Meet Your Instructors
Our Virtual Mentorship Program is designed to provide you with an approachable and comprehensive learning experience guided by the very creators and practitioners of the Modern Classrooms model.
Kareem Farah, Co-Founder & CEO
Kareem Farah spent his teaching career as a high school math educator in Hawaii and Washington, DC. He earned his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and later received a master’s degree in secondary education at Johns Hopkins University. Instead of using a traditional lecture model, Kareem taught mathematics through a blended model where students accessed content through his self-made videos. The cornerstone of his classroom was the ability for students to work through the content at their own pace, and Kareem’s ability to employ mastery-based grading to evaluate student learning. In 2018, Kareem received the DC Public Schools Award for Classroom Innovation and was featured in Edutopia and CBS News for his work.
In an effort to scale his classroom model, Kareem co-founded a nonprofit, Modern Classrooms Project. As the CEO of the Modern Classrooms Project, Kareem and his team train and support teachers who seek to redesign their classrooms around blended, self-paced, mastery-based learning to better meet all students’ unique needs.
Kareem regularly tweets about education at@KareemFarah23.
Toni Rose Deanon (They/Them), Community Engagement Manager
Toni Rose has been an educator since 2010, experiences ranging from MS English Teacher, Adult ESL Teacher, and Instructional Coach for Technology. Toni Rose strives to be the educator they never had growing up, so they focus on anti-bias, anti-racist work and aspire to create a brave space for everyone around them. As a queer Filipinx, they understand the importance of being represented, valued and feeling a sense of belonging.
To stay grounded and at peace, they practice yoga, write, get lost in stories, and go on 2-mile walks with their dogs. Rollerskating and bowling bring them so much joy.
Debbie Menard, Director of Virtual Mentorship
Debbie Menard earned her BS in Biology at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. After taking a gap year with Americorps NCCC, she earned her MAT at the University of Virginia and has been teaching Biology in VA and DC ever since. As a high school teacher for the past nine years, she has facilitated students in Title 1 schools in increasing their critical thinking skills and discovering science through exploring the world around them. Debbie has recently graduated from American University with her M.Ed in Educational Policy. She firmly believes that supporting teachers in creating a sound education will support students in becoming the best adults they can be.
Debbie lives in Washington, DC. When not on a zoom call, she enjoys finding amazing restaurants with rooftops and experimenting with different natural hairstyles.
Calla Miller, Instructional Content Manager
After graduating with a BS in Elementary Education from Eastern Michigan University, Calla started her teaching career at a small school in Detroit. That experience fueled a passion for creating classrooms where all students can truly learn. After earning her M. Ed in Educational Leadership, Calla joined the West Bloomfield School District where she was a first-grade teacher and served her school and district as a teacher leader. Calla is excited to continue the work of supporting educators so that they can best support students.
A lifelong Michigander, Calla lives in Highland, Michigan with her husband and two children.
Megan McGregor (She/Her), Vice President of Programs
Meg McGregor fell in love with teaching as an undergraduate tutor in New York City public schools. She hasn’t stopped teaching since! Meg is grateful to have taught physics, computer science, engineering, and English to elementary through college students in Washington, DC, New York City, Laos, France, and the West Bank. Meg has a bachelor's degree in physics and French from Barnard College of Columbia University and a master's degree in secondary science education from Fordham University. She is an alumna of Teach for America and received a Fulbright grant to teach in Laos.
Meg lives with her human and cat family in Los Angeles, CA. When not supporting MCP’s fabulous educators, she enjoys cycling, yoga, and reading. An amateur artist, Meg is often drawing or painting.
Lisa Doty, Teacher Leadership Manager
Lisa Doty is an experienced educator who most recently worked as an instructional coach. She earned a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction from Emporia State University and a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education from Washburn University. With a “stay curious” mindset, she is thrilled to partner with learners as they advance their MCP work by earning teacher leadership credentials: the Distinguished Modern Classroom Educator and Expert Mentor.