Meet the Big Picture Staff

Lynda Armstrong

Schedule Management for Co-Director Elliot Washor

Lynda Armstrong joined Big Picture in October 2004 and is the scheduler for co-founder and co-director Elliot Washor. Her professional experience includes 14 years at Texas Instruments, where she was a marketing communications manager for one of its semiconductor business units. Prior to joining Big Picture, Lynda was an associate producer at WJAR Channel 10. She received her B.A. from Providence College with a concentration in marketing.

M.R. Brezler

CFO/COO

mrbrezler@bigpicturelearning.org

M.R. joined Big Picture in a full-time capacity in July 2008 after having served as a financial consultant for 18 months. Previous to taking this position, she served as the Business Manager for The Met Center in Providence since 2003. Her responsibilities at Big Picture include Grant Management and Reporting, Budget Management, Human Resources, Development, and Communications. M.R. received her BS in Marketing/Management from Roger Williams University and spent the majority of her professional life in the corporate world in marketing and management. A native of Pennsylvania, M.R. returned to her home state in October 2008, after having spent 31 years in Rhode Island.
Rodney Davis

Communications Director

rdavis@bigpicturelearning.org

Rodney Davis is the director of communications for BPL Learning. His work includes developing and implementing a communications plan that incorporates web development, social media, print and video production, and community connections. Rodney specializes in design, marketing, and promotions, and his skills have been utilized by business and organizations throughout the country. For fifteen years Rodney has headed a non-profit organization specializing in educating and advancing the LGBT community in RI.

Mario DeAnda

Director of Postsecondary Planning & Coordinator of New School Development

mdeanda@bigpicturelearning.org

Mario DeAnda is Director of the California College Transition Network with Big Picture Learning. In this role, he develops and implements the college transition network across all Big Picture schools in California. He also manages the Emergency College Fund. Mario received his BA from the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. He has fifteen years of experience working in the areas of secondary and higher education and in the non-profit sector under his stylish belt. He is committed to working towards expanding access to higher education for low-income and first-generation youth. Mario, the son of Mexican immigrants, was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He currently resides in San Francisco, California.

Tara Hagopian

Executive Assistant to Dennis Littky

tcorso@bigpicturelearning.org

Tara Hagopian is the Executive Assistant to Dennis Littky. Tara received her BA in Communications from Emerson College in Boston, MA. Upon graduation she moved to Los Angeles and began working in production for MTV, FOX and The Discovery Channel. After 4 years on the west coast she relocated to New York City where she continued working on television shows for the Discovery Channel and Food Network. In the summer of 2007 she left New York and returned home to Providence where she found herself working for The Big Picture Company. When she isn’t busy decoding Dennis’ handwriting, she enjoys converting people into Justin Timberlake fans and running book groups for anyone who will listen to her.
Pamela Genovesi Macdonald

Controller for Big Picture Learning

pgmacdonald@msn.com

Pamela Genovesi Macdonald has been with the company for over 15 years. During those years, Pam has managed all aspects of A/P, A/R, Payroll, and Human Resources. She is currently handling all of the travel needs for the Big Picture staff as well. Pam has an Associates Degree in Computer Support Specialist and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Society. Pam has a daughter that is married and has graduated from the University of San Diego, a son who attends the Rochester Institute of Technology and two step-children. Pam is happily married and in her spare time, she enjoys attending concerts, the theater, and traveling with her husband.

Charlie Mojkowski

Senior Associate

cmojkowski@mac.com

Charlie Mojkowski worked with Elliot and Dennis in creating Big Picture Learning and The Met School in Providence. He currently works with Elliot Washor on developing new initiatives that refine and extend the Big Picture Learning design. Charlie has served as an independent consultant to education and business since 1976. He works primarily in the areas of school and curriculum improvement, leadership and organizational development, program evaluation, and applications of technology that support that work. Charlie designed, administered, and taught in a doctoral program in educational leadership; directed the Rhode Island Educational Leadership Academy; and served as Executive Director of the Rhode Island Association of School Principals.

Carlos Moreno

Director of School Reform & Innovation – New Jersey

carlos@bigpicturelearning.org

Native New Yorker Carlos R. Moreno grew up in the Bronx, and came to Rhode Island to attend Johnson & Wales University, where he studied marketing and business administration. Carlos excelled in and out of the classroom, becoming the most valuable player on the men’s basketball team for two consecutive years; and a leader in his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. After graduating from college, and several years of working in the corporate world and later with Childreach, and child-centered international non-profit organization, Carlos decided to bring his passion for helping youth to the forefront and entered the classroom as an educator. Carlos joined The Met in 2002. He spent four years teaching a group of 16 students, and remains proud that all 16 graduated and were accepted to least two colleges. In 2006, at the age of 29, Moreno was promoted to principal of The Met – Unity school, and guided the school to a 95 percent graduation rate over his two years as the administrator. His leadership there led The Met to promote Carlos to the newly created position of Director of Principal Support & Development. In that role, Carlos coached, supported and evaluated the leaders of The Met’s schools in Providence. Carlos is remaining in the BP family and excited about moving closer to his hometown as the Director of School Reform & Innovation – New Jersey. Carlos will take over the reigns from Charly Adler and continue to support our schools in Newark. Carlos is 6’8” tall and has a mean post-game!!

Jamie Scurry

Co-Director of College Unbound

jscurry@bigpicturelearning.org

Jamie E. Scurry is the Co-Director of College Unbound, a Big Picture Learning Initiative. She previously worked as the Director for Policy and Research at the New England Board of Higher Education and as a Research Associate for The Futures Project: Policy for Higher Education in a Changing World, based at Brown University. Jamie also is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Brown University, where she teaches Leadership and Organizations. Jamie holds a Masters Degree in American Civilization from Brown University, and a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Marketing from Bentley College. Jamie’s work has been published widely since 2002. Most recently, she was published in the New England Journal of Higher Education in 2007.

Kari Thierer

National Director of School and Network Support

kthierer@bigpicturelearning.org

Kari Thierer directs and connects the multiple school-based national initiatives sponsored by Big Picture, including established school support, principal coaching, QR, and college transition. Relatedly, Kari holds and manages school contracts, manages the implementation and supporting of monies received through grants, and supports the new school development processes. In addition (are you exhausted just reading this?), Kari helps develop curriculum for local and national school visits and conferences, is assisting in the development of Big Picture’s peer review process as well as serving as one of the Big Picture liaisons to the AHSI Network. Kari has a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and has been actively involved in school reform for over 14 years, teaching and working in schools from grades K to 12.