Staff Bios | Grades 8-10

Staff Bios | Grades 8-10

EXPLO Online : 8-10 Full Time Sta

Elliot, Head of Program (He/him/his)

Elliot has been working with EXPLO since 1997, holding a variety of positions both during the summer and year-round. He holds a Masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and, prior to joining EXPLO full-time, was a founding teacher at a Boston charter school as well as a middle school teacher in the Cambridge, MA public school system. Elliot currently serves on the board of Belmont Day School, contributing to the Committee on Trustees, the Strategic Planning Committee, and the Diversity Committee. In his spare time, Elliot enjoys playing board games and cooking up feasts for his family.

Laura , Director of Curriculum (She/her/hers)

Laura joined EXPLO in 2006 as an Instructor teaching science and cooking classes, and worked in a variety of roles in the following summers. Since 2010, Laura has worked year-round for EXPLO in multiple capacities, currently serving as a Director of Curriculum. She holds a Masters in Secondary Science Education from the University of Virginia. Laura currently lives in Colorado, and in her life outside of EXPLO, she spends most of her time running races, hiking in the mountains, or reading a good book.

Meghan , Curriculum Team + Project Manager (She/her/hers)

Meghan has worked with EXPLO since 2016, and currently serves as a full-time Curriculum Developer. Meghan received her Masters degree from Notre Dame of Maryland University and has previously worked as a middle school teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, and Assistant Principal in the Baltimore area. She also serves on the board of St. John School, an independent school in Boston’s North End. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys swimming a few miles in the pool, exploring new cities with friends, and listening to true crime podcasts.

Kelsey , Curriculum Team + Director of Operations (She/her/hers)

Kelsey joined EXPLO in 2016 as an Instructor teaching science and athletics, and has worked in a variety of roles since then. During the academic year, she is a Program Coordinator for EXPLO, facilitating a variety of projects to prepare for the summer. Outside of work, you can find Kelsey training for races and triathlons, playing and teaching music, trying new recipes, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

Elisabeth , Curriculum Team (She/her/hers)

Elisabeth joined EXPLO in the summer of 2016, and has served in a variety of roles over the past few years. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Curriculum, with a special focus on integrating technology into dynamic and joyful learning experiences. In her free time, Elisabeth enjoys cooking, dancing, aerial silks and acrobatics, making music, spending time in nature, and trying new things.

Ariel , Registrar (She/her/hers)

Ariel began working with EXPLO in 2009 as an Instructor, and has worked in curriculum, programming, and year-round capacities since then. She holds a Masters degree in Prevention, Science, and Practice, and a certification in K–12 School Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to joining EXPLO full-time, Ariel directed a K–8 before-and-after-school program in New Hampshire. Outside of EXPLO, Ariel is a jill of all trades (though master of few) and an avid distance runner.

EXPLO Online : 8-10 Summer Sta

Adrian , Summer Staff (He/him/his)

Adrian joined EXPLO in the summer of 2019 as an Instructor. Prior to spending his summers with EXPLO, Adrian worked at his local comic book store, and outside of EXPLO, he is pursuing a career in education at the University of Texas-Austin. In his free time, Adrian enjoys reading, writing, and playing video games with his friends online.

Alex , Summer Staff (He/him/his)

Alex has spent four summers with EXPLO in a variety of positions, working with the curriculum team in addition to helping plan student activities and events. For the past five school years, he has taught English as a foreign language abroad, in both France and Israel. While Alex will be spending a lot of time on Zoom this summer, he was also on Zoom (the TV show) once as a kid!

Alex , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Alex has worked with EXPLO since 2018, and taught a variety of science courses over the past two summers. During the school year, Alex is a Math, Science, and Technology teacher, with a Masters in Education from the Woodrow Wilson Graduate School of Teaching and Learning. Alex’s favorite EXPLO memory is watching students launch their final rocket projects at the end of an Aeronautical Engineering class. Outside of teaching, Alex loves to bake, read, and take on DIY projects like a recent backyard remodel.

Ben , Summer Staff (He/Him/His)

Ben joined EXPLO in 2018, teaching film, and started working full-time as an EXPLO Admission Officer in 2019. Before joining EXPLO, Ben was the Director of Photography and Editor for Trapped , an independent documentary about Venus Flytrap poachers in North Carolina, and played poker professionally in Los Angeles. Outside of work, you’ll find him throwing the frisbee for his dog Jamie, or playing Tabletop Simulator with friends.

Carly , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Carly has worked with EXPLO since 2018, taking on a leadership role with the team that plans student activities and events. During the academic year, Carly is a High School Social Studies and AVID elective teacher in Roseville, MN. She also coaches high school volleyball and is a member of her school’s Culturally Relevant Teaching and Learning Committee. In her spare time, you can catch Carly reading historical fiction novels, trying out new HIIT workouts, and golfing.

Catherine , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Cat joined EXPLO in 2018 as an Instructor teaching a variety of arts and athletics curriculum, and worked in residential life in 2019. Cat has spent the past two years teaching English in Spain, following six years of teaching piano lessons part-time. She is also an avid artist, with a particular passion for pen drawings, printmaking, and painting. Back home in Colorado for the summer, Cat adores hiking, creating art, reading, perfecting her Spanish and Catalan, and staying caught up on social justice initiatives.

Emily , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Emily began working for EXPLO in 2014 as an Instructor teaching robotics and engineering, and also worked two years full-time at EXPLO as a Curriculum Developer. Currently, Emily works as a middle and high school Math, Science, and Technology teacher at Meridian Academy in Boston. She also holds a Masters in Math Education from Lesley University. In her free time, you can find Emily crocheting stuffed animals, testing her molecular gastronomy skills to cook delicious meals, or playing board games with friends.

Lizz , Summer Staff (She/Her/Hers)

Lizz joined EXPLO in 2018, and has spent the past two summers working with the curriculum team. During the academic year, Lizz is a 3rd grade teacher, Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and PK-3 Department Representative at Charles River School in Dover, MA. She also holds a Masters degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Mind, Brain, and Education. In her free time, Lizz enjoys coaching high school volleyball, experimenting with new gluten free recipes, knitting, playing board games, watching sports, reading (or napping) in her hammock, and hanging with her cuddly pup, Molly.

Micaela , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Micaela joined EXPLO in 2018, and has worked as an Instructor in addition to helping plan student activities and events. During the academic year, Micaela works as a middle and high school Spanish teacher. Most recently, she taught in upstate New York, and is looking forward to a new adventure teaching in the Boston area this fall! Micaela has lived and taught in Madrid, Spain, and she enjoys eating her way through new cities. Outside of EXPLO, Micaela loves experimenting with new baking recipes and exploring local restaurants.

Natasha , Summer Staff (She/her/hers)

Natasha Padilla-Goddard has been working in public and independent schools for nearly 25 years, and joined EXPLO as a Dean of Students in 2018. She holds a Masters of Teaching in English from Columbia University’s Teachers College and serves as a teacher and English Department Chair in Wellesley, MA. Natasha brings a wealth of experience working with students and faculty in a variety of settings, including supporting organizations to highlight issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In her spare time, Natasha looks forward to great workouts and great books.

Sarah , Summer Staff (she/her/hers)

Sarah Beam has spent three years with EXPLO, first as an Instructor for English for Speakers of Other Languages, and then working with the curriculum team. She lived and taught in Perú for one year, where she got to hold a sloth and pet many llamas and alpacas! Sarah taught High School English Language Development for four years in St. Paul, MN, and is now a Youth Counselor at the Arlington House Shelter. In her free time, she enjoys biking, hammocking, eating desserts, and cuddling with her cat, Hector.