Our Team

Dr. Julie A. Evans is the CEO of Project Tomorrow (www.tomorrow.org) and is the founder of the heralded Speak Up Research Project which annually collects and reports on the authentic views of 400,000 K-12 students, parents and educators on key education issues each year. Dr. Evans serves as the chief researcher on the Speak Up Project as well as leading research efforts on the impact of innovative learning models and interventions in both K-12 and higher education.  Over the past 17 years, almost 6 million K-12 students, teachers and parents have participated in the Speak Up Project representing over 35,000 schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and around the world. Dr. Evans is the longest serving woman executive in the education technology nonprofit sector.    

Prior to this position, Dr. Evans enjoyed a successful career in national and regional sales and marketing management with Unisys and two education technology startups. As a thought leader and influencer, she brings to new discussions insights from her experiences within the technology industry, entrepreneurship, nonprofit management, and education research. Dr. Evans is a graduate of Brown University and earned her doctorate in educational leadership from the University of California, San Diego and California State University San Marcos. She serves on several boards and advisory and is a frequent speaker and writer on new learning models within education, most notably around digital learning.  Among her many accolades and awards, Dr. Evans was named in April 2020 as the winner of EdTech Digest’s National Leader award.  

Michelle Green is the Speak Up Project Director for Project Tomorrow. She aspires to help young people develop their voices in the larger world.  The drive to make that possible brought her into the classroom 27 years ago and has evolved into helping others realize that they do not have to accept things as they are or have always been. She believes technology opens a whole new realm of possibilities for transforming our students’ learning experience. Michelle is experienced in facilitating systematic, transformative change in teaching and learning at the school, district, and state levels. She is known for creating community and fostering innovation around strategic goals.

Michelle holds a Masters of Learning Technologies from Pepperdine University, She earned her administrative license from George Fox University. She is a Google for Education Certified Innovator and COSN Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL).

Ian LaDuke grew up in the Education Technology Universe with exposure from his mother Wendy LaDuke and her vast experience in education technology and media. Ian is also the youngest grandchild of Ed Warnshuis who was one of the pioneers of technology in education and the founder and publisher of T.H.E. Journal. His family has a long tradition in education publishing as well as teaching spread throughout. Ian has spent the last 4 years in the grocery business working for Whole Foods in a variety of capacities, such as team educator and order writer. He has a love and appreciation of all sports and enjoys playing a variety of titles in esports in his free time.

Sam Schroeder joined the Project Tomorrow team in 2023 as the Project Support Coordinator. A self-described grammar and data enthusiast, Sam brings 15 years of varied experience in the nonprofit sector. Most recently, Sam served as the Communications Director for Veterans Matter, a nonprofit organization that helps to find permanent housing for homeless veterans. Additionally, she has held positions as a Program Assistant for Bittersweet Farms Transitional School and as the Data and Evaluation Coordinator for Partners in Education, along with volunteer work for the Friends of Wood County Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Board. 

In addition to her professional experience, Sam brings a passion for serving mission-driven organizations and empowering our youth through data-driven educational programming. In her free time, Sam enjoys reading, watching college football (Go Buckeyes!), and outdoor activities, including hiking and kayaking.  

Sam holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism-Public Relations and a Master of Public Administration (MPA), with a specialization in nonprofit management, from Bowling Green State University. 

David joined the Project Tomorrow team in. 2020 as the Computational Thinking Instructional Coach. A native New Yorker, David received his Childhood Education degree from CUNY City College while working as a case manager at a learning center in Midtown, Manhattan. David was a 5th grade lead teacher in Crown Heights, Brooklyn and East Harlem, Manhattan for five years leading mathematics, history and English language arts instruction before transitioning to fulfilling a founding leadership role in a middle school. In his free time David enjoys cooking, working out and watching sports (MLB, NFL, NBA & English Premier League).

Tina Kreditor is the Accounting Manager for Project Tomorrow, joining the team in 2007. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California. She earned her CPA certificate in 1990. After working at Price Waterhouse, Tina worked for a residential home builder, spent 10 years working in Real Estate Investments at Pacific Life in Newport Beach, and currently has her own business providing accounting consulting for closely-held companies. In her free time, Tina enjoys scrapbooking, reading and cheering on her USC Trojans!!

Irene K. Spero serves as CEO of NextChapter Consulting, LLC. She established NextChapter Consulting after more than two decades working with associations and organizations in the education and ed tech space. NextChapter provides services to public and private sector organizations who share a commitment to improve education and transform the learning experience through technology.

Most recently, Ms. Spero served as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief External Relations Officer at CoSN. In that capacity she was responsible for working with corporate partners, creating partnerships with nonprofit organizations, overseeing communications and directing its policy and advocacy work. Prior to her service at CoSN, Ms. Spero worked at the College Board leading a comprehensive government relations program at the federal and state level. She also served on the staff of the US Congressional Web based Education Commission as part of the first comprehensive examination of how the Internet was changing education. In addition, Ms. Spero did outreach work for NetDay/ Project Tomorrow.

Ms. Spero holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College in Political Science and MA in Public Law from Columbia University. She serves on the Board of the National Coalition for Technology in Education and Training and was a past President. She is active in a wide range of community activities in the Washington, DC area.

Andrea Bennett is the Executive Director for California IT in Education (CITE). Andrea has worked in the California K-12 education environment for over 33 years. She began as a programmer intern at the Pomona Unified School District, then became a system developer for a company that created Student Information System software for school districts. She held technology leadership positions at the East Side Union High School District and the Oakland Unified School District. 

Andrea joined CITE as a member in the late 1990s and eventually became a Board member. When the then all-volunteer organization decided to start hiring staff, she was their first employee. Andrea has been the Executive Director for CITE for 16 years. 

Lori Gracey currently serves as the executive director of the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA). During her 13 years in this position, she has led TCEA in membership and revenue growth, helped to pay off their building and purchase a new, larger building, and implemented new conferences, partnerships with other associations, and professional learning opportunities for members and non-members. She serves more than 60,000 members around the world and oversees a staff of 21. Lori worked in public education for 29 years. 

Lisa Schmucki is the founder and CEO of edWeb.net, an award-winning professional learning network that serves a global community of 1 million educators. edWeb helps educators and industry leaders connect and collaborate to improve teaching and learning. edWeb has won 9 SIIA CODiE Awards for professional learning and collaboration. Lisa serves on the Board of NCTET (National Coalition for Technology in Education & Training), the Expert Network for ERDI (Education Research and Development Institute), the Project Tomorrow SpeakUp Council, and the Advisory Board for the Powertrip for Women District Leaders. Lisa is an education, publishing, and media industry veteran with 40 years of prior experience with Time, Macmillan, Peterson’s, Films Media Group, MKTG Services, Acxiom, and Achieve3000. She is a graduate of Princeton University and has a Masters Degree from the Stern School of Business at NYU. 

Noelle Ellerson Ng joined AASA in 2007 as a policy analyst. As associate executive director, she directs the advocacy and governance efforts of AASA. In this role she spearheads the organization’s work with Congress and the U.S. Department of Education. Her team is responsible for representing the voice and priorities of the nation’s public school superintendents in all aspects of federal education policy and uses member networks, outreach, policy analysis, and surveys and research to advance their work. She is responsible for the organization’s governance work, including direct support and management for the executive committee and governing board, as well as our 49 chartered state affiliates. 

Before coming to AASA, Ellerson Ng was a high school special education teacher in Central New York. She worked in state-level advocacy for the College Board while earning her master’s degree.  

Ellerson Ng has published several chapters, articles and white papers covering education policy, superintendent advocacy and superintendent pathways. 

Julia Fallon is the Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA), where she works with U.S. state and territorial digital learning leaders to empower the education community to leverage technology for learning, teaching, and school operations. Prior to joining SETDA in 2021, Julia worked for the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for 17 years.  

Involved with learning technologies since 1989, her professional interest lies in making the case for public school systems wherein educators are able to optimize technology-rich learning environments to equitably engage the learners who fill their classrooms. Julia holds a master’s degree in educational technology from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in business education from New York University. 

Michael Golden is a proven education leader committed to education innovation and reform. He established and leads Catalyst @ Penn GSE, a center for global education innovation at the University of Pennsylvania. In this role, he designs innovative education practices and creates and scales actionable solutions to pressing problems in education. Michael (or Golden, depending on how others refer to themselves) previously co-founded and served as CEO of Educurious, which provides project-based courses and professional development services. Michael (or Golden) was the Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, developing systems, programs and funding to make schools more effective and efficient including the formulation and implementation of statewide education technology policies and initiatives. He also served as Senior Vice President at Pearson, leading their planning and administrative functions and as Corporate Vice President of Education at Microsoft, directing Microsoft’s global efforts in education. 

Lia Dossin is the director of Outreach and Program at All4Ed. She is responsible for supporting All4Ed’s area of work focused on digital planning and implementation within the Future Ready Schools® initiative. In this role, Lia supports the program’s strategic engagement efforts, oversees the print and digital outreach, and manages the website content.