Program Director
David Cole, Project Director works at the intersection of creative learning, college and career readiness, literacy and technology. He is currently a research fellow at Manylabs.org, an initiative funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, which brings together makers, educators and scientists to work on open tools and data science. A former English and writing instructor with experience in publishing and online learning, he’s developed collaboration platforms for classrooms and professional development and led curriculum design projects in and out-of-school, including STEM2STEAM, youth internships and service learning.
Board
Paul Kallmes brings considerable professional diversity to everything he does. He has worked as an engineer, environmental consultant, mountain guide, electronics manufacturer, and intellectual property strategist. He has served on numerous boards, including a non-profit that provides high quality, low cost eye care to people in Nepal, India, and China. Currently working for Pride Industries, a large non-profit corporation that provides jobs for people with disabilities, he looks forward to applying his problem-solving skills in new settings.
JR Sheetz is the documentarian and video producer for LRNG, an endeavor to create a 21st century ecosystem of learning that combines in-school, out-of-school, work-based, and online learning opportunities that are visible and accessible to all. JR began documentary work while traveling with The End of the World Cirkus, capturing stories of folks with incredible vision and dedication. Since then he has collaborated with organizations like the National Writing Project, Institute of Play and Hive Learning Networks to tell stories of learning-impact in and out of schools. JR attended the Integrated Electronic Arts program at Alfred University and the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies.
Gabriel Diamond is the staff filmmaker and photographer at the Skoll Foundation where he creates stories about the world’s most celebrated and successful social entrepreneurs. Prior to Skoll he was a freelance filmmaker, photographer, teacher, and actor. His award winning short documentary “We Are In The Field” which follows the adventures of a Nepalese animal rights activist is now being turned into a feature length doc staring Jane Goodall. He co-founded The Youth Sounds Factory in Oakland, an advanced video production company and learning lab for Bay Area youth, and taught filmmaking at San Francisco State University and Adobe Youth Voices. He's a graduate of Trinity Rep Conservatory Theatre, and New College of California. Gabriel's portfolio is at outsidefilms.com.
Founder
Linda Bouchard has composed over 60 works in a variety of genres, from orchestral and chamber works to dance scores, concerti, and vocal pieces. Her works have been heard extensively on both sides of the Atlantic and have been recorded by the CBC and Analekta in Canada, ECM in Germany, and CRI in the US. A full compact disc of orchestral works called Exquisite Fires was released in 1998 on the Canadian label Marquis Classics. She has won awards in Canada and in the US. Linda studied with Henry Brant at Bennington College and then moved to New York City where she lived from 1979 to 1990. While there, she composed, led contemporary music and made orchestral arrangements for the Washington Ballet, the St. Luke's Orchestra and various churches in the Metropolitan area. She was Assistant Conductor for the New York Children's Free Opera with the St. Luke's Orchestra from 1985 to 1988.
In 1990, she returned to Canada and was guest conductor for the "Atelier de Musique Contemporaine" of l'Université de Montréal. In the fall of 1992 she accepted a three-year position as composer in-residence for the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. In 1997, Ms. Bouchard received the Prix Opus as "Composer of the Year" by the Conseil Quebecois de la Culture. Ms. Bouchard moved to San Francisco in 1997.