Our Leadership

 

Todd McKee is passionate about providing parents with high quality choices in education. As NHA’s vice president of student services, he makes sure that we deliver on that promise—creating and maintaining high standards of excellence among all of our schools across the country.

 

With eight years as a classroom teacher and six as a principal, Todd brings essential experience in both teaching and administration. He was the founding principal of the Albany Charter Academy in New York. He served as the principal of the International Community School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—an International Baccalaureate school serving hundreds of students from more than 60 countries. Additionally, he’s an alumnus of the Teach for America program which recruits outstanding professionals to teach in low-income schools with the goal of eliminating inequity in education.

 

Todd’s work with NHA is squarely focused on creating a system that eliminates achievement gaps and ensures that all children have an opportunity to receive an excellent education.

 

B.S. biology and chemistry, George Fox University

M.A. educational administration policy and analysis, Stanford University

 

 

 

Like many of our best people, Aric got his start in the classroom—in his case, helping high school and college students explore the potential of technology. Today he continues to help people develop their potential—providing human resources and training support to NHA’s educators, administrators, and support staff.

 

Aric was drawn to NHA by its mission: Challenging each child to achieve… and encouraged by the intentional culture that supports that mission. He has remained a core part of our team for the past 14 years because, as he puts it, he “likes working with committed and caring people who want to be their best and do their best every day to make a difference in the lives of families and children.” Clearly, he’s the right person to head up People Development.

 

B.S. computer science with secondary education certification, Hope College

M.S. instructional systems technology, Indiana University

 

 

 

David Palumbo leads our information technology, measurement, research and accountability, and curriculum and assessment teams.

 

David brings two decades of experience in technology, education, and business management experience to his work at NHA. Prior to joining us, he served as president of CTB/McGraw Hill, the leading publisher of comprehensive test systems; vice president and chief learning officer for Sapient Corporation, a leading business and technology consultancy; and as CEO of WOWIO, an emerging leader in e-book distribution. In addition, David served as a tenured professor teaching instructional technology at the University of Houston for more than a decade.

 

In addition to his work at NHA, David is a highly sought-after speaker on best practices in curriculum development, state-of-the-art testing, advanced learning technologies, and closing the achievement gap.

 

B.A. psychology, University of Michigan

M.A. educational psychology, West Virginia University

Ph.D. educational psychology/instructional technology, West Virginia University

 

 

 

After more than two decades in corporate marketing, Tari Reinink delights in her role as chief marketing officer with National Heritage Academies. Ask her why and she’ll tell you: Because her work here feels more like an opportunity than a job.

 

“It’s an opportunity to make a difference and be part of something that really matters. There is nothing more fulfilling than impacting the life of a child. NHA provides me that opportunity each and every day—fueling my passion and giving me purpose.”

 

Before joining NHA, Tari served as vice president of global brands for the Amway Corporation, where she held a wide range of leadership positions including director of new business, vice president of beauty brands, vice president of Amway brands, and vice president of integrated marketing.

 

Tari is a member of the National Charter Schools Professional Networking group and the eMarketing Association Network.

 

M.B.A. marketing, finance, economics, Western Michigan University—Haworth College of Business

 

 

Louis C. Rabaut, J.D. - Vice President of People Services and Legal Counsel 

Lou joined NHA five years ago and along with stellar legal counsel, he brings a long history of volunteer commitment in the community—with a particular interest in the needs of young people. Among his many personal and professional commitments, he served as a founding member and past president of the regional youth hockey foundation, past chair of the city parks and recreation advisory board, and hockey coach at two regional high schools. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Grand Rapids Community College.

 

When asked what he likes most about working with NHA, his answer is no surprise. “NHA’s mission of working for and with children is very compelling to me,” explains Lou. 

 

A specialist in employment and labor law, Lou is also a frequent speaker, educator, and author on workplace issues.

 

 

 

 

Susan leads our curriculum and assessment team, ensuring that NHA students and teachers are accountable for their work and have the tools and resources they need to excel.

 

Susan came to teaching as a second career after working as a technical writer. She taught for several years in a traditional public school before moving to Indonesia, where she served as an elementary school principal and then curriculum developer for a network of international schools. She joined NHA in 2004 as a school principal and two years later was appointed to our leadership team as director of curriculum and assessment.

 

Susan’s background in traditional and nontraditional schools, both here and abroad, gives her broad insight into a wide range of learning environments. And her choice of NHA is deliberate. “NHA is genuinely committed to creating an effective system in which student learning is central. For me, there is no better purpose than that.”

 

B.S. elementary education, Winona State University

M.S. curriculum and instruction, Winona State University

Ed.S. leadership, Wright State University

Ph.D. candidate, Michigan State University

 

 

Nick Sheltrown, Senior Director of Measurement, Research, and Business Intelligence

 

Nick Sheltrown leads our measurement, research, and business intelligence team, which uses analytics to help NHA gauge our effectiveness both inside and outside the classroom.

 

Always compelled by numbers, Nick began his career as a high school math teacher, moved on to become a district technology director, and then director of measurement and research for the charter schools’ office of a regional university. His skills, background, and experience make him the ideal person to help us gain insight from the many ways we measure our work.

 

Nick believes his work at NHA is both challenging and meaningful. “I love that NHA accepts the challenge of providing quality educational options to students around the country,” he explains.

 

“It’s rewarding to work in an organization that’s focused on systematically approaching some of the more historically enduring problems in education. “