Meet the dedicated staff of BARR Center who are passionate about ensuring that each and every student succeeds. We are a close knit team that shares the value of building relationships. Learn more about who we are and what we do.
Angela Jerabek is the founder and executive director of BARR Center. Jerabek developed the BARR model 20 years ago and has expanded it from one school in the Midwest to more than 200 schools. Jerabek has published five books, several op-eds and articles in various publications, including being featured in USA Today, National Public Radio, and CNBC. She has also presented at the White House at the “Evidence in Education Roundtable” in 2016.
Founder and Executive Director
As BARR’s original evaluator, Anu has nearly 30 years of experience conducting evaluations and has been integral to testing BARR’s effectiveness since its inception. Anu is currently a strategic advisor to BARR leadership and works to ensure the integrity of the BARR model through research and evaluation.
Senior Advisor
Rob has more than 35 years of education experience and has worked in Minnesota public schools as a teacher, a principal and a superintendent. As BARR’s deputy director he currently supports the board of directors and the organization’s general business functions. Rob also facilitates Professional Learning Communities for school administrators and shares the BARR story with educators, funders, and supporters.
Deputy Director
Chief Operating Officer
Robert Brough began teaching in 1992 as a high school English teacher. He taught for five years and then decided to go on an adventure and joined The Los Angeles Police Department. The intention was to work patrol for one year, return to teaching, and inspire his students by writing a book. That one year turned into six, as Robert became a training officer with expertise in the area of report writing. Robert then discovered he was on the wrong end of the school to prison pipeline and he was called back to teaching. Robert taught for another five years and then became the principal of a small school serving students who had been expelled or incarcerated and needed serious interventions. He eventually became the principal of a comprehensive urban high school. In 2013 he was introduced to BARR when his school participated in a Random Control Trial. Robert was truly inspired by BARR. He went on to become a Director of Pupil Services and eventually the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for the Perris Union High school District
Chief Program Officer
With 25 years of experience both in the classroom and in administration, Beth has served as a mentor, teacher, and curriculum review director. Beth is currently overseeing the development of BARR’s elementary model.
Senior Director of Coaching and Schools
Janka brings more than 15 years of professional experience in finance, operations, and quality assurance. Janka oversees BARR’s accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll. She also manages grants, contracts, budgets, and compliance.
Finance Manager
Brad has been part of BARR for over 20 years as it has evolved and grown. His teaching endeavors with BARR began in St. Louis Park Schools, as a social studies teacher. He always felt that BARR fit perfectly with his passion for coaching athletic teams and allowed him to build deeper relationships with students and other educators. He was honored as MN Track & Field Coach of the Year and inducted into the St. Louis Park High School Athletic Hall of Fame. After 34 years in the classroom, Brad started working full-time for BARR as a Coach and now serves as Director of Secondary Schools. He enjoys working alongside and supporting BARR Coaches as they help build stronger schools. Brad continues coaching and always looks forward to walking the halls of a school and watching educators positively impact students.
Director of Secondary Schools
Education Policy & Research Manager
Carrie has spent more than 20 years marketing and fundraising for nonprofit organizations and leading organizational development within volunteer communities. Carrie now works to create events and projects that educate, engage and inspire participants while highlighting BARR’s impact on student achievement. She also supports BARR’s Network for School Improvement (NSI) project.
Director of Special Projects
Customer Relations Administrator
Megan brings more than a decade of experience in education, most recently serving at the university level as a director of counseling. Megan is currently responsible for integrating BARR into the national education conversation through data and evaluation and writing publications. She supports both internal and external evaluations of BARR, provides expertise in continuous improvement, research, and statistical analysis, and assists with writing grants and technical papers.
Director of Research
Ali joined BARR in 2019 with 15 years of nonprofit management experience. In her current role Ali is responsible for providing executive and administrative support for BARR, in addition to overseeing a variety of special projects.
Senior Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager
With 11 years of public accounting experience, Zack oversees all accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, grant compliance, and financial planning and analysis. Zack also leads payroll and employee benefits, external financial audits, and supports relationships with funders and other strategic partners.
Finance Director
With more than 30 years of experience in public education, having most recently served as a high school principal, Dick is dedicated to helping teachers build meaningful relationships with their students.
Director of Engagement
Lia joined BARR with 26 years of science and social studies instruction. The last 7 years included STEM and STEAM professional development, coaching, and mentoring. As a coach and trainer, Lia supports schools in the implementation of the model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Manager of BARR Coaching
Recruitment Manager
Government Relations Director
Steve joined BARR with 38 years of experience as a teacher and administrator. He served as a K-12 principal for 28 years and implemented BARR in his school. As a coach and trainer, Steve supports schools in the implementation of the model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Coach and Trainer
Coach and Trainer
Over the past decade Acadia has served as a 9th grade world history teacher, a high school assistant principal, and a BARR coordinator. Acadia currently supports the coordination of BARR coaching and training, and supports schools in the implementation of the BARR model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent on-site visits.
Senior Manager of BARR Training
Tony’s 20 years of professional experience has been all about applying operational and leadership competencies to solving challenges, from curriculum development, program management, training and state leadership. In his position as coach and trainer, Tony supports schools in the implementation of BARR through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Coach and Trainer
Amber has been at West Valley High School in southern California for 17 years, nine of those years as an English teacher and the last eight as the BARR coordinator. In Amber’s current role, she provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Coach and Trainer
Kelly was a BARR Language Arts teacher for 15 years before moving into her role as a BARR Coordinator at St. Louis Park High School for the past 5 years. In Kelly’s current role, she provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Coach and Trainer
Coach and Trainer
Noel has more than 26 years of experience in education currently serving as the Assistant Superintendent and Career Technical Education Coordinator for Johnson County Schools. Noel served previously as principal at a BARR school, Johnson Central High School, and was named Kentucky’s 2020 High School Principal of the Year. Noel’s experience has provided opportunities for him to give multiple state and national presentations about the effective development of career pathways and how academic and technical content can be integrated to improve outcomes for every high school student. With BARR, Noel focuses on strengthening relationships with school administrators and educational leaders across the country to expand BARR’s impact in even more schools and districts.
BARR Ambassador, Coach, and Presenter
Coach and Trainer
Shannon joined BARR with 21 years of education experience as a former middle school mathematics teacher and the last 14 years as a college mathematics pedagogy professor in the school of Education at the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University in MN.
During this time, Shannon wanted to continue to share my passions for education, including working with teachers and children to help assist teachers in providing an environment where all students are seen, loved and connected to others within the school building.
As a BARR coach & trainer, Shannon enjoys meeting with different teachers and administrators to create and build a system where all students can feel successful by building on their strengths.
Coach and Trainer
Brittany joined BARR with 15 years of service in education as a secondary teacher and in leadership as an Academic Facilitator. During this time, she served as a BARR Coordinator and Administrator. Brittany supports schools in implementing the model through unlimited coaching, onsite visits, professional development, and a focus on long-term sustainability.
Coach and Trainer
Coach and Trainer
Kjirsten has more than two decades of experience as a high school social worker and the past eight years as a BARR coach and trainer. In her current role, Kjirsten provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Trainer and Mentor
Coach and Trainer
Angie taught high school English for 30 years before joining the Minnesota Department of Education for 12 years, where she was a Supervisor in the Office of Career and College Success. Angie joined the BARR team in 2017 as a BARR coach and BARR trainer. In Angie’s current role, she provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Soledad joined BARR with nine years of Spanish language instruction experience and seven years in adult education focused on financial literacy and K-12 standardized testing software. As a coach and trainer, Soledad supports schools in the implementation of the model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Coach and Trainer
Carley is in her 28th year of teaching 9-12th grade social studies. She has been working with BARR since its inception in 1998. In Carley’s current role, she provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Mentor and Trainer
Shelly began her career as a Chemistry, Physics and Anatomy teacher at Noble High School (NHS). She earned a Master’s degree in Counselor Education and has spent the last 14 years as a School Counselor. She is the 8th grade Counselor and BARR Coordinator at NHS. In Shelly’s current role, she provides mentoring and support to new full time coaches and trainers.
Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Krista joined BARR after 13 years as an educator teaching health and serving as a Collegiate Coordinator. She served as a BARR Coordinator and on-call BARR trainer during that time. Krista supports her schools with professional development, coaching, and focus on the whole student.
Coach and Trainer
Ben taught 9th grade physical science for 14 years before moving into administration and becoming a junior high school principal for 16 years. Ben was also a curriculum writer and adjunct professor at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In Ben’s current role, he provides mentoring and support to new full-time coaches and trainers.
Coach, Trainer, and Mentor
Coach and Trainer
Over the past decade, Rachel has worked in a variety of settings as a school psychologist, serving youth, families, and educators, and seeking balance between research and practice in education. She currently supports schools in the implementation of the BARR model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Program Manager
Client Relations Manager
Marissa joined BARR with 5 years of teaching English as a Second Language to students from all over the world at a high school in the Bronx and 7 years experience in broadcast journalism. As a coach and trainer, Marissa supports schools in the implementation of the model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Elementary Program Manager
Sarah joined BARR with 11 years of social studies high school instruction focused on civics, US History, and Psychology in a BARR-supported urban school. She has experience with student leadership development, diversity training, and strengths-based social emotional student lesson development. Sarah supports schools in the implementation of the model through professional development, unlimited virtual coaching, and frequent onsite visits.
Coach and Trainer
BARR Ambassador
Bob has nearly 40 years in education, officially retiring in 2018, after holding positions as a superintendent, high school principal, and classroom teacher. Bob is a BARR trainer, mentor and presenter of the BARR model nationally.
Trainer, Presenter and Mentor
Susan has nearly five decades of professional experience in program development, nonprofit management, and forging partnerships between education, state government and local communities. She currently helps oversee various grants that have been awarded to Spurwink which support the research and scaling of the BARR model.
Consultant
Meet Strategic Partnership Consultant Melody Schopp. Previously Secretary of Education for South Dakota, Melody has over 35 years of professional experience, including 24 years as an elementary teacher. She currently works to help expand BARR’s recognition and footprint. Melody is the Director of Education Industry Consultants at the SAS Institute and co-owner of InfluentialSHE, a company that accelerates the influence of women!
Strategic Partnership Consultant
Lisa has 35 years of professional experience in consumer marketing, product management and brand development. As vice president of media and digital activation at Sleep Number, Lisa joined BARR’s board because she believes in BARR’s mission and the benefits the model can bring to both districts and schools, now and into the future.
David S. Levy is a senior advisor to New Profit. David brings more than 30 years of experience in the private and nonprofit sectors in helping organizations grow and build capacity. David joined BARR’s board as a result of New Profit’s investment in BARR.
As a community volunteer and retired educator, Gail has more than 40 years of experience in education. She has served in numerous positions in South Carolina, Texas, Georgia and Minnesota on both the secondary and elementary levels. Gail appreciates the effectiveness of the BARR model and its ability to tap into the strengths of each and every student.