RAIL
MEET The advisory TEAM
AMBER BERRY
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Amber leads MSA’s most important innovation projects. Most recently she was the Head of the Middle School at St. Luke’s School (CT).
Amanda Bickerstaff
Founder & CEO, AI for Education
Amanda is a former teacher and long-time education technology leader. Under her leadership, AI for Education provides free, high quality resources to enable schools to use AI for powerful learning experiences.
Justin Cerenzia
Executive Director, Buckley Center for Teaching & Learning, Episcopal Academy, PA
Justin is the author of “The Academic DJ,” a blog on generative AI in learning, and he provides regular professional learning experiences to teachers on genAI. Episcopal is an MSA member school.
Michelle Haag, PH.D.
Associate Vice President, Middle States
Michelle is a former school leader who spent most of her career in the Middle East and Europe, and now helps schools [around the world] to earn and retain accreditation.
Peggy Pelonis
President, ACS Athens (Athens, Greece)
Under Peggy’s leadership, ACS Athens has been working on AI in learning since 2018. As a trained psychologist, she brings additional expertise on the impact of AI on student wellbeing and agency. ACS Athens is a Middle States member, and Peggy is an MSA Commissioner.
CHRISTIAN TALBOT
CEO & President, Middle States
At the helm of MSA, Christian remains dedicated to aligning mission, vision, culture, and strategy, then helping organizations to *implement* transformation. He is highly passionate about ushering schools and school systems into the new era of AI.
Tom Vander Ark
CEO, Getting Smart
Tom has been involved in educational technology for thirty years, beginning with his time as the President of the Gates Foundation’s Education practice. Under his leadership, Getting Smart has focused on AI in learning for many years.
Alisha Wilson
Special Assistant to the President, Middle States
Alisha is an MA candidate in Media & Culture at Drexel University, where she has focused some of her scholarship on AI in education, especially regarding questions of equity, belonging, and mental health.