Meet Your Texas Product Team
Custom Solutions Leadership Team
- Jessica Padilla: Vice President of Custom Solutions
- Courtney Comley: Director of Product Development
- Todd Johnson: Senior Manager of Editorial
- Erin Pellerin: Director of Business Process
- Allison Carden: Product Education Manager
- Jennifer Penton: Manager of Instructional Design
- Karrie Holland: Product Analyst
Jessica Padilla: Vice President of Custom Solutions
Jessica is the Vice President of Custom Publishing for Carnegie Learning. She leads the current Texas Custom Solution team in developing and continuously improving our Texas Math Solution and previously led the Carnegie Learning Philadelphia Custom Services Team, partnering with district-level leaders in the eighth largest school district in the country to set a shared vision for improving student achievement, engage all stakeholders, and facilitate extensive program management services, ensuring that project outcomes were consistently and efficiently achieved.
Jessica began her career in education as a middle school mathematics teacher in the School District of Philadelphia and then moved into district leadership at a network of charter schools, coaching school leaders as they adopted and implemented high quality mathematics instructional materials. Jessica studied educational leadership at the University of Pennsylvania and at Temple University.
She is passionate about building number fluency from conceptual understanding and believes that effective teaching practices have the potential to open up greater opportunities for high-order thinking and accelerate mathematics achievement of ALL students.
Courtney Comley: Director of Product Development, Custom Solutions
Courtney is the Director of Product Development for the Carnegie Learning Custom Solutions team. She joined Carnegie Learning in 2019 to help spread her love for mathematics and collaborative learning. She is currently leading a team developing products for the state of Texas at the highest quality. She truly believes that every student has the ability to love math and every teacher has the ability to help their students grow this mindset. She hopes that her passion can be shared with her team to improve project outcomes in order to give teachers resources that will allow them to see student success in math classrooms across the state of Texas, and hopefully beyond that!
Courtney began her career in the field of education as a high school math teacher in Arizona. During this time, she was department chair, participated on her leadership team, conducted school wide professional development, and coached cheerleading. Her last two years in the classroom were spent using the Carnegie curriculum and resources. Courtney has a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education Mathematics from Arizona State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Arkansas State University.
Courtney currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and puppy, with a little girl on the way. When she is not working, she loves to participate in anything active, be outdoors, and spend time with family and friends.
Allison Carden: Product Education Manager
Allison has been in education for 15 years. She began her teaching career in Connecticut and later moved to Pennsylvania where she taught in and outside of Philadelphia. She has a Bachelors in Education from Western Connecticut State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Cabrini University. Allison is excited to help educators better understand their Carnegie Learning products and all they have to offer. Outside of work, Allison enjoys spending time with her 3 daughters, cooking, watching football, and knitting!
Jennifer Penton: Manager of Instructional Design
Jennifer joined Carnegie Learning in 2020. During her time at Carnegie Learning, she has worked on reviewing and customizing Carnegie Learning’s products for the state of Texas. Recently, she moved into the role of Manager of Instructional Design.
Prior to Carnegie Learning, Jennifer spent eight years working in the public school system as a high school mathematics teacher. Jennifer taught Algebra I, Geometry, Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and IB (International Baccalaureate) Mathematics. In addition, she served as the Algebra I team lead teacher for several years. Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and a master’s degree in mathematics education and believes that all students can access and enjoy learning mathematics.
Jennifer lives in Columbus, OH with her husband and her two beautiful daughters. When she is not working, Jennifer enjoys running, reading, and spending time with her family.
Sami Briceño: Senior Instructional Designer
Sami has over 13 years of mathematics facilitation experience as a Senior Manager of School Partnerships with Carnegie Learning. She has spent the past year and half working as the Senior Content Lead on the Texas Home Learning project in partnership with the Texas Education Agency, first fully customizing Carnegie Learning's Texas Math Solution and now designing and authoring additional instructional materials to enhance the user experience. Prior to Carnegie Learning, Sami was a Senior Program Coordinator with the Charles A. Dana Center, the University of Texas at Austin. She is an expert in curriculum, instruction and professional learning for K-12 mathematics. Sami has lived the role of instructional coach and district mathematics specialist. Her classroom experience is in middle and high school mathematics, which include the use of Carnegie Learning blended learning instructional resources. Beyond supporting many district leaders, teachers and students around the country, she also presents at conferences regionally and nationally.
Brandy King: Senior Instructional Designer
Brandy King is a passionate math educator with more than 15 years experience as a teacher, coach, and professional learning facilitator. She earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics education from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Brandy taught at an inner-city school district with Carnegie Learning materials, was the Carnegie Learning coach for her district, and even wrote a blog called “A Day in the Life of a Carnegie Learning Teacher”.
In 2010, Brandy became a Carnegie Learning Master Practitioner and started providing professional learning to math educators across the country. In 2020, she joined the Custom Solutions Product Team working on custom products for several states including Texas and Florida. In her current role as a senior instructional designer, she helps develop and review materials for the Carnegie Learning Texas Math Solution.
Brandy lives in Michigan with her husband and two boys. In her spare time, she teaches Jazzercise classes and loves spending time with her family.
Karrie Holland: Product Analyst
Karrie Holland took a natural step into Business Education after more than 8 years of professional experience in New York City in both Marketing and Customer Relations. Karrie’s professional background stems from major organizations such as CNN, WE (Women’s Entertainment) and Madison Square Garden.
Karrie began at Carnegie Learning as a Product Specialist, and recently moved into the role of Product Analyst. Karrie’s education consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a Business Management minor. She then earned her Master’s degree in Business Education with a middle school extension. Karrie’s teaching experience was at the high school level where she enjoyed teaching Marketing, Entrepreneurship and Personal Finance. Her proudest teaching moment was leading several students to Nationals in her role as a DECA Advisor.
Karrie lives in Amarillo Texas, and in her free time enjoys being on the water, spending time with her family, and frequenting the local farmer’s market.
Katie Barsanti: Instructional Designer
Katie came to Carnegie Learning in 2021 with 13 years of experience in mathematics education. Katie implemented both the Carnegie Learning Course 3 and Algebra 1 resources with MATHia for 3 years. Katie attended Webster University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in MIddle School Education with a minor in Mathematics and Psychology and studied in Leiden, the Netherlands for a term. She went on to attend Southwest Baptist University to earn her Master's Degree in Educational Administration. Katie was the mathematics department chair for her building, participated in district-wide curriculum writing initiatives for 10+ years, delivered professional learning, and was recognized by her district of 22,000 students as District Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2017. Katie lives in St. Louis, Missouri with her husband , 3 kids (ages 11, 8, and 2) and their puppy Winnie. When she is not working, she loves reading, watching lots of sports and spending time with her family and friends.
Jason Ulrich: Instructional Designer
Todd Johnson: Senior Manager of Editorial
Todd is the Senior Manager of Editorial on the Custom Solutions team. Prior to holding this role, Todd served as the Platform Content Manager responsible for maintaining the Texas Math Solution lesson materials on Carnegie Learning’s digital platform.
Todd began his career in education as an elementary school teacher, working in a multi-age classroom of third and fourth grade students. He then moved to middle school where he taught math and science as part of an early dropout prevention program for seventh and eighth grade students. After leaving the classroom, Todd entered educational publishing where he has held numerous positions over the years including Senior Editor, Executive Editor, and Managing Partner.
Todd holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. He currently resides in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, and spends most of his time away from work transporting his son between AAU basketball tournaments.
Steven Mendoza: Manager of Content Editorial
Steven Mendoza has worked on customizing Carnegie Learning's content for Texas since he joined our organization in August of 2020. Prior to joining Carnegie Learning, he served for five years as the Secondary Mathematics Specialist for a regional Education Service Center in Texas. While at the service center, he offered professional development on best practices for teaching mathematics in grades 6-12. Steven also taught for eight years at the high school level. He taught Algebra 1 and Geometry, served as a lead Algebra I teacher, wrote curriculum, and mentored new teachers. Steven received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Texas at Austin in 2004 and earned a M.S. in Math with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University– Corpus Christi in 2012.
Steven Mendoza currently resides in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he is a husband and a father of four children. He is an avid handball player, and he will unapologetically crush your spirit using any ball on any court of your choice.
Sammy Andre: Content Editor
Sammy Andre joined the Carnegie Learning Professional Learning team as a Project Manager in 2016 supporting high schools in Miami-Dade County using the Carnegie Learning blended curricula. She later transitioned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she supported K-12 teachers and students with redefining mathematics teaching and learning. In 2021, Sammy joined the Custom Solutions team. She is an expert in middle grades mathematics curriculum and as the Lead Custom Solution Specialist contributed to the customization of the Texas Math Solution.
Prior to Carnegie Learning in her years as a teacher in Miami-Dade County, she primarily taught middle school math, with a year of teaching Algebra I. She also worked as a math instructional coach in the same school district, sharing her knowledge of mathematics pedagogy with her colleagues. Sammy has a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Middle Grades Mathematics Education. She has a second master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.
Sammy lives in Miami, Florida. She is a diehard University of Miami Hurricanes football fan and spends her off-time watching sports and attending sporting events with family and friends.
Eddie Altomare: Content Editor
Elizabeth Everett: Manager of Editorial Specialists
Elizabeth spent 16 years as a public educator in the state of Maryland, teaching elementary school, middle school math, and high school math. She also taught at the collegiate level for Johns Hopkins University where she worked with aspiring teachers as part of the Urban Teachers masters program, teaching coursework on campus and coaching participants in the classroom.
Before joining Carnegie Learning in 2020, Elizabeth worked with several EdTech companies, building custom curriculum products aligned to a variety of different standards. She has also written several STEM children’s books. The first title, This is the Sun, will be available Oct. 2022 with several more to follow!
Elizabeth holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Towson University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Educational Leadership from Hood College. She currently lives with her family in Colorado where they love all things outdoors.
Jesse Hinojosa: Editorial Specialist
Jesse has a B.A. in Mathematics from Texas A&M International University in his hometown of Laredo, Texas. After graduating, Jesse began his teaching career as a public high school math teacher. He then decided to work for a charter school for credit recovery and dropout prevention. This decision allowed him to transfer to Austin, Texas where he still resides. He worked with this same charter school for over 10 years, helping to graduate countless students that had slipped through the cracks at their previous school. During his time there, he went from math teacher to lead teacher, eventually becoming Asst. Principal as well as the campus testing coordinator for all high school levels of the STAAR test. Jesse became a Master Practitioner with Carnegie in 2018. Allowing him to continue using what he has learned to help out more than just one class at a time. In 2020, he became part of the Custom Solutions Product Team where he helped to create the digital version of the Texas Math Solution product. He also helped with the creation of videos for students, parents and teachers for Texas. In his spare time, Jesse likes to draw, play video games, collect comics and action figures (no wonder he connected and worked so well with kids, he practically is one!
Walt Drennan: Editorial Specialist, bilingual
Walt is a Bilingual editorial Specialist on the Carnegie Learning Custom Solutions team. Walt joined Carnegie Learning in the summer of 2018 on the Customer Support team as bilingual support specialist. Walt is currently working on editing and translating developed products for the state of Texas, into Spanish for their growing emergent bilingual student population. Walt has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from Saint Vincent College and a Master’s Degree in International Development from the University of Pittsburgh.
Walt lives in Pittsburgh, PA and when he isn’t working enjoys cycling, yoga, and reading out on his porch.
Bethany Jameson: Editorial Specialist, digital
Bethany joined the Carnegie Learning family in 2016 when she facilitated professional learning at a week-long institute in Philadelphia. She continued facilitating professional learning in a part-time capacity for the next few years while continuing to teach full time in Tucson, Arizona. Bethany has been part of the Custom Solutions team since 2020, and is excited about her current role of Editorial Specialist, Digital.
Bethany spent ten years teaching in the public school system. She taught kindergarten, first grade, fourth grade, and middle school technology classes. Along with teaching middle school technology classes the last few years in the classroom, Bethany was a district-level technology trainer, facilitating technology-based professional development to colleagues in the district. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational Technology, both from the University of Arizona. BEAR DOWN!
Bethany lives in Arizona and when she is not working, enjoys time with family and friends and loves all things creative. She enjoys baking, designing vinyl decals, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and any other crafty activity.
Erin Pellerin: Director of Business Process, Custom Solutions
Erin Pellerin is the Director of Business Process for the Custom Solutions Division at Carnegie Learning. She joined Carnegie Learning in 2022 and brings over a decade of experience in the educational publishing industry to the team. Erin has spent the majority of her career creating customized curriculum solutions for states and large school districts.
A graduate of Boston College, Erin lives and works in Massachusetts. When she is not working, Erin enjoys cooking, gardening, and cheering on New England sports teams with family and friends.
Desiree Brown: Program Manager
Desiree began her career at Carnegie Learning as a Product Specialist in 2021, and recently moved into the role of Program Manager. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science from Delaware Valley University. While Desiree grew up surrounded by a family full of educators, she was led down a different path. Desiree started her career as a zoo educator, eventually moving into a Lead Primate Keeper. This role led her to multiple opportunities, allowing her to provide continuous education for Zoo Keepers throughout the U.S. With skills such as supervising the care of multiple primate species, leading a team of fifteen, and managing millions of dollars in state and local funding, Desiree decided to make a career move into education. Carnegie Learning and the role of Program Manager presented itself as the perfect fit for her skill set. But, she is always willing to educate about primates at any time!
Desiree lives in Lancaster, PA with her husband and two sons. She loves photography, reading, and being outdoors, especially on a beach somewhere, hunting seashells.