Our Team
Kate Slater
Kate Slater, Ph.D. is the Executive Director at the Teacher Collaborative. Previously, she was the National Director of Post-secondary Pathways at BUILD.org, the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Brandeis University, and the Associate Director & Manager of Programs at the Institute for Recruitment of Teachers, a nonprofit that promotes racial equity in the American educational sector. Dr. Slater also teaches at the University of New Hampshire in the Department of Education, and she is the co-creator of the Anti-Racist Roadmap, a tool for allies and aspiring co-conspirators to learn how to allocate their time, resources, and capital in service of racial justice. She received her B.A. from Skidmore College in New York, her M.Ed from Northeastern University in Boston, and her Ph.D from the University of New Hampshire.
Diana Lebeaux
As Senior Director of Programs, Diana Lebeaux brings over a decade of experience with program development and management and is a trained facilitator. Previously, Diana was a middle school classroom teacher; directed student support and enrichment programs, and directed a team of coaches supporting equitable and inclusive school and district redesign processes. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Bates College in Maine and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from New York University. Diana is the mom of two boys and lives with her family in the Merrimack Valley area of Massachusetts.
Emily Soto
Emily Soto is a Senior Program Manager at the Teacher Collaborative. Emily is a former ESL teacher, with experience working with middle school and high school students in both charter and public schools in Boston. In addition to her role as an educator, she has experience in facilitating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professional development to school staff and faculty. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Massachusetts Boston in Criminal Justice and Women and Gender Studies, as well as a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Boston University Wheelock School of Education. Emily lives in the South Shore.
Rachel Peguero
Rachel Peguero is a Senior Program Manager at the Teacher Collaborative. Rachel is a former Special Education teacher, with experience working in charter schools in Boston. In addition to her work as a teacher, Rachel has experience as both an instructional coach and training facilitator, focusing primarily on Social-Emotional Learning, Student Support in the Classroom, and Differentiated Instruction for Diverse Learners. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Tufts University in Sociology, as well as a Master's Degree in Special Education from Boston University. Rachel lives in Jamaica Plain with her fiancé and her dog, Rue.
Carrie Boland
Carrie Boland is the Senior Director of Operations at the Teacher Collaborative and brings over fifteen years of experience working in the education sector. Carrie’s background spans both inside and outside the classroom. She taught 6th grade in Camden, NJ before moving into operations focused roles in education nonprofits. Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and international relations from Connecticut College and a Master of Public Policy and Master of Business Administration from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University.
Maria Fenwick
Maria Fenwick is the Founder and former Executive Director of the Teacher Collaborative. Maria taught in Boston Public Schools for six years and worked with an extensive network of local education leaders from non-profits, foundations, districts/CMOs, and state policy. As an independent contractor, Maria built a strong brand around her expertise in teacher engagement that is purposeful, outcomes-driven, and meaningful for participants. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from Colby College, a master’s degree in Education Policy and Management from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a master’s degree in Elementary Education from UMass Boston/Boston Teacher Residency.