About XQ

XQ is working to permanently shift how America defines and delivers high school education

Whether it’s working with communities to reimagine the high school experience, collaborating on products that enable new ways of teaching and learning, or identifying policies that create the conditions for systemwide change, we’re on a mission to radically transform what high school looks like for young people everywhere. 

 

Helping communities dream big about what high school can be
We work closely with students, families, educators, and district leaders to turn their ideas into action. Together, we embark on a journey—grounded in XQ’s design principles and learner outcomes—that strengthens the high school experience. This work, based on the science of how adolescents learn, is driving meaningful outcomes for young people across the country. 

EXPLORE OUR LEARNER OUTCOMES AND DESIGN PRINCIPLES

SEE OUR APPROACH IN ACTION

Empowering educators with innovative products
XQ’s suite of free, high-quality tools and resources helps bridge the gap between vision and practice. Developed alongside educators, makers, learning scientists, and other experts, our products put high school transformation within reach of communities everywhere. 

EXPLORE OUR RESOURCES & TOOLS

 

Unlocking the conditions for lasting, systemwide change
Policy makers at all levels can accelerate high school redesign by creating the conditions for educators, students, and community members to undertake bold innovation. XQ engages in research and analysis to identify policies that support meaningful transformation—and lay the foundation for sustained change. 

 

History
XQ is a nonprofit organization and independent affiliate of Emerson Collective founded in 2015. That year, Laurene Powell Jobs and Russlynn Ali issued an open call—an invitation to the nation to join teams, build community, and reimagine the high school experience. The response was overwhelming. 10,000 people from all 50 states formed 700 teams. Ten schools were selected as part of our “Super School Project” and we worked hand-in-hand to turn their vision into reality. Today, our cohort of schools has grown to 18 and we have a presence in nearly 140 sites across the country. 

Abena Adjei
Admin & Ops Executive Assistant
Russlynn Ali
XQ Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder; Emerson Collective Managing Director, Education
Azeez Alli-Balogun
Director, Product Design
Stephanie Arata
Senior Creative Production Manager
Karim Biaye
Facilities & Workplace Experience Manager
Jamira Burley
Head of Community and Strategic Partnerships
Michele Cahill
Senior Advisor
Julie Carpenter
Senior Director, Operations & Administration
Joseph Chan
Financial Budget Analyst
Mike Cohen
Director of Engineering
Jon Dooley
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
Keith Dysarz
Chief Academic Officer
Marc Ecko
Senior Advisor
Jennifer Golub
Senior Advisor
Daniel Hagos
Legal Operations Manager
Joshua Hamlet
Accountant in Operations
Sheena Heikkila
Senior Program Manager
Laurence Holt
Senior Advisor
Evan Jackson
IT Manager
Chris James
Workplace Experience Coordinator
Craig Jerald
Senior Advisor for Policy & Analysis
Kayleah Kellybrew
Project Manager, Schools & Systems
Jeanie Lee
Chief Program Officer
Zoe Lewis
Deputy Chief Program Officer
Anna Li
Accountant in Operations
Anne Mackinnon
Senior Advisor
Molly Mauer
Chief Operating Officer
Marty McCoy
Director, Operations
Eddie Montalvo
Director, Educator Network
Sarah Navarro
Chief of Schools and Systems
Isabel Ouziz
Executive Assistant
Rikha Sharma Rani
Chief of Content & Editorial
Bob Regan
Senior Director, Product Management, Learning Models
Nytesia Ross
Director, Youth Engagement & Innovation in Schools
Mary Ryerse
Senior Advisor
Rachel Safferstone
Senior Director, Product Management
Stephanie Shultz
Senior Director, of Strategic Projects
Jaime Smith
Senior Executive Assistant & Board Liaison
Patrick Starzan
Head of Growth & Marketing
Carlee Strathmann
Program Manager
Tracy Tademy
Executive Assistant
Katie Tague
Chief Legal Officer
Stacy Tran
Product Manager
Lauren Wilson
Director, Strategic Projects
Showit Woldu
Senior Experience Coordinator
Denise Zocchi
Senior Project Manager

XQ was co-founded by board chair Laurene Powell Jobs, founder and president of Emerson Collective, and Russlynn Ali, XQ’s CEO and former U.S. assistant secretary of education for civil rights. XQ’s board of directors also includes Larry Berger, Geoffrey Canada, Marc Eckō, Jimmy Iovine, Michael Klein, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Emerson Collective

XQ works in direct collaboration with Emerson Collective, which is dedicated to removing barriers to opportunity so people can live to their full potential. Established and led by Laurene Powell Jobs, Emerson Collective’s work focuses on education, immigration reform, the environment, and other social justice initiatives. XQ is an independent affiliate of Emerson Collective.