MICHAEL BAKER

Research & Policy Analyst

Mike is a former Wake County Public Schools teacher with a passion for integrating data inside and outside the classroom. After teaching AP Calculus and coaching the high school robotics team, Mike ventured into higher education, where he worked for the past 5 years serving as a consultant for implementing and generating data warehouse solutions. He now takes that same passion for education and data back to primary and secondary education, supporting the efforts of his North Carolina home in bettering education policy for all students and educators alike.  He specializes in identifying and highlighting impact metrics for program analysis, and also brings national and international policy perspective on North Carolina education initiatives.

Mike earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics with the Education, Science and Teaching program at UNC-Chapel Hill as a Burroughs Wellcome Fellow, and completed his student teaching at Beijing Royal School.  Additionally, he earned his Masters in International Education Policy and Management from Vanderbilt University, alongside completing a practicum in survey analysis for e-Reader use in primary schools in Lwala, Kenya.

BRENDA BERG

President & CEO

Brenda is the President & CEO of BEST NC (Business for Educational Success and Transformation in North Carolina), a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of 100 business leaders with a focus on making education in North Carolina the best in the nation. Through policy and advocacy, BEST NC strives to ensure that every student in North Carolina will graduate with the knowledge, skills and behaviors to succeed in a competitive global economy.

With over thirty years of experience as a business owner, public policy professional, and education advocate, Brenda leads the overall BEST NC vision, strategy, and operations while leveraging her expertise to be the business-to-education bridge in BEST NC’s work to transform education in North Carolina. In 2002, she founded Scandinavian Child, a baby products manufacturing and importing business. Prior to founding her business, she had almost ten years of public policy experience in both education and transportation policy, research, and programs.

Brenda’s passion for education stems from her own experience as a first-generation college graduate. With two children who attended North Carolina public schools, she is driven by the belief that every child should have access to a great education.

Brenda has been recognized with the “40 Under 40” and “Women in Business” awards from the Triangle Business Journal, as well as the Stanley Frank Class Award from Leadership North Carolina. She is also on the adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a regular guest lecturer at Duke University and NC State University. She also serves on various boards and education organizations, including the NC Principal Fellows Commission, Teaching Fellows Advisory Board, myFutureNC Advisory Board, and the NC Community College Foundation Board. Brenda is a Pahara Fellow and has a BA in economics and a master’s degree in public policy, both from Georgetown University.

ZACHARY HODGES

Chief Storyteller

Zachary’s commitment to improving educational outcomes in North Carolina stems from his experience as a local public school student, and his mother’s 20+ years of work as a teacher in the Wake County Public School System. In his role as BEST NC’s Chief Storyteller, Zachary develops tools to help members and stakeholders better understand complex education topics, leads the organization’s video production and media team, and is intimately involved with the implementation of communications and marketing efforts focusing on graphic design, asset development, and digital management.

A native of Fuquay-Varina and an alum of Appalachian State University, Zachary Hodges graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing and Film Studies before moving back to Raleigh. His ability to listen, understand, his affinity for collecting and sharing stories, and his commitment to elevating educators led Zachary to join the BEST NC team.

JOYCE KOHN

Membership Director

Joyce is a strategic development and communications consultant with 25+ years of executive level experience and carries a personal passion for bringing together communities to create lasting impacts. She has specialized expertise in the areas of fundraising, sales, marketing, and public relations, leadership development and special events. She holds a B.S. from East Carolina University and is a mother to two sons, Joshua and Zachary. Joyce is a proud North Carolinian and enjoys her work around the state, but will always hold a special affinity for the people, food, history and culture of Eastern North Carolina.

As an individual with an established footprint in the state, Joyce has a knack for understanding the needs of for-profit entities and the devotions of non-profits within North Carolina. This unique experience allows her to hone in on individualized issue advocacy work and help create the change North Carolinians want for their state.

CHRIS PALMER

Research & Policy Consultant

Chris Palmer’s passion for education is rooted in the belief that education is the most powerful agent for change for people and for communities. A North Carolina transplant, Chris spent the first 35 years of his life living in New England. In the past 12 years, he has worked as a middle school para-educator, middle school science teacher, elementary school administrator, and high school baseball coach in rural Vermont schools.

As a teacher, Chris prioritized student voice and choice in curriculum, technology integration, and authentic student work products that reached audiences outside of the classroom. As an administrator, he worked to bring project-based and Maker learning opportunities to his school and became an advocate for restorative educational approaches to improve learning environments and school-community connections.

Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science from Tufts University, as well as Master’s degrees in Secondary Science Education and Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont.

MAUREEN STOVER

Senior Programs Director

Maureen’s dedication to improving the educational opportunities for all students through equitable education initiatives is what led her to BEST NC following a successful career as an educator. As a former science teacher, she was the 2020 Burroughs Wellcome Fund North Carolina Teacher of the Year (NCTOY), a 2021 National Teacher of the Year finalist, and a 2022 National Educators Association California Casualty Excellence in Teaching awardee. Maureen has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels and worked as an educational consultant for the National Science Teaching Association. During that time, she taught biology, earth and environmental science, and advancement via individual determination (AVID) at Cumberland International Early College High School in Cumberland County, North Carolina.

Maureen earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from the United States Air Force Academy, Class of 1997, a Master of Arts Education in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from Adams State University in Colorado, a Master of Arts in Teaching in secondary science from Western Governors University North Carolina, and a Leadership Certificate in STEM education from Teachers College Columbia University. Prior to becoming a teacher, she served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Air Force.

Maureen and her husband Matt are the parents to three adult boys, one amazing daughter-in-law, and a 90 pound lap dog who is the center of everyone’s world.

LEAH SUTTON

Vice President of Policy & Engagement

Leah Sutton’s passion for improving school quality and educational access is grounded in her experiences working with disadvantaged students and from her own upbringing as a public school student in rural eastern North Carolina. As BEST NC’s Vice President of Policy & Engagement, Leah leads the development and execution BEST NC’s  Educator Innovation policy agenda, helps guide the organization’s communication efforts, and provides support for key BEST NC programs and publications including the Education Innovation Lab and Facts & Figures.

Prior to joining BEST NC in 2018, Leah was a policy analyst for the Hunt Institute and was a classroom teacher in North Carolina Public Schools. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history education from North Carolina State University and a master’s degree in education policy and management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She also holds a certificate in education finance from Georgetown University. Leah currently serves as co-chair of the Board of Advisors of the Kenan Fellows Program at NC State University.

RACHAEL VAN DEVENDER

Executive Assistant & Engagement Coordinator

Rachael’s passion for education stems from watching her daughter enter the Wake County Public School System, finding inspiration from the diversity and equity she witnessed in the schools she attended as a child. In addition to her focus on education, Rachael consistently volunteers with the Diaper Train and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Rachael got her undergrad at Auburn University and her MBA at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler School of Business. She spent the first 20 years of her career in tech, working for companies like Red Hat, AWS, and Splunk. As a daughter, wife, and mother to a 6-year-old, Rachael has recently taken a career shift to focus on the things most important to her: her family and her NC community.