Staff
The HOME WORKS! staff of professional educators, administrators, and advocates includes:
Kathryn Brayton
Marketing & Operations Manager
10+ years of experience in the legal and nonprofit sector. BA, University of Illinois-Chicago.
kbrayton@teacherhomevisit.org
Katrina Brown
Director of Program Operations
Social Services Professional with over 13 years of experience, including advocacy, program development and management, evaluation and facilitation. Special interest in the Social Determinants of Health and educational and health disparities. BS, Fontbonne University, M.Ed., University of Missouri St. Louis, and MHA Saint Louis University.
kbrown@teacherhomevisit.org
Kathy Coyle
Data Manager
Senior Finance/Accounting Professional with 18+ years of broad and deep experience in manufacturing and corporate environments; MIS Master’s Degree.
datamanager@teacherhomevisit.org
Colin Dale
Project Manager
Education consultant with 5 years of experience including as a program director, recruiter, and classroom teacher; BS, Creighton University and MEd, University of Missouri - St. Louis.
cdale@teacherhomevisit.org
Jo Flannery
Grant Writer
Education consultant for non-profits and grant writer. BA Manchester University (U.K), MA Washington University in St. Louis
jflannery@teacherhomevisit.org
Anna Gardner-Andrews
Program Leader
15 years of experience in education; served as a high school instructor of English, manager of an educational non-profit, creator/director of a writing mentoring program at University of Missouri–St. Louis, and guest speaker on urban education at Washington University; BA from Oberlin College and MAED from Washington University.
annag@teacherhomevisit.org
Karen Kalish
Founder & Director of Philanthropy
Serial social entrepreneur who has started three nonprofits and one program; former teacher, TV reporter, business owner, and nonprofit leadership with 35+ years of community service focused on literacy, closing the achievement gap, and ending racial discrimination; BA, St. Louis University, MA Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School.
karenkalish@gmail.com
Susan Loftin
Project Coordinator
30+ years of experience in medical research; worked as a Research Specialist at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis for 15 years. Also worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for 13 years in medical research. Special interest in community involvement, children’s literacy, and social equality. BA from University of Florida.
sloftin@teacherhomevisit.org
Colleen Polak
CEO
Child Advocate with over 10 years' professional experience, including nonprofit leadership, program management, evaluation, and facilitation. B.A. from Saint Louis University and J.D. from California Western School of Law.
cpolak@teacherhomevisit.org
Betty Tobler
Program Leader
Teacher, curriculum developer, accreditation compliance specialist, and administrator with 40+ years of classroom and administrative experience.
btobler@teacherhomevisit.org
Sue Zerbe
Program Leader
Educator with 30 years of teaching, administrative, and consulting experience. MS in Educational Administration from University of Missouri St. Louis and EdS in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University.
szerbe@teacherhomevisit.org
Board of Directors
The HOME WORKS! Board of Directors provides guidance and oversight for the leadership team. Among our 19 members, the Board holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bring to the organization. They meet an average of six times a year.
Dr. Kelvin Adams
Program Committee
Superintendent, St. Louis Public Schools
Jeff Bates
Finance Committee
Kings Point Capital Management
Christopher Bedell
Associate Attorney, Polsinelli
Harriet Blickenstaff
Co-chair, Fundraising Committee
Retired PR Professional
Latashuia Browning
Director of Program Management and Commercial Operations, Millipore Sigma
Karen F. Evans
Program Committee
Former AT&T Executive, Reading Interventionist at Patrick Henry Elementary School, SLPS
Melissa Garcia
PhD. Candidate,
University of Missouri-St. Louis; Professor, Harris-Stowe State University
Lisa Huck
Fundraising Committee
Director of Business Development, Dot Foods
Amy Murphy
Board Chair Emeritus
Program Committee
Director of Scholarships and Donor Services, St. Louis Community Foundation
Dr. Chris Nicastro
Program Committee
Retired Superintendent and Missouri DESE Commissioner
Wade Rakes
Finance Committee
President and CEO, Peach State Health Plan,
Centene Corporation
Susan Stith
Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, Civil Affairs, and Foundation, Cigna
Constance "Connie" Taylor
Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Ameren Missouri
Thomas Walker
Sr. Tech Customer Relations Manager, Wash U Med School