legislative service. Prior to moving to Minnesota, Jenifer spent 13 years in Washington, DC, working on legislative policy and focusing on the tax and regulatory challenges impacting small businesses. There, she worked in the U.S. Senate and then the House of Representatives—serving as Chief of Staff to the Committee on Small Business in her final position.

Jenifer began her advocacy for high-quality education for all children over 20 years ago, first as an active public school classroom volunteer and ascending to leadership positions in parent-educator organizations.

IsabellaNicole Ndidiamaka Efetobore Ojotane is a student leader, advocate, and aspiring legal professional dedicated to bridging the gap between law, equity, and creative industries. A senior at the University of St. Thomas, she is majoring in Business Law and Compliance on the Pre-Law track. Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersections of entertainment, sports, and intellectual property law, with a strong commitment to expanding access to legal resources in underrepresented communities.

As a stepmom to two bright kids and someone who grew up in an underserved community, Rica deeply relate to the challenges families face when access to quality education is limited. She bring extensive leadership and operations experience from my senior role at CBRE, along with her work at WeWork where she focused on community building and supporting the Twin Cities startup ecosystem. She also participated in Get on Board MN, a leadership program that prepares community leaders to run or support school board campaigns.

Meghna is a Partner at TNTP, a national educational consulting non-profit. In her role, she leads and oversees TNTP's work in Minnesota, inclusive of partnerships with the Minnesota Department of Education, districts, and an alternative teacher preparation/certification program. She began her career as a 5th grade teacher in South Minneapolis and led talent innovations at Teach For America prior to coming to TNTP. Meghna is an alum of New Leaders Council, an Essentials Fellow with 4.0 Schools, and currently serves on the board of Northeast College Prep. She holds her bachelors in Political Science and Masters in Education Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.