ALAMEDA, CA – [December 15, 2025] – Collaborative Classroom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high-quality, research-based curriculum and professional learning, today announced the appointment of Teresa Marchek to its Board of Trustees.

Alongside the recent appointments of Dana Cilono and Kate Horst to the Board, this news significantly expands Collaborative Classroom’s expertise in technology-driven product innovation, strategic philanthropy, and foundational early childhood education.

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Teresa Marchek: Responsible AI Innovation and Strategy

Teresa Marchek, MBA, brings over 20 years of experience in product development, strategic growth, and technological innovation across education and healthcare. She currently serves as Co-Founder and Head of Product at Blank Metal, an AI-native professional services firm.

Ms. Marchek’s expertise will guide Collaborative Classroom’s work in leveraging technology for greater impact to serve students and educators: 

“I’m thrilled to join the Collaborative Classroom Board of Trustees. Their mission-driven work aligns perfectly with my passion for bringing innovation and new product development expertise to organizations that create meaningful impact. I’m energized by the opportunity to further Collaborative Classroom’s existing innovation in AI, including the implementation-focused CC AI Assistant for educators using their curricula, and to guide the organization as it responsibly integrates modern AI tools to accelerate content creation, strengthen educator support, and deliver more personalized teaching and learning experiences.”

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Dana Cilono and Kate Horst: Strategic Philanthropy, Early Literacy, and Early Childhood Education

The appointments of Dana Cilono and Kate Horst to the Board of Trustees in November 2024 further strengthen Collaborative Classroom’s commitment to early childhood education alongside the organization’s long-standing focus on K–12 teaching and learning. The collective expertise of Cilono and Horst ensures the strategic integration and continued excellence of the rigorously researched SEEDS of Learning™ resources for early childhood educators following the 2024 merger of FluentSeeds into Collaborative Classroom.

Dana Cilono is the Director of Education Strategy & Ventures for the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. She oversees grantmaking priorities focused on ensuring every child is reading at or above grade level by third grade. As a former first-grade teacher and instructional coach in Oakland, she previously served as the Program Director at FluentSeeds before the Collaborative Classroom merger.

Kate Horst joined the Board after serving as a Collaborative Classroom senior advisor and previously as the Executive Director of FluentSeeds. She is the original author of the SEEDS of Learning professional learning framework. Her work, which is grounded in quality interactions, brain science, and social-emotional learning, has been rigorously evaluated and shown to have a significant impact on young children’s school readiness.

“I am honored to serve as a Collaborative Classroom board member. My passion and interests have always been focused on supporting our youngest learners through nurturing relationships and evidence-based, equitable literacy resources. The work of Collaborative Classroom provides more educators access to the high-quality curriculum and professional development they need to ensure their students become confident, joyful readers, writers, and critical thinkers.”

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Leadership Commentary

“The recent additions of Dana Cilono, Kate Horst, and now Teresa Marchek collectively mark a milestone for our already impressive Board of Trustees,” said Collaborative Classroom’s President and CEO Kelly Stuart.  

“Teresa’s mastery of product development and responsible AI integration is critical for our future. Equally vital are the appointments of Dana and Kate who, with their deep, hands-on experience in early childhood, philanthropic leadership, and their pivotal roles at FluentSeeds, are already proving to be invaluable as we work to improve outcomes for young children, from their earliest years through preschool and Pre-K, and then as they grow as learners through grades K–12,” Stuart said.

Learn more:

For more information about Collaborative Classroom and its evidence-based, classroom-tested approach to education, visit collaborativeclassroom.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Miki Terasawa
Director of Marketing
Collaborative Classroom
mterasawa@collaborativeclassroom.org