Our Team

Ethan founded i2 Learning, bringing hands-on project-based learning to K12 students around the world. Prior to joining i2 Learning, Ethan was the CEO and founder of RiskMetrics Group, a financial technology firm that he led from startup to a NYSE-listed company, which was sold in 2010. Ethan is currently the President of the board of The Roxbury Latin School.

Jeffrey C. Riley is the former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. Before that position, Mr. Riley was appointed Superintendent/Receiver of the Lawrence Public Schools, where, for over 6 years, he led a team that brought significant improvements by shifting resources and autonomy to the school level, expanding the school day, increasing enrichment opportunities, and ensuring all schools had great leaders and teachers. Mr. Riley’s previous experience spanned urban and suburban districts, including teaching in Baltimore, MD, serving as principal of Tyngsboro Middle School, and Boston’s Edwards Middle School.  Mr. Riley holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Pomona College in California, a master’s degree in counseling from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, and a master’s degree in school administration, planning, and social policy from Harvard University.

A graduate of Teacher’s College at Columbia University, and former teacher of all-things science, Vicky brings an academic background in Chemistry and Education to her work at DayofAI.org What she loves most about the programs is the power the courses have to positively impact teachers’ and students’ self-images and confidence, and convince them that they can do anything they put their mind to. When not hanging out with her DayofAI family, Vicky can be reliably found playing with her dogs and spending time with her family.

Randi Williams, Ph.D., is an AI educator and tinkerer passionate about empowering others to responsibly use AI for positive social impact. In her daily role, she works with AI researchers, policymakers, and everyday changemakers to address tech misconceptions and mitigate harm. Previously, she developed K-12 AI curricula and platforms for the Day of AI and MIT RAISE initiatives, making AI instruction available to thousands of educators worldwide.

Dan Rea joined Day of AI as Head of Business Development and Strategy in the winter of 2024/‘25 after nearly two decades in the sports business world. Dan began working in the Front Office of the Boston Red Sox while he was a freshman at Harvard, then became team archivist upon graduating and oversaw the season-long 100th anniversary of Fenway Park in 2012. Dan served as Chief of Staff to Red Sox President/CEO Larry Lucchino from 2013 to 2015, before becoming General Manager of the team’s Triple-A affiliate. In that role Dan oversaw the construction of Polar Park, the centerpiece of a mixed-use redevelopment project in Worcester, Massachusetts. A City Year alumnus, Dan and his wife, Lindsay, are proud parents of two young and energetic children, Benjamin and Caroline, and an equally active Shih Tzu Yorkie, Willie.

Valerie Brock leads the design of inclusive, standards-aligned AI literacy curricula and professional learning for educators, families, and students worldwide. She is committed to ensuring that all learners—across all ages and contexts—gain the tools to understand, question, and use AI responsibly. Before joining Day of AI, Valerie served as Computer Science Education Manager with NYC Public Schools, supporting educators in bringing computer science to classrooms citywide. She is also a longtime advocate for AI literacy, having designed some of the first early childhood curricula to help young learners explore what AI is and how it shapes their daily lives. Valerie brings 13 years of experience as a teacher of Students with Disabilities in grades K–8, where she consistently integrated technology and computer science to spark curiosity and connect learning to real-world experiences. Her expertise in supporting diverse learners now informs the professional development opportunities and classroom resources she creates for educators worldwide.

Angela has spent her career as an educator in southern Maine. She began as a teacher of gifted math students in grades 3-8 and later transitioned to an elementary school classroom teacher in grades 3, 4, and 5. Angela was previously the PreK-12 STEM Coordinator in a public school district in southern Maine, where she focused on professional learning in science, math, engineering, and project-based learning.

Angela lives in southern Maine with her family, including her two young daughters. When she isn’t working, Angela enjoys adventures in the ocean and in the woods with her family. She also loves reading detective mysteries, playing games (anything but Candyland), and watching musical theatre.

Originally from Nicaragua and shaped by a multilingual journey, Nora is an experienced STEM educator with over a decade of high school teaching experience. She began her career through the New York City Teaching Fellows program while completing her graduate studies, and has taught a wide range of STEM subjects, including Biology, Computer Science, and Algebra. Throughout her career, she has focused on adapting rigorous content to meet the needs of multilingual learners and diverse student populations.

As a multilingual learner herself, Nora earned TESOL certification to ensure language is never a barrier to meaningful learning. She later served as an MLL Coordinator, leading schoolwide efforts to preserve academic rigor while making instruction linguistically accessible and culturally responsive.

Nora believes all students deserve access to complex ideas and opportunities to think critically and independently. Empowering students to analyze, question, and solve problems is central to her practice, because equitable education is not just a goal, but a responsibility.

Matt Taylor is a professional learning facilitator and curriculum developer with Day of AI, where he helps build curricula and professional learning programs through a constructionist and critical consciousness lens. Previously, he worked with the i2learning Foundation and Boston Public Schools on implementing 21st-century curricula focused on participatory design and public school organizational transformation. Matt is also the technical lead for the Data Nutrition Project, an initiative that builds tools and learning experiences to mitigate bias perpetuated by algorithmic decision-making systems.

Shalimar Quiles has built a distinguished career as an educational leader dedicated to advancing equity and excellence across sectors. Shalimar began her career with the UP Education Network, where she played a key role in launching Boston’s first Horace Mann Charter School. She then transitioned to the Lawrence Public Schools, where she held various leadership positions over the last decade, including Student Re-engagement Manager, Chief of Staff to the state-appointed Receiver/Superintendent, and, most recently, as Principal of Oliver Elementary School. In addition to her role as an Educator, Shalimar serves as a Trustee at Lawrence General Hospital and Northern Essex Community College, where she also serves as the Executive Secretary and Chair of the Nominating Committee. Shalimar holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Simmons University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Merrimack College. 

Siyuan Du is an AI Education Researcher with a graduate background in emerging media studies. Her research focuses on understanding how teachers implement AI literacy curricula in real classroom contexts, providing insights for curriculum design and improving support systems for educators. At Day of AI, she values teachers' voices to ensure AI education is truly grounded in practical classroom needs. Siyuan is deeply interested in bridging the gap between research findings and everyday teaching practices.

Eleni Livingston is a Senior at Harvard College double concentrating in History & Literature and Psychology. She is a former voting member of the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and currently works on various early literacy initiatives in Massachusetts. She is also a researcher at Harvard, where she explores child development from the lens of developmental/educational psychology. Outside of these passions, Eleni is often singing with her collegiate a cappella group or taking walks around the Charles. She is excited to join the Day of AI team on its mission to bring AI literacy to teachers and students.

Alison leads research strategy and evaluation at Day of AI, focusing on the human-centered, evidence-based integration of emerging technologies in education. A cognitive psychologist by training, she is dedicated to grounding AI literacy in the science of learning, and supporting frameworks that empower students to become critical thinkers with agency over their own learning. Before joining Day of AI, Alison served as a Principal Researcher on the Edtech and Emerging Tech team at Digital Promise, where she engaged with educators and product developers to co-design frameworks for the responsible design and use of AI tools for learning. She also directed the research synthesis for the Learner Variability Project, translating cognitive, motivational, and pedagogical research into actionable models for edtech design and classroom practice. Alison brings extensive experience in design-based research and cross-functional collaboration with educators, product designers, and district leaders to build inclusive, equitable, and effective learning environments for all learners.

Richard joins Day of AI after a career in education spanning Manchester and Dubai, most recently as Assistant Headteacher for Standards and Innovation at Sunmarke School, where he led AI and e-learning implementation across the school and served as the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead. He also served as Academic Enrichment Coach, leading the school's World Scholar's Cup, Debate, and TEDx programmes, and has trained safeguarding leads across other schools on AI-related risks to children. He believes AI in education is at its best when it's used responsibly, freeing teachers to give students the kind of personalised, human attention that wouldn't otherwise be possible at scale. Outside of work, Richard's usually found at a pub quiz, treading the boards in amateur dramatics (recent productions include Guys & Dolls and Father Ted), or watching rugby, having swapped playing it for watching from the sidelines.

Fouz is a computer science graduate from Saudi Arabia with a passion for education and the impact it can have on future generations. She is especially interested in making AI literacy accessible to learners everywhere. Fouz believes education should never be a privilege, but a right, and aims to use her technical and creative skills to help make that vision a reality.

A big part of her work involves designing and developing educational games that make AI concepts more engaging and approachable. She also happens to be a big fan of video games herself, and there’s a pretty good chance she’s playing one as you read this.

For over 15 years, Jorge has been dedicated to education, including more than a decade in New York City Public Schools as both a science and computer science teacher and a Computer Science Education Manager. From introducing students to the foundations of computer science to supporting teachers in bringing these topics to their students, he has consistently worked to empower young minds for the demands of the technological era in which we live. His tech journey began at a 24-hour hackathon, where a friend introduced him to the possibilities of coding, sparking a passion that he has since shared with others. Now, Jorge focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of AI, equipping students and educators alike with the skills to develop solutions that can enhance their own lives and those of others. In his free time, he enjoys creating YouTube videos, coding, and developing resources that encourage others to explore the exciting world of computer science and AI.