Meet the Team
Alex Schuh, PhD
Founder & Director
Dr. Alex Schuh founded School Frontiers to bring innovative, research-based learning opportunities to students and families who struggled to find success in traditional schools. Inspired by New American Schools models and his own experience working with students in New Haven, Connecticut and Austin, Texas, he earned his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn he studied policy research and evaluation, collaborative learning, and the use of computer media for learning. He combines his data research skills from Penn and his cultural dynamics approach developed through his degree in Cultural Anthropology at Yale to ensure that every project creates a solution that is uniquely suited to its people and places. Through three decades of work in multiple areas of youth development, Dr. Schuh has honed his expertise in organizational development, education policy, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and computer-based learning. The consummate teacher- always learning and improving his craft- he has taught multiple subjects in middle schools and high schools, and led many teachers and administrators through workshops and conference presentations. As a lead evaluator, he has directed a range of educational improvement projects at the local, regional and national levels. Since 1997, he has helped to design and establish more than 35 charter schools across the country, including a charter school based on the ideas of emotional intelligence and a virtual charter school for distance learning. He cares deeply about students, teachers, parents and administrators, and wants to help you create a school that inspires pride in every community member.
Mario Gutierrez
Director of Instructional Services
Mario's responsibilities include overseeing numerous academic projects ranging from PLC development to charter renewals. He engages with educators across the country in an effort to bridge the learning gap. Mario is a former elementary and middle school teacher and holds an MBA from Temple University and a Masters of Education from Chestnut Hill College.
Contact: mario@schoolfrontiers.com
Abby Dubinchik
Director of Grants & Compliance Services
Abby’s responsibilities include oversight and identification of growth opportunities for federal programs and state reporting services. Abby has 10 years of experience in federal and state grant reporting in Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact: abby@schoolfrontiers.com
Meredith Regul
Data & Evaluation Project Manager
Meredith’s responsibilities include overseeing evaluation research projects, managing 21st Century Community Learning Center evaluation studies, working with schools and foundations to design accountability plans, and communicating with partners about how they can grow and measure their impact on students. Meredith holds a BS in Business from Penn State, a Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate in Computer Science, and a Certificate in Data Science from Cornell University.
Contact: meredith@schoolfrontiers.com
Zoë Groff
Teacher PD Lead
Zoë's responsibilities include assisting with program development and support, designing and facilitating professional development, leading PLC development and implementation, and creating video course content for educators and school leaders. Zoë has experience teaching multiple grade levels and holds a Master's in Educational Leadership and Policy from Boston College and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Baylor University.
Contact: zoe@schoolfrontiers.com
Rachel Antomattei
Lead Data Analyst
Rachel’s responsibilities include collecting, organizing, and reporting data to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, analyzing attendance and test score data, and assisting with student information systems and educational technology platforms. Rachel is an Adjunct Professor of Foundational Mathematics at the Community College of Philadelphia and a high school math and SAT/ACT tutor. Rachel holds a Master’s in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park.
Contact: rachel@schoolfrontiers.com
Stephanie Seubert
Education Data Analyst
Stephanie’s responsibilities include school data analysis, data visualization, and research project assistance. Stephanie earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology from Manhattan College. She has past experience working in early education and childcare, was a "Statistics & Research Methods" tutor at her college's academic center, and worked in database management before joining School Frontiers in 2023.
Contact: stephanie@schoolfrontiers.com
Susan McAnally
Research Assistant
Susan’s responsibilities include writing for School Frontiers, data analysis and reporting, and research on recent innovations in education. Susan earned her Bachelors in Psychology and Nutrition from Temple University and her Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Psychology from Chestnut Hill College. She has experience in educational research, data analysis, technical writing, and school counseling.
Contact: susan@schoolfrontiers.com
Ella Speer-Zisook
Data Cleaning & Organization
Ellis Speer-Zisook researches and implements secure AI systems within educational contexts, with particular focus on data integrity and responsible system design to ensure that AI integration serves educational needs while maintaining security and reliability. Ellis also manages data intake and organizational processes, and supports the development of in-house data visualization tools.
Contact: ella@schoolfrontiers.com
Zac Schuh
Digital Operations Manager
Zac’s responsibilities include Data Dashboard and AI development, specialized software development, data analysis, web development, and user experience optimization. Zac earned his BS in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology (Go Mighty Ducks!) and is an expert in data management and database development.
Contact: zac@schoolfrontiers.com
Alanna Urteaga
Research Intern
Alanna's responsibilities include supporting educational research, data collection, and analysis. Alanna is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Public Policy at Elon University, where she is an active member of student government. She has experience in research and marketing and brings strengths in leadership, organization, and creative problem-solving.
Contact: alanna@schoolfrontiers.com
Ed Vandenberg
Senior Director of Client Services
Ed's responsibilities include coaching charter school leaders, designing professional learning experiences, and supporting data-driven school improvement initiatives. Ed brings over 25 years of experience in K-12 education, having served as a founding principal, regional director, and principal coach before leading educator support systems where he co-developed AI-enhanced assessment tools serving thousands of educators nationwide. He holds a Master of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of the Arts.
Contact: ed@schoolfrontiers.com
Meghan Eife
Research Assistant
Meghan’s responsibilities include reporting, data analysis, and research. She assists on 21st Century Community Learning Center grant management and PIMS reporting. Meghan has experience in social research and policy analysis. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Policy and Data Analytics from the University of Pennsylvania.
Contact: meg@schoolfrontiers.com
