As CEO, David’s job is bringing smart, passionate people together, and empowering them to develop and implement powerful ideas. For him, it’s all about curiosity, and that means fostering a healthy sense of inquiry among learners as well his employees. When he’s not at the office, David competes in triathlons and enjoys spending time with his wife and two young sons. He’s also served on his local community council and chairs an interfaith non-profit. David has an MBA from UCLA, an MPA from NYU, and a BA from Trinity College where he was a President’s Fellow.

Aaron’s job is to stay on top of the latest educational research and trends and ensure that every product Social Studies produces meets strict standards of pedagogic excellence. Through his work developing digital products like Active Classroom, Aaron has given teachers new tools to create customized solutions for learners. Aaron has a PhD from Princeton University and spends his free time exploring the outdoors with his wife and four kids.

As CFO, Russell uses his analytical skills and ability to take strategic risks to ensure that all the nuts and bolts of Social Studies are functioning efficiently. Outside of work, Russell is a proud husband and father. He makes the most of his free time with friends and families at concerts, live theater, collegian sports events, considering going on bike rides, and playing with dogs.

Jennifer works closely with school districts to help teachers and administrators find the academic solutions that work best for their students and their specific circumstances. By giving educators the tools they need to do their best work, Jennifer hopes to help kids become more informed about their rights and responsibilities in our democracy. Jennifer loves to travel, geek out on history and politics, volunteer in her community, and spend time with her children and grandchild.

Bill has dedicated his career to developing compelling, approachable content that supports teachers and engages students by bringing the world into the classroom. He has led creative content development teams at a variety of educational publishing and ed-tech organizations such as Weekly Reader, Scholastic, Inc., Learning A-Z, Education.com, and Lexia Learning. Bill attributes his passion for reading, social studies, and maps, in some part at least, to poring over the sets of encyclopedias and old issues of Life magazine that made up the “library” of his childhood home. When he’s not reading manuscripts or working on project workflows and timelines, Bill enjoys CrossFit, running, and traveling with his wife Courtney.

Using district priorities, narratives, talent, and potential, Montra works closely with stakeholders to plan and program for the implementation of Social Studies School Service resources, and services. She understands firsthand the power of viable partnerships. Such collaboration results in the increased capacity of educators at all levels ultimately producing the desired result, a literate citizenry. Montra appreciates new opportunities and experiences to include traveling, dining, and attending social/cultural events; this also includes volunteering in her local community. She is the eldest of five girls and mother to one son. Montra has an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, an MLA in Liberal Arts, and a BA in History.

Luis believes the most valuable resource we have is time, and that spending time in a meaningful way is the best way to make an impact. This attitude makes him the perfect Director of Operations. In addition to improving collaboration and optimizing processes, Luis works hard every day to ensure that everyone at Social Studies has the opportunity to do meaningful work. In his time away from work, Luis spends his time playing with his young daughter, going out dancing with his wife, and enjoying life to its fullest.

Pam Gothart is the director of professional learning at Social Studies School Service. She has been in education for 22 years including teaching high school social studies, and spent 12 years as a history director. Pam’s Ed.S. is from Samford University, where she focused her study on professional learning. She is passionate about education and helping teachers to be unique and effective leaders.

A good education is one of the greatest privileges in life. Nisreen takes pride in supporting the national sales team as they bring high quality teaching materials to social studies classrooms across the country, helping teachers create an excellent education for students PreK to grade 12. She plays a key role in ensuring the customer experience from website to delivery is delightful. In her free time, Nisreen loves to take her camera on long photoadventures and write stories.

With a keen sense of design, Mark closely collaborates with a talented group of designers and editors to ensure our content is visually focused and engaging. He finds great satisfaction knowing that kids are learning and becoming better citizens through the clarifying power of the thoughtful content and good designs his team produces. Mark enjoys music, art, and getting lost in the Santa Monica Mountains on a bicycle.