Meet the Big Picture Staff

Charly Adler

Lead Faculty, College Unbound

charlyadler@gmail.com

Prior to coming to the Met in 1999, Charly worked in both the profit and non-profit worlds in a wide range of careers ranging from director of an endowment fund to setting up a business in the Czech Republic to working on Jewish/Arab relations in Jerusalem. At age 38, Charly received his Masters of Teaching from Brown University and year later was an advisor at the original Met school in downtown Providence. Charly has been with Big Picture and the Met for much of the past decade as a principal, the Connector, and as a school coach. Charly left Big Picture in 2006 to go to South Sudan to start a school with the Dinka tribe. Though bullets and malaria eventually brought him back to the States, the school is finally getting built this year. In 2009, Charly returned full-time to BP when offered the challenge and opportunity to start up three schools in Newark, NJ. He is now working closely with the students and staff of College Unbound as Lead Faculty. Charly looks at learning as organized curiosity, and he is always guided by the great American philosopher, Yogi Berra, who said: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” Charly’s one regret in life is that he was not born someone else.

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.

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.

Anna Haas

Director of Development, College Unbound
ahaas@bigpicturelearning.org

Anna joined Big Picture Learning in January 2010. A former secondary English language arts teacher, literacy professional developer, and reading specialist, as well as a former communications director for a public health project, Anna first encountered Big Picture Learning when working at a Big Picture school in Washington, DC. Feeling overjoyed to finally find a new (to her) type of learning designed to meet each student’s needs, she committed herself to learning much more. She now enjoys bringing her passion for great education to talking, writing, and spreading great news about Big Picture’s post-secondary project, College Unbound. Originally from Ohio, Anna jumped to the East Coast a good while ago and holds a B.A. in English from University of Maryland, an M.A. in English from University of Pennsylvania, and an M.Ed in English education from George Washington University. She spends her free time cooking, eating, drinking coffee, dreaming of good food, selling cheese at farmer’s markets, and trying to remember to balance all that with yoga, spin classes, and running.
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 13 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 attends 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.
Briana Masterson

National Manager of Communications & School Support

bmasterson@bigpicturelearning.org

Primarily, Briana Masterson manages Big Picture’s communications and press, orchestrates the updating and dissemination of Big Picture’s educational materials, keeps the website purring like a well-fed jungle cat, and designs Big Picture’s promotional materials. Briana also works closely with Kari to do the darn thang of supporting the network of Big Picture Learning schools and with Jill to design network-wide events. In addition to engaging in this work while guzzling diet coke, Briana can also be found grappling with the principles of design and aesthetics, playing grammar cop, or pontificating about Prince’s genius or Rocky Balboa’s inspirational value as an underdog. She received a B.A. in Education History, Policy, and Reform from Brown University in 2003. Briana enjoys a concurrent career as a dance instructor, choreographer, and performer.

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!!