Maria Abdullahi, SPIN Girls Program Manager II (She/Her)
Maria is excited to join SPIN in the efforts of serving the families of King County. She holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Humanities for Teaching and a Master's in Social Work with a clinical focus. Over the past 20 years, she has professionally and passionately served communities. She has worked with, by, and for the community. In her personal time, she enjoys experiencing the beauty of the universe, a nice cup of coffee, and the Arts.
Shana beckwith, executive director of education, (she/her)
Shana has been with SPIN since 2016. However, her passion for education and advocacy for youth spans her 20+ years in the field. Shana was born and raised in SE Seattle where she continues to mentor and inspire African American youth. Whether it's building makerspaces in elementary schools or starting all- girls robotics teams; Shana excels at providing exceptional educational opportunities for young people. She is a graduate of the University of Washington (Bachelor in English) and American University in Washington, DC (Master of Teaching). Her favorite things in life are science fiction books, action movies, and her nephews.
Cheyanne Chadwick, PROGRAM COORDINATOR, HEART@WEST SEATTLE ELEMENTARY
Originally from the Treasure State, Cheyanne discovered the transformative power of performing arts at her local children's theatre. She attended the University of Montana where she received dual degrees in Elementary Education and Theatre Education. She was also awarded Forward Montana's 25 under 25 Award and the university's Presidential Senior Recognition Award.
Upon relocating to Seattle five years ago, Cheyanne infused her kindergarten classroom with elements of storytelling and community-building. She believes in the power of collaborative learning and strives to create inclusive environments where every voice is heard. In her downtime, Cheyanne is an avid hostess, delighting in the opportunity to bring people together for memorable events, and a devoted Dungeon Master, running of D&D for her friends. You can often find her curled up with a good book or enjoying quality time with her beloved pup, Goblin.
With a passion for empowering the next generation of leaders and creators, Cheyanne is dedicated to creating positive change in the world—one child, one story, and one connection at a time.
OUR STAFF
Aliyah Musaliar, SPIN Girls Program Coordinator, (Any pronouns)
Aliyah brings over 6 years of expertise in teaching, mentorship, and community engagement to their role as Program Coordinator for SPIN Girls. Guided by the Ambedkarite principle of "educate, agitate, and organize", Aliyah views education as a powerful force for driving movements for justice and liberation.
Holding a BA in Ethics and Law, Societies & Justice from the University of Washington, Aliyah served as a student advisor for the latter department. A passionate advocate for visual and oral storytelling, their work in radio journalism has earned recognition from the Association of LGBTQ Journalists, The New York Times, and the Alliance for Women in Media.
Katherine barr, Executive director of operations, (she/her)
Katherine brings over 15 years experience building infrastructure, programs, and resources to support nonprofits working toward educational equity. She has been with SPIN for four years, recruited after she completed her work as founding Director of both the Southeast Seattle Education Coalition and Global Washington. She has her Master of Public Administration from the Evans School at the University of Washington and her Bachelor from Reed College in Portland, OR.
Program Manager II, SPIN fellows, she/her
This could be YOU!
joseph phillips, program manager , young entrepreneur project (he/him)
Joseph is the Program Manager for the Young Entrepreneur Project or YEP.He has a degree in both Special Education K-12 and General Education K-8. He has taken all of these valuable experiences to become a successful entrepreneur through the power of STEM technology. He believes to elevate a entrepreneur’s mind is to educate and provide tools for them to access the world and beyond through entrepreneurs using/accessing STEM skills.
Samuel berg, CURRICULUM DEVELOPER AND LEAD TEACHER, (he/him)
Sam describes himself first and foremost as a humanistic educator who puts students' well being at the forefront of his teaching. With a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a Masters of Arts in Teaching, Sam has developed a special interest in cultivating students’ interests in STEAM and is thrilled to have the opportunity to bring these activities to underserved communities. As a former Seattle Public Schools teacher, Sam is excited to continue working with students in the district. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, and playing with his cat, Podrick.