Executive Director
Co-founder
Board Member
Crisis Team Member

Abbey Clements is the Executive Director, co-founder, and a Board member of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence. She is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012, and was an elementary educator for over 30 years. Clements has been a gun violence prevention activist since the tragedy, including as a Moms Demand Action volunteer leader (Deputy CT Chapter Leader, Survivor Fellow, National Training Team Lead, to name a few) and as a strategic consultant on gun violence issues for the AFT. She has been featured in various publications, documentaries, and events including Newtown, If I Don’t Make It, I Love You, Bullets Into Bells, Marie Claire, AFT Voices, and USA Today, AARP, DNC 2024 among others.

Director of Development

Lisa Cook is an accomplished nonprofit leader and development professional with over 20 years of experience in philanthropy, social investment, and nonprofit management. She has a proven track record in fundraising, donor cultivation, strategic partnerships, and organizational growth. Her expertise spans international development, environmental organizations, youth education, and mentoring programs. Most recently, she served as the Director of Development at Cova, where she led fundraising efforts for nine years. Lisa is passionate about driving positive change through innovative fundraising strategies and entrepreneurial approaches.

Co-founder, Board Member, Crisis Team Member

Sarah Lerner is a survivor teacher of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy in 2018. Lerner began teaching in 2002 and came to MSD in 2014. Lerner was the editor of “Parkland Speaks,” and has been published in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Marie Claire, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, PBS NewsHour Extra, and AFT Share My Lesson. She has appeared on MSNBC, HLN, CNN, PBS NewsHour, PBS Frontline, Good Morning Britain, and NPR/WLRN. She has been a keynote speaker for AFT, Council of Chief State School Officers, Florida Literary Association, Florida Association of Colleges for Teachers, and AFT Share My Lesson.

Co-founder
Board Memember

Sari Beth Rosenberg has been teaching U.S. History and AP U.S. History at a New York City public high school, the High School for Environmental Studies, for the past two decades and currently hosts the PBS NewsHour Classroom Educator Zoom Series. Rosenberg has been featured in various publications and multimedia platforms, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Reuters, The Progressive, A+E/Lifetime, Travel Channel, TheSkimm, PBS NewsHour & various popular podcasts. She is a Senior Advisor for Voters of Tomorrow and One Million of Us.

Board Member

Kelly Carmichael Booz directs the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) PreK-12 digital resources serving over 1.9 million educators on the AFT’s Share My Lesson, the AFT’s E-Learning professional development platform, and the production and dissemination of PreK-12 publication for the AFT’s 1.7 million members. Kelly currently serves on the Alexandria School Board in Alexandria, Virginia. She also on the Board of Directors for Virginia Civics, a non-profit empowering the next generation of leaders in Virginia. Previously, Kelly served as Director of Civic Education at James Madison’s Montpelier directing the Virginia We the People program, and as Manager of Teacher Programs at Alexandria’s Close Up Foundation.

Board Member

Dr. Peeler is a highly qualified education professional with a wealth of experience and a commitment to creating safe and supportive learning environments. Holding a Doctorate in School Improvement, she has consistently demonstrated leadership in various roles, including Head of School/ Superintendent, Assistant Principal, and MTSS Coordinator. Dr. Peeler brings expertise in educational leadership, curriculum development, and teacher training, all through a data-driven approach. Her degree in Urban Teacher Leadership and diverse certifications in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Orton-Gillingham, and International Baccalaureate Administration showcase her commitment to holistic education.

Ambassador

Sydney Chaffee is a 9th grade Humanities teacher and instructional coach at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, MA. As 2017 National Teacher of the Year, she has spoken to audiences around the world about the limitless power of teachers and students to change the world. Sydney is a National Board Certified Teacher with a passion for helping diverse learners grow through authentic, relevant, interdisciplinary curricula.

Ambassador
Crisis Team Member

Kiki Lebya currently teaches at Columbine High School in Littleton, Co. He was a first year teacher when thirteen were killed and dozens were injured. During the next several years, Leyba mentored hundreds of students while privately battling PTSD symptoms and struggling to navigate the aftermath. Then in 2010, a gunman violated his son’s middle school. Supporting others traumatized by school violence became his calling. Drawing upon decades of experience, Kiki has helped many communities navigate the complex aftermath of campus violence and works to educate others about smart gun legislation, red flag laws, and mental health funding. In 2022, Leyba was recognized by the organization, Keep Guns Off Campus.

Ambassador

Nicole Greene is a Special Educator with more than a decade of classroom experience in NYC, San Francisco, and currently Westchester County, NY. She is passionate about teacher leadership and advocacy, believing educators should use their voice to amplify student needs. Nicole does this through writing education-related articles and serving on the Diversity Committee for the National Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Leadership Committee for NYS CEC. A proud National Board Certified Teacher, she is committed to creating accessible and equitable spaces where all learners can see their greatness.

Crisis Team Member

Injured in the Santa Fe High School shooting, Flo Rice advised Texas legislators on a comprehensive school safety bill. She highlighted the vulnerabilities of substitute teachers who lacked active shooter training, classroom door keys, and 911 access. She regularly testifies at the Texas Capitol on gun legislation and meets with lawmakers to promote safer schools. She also served on the board of the School Safety Grant Organization, delivers keynote addresses for PTSD survivor communities, and worked with the Newtown Action Alliance on the Safer Communities Act. Featured in Education Week, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and NPR, she was Santa Fe High School’s Substitute Teacher of the Year and recipient of the Lives Robbed Mr. Arnulfo Reyes Award.

Ambassador

La-Shanda West is a survivor of gun violence who advocates for mental health, safe spaces, and violence prevention programs. She has taught secondary social studies for 21 years within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system and currently serves as the iPrep Academy Leader and Cambridge Business Teacher at Cutler Bay Senior High. La-Shanda is a member of the School Advisory Committee for Sandy Hook Promise and National SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) where she has been supporting Youth Advisory Board members for the past five years. She believes one of the best ways to prevent violence is to engage teachers in the movement. Teachers are the builders of the community and can use their stories to change the narratives on guns and violence.

Ambassador
Cisis Team Member

Josh Novick is a licensed professional counselor, school counselor, and founder of Trust and Grow Consulting. With over a decade of experience supporting students and school communities through trauma and adversity, he brings a deep commitment to healing-centered, equity-driven practices. Josh began his career teaching at an alternative high school on the West Side of Chicago, where he witnessed the toll of community violence on BIPOC youth. In 2022, he helped lead the crisis response following the Highland Park mass shooting, coordinating over 600 volunteer therapists in under a week — work that earned him recognition from the Illinois State Senate. Josh works to equip schools and communities with tools for trauma-informed care, psychological safety, and growth.

Crisis Team Member

Robin Walker received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Arkansas and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport.  Robin is a survivor teacher of the Sandy Hook School shooting in 2012.  She taught at Sandy Hook School for twenty years, including six years after the tragedy.  Robin is now retired and continues to live in Newtown, CT.

Senior Advisor

Dr. Vilson is a veteran educator, writer, speaker, and activist in New York City, NY. He is the author of This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education and the Executive Director of EduColor, an organization dedicated to race and social justice issues in education. He recently completed his PhD at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Senior Advisor
Crisis Team Member

Dr. Schultz is a licensed psychologist, family therapist, and systems consultant with more than 40 years of experience as an administrator, clinician, group facilitator, and university professor across New England and beyond. He has led educational forums, workshops, and crisis intervention services for organizations spanning child welfare, healthcare, law enforcement, schools, and state agencies. He is the author of Systems Consultation When Trauma Strikes: Stories of Hope, Collaboration, and Change, as well as numerous articles and book chapters on child welfare, family systems, organizational leadership, and traumatic stress.

Crisis Team Member

“I grew up in South Florida and earned a Masters Degree in Secondary Education. We raised our family in Parkland FL where I taught Social Studies for 2 decades at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School . On Valentine’s Day 2018 my classroom, Room 1214, was ambushed by a former MSD student with an AR15. He murdered 2 students inside my classroom in front of us all and continued to kill 12 more students and 3 staff members at MSD that day . I worked at the school for 2 more years until my students all graduated and my husband and I relocated to Washington DC in early 2020 where I currently live and work - accompanied by Waffles the Wonder Dog.”

Ambassador

Kathryn Vaughn is a veteran classroom teacher of nearly twenty years, currently teaching Elementary Art and STEM in rural West Tennessee. A gun violence survivor and active member of the Everytown Survivor Network, she helped lead and win a 2023 legislative initiative providing teachers and state employees with six weeks of paid parental leave, earning her the 2024 Tennessee Education Association's Susan B. Anthony Award. A published author and President of her local Tipton County Education Association, her work and advocacy have been featured in outlets including The New York Times, Time Magazine, NPR, and Good Morning America.

Senior Advisor

Ashlei Blue is passionate grassroots organizer. A native of Fayetteville NC and a UNC Charlotte alumna, Ashlei began as a campus volunteer with Obama for America in 2008. She has continued working in electoral politics across her home state. She focuses her work on defeating voter suppression and gerrymandering as well as uplifting qualified candidates and skilled staffers throughout the South. Ashlei has also provided consulting services through Blue Strategies NC and commits her skills to Southern campaigns and organizations. These experiences inform her training with organizations like Arena and statewide grassroots programs across the country.

Crisis Team Member

Liesl Fressola, an Instructional Specialist, partners with teachers to promote equitable math instruction. She has been teaching since 2006. Liesl is a survivor of the Sandy Hook School Shooting; in her own recovery she has advocated for teachers and students mental health. In 2014, Liesl received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. She has her BA in Elem. Education and Anthropology from Washington University and a MS in STEM Teacher Leadership from Western CT State Univ.  She seeks to cultivate healing by weaving together her experiences with trauma, coaching and design thinking.

Senior Advisor

Sheffali Welch is a long-time volunteer and the NYC Lead for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. She has worked closely with elected officials, Survivors of gun violence, student leaders and community partners across New York City to work towards a world free of gun violence. A long time gun violence prevention activist and a career finance professional for 25 years (COO at Clearing House), she brings a unique combination of understanding the Teachers Unify mission while also advising on financial matters. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and two teenagers.  

Crisis Team Member

Amy Taylor has been teaching elementary school for over 20 years and is a survivor teacher of the 2012 Sandy Hook School tragedy.Amy Taylor has been teaching elementary school for over 20 years and is a survivor teacher of the 2012 Sandy Hook School tragedy. Since then, she has committed herself to recovery and resiliency, utilizing self-care practices to show up fully for her family, students, and community. After finding her voice, Amy became a gun violence prevention activist, lobbying members of Congress to reverse PLCAA laws and restore the right to pursue justice from gun manufacturers. She is trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid and Responsive Classroom, holds the National Certificate for STEM Teaching, and is committed to supporting school staff in self-care, recovery, and resiliency.

Senior Advisor

Diane Wolk-Rogers is a longtime educator dedicated to supporting healing and resilience in communities impacted by gun violence. As a member of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) faculty, she has led group workshops for parents, teachers, and students affected by the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where she also served as faculty. In addition to her 35-year-career as an educator, she co-founded the school’s Mind-Body Ambassador Club, empowering students to share evidence-based wellness practices with their peers and community. Watch her TED talk here.

Crisis Team Member

Ben Tucker has been a volunteer with Everytown and Mom’s Demand Action for 10 years.  He was with the Survivor Connect program with Everytown for two years. He is currently a retired educator who spent 30 years teaching and coaching in Reno and Sparks, Nevada.  He is a survivor of a school shooting in 2013 and while working as a TV news photographer, he witnessed a gang member shooting hostages at an electronics store in 1991.  

Ambassador

Sofia Gonzalez is an award-winning educator, 2019 Teacher of the Year, and Fulbright Scholar whose work centers on education, healing, and equity. With over a decade of advocacy against gun violence, she founded TAG—Teachers Against Gun Violence—using storytelling and community action to elevate the realities of students impacted by Chicago's gang and gun violence. A keynote speaker, she inspires audiences nationwide to transform pain into purpose. Sofia is Vice President of the Scholarship Fund for Project 214, a proud alum of Latinos for Education, World Learning Argentina, and the Urban Leaders Fellowship, and brings a global perspective to over two decades of teaching in high-needs urban schools. She writes for EdSurge and advances educational justice through policy work with Advance Illinois.

Ambassador

Denise Nieto Hernandez brings 20+ years of experience across K–12, higher education, and charter schools, with a deep commitment to multilingual learners, literacy, and instructional leadership. She previously served as Florida Director of Multilingual Learner Support for Charter Schools USA, supporting 10,000+ students across 65 schools, and as an ESL Course Director at Full Sail University. As founder of Desert Star Solutions, she designs practical professional learning grounded in real classroom experience, and works nationally as an AVID staff developer and curriculum contributor. A frequent national presenter, Denise is also an ambassador for Teacher Unify to End Gun Violence, advocating for safer schools and mental health awareness for students and educators alike.

Research Ambassador

Dawn Myers recently earned their Doctorate in Health Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. They are a public high school educator, former paramedic, and researcher whose work focuses on educator well-being, school safety, student mental health supports, and the public health impacts of gun violence. With more than a decade of experience in education and prior experience in emergency medical services, Dawn brings both practitioner and research perspectives to conversations surrounding school safety and violence prevention. Through their work with Teachers Unify, Dawn hopes to help translate research into meaningful insights that support educators, students, and school communities.