Leadership Team
The Family Engagement Lab leadership team has decades of experience in family engagement, nonprofit management, educational technology, and K-12 curriculum.
Vidya Sundaram, co-founder and CEO
Over her nearly 20-year career in family engagement, Vidya Sundaram has managed development, research, and strategy for digital resources used by more than half of US families with school-aged children. Before founding Family Engagement Lab, Vidya led research and insights at GreatSchools, championing a test and learn culture across the organization. Vidya also has an extensive background in software engineering and technology project management to engage diverse partners, and implement and study digital programs. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.
Over her nearly 20-year career in family engagement, Vidya Sundaram has managed development, research, and strategy for digital resources used by more than half of US families with school-aged children. Before founding Family Engagement Lab, Vidya led research and insights at GreatSchools, championing a test and learn culture across the organization. Vidya also has an extensive background in software engineering and technology project management to engage diverse partners, and implement and study digital programs. She holds a degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University, a Masters in Public Policy from UCLA and her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. Vidya is mom to two kids and proud to be part of a lively multigenerational household.
Elisabeth O'Bryon, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer
Elisabeth was previously the Director of Research and Evaluation at GreatSchools where she worked to design and implement evaluation projects, with a particular focus on rapid-cycle research approaches. Before GreatSchools, Elisabeth was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where she contributed to the development and evaluation of school-based social and emotional learning programming for children, teachers, and families. Elisabeth has a doctorate in psychology and experience providing school psychological services to preschool through high school-age students in both English and Spanish. Elisabeth recently co-authored 45 Strategies that Support Young Dual Language Learners, a resource that provides practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive early childhood classrooms that foster the success of young DLLs. Elisabeth is enjoying the many adventures of parenthood with her husband and sons.
Elisabeth was previously the Director of Research and Evaluation at GreatSchools where she worked to design and implement evaluation projects, with a particular focus on rapid-cycle research approaches. Before GreatSchools, Elisabeth was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence where she contributed to the development and evaluation of school-based social and emotional learning programming for children, teachers, and families. Elisabeth has a doctorate in psychology and experience providing school psychological services to preschool through high school-age students in both English and Spanish. Elisabeth recently co-authored 45 Strategies that Support Young Dual Language Learners, a resource that provides practical, developmentally appropriate strategies for supporting children and families from diverse backgrounds and creating inclusive early childhood classrooms that foster the success of young DLLs. Elisabeth is enjoying the many adventures of parenthood with her husband and sons.
Hailey Kuhn, Head of Partnerships
Hailey is passionate about building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients and collaborating with them to solve problems and drive growth. She has held leadership roles in business development and sales in for PK–16 and corporate learning organizations during her 23 years of industry experience.
Hailey's diverse edtech portfolio includes managing multi-million accounts with Pearson and Harcourt for distribution and professional services. She has led business development initiatives in PK-12, higher education and corporate learning at companies like Blackboard, Waterford Institute, Clever and Skillsoft. Early in her career, she spearheaded strategic alliances to evangelize emerging interoperability standards from IEEE, ADL and what is now IMS. In the last five years, she has worked with industry-leading companies offering enterprise technology, curriculum, assessment, learning management and communication systems including Instructure, DreamBox, Edmentum, Amplify, NWEA and ClassLink.
Hailey is passionate about building strong, long-lasting relationships with clients and collaborating with them to solve problems and drive growth. She has held leadership roles in business development and sales in for PK–16 and corporate learning organizations during her 23 years of industry experience.
Hailey's diverse edtech portfolio includes managing multi-million accounts with Pearson and Harcourt for distribution and professional services. She has led business development initiatives in PK-12, higher education and corporate learning at companies like Blackboard, Waterford Institute, Clever and Skillsoft. Early in her career, she spearheaded strategic alliances to evangelize emerging interoperability standards from IEEE, ADL and what is now IMS. In the last five years, she has worked with industry-leading companies offering enterprise technology, curriculum, assessment, learning management and communication systems including Instructure, DreamBox, Edmentum, Amplify, NWEA and ClassLink.
Board
Bill Jackson, co-founder and Board Chair
Bill Jackson is the founder of Raise Ready Kids, which helps families raise kids with the skills and character strengths they will need to thrive as adults. He also serves as an entrepreneur-in-residence at New Profit, where he co-leads the Postsecondary Innovation for Equity Initiative. Previously, Bill founded and served as CEO of GreatSchools, the nation’s leading guide to K-12 schools and education. Prior to founding GreatSchools, Bill taught at the K-12 and college level in the US and China and helped start a networking hardware company in Silicon Valley. The father of two daughters, Bill holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University. He is a member of the board of directors at Coro Northern California, and Twenty, Inc, and is on the Advisory Council for Climate Action Pathways.
Bill Jackson is the founder of Raise Ready Kids, which helps families raise kids with the skills and character strengths they will need to thrive as adults. He also serves as an entrepreneur-in-residence at New Profit, where he co-leads the Postsecondary Innovation for Equity Initiative. Previously, Bill founded and served as CEO of GreatSchools, the nation’s leading guide to K-12 schools and education. Prior to founding GreatSchools, Bill taught at the K-12 and college level in the US and China and helped start a networking hardware company in Silicon Valley. The father of two daughters, Bill holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Yale University. He is a member of the board of directors at Coro Northern California, and Twenty, Inc, and is on the Advisory Council for Climate Action Pathways.
Kelsey Knox, Treasurer
Kelsey Knox is a management consultant with Alvarez & Marsal, specializing in finance, accounting and operations. Her primary areas of concentration are operational financial management, business process improvement and program management with clients across various industries, including commercial real estate, education, philanthropy, food distribution and professional services. Before joining Alvarez & Marsal, Kelsey was a Graduate Fellow with Education Pioneers and worked for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Kelsey earned her MBA at Rice University and graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Kelsey is based in Los Angeles and enjoys exploring the city with her husband and two children.
Kelsey Knox, Treasurer
Kelsey Knox is a management consultant with Alvarez & Marsal, specializing in finance, accounting and operations. Her primary areas of concentration are operational financial management, business process improvement and program management with clients across various industries, including commercial real estate, education, philanthropy, food distribution and professional services. Before joining Alvarez & Marsal, Kelsey was a Graduate Fellow with Education Pioneers and worked for the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. Kelsey earned her MBA at Rice University and graduated summa cum laude from Tulane University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Kelsey is based in Los Angeles and enjoys exploring the city with her husband and two children.
Dr. Icela Pelayo, Secretary
Dr. Icela Pelayo is a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation working on the foundation’s efforts on racial equity, community engagement, and leadership to support thriving children, working families and equitable communities. Previously, she served in various roles at the New Mexico Public Education Department, including deputy cabinet secretary for teaching and learning, where she led strategic efforts and coordinated policy, program, fiscal management across the Department in support of the state’s educators and students. Most recently, she was director of operations at the NMPED and served as director of bilingual multicultural education, where she led the development and implementation of comprehensive state policy that aligned technical assistance, reporting, and monitoring to support bilingual multicultural education and English Learner (EL) programs leading to a 15 percent increase in EL graduation rates. Dr. Pelayo earned her Ph.D. in K-12 urban education policy from the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education.
Dr. Icela Pelayo is a program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation working on the foundation’s efforts on racial equity, community engagement, and leadership to support thriving children, working families and equitable communities. Previously, she served in various roles at the New Mexico Public Education Department, including deputy cabinet secretary for teaching and learning, where she led strategic efforts and coordinated policy, program, fiscal management across the Department in support of the state’s educators and students. Most recently, she was director of operations at the NMPED and served as director of bilingual multicultural education, where she led the development and implementation of comprehensive state policy that aligned technical assistance, reporting, and monitoring to support bilingual multicultural education and English Learner (EL) programs leading to a 15 percent increase in EL graduation rates. Dr. Pelayo earned her Ph.D. in K-12 urban education policy from the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education.
Garima Sahai, Board Director
Garima Sahai is an Engineering Director at Google Inc, where she leads teams for Search and Map Ads products. She started her career at Google as a Software engineer in 2003 and spent the first 8 years working on technology behind Google Books, enabling the mission of making otherwise hidden books and library content more accessible and useful to all. Garima migrated to the US in 2001 to pursue her MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, after completing BTech(Hons) in CS from BITS, Pilani, India. Earlier in her career, Garima actively volunteered for the education non-profit in India, Pratham, helping it establish it's Bay Area chapter and supporting its mission of "Every Child in School and Learning Well'. Experiencing education & equity as strong enablers for her own growth & journey, she continues to stay passionate about driving social impact in these areas, currently serving as a DEI champion in the Google Ads organization. Garima lives in Los Altos, California and is a proud mother of 2 kids, attending schools in the Los Altos School District.
Garima Sahai is an Engineering Director at Google Inc, where she leads teams for Search and Map Ads products. She started her career at Google as a Software engineer in 2003 and spent the first 8 years working on technology behind Google Books, enabling the mission of making otherwise hidden books and library content more accessible and useful to all. Garima migrated to the US in 2001 to pursue her MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, after completing BTech(Hons) in CS from BITS, Pilani, India. Earlier in her career, Garima actively volunteered for the education non-profit in India, Pratham, helping it establish it's Bay Area chapter and supporting its mission of "Every Child in School and Learning Well'. Experiencing education & equity as strong enablers for her own growth & journey, she continues to stay passionate about driving social impact in these areas, currently serving as a DEI champion in the Google Ads organization. Garima lives in Los Altos, California and is a proud mother of 2 kids, attending schools in the Los Altos School District.
Vidya Sundaram, President
Bio above.
Bio above.