Verdant Learning

Asha balances systems thinking and execution, building programs, processes, and tools rooted in wide community involvement. Over the past twenty years, she has worked with schools, districts, and numerous other organizations undergoing major change.

Prior to Verdant, Asha volunteered extensively in Math and ELA ICT classrooms at Brooklyn's PS/MS 282 and PS 133. From 2012 to 2013, she was the Executive Director of Data & Policy at Newark Public Schools in New Jersey. One project she led at NPS was to develop publicly available school snapshots where she solicited and incorporated key parent feedback. Previously, Asha led the school improvement practice at Wireless Generation (now Amplify), designing and launching its Lead Partner turnaround model, and supporting schools in Indianapolis, Washington DC, and Detroit. She also led Strategy & Finance at Edvance Learning, a start-up school group in India.

Asha started her career at Goldman Sachs in investment banking in New York and then distressed debt in London. Later, she was a product manager at open-source software leader, Red Hat. She was also a Director at disruptive innovation pioneer, Innosight Ventures, and a consultant to Fabindia.

She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics with Honors from the University of Chicago. She has lived and worked in the US, India, Europe, Singapore, and East Africa. For the past eight years, Asha has lived in Brooklyn where she is an avid CrossFitter, Food Coop member, skier, and outdoors explorer.

Ellen Moir is Founder and previously served as Chief Executive Officer of New Teacher Center (NTC), a national organization dedicated to improving student learning by accelerating the effectiveness of new teachers, experienced teachers and school leaders. She is recognized as a passionate advocate for our nation’s newest teachers and for the students they teach.

Ellen founded NTC in 1998 to scale high quality teacher induction services to a national audience. NTC strengthens school communities through proven mentoring and professional development programs, online learning environments, policy advocacy, and research. Today NTC has a staff of over 150 who work closely with educators and policymakers across the country. NTC seeks to work in high-poverty schools in underserved communities to ensure that the nation’s low-income, minority, and English language learners, those students most often taught by inexperienced teachers, have the opportunity to receive an excellent education.

I-Hsing is chief program officer at the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund in New York City. She served previously as co-chair PS 184 Shuang Wen’s School Leadership Team where she worked with the school’s teachers, administration and parents to lead a dual language and dual culture program that prepares students to attain the highest standards in our increasingly global society. In addition, I-Hsing teaches financial management to graduate students at the Columbia University School of Social Work.

Previously, I-Hsing worked at the Robin Hood Foundation where she managed a library-based literacy program in low-income and low-performing elementary schools, and managed a $6 million dollar portfolio in which she advised workforce development organizations. She has advised various educational organizations including NYC Outward Bound Schools, Education & Industry Partnership, and Boys & Girls Club of Allentown. I-Hsing received a BS from New York University and an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.