Acera: Spanish, sidewalk, pathway.
EI: Education Innovation.
Our team
At our own K-12 lab school, we see the endless possibilities for creativity and innovation in our classrooms every day. This drives the AceraEI team’s passion for bringing joyful learning to every child.
Sarah Zuckerman, Director of Education and Innovation
M.A.Ed Harvard University, focus in Arts in Education, Recipient of the Urban Scholars Fellowship
B.A.Ed Indiana University, Indiana
An urban public school graduate, Sarah’s life has been dedicated to giving all students high-quality education. Prior to her work in education leadership and program design, she was an art teacher in K-12 classrooms for 10 years, she has taught in the lowest- and highest-performing urban public schools. Sarah has worked on numerous policy issues advocating for students and has received numerous awards for her work, including Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Urban Scholars Fellowship and the Sontag Prize for Urban Education, and has had works published by Education Leadership, Ed Week, and Americans for the Arts.
Irina Uk, Education and Innovation Program Manager
Ed.M. Technology, Innovation and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
M.S. Applied Mathematics, DePaul University
B.S. Mathematical Sciences and B.S.C. Finance, DePaul University
Irina Uk is a teacher, a curriculum creator, and educational change agent. She joins Acera from Boston Public Schools, where she taught mathematics to 6th through 8th graders. Irina is adept at using design interventions, multi-model, and multi-disciplinary supplemental lessons to engage and meet the needs of all learners, and she is experienced in building partnerships with education and research institutions. As AceraEI’s Program Manager, Irina will help bring Acera’s innovative approach to K-12 education to more public schools in Massachusetts and beyond.
Jonathan Dietz, Engineering Specialist
MAT, Simmons College
SB, Electrical Engineering, MIT
SB, Life Science, MIT
Jonathan has taught science, engineering, and arts at all levels since 1998, at Weston Middle School, The Driscoll School in Brookline, the MIT Edgerton Center, the Rashi School, and various summer programs. Prior to working in education, he was a hospital clinical engineer for many years. He is also adjunct faculty in education for American International College.
Kerry Crisley, Marketing and Public Relations Lead
M.S. Public Relations, Boston University
B.A. English, University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Kerry brings more than 20 years of marketing and public relations experience to Acera, including a combined 16 years at the nonprofit organizations The Nature Conservancy and Boston Bar Association. Kerry creates and shares Acera’s stories of innovation in education via Acera School and AceraEI’s website, social media channels, and in local and statewide media outlets. She lives in Wakefield with her husband John, their children Ben and Erin, and their (very spoiled) rescue dog Luna. When not at work, Kerry can usually be found reading, walking in the Fells, or getting into a wide variety of shenanigans with her book club