Meet the JASON Team!

Dr. Smalley has overseen the evolution of JASON into a nationally-acclaimed STEM education organization reaching over 5 million students and teachers each year. Prior, Dr. Smalley served for 30 years in public schools, developing innovative, accelerated learning and zero drop-out models, and at the University of Virginia, cultivating strong leadership in education from the local to the state level.

Asmara Ogbai has over fifteen years of experience in education and leadership across schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations. Beginning as a Math Teacher and rising to Administrator, he later supported schools as a consultant and Success Manager for ST Math. Now serving as the Director of Global Learning Expansion & Strategic Partnerships at JASON Learning, Asmara leads the organization’s growth across Africa, building partnerships that expand access to high-quality STEM and experiential learning worldwide. His work bridges education, innovation, and global collaboration to empower learners and communities across diverse contexts.

Lori Bedsole joins JASON after 29 years in public education. She began her career as a teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area, which fostered her love for integrating technology and curriculum. Once her family relocated to Virginia, she began her career in one of the largest school districts in the nation. She worked as an elementary teacher focusing on talent development and differentiation for high-potential learners. She then shifted to the role of specialist in the Advanced Academic Office in Curriculum and Instruction, supporting teachers through professional development and writing integrated curriculum for the full-time gifted program.

Ms. Sandrin creates the training materials based on the JASON curriculum and works with a national network of trainers and coaches to deliver that content directly to the classroom teachers implementing the curriculum. Ms. Sandrin has 15 years of science education experience, including 8 years leading science curriculum and instruction in the largest district in Wisconsin. Ensuring ALL students have access to high-quality science and STEM curricula and experiences from well-prepared educators drives her work at JASON Learning.

Ms. Cross joined the JASON team in June 2022. She serves as the executive assistant to Dr. Smalley, handling her correspondence, scheduling, and filling needs as they arise. She also works with the Marketing Team to develop promotional materials, has planned the 2022-2023 National ISRI Recycling contest, and is working to make public website edits and updates.

Brian K. Burns III is a dynamic leader with a career spanning technology, media, and non-profit education. A Temple University graduate and former student-athlete, Brian launched his career at Apple Inc. on the Store Design Team in Washington, D.C., where his passion for business development and creativity took root. From there, he moved to United Airlines’ headquarters as a Lead Trainer across major aviation markets, setting the stage for a bi-coastal, multi-hyphenate career. As an entrepreneur, Brian integrates community engagement and production expertise to advance underrepresented communities. At Levl Studio, he bridges technology and workforce development, focusing on job creation in emerging fields like AI. Through Levl Studio’s Job Creation Program, Brian has facilitated more than 100 job placements across the D.C.-Metropolitan region.

In 2022, he founded Grand Horizons (GH) as an incubator for innovation and skill-building. GH’s initiatives, such as the Enrichment Summer Camp in Baltimore, aim to provide future generations with critical access to information and career opportunities.

Currently, as an Advancement Consultant for Jason Learning, Brian is redefining engagement through strategic innovation in partnerships like Playwatch Kids and Cubreic. Fueled by an unshakable passion for cutting-edge technology and storytelling, he remains dedicated to leveraging these tools to foster community growth and create new opportunities.

Courtney Popp is a nationally recognized workforce development leader and program strategist with a decade of experience designing innovative education, talent, and reemployment systems across the public and private sectors. Most recently serving as Director of People Programs at Infrastructure Masons, Courtney built globally scaled initiatives that reshaped talent pathways into the digital infrastructure industry—including an award-winning K-12 curriculum reaching over six million learners, UC Berkeley’s first undergraduate certificate in Digital Infrastructure, and a skills-based job-matching platform connecting candidates to 50+ partner companies.
Before entering the digital infrastructure space, Courtney spent seven years advancing workforce innovation for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, where she served as the state’s authority on RESEA, UI-WIOA integration, and National Dislocated Worker Grant programs. Known for her data-driven process improvements and commitment to equitable service design, she earned multiple awards for leading modernization efforts, developing statewide technical assistance, and strengthening service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A strategic advisor, educator, and sought-after speaker, Courtney frequently presents at global conferences on talent development, skills-based hiring, and the future of tech education. She holds a Master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Labor Union Leadership, a Bachelor’s in Philosophy, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Courtney brings a people-first philosophy to every project she leads—grounded in the belief that workforce systems work best when they expand access, dignity, and opportunity for the communities they serve.

Jude Kesl is currently the JASON Learning Argonaut Expedition Leader and Adjunct Instructor at three universities in the Milwaukee, WI, area. Jude is also a Google Certified Innovator and Education Trainer. She has worked as a science teacher, literacy and technology coach, and university instructor in Milwaukee, WI, New York City, and other cities around the country. She has also been the K-8 science teaching specialist at the Milwaukee Public Schools district level. Jude is passionate about igniting a love for learning in students and teachers. Jude helped to write JASON Project Curriculum and was the producer for two online simulations for JASON. As the JASON Argonaut Expedition Leader, Jude has taken students and teachers on over thirty JASON Learning expeditions to various locations worldwide. Jude is responsible for ensuring that all JASON Learning participants have a safe and extraordinary learning adventure.

Dr. Jen Walczak is an author, researcher, and educational consultant with nearly two decades of experience in K–12 education. A former classroom teacher and district leader, she is committed to advancing research-driven learning experiences that support educators and create meaningful opportunities for students. Her work centers on ethical and transparent innovation in education, ensuring that emerging technologies strengthen human connection, professional judgment, and student success. Dr. Walczak is passionate about equitable access to high-quality learning and believes every learner deserves an educator who sees their potential.

Henry Sandoval is a strategic growth executive with extensive experience supporting schools and districts in strengthening instructional impact. His work focuses on building partnerships, aligning innovation with district priorities, and helping education organizations scale responsibly and effectively. With a deep understanding of the K–12 landscape, Henry is committed to ensuring that new initiatives translate into meaningful outcomes for educators and students. He believes sustainable progress in education is built on trust, collaboration, and a clear focus on student success.

Anu Bidani is the founder and CEO of STEM Minds, a social enterprise that empowers youth to develop a love of learning through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) education.

Anu founded STEM Minds in 2016 after trying to find STEM-based programs for her two sons. With a passion for technology and as a former executive at Scotiabank for 20 years, becoming their Head of eStrategy and Solutions, Anu recognized she could create unique STEM education programs for kids ages 4-18 to unlock their full potential. STEM Minds began in the summer of 2016 with just a handful of students and has now grown to international markets. With a dedicated teaching staff, a state-of-the art learning environment, an online academy offering cutting-edge programs, Anu is building a business that is truly revolutionizing STEM education.

Anu is a passionate innovator, leader and entrepreneur with extensive experience as a corporate executive where she witnessed the evolution and impact of accelerated technology changes on business. Anu has delivered large multimillion-dollar projects at a global scale—from system implementations to electronic platform product launches. With vetted expertise in the areas of strategy, product development, solutions development, project delivery, information security and auditing, Anu has developed a wealth of experience that she is proud to bring to STEM Minds.

Ms. Hill has been working for JASON Learning since July 2018 after retiring from a 27-year career in public education. As a Vice-President of Curriculum Development, her primary responsibilities include: collaborating with corporate and other non-profit partners to create STEM instructional resources that showcase the innovation and work of current STEM role models. Ms. Hill’s experience in public education as a Science Coordinator (Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, TX) and educator (Texas and Arizona) has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the practices and partnerships that influence and support effective educational systems and the development of STEM-literate students, citizenry, and communities.

Grace Allstrom has worked with JASON Learning since 2017 to develop engaging PreK-12 STEM curriculum content, manage production timelines and writing/development staff, and publish content on our website for our student and educator users. She has helped JASON’s online curriculum offerings grow from fewer than a dozen to over 40 collections. Her previous experiences in classroom education and asynchronous technology-mediated learning, with a focus on building and supporting communities of practice, inform the emphasis – found in all JASON content – on effective pedagogy and approaches that uplift and celebrate students, teachers, and communities.