Elena Aguilar (she/her)
Founder & CEO
Elena Aguilar is a writer, leader, teacher, coach and podcaster. She is the author of seven highly acclaimed books: The Art of Coaching, (2013) The Art of Coaching Teams (2016), Onward: Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators (2018), The Onward Workbook (2018), Coaching for Equity (2020), The Art of Coaching Workbook (2020) and The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development (2022). She has also been a frequent contributor to Edutopia, ASCD’s Educational Leadership, and EdWeek Teacher.
Elena is the founder and CEO of Bright Morning Consulting, an organization committed to helping individuals and organizations create the conditions for transformation. She has taught tens of thousands of folks how to have conversations that build a more just and equitable world. Elena can be heard demonstrating these conversations on the Bright Morning Podcast.
Elena is also the co-founder of Kenya Big Picture Learning, she’s on the advisory board of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and she is a certified mindfulness meditation teacher. She lives in Oakland, CA, with her husband, son, and two cats. When she’s not coaching or writing, she enjoys traveling abroad, photographing birds, hiking, drinking coffee, and reading fiction.
Stacey Goodman (he/him)
Co-Founder
Stacey brings an invaluable blend of years of working in schools and in the private sector to our team. Having worked in internet companies in Silicon Valley in the mid-1990s, he has a keen understanding of how small businesses thrive. Following his adventures with start-ups, Stacey taught in independent schools in the San Francisco Bay Area for 18 years which gave him a deep appreciation for the learning needs of educators in private schools.
Stacey is also a professional artist and brings an eye for aesthetics and design to Bright Morning. Stacey has a BA in Architecture from Princeton and an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. He and Elena are happily married.
LesLee Bickford (she/her)
Chief Strategy & Operating Officer
LesLee honed her design, strategy, and consulting skills in education and nonprofits. She began her career teaching and coaching in Philadelphia public schools before relocating to the Midwest and moving from working within the public school system to partnering with educators and the staff members who support them. Since 2003 she has led teams and imagined, designed, and executed learning experiences for individuals and groups in both school and non-profit settings.
LesLee holds a BA in Political Science from Western Washington University and an MS in Elementary Education from Saint Joseph’s University. She was trained by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey as a facilitator of the Immunity to Change coaching method, has completed Cognitive Coaching training, is an ICF-certified professional coach, and was trained and certified in The Art of Coaching. LesLee’s home base is Minneapolis, where you’ll find her constantly on the move with her husband and two sons.
Becky Barstein (she/her)
Presenter
Becky has worked at the intersection of education, technology, and equity for over ten years. She designs and facilitates professional learning experiences that seek to deepen educators’ understanding of racial equity and stakeholder voice for schools, districts, and departments of education across the country. Becky presents our Coaching for Equity, Artful Design and Facilitation, and Transformational Coaching Accelerator workshops.
Becky previously taught grades K-4 in Houston, TX, while also leading and coaching teams of new and veteran teachers. During this time, she also developed and facilitated school-, district-, and network-wide professional development focused on elementary literacy, dismantling white supremacy culture, and social-emotional learning for students and adults. You can find Becky exploring the greater NYC area in her spare time or hanging out with her two cats, (Thomas) Hobbes and (Professor) Lupin.
Ro Carson (she/her)
GROWTH AND PARTNERSHIPS
Ro has worked in education for the last decade. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Public Relations from St. John’s University and a Ph.D. in American Studies from George Washington University. Over her career, she has worked as a high school social studies teacher, an educational leadership consultant, a human resource manager, and a project manager. Most recently, she has worked with education support organizations on strategic planning and talent systems. Ro is passionate about building relationships and realizing a shared vision based in anti-racist practices and liberatory frameworks.
Ro is a Philadelphia native who enjoys the freedom of being untethered to any particular city and instead a visitor of several. In addition to her passion for travel and new experiences, she prides herself on being a lifelong learner. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, astrology, cozy games, and watching television.
Nita Creekmore (she/her)
Presenter and client success
Nita Creekmore is an Instructional Coach who has been in education for 17 years. She taught in grades 1, 2, and 5 for 13 years before becoming an Elementary School Instructional Coach. Nita obtained her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2002 from the University of South Carolina and her Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership in 2013 from the University of Virginia. Nita currently presents our Onward Book Club and Coaching for Equity, The Art of Coaching Emotions, and Transformational Coaching Accelerator workshops.
Nita began Love. Teach. Bless. on Instagram in 2015 as a fun hobby highlighting the fun things she did with her first-grade class. From there, Love. Teach. Bless. has grown to be a thriving, collaborative space for educators. Nita believes in holding inclusive spaces on the journey of equity for all—especially for folx from marginalized and oppressed groups. In her free time, she loves practicing yoga, spending time with her family and friends, attending her kids’ extracurricular activities, and relaxing with a good book. Nita is originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, and currently lives just outside Atlanta, GA, with her husband and four children.
Jocelyn Fabello (she/her)
Office Manager
Jocelyn has worked with independent filmmakers, small business owners, and educational consultants for 20 years. Her work with artists and educators informs her current work as a financial and human resources manager to small businesses and creative entrepreneurs and deepens her dedication to storytelling and conversation as pathways to awareness, community, equity, and social justice.
Jocelyn brings a creative and thoughtful approach to supporting creative people and thoughtful businesses and loves being immersed in the details that make the big picture possible.
Jess Levasseur (she/her)
community expansion
Jess has worked in education for over ten years. She has a B.A. in Theatre and Elementary Education from Northeastern University and an M.A. in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education. She launched her career in education as an early elementary teacher for eight years, four of which included being part of a team that was founding a new elementary school. After leaving the classroom, Jess has had experience working for education tech companies. Most recently, as the Director of Equity and Leadership Programming for a San Diego-based education nonprofit, where she led professional development opportunities and coached first- and second-year teachers.
Jess is passionate about creating more equitable schools by directly supporting the adults who influence students, families, and communities. Jess was born, raised, and educated in Massachusetts but thoroughly enjoys her Southern California life. She enjoys being outside with her dog, Dot, hosting events and game nights, traveling, and doing arts and crafts projects.
Jennifer Liu (she/her)
Client Success
Jennifer has developed expertise in customer experience and creative operations in organizations and education since 2008. She holds a B.A. in Art from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and M.A. in Arts Administration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She discovered her love for program development while managing and developing volunteers in the museum industry. She later furthered this passion when designing continuing education courses and student leadership programs in higher education. Most recently, she managed strategic communications and team development for a K-12 independent school in Georgia.
Jennifer is dedicated to the learning and growth of others as part of her deep quest to contribute to a more compassionate and just society for all. Outside work, she enjoys visiting Atlanta-area coffee shops and farmers’ markets and loves exploring new recipes and design projects, like floral arranging. Nothing lights her up more than watching her kids laugh and play and sharing new food experiences with family and friends.
Carol Owala (she/her)
Senior Associate, based in Nairobi, Kenya
Carol has been a teacher, school leader, instructional and leadership coach, and a manager of coaches, and she now leads Kenya Big Picture Learning, a Big Picture Learning project.
Carol has extensive experience working with students, teachers, and school leaders in marginalized communities. She has presented at our Art of Coaching Conferences, and with Elena, she co-directs our immersive learning exchange, Ustahimilivu Dadas. Carol is available to present our workshops anywhere in Africa and consult with schools and organizational leaders about building a coaching program. Carol lives in Nairobi with her husband and three sons. She is a voracious reader and believes in the potential of every child.
Debbie Raymond (she/her)
Accounts Payable
Debbie developed her business management expertise as an executive at her local YMCA, supporting a manufacturing company and running her own small business. She has also put her dance skills and love of people to work, teaching adult fitness classes and aquatic programs for youth and adults. The skills she developed over the years have given her the ability to organize, implement programs, and have fun with those around her while doing so!
Debbie and her faithful Shi Tzu, Jack Bauer, live in Walla Walla, Washington. She is the proud mother of two strong women and spends as much time as she can with her four grandchildren.
Antoinette Strain (she/her)
People and Projects
Antoinette has worked in education for over a decade. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico and a M.A. in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Over her career, she has worked as a middle school math and science teacher, school operations manager, instructional and culture coach, and dean of students. She enjoys imagining and cultivating environments that honor community values and embrace restorative and anti-racist practices. Antoinette currently presents our Art of Coaching Teams workshops.
Antoinette lives in Minneapolis and outside of work, she can be found chasing her two sets of twins around nature centers and neighborhood parks with her partner, Paul. She enjoys gardening, cooking spicy recipes, and dancing Zumba.
In Residence
In addition to lending us their talents, our “in residence” team members also have professional lives outside of Bright Morning.
Drea Beale (she/her)
Drea Beale is an equity-centered educator with over 25 years of experience in public schools. Drea’s first thirteen years of service were as a middle school teacher in rural Maine and then as a high school teacher in Oakland, CA. Subsequently, she served as an instructional coach, a high school principal, an elementary and middle school principal, and the superintendent of a K-8 district in Montana.
Drea is an educational consultant focusing on literacy and transformational adult learning experiences. She holds teaching credentials in several states, two Master’s degrees, and superintendent licensure in Montana.
When not supporting a school or organization, you will find Drea playing in the woods, waters, or mountains of northwestern Montana with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.
Nick Cains (he/him)
Nick is a human catalyst passionate about empowering teachers and supporting them to lead the charge in educational equity. He coaches district instructional coaching staff and teacher leaders while supporting Tulsa Public Schools as a Director of Content and Coaching.
Nick has had various roles in education, starting as a 2nd grade teacher in Tulsa, where his passion for education was ignited. From there, he has supported educators while working at multiple national education non-profits. Nick currently presents our Coaching for Equity workshops.
Nick holds a Master’s Degree in Education Administration: Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Fine Arts in Theater and a minor in Broadcast Journalism from Southern Methodist University. He currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his fiancé and two adorable cats.
Maria Dyslin (she/her)
Maria has been in education since 1997. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science, and her teaching license and Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in the Teach for Diversity program. She taught for 13 years in grades 2-4 and then served as an instructional coach for 11 years—coaching teachers and teams around instructional practices and effective collaboration.
Maria presents our Art of Coaching Teams workshops, where she pulls from her wealth of experience as an elementary principal committed to creating a collaborative environment where staff can reflect, inspect, and adjust instruction and environments that meet the needs of all students. Maria also serves as an adjunct literacy instructor at Concordia University. In all her roles, Maria has planned and facilitated intentional, interactive, and collaborative professional development. Maria lives in Wisconsin, just outside of Madison, with her husband and three children. When the weather permits, she enjoys being outdoors, walking, biking, playing tennis, swimming, and connecting with friends and family.