Nancy Scharff has directed UEE from 1999, successfully leading UEE in the transition from partnering exclusively with the Family Academy to serving a broad roster of urban schools. Ms. Scharff brings a wealth of teaching and business experience to UEE. Her broad management and financial experience includes 12 years as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch & Co. and, prior to that, five years teaching grades K-6 in the Chicago and Aspen public school systems. Ms Scharff taught K-1 special education students and in traditional classrooms for grades K-6. She holds a B.S. degree, with high distinction, in Special Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Executive Director – David Ciulla
David Ciulla joined UEE in 2008, with broad-based business and education experience. David co-founded Sportsbasement and Sportsbasement.com, a San Francisco-based retail company. He has served as a consultant, working with both private and public sector education clients in the United States and internationally, and was a senior credit analyst with Chemical Bank in New York. David has also worked on business and development projects in the Navajo Nation and the Amazon region of Brazil. David has five years of teaching and coaching experience at the middle school level, in English and Math, and is an adviser to the Native American Community Academy Charter School (NACA), in Albuquerque, New Mexico. David received his M.A. in International Relations from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), concentrating in international development and economics, and his B.A. from Stanford University, in Political Science and English.
Director of Teacher Training – Rachel Etienne
Rachel Etienne joined UEE in 1999 as a teacher at the Family Academy School in Harlem, NY. During her years in the classroom, Ms. Etienne mastered UEE’s curriculum and became a model teacher for her peers. As Director of Teacher Training, she has refined and systematized UEE’s teacher training services. She currently oversees teacher training delivery at all of UEE’s partner schools and manages the organization's Teacher Trainers. Ms. Etienne received her B.S. in Education from Eastern Michigan University.
Director of Development & Strategy – Ahsaki Benion-Habersham
Ahsaki Benion-Habersham joined UEE in 2010, and leads UEE's external relations and development initiatives. Prior to joining UEE, Ms. Benion-Habersham was a corporate associate at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where she worked on securities and capital markets transactions, and provided counsel to several small not-for-profits as part of her pro-bono practice. Ms. Benion-Habersham also served as campaign finance director for Melinda Katz’s 2009 bid for New York City Comptroller. Ms. Benion-Habersham was born and raised in Harlem, NY, and is a product of New York City’s public elementary school system. Ahsaki received her J.D. from Yale Law School and her B.A. from Amherst College.
Director of Projects – Jennifer Murtha
Jennifer Murtha is responsible for development and presentation of program content on the website, creating a user-friendly and marketable platform that will integrate curriculum, professional development and organizational development. Ms. Murtha taught students in grades K-4 for five years, including two years teaching students with autism. She has six years’ curriculum-writing experience and has mentored and trained both new and experienced teachers. She earned a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and an M.A. in Elementary Education, with honors, from the University of Central Florida. Ms. Murtha joined UEE in 2006.
Manger of IT & Evaluation – Jeffrey Fleishhacker
Jeff joined UEE in 2001, when it was still The Friends of the Family Academy. Starting as a Curriculum Associate, his arrival coincided with the launch of UEE's first website, and he has been working to put the UEE Curriculum online ever since. As Manager of IT and Evaluation, he coordinates both the internal and external technology functions of the organization, as well as overseeing all aspects of evaluation. Originally from San Francisco, he received a B.A. with honors from Columbia College in 1999, and currently lives with his wife in Brooklyn.
Office Manager – Sonya Leon
Sonya Leon joined UEE in 2005 as Office Manager, providing support throughout the organization. Continuing her long career in the not-for-profit sector, Sonya came to UEE after 13 years working at Special Olympics. Born and raised in Uptown Manhattan, Sonya remains involved the community as a volunteer for local events and charity walks.