Project Team
Leadership
Charles Sims - Project Director
Role: Strategic leadership, curriculum design oversight, community partnerships
Charles Sims is a technology transformation leader at Skafld Studio, where he develops innovative approaches to educational technology implementation. He created the "Hurricane Methodology," a rapid prototyping framework for educational content that emphasizes iterative testing with diverse learners.
Qualifications:
- Education background from New York University
- Expertise in technology-enabled learning design
- Track record of equity-focused educational initiatives
- Experience managing complex multi-stakeholder projects
Project Responsibilities:
- Overall project direction and accountability
- Curriculum framework design and quality assurance
- Community and employer partnership development
- Equity framework implementation oversight
Keith Coleman - Strategic Partnerships & Stanford Liaison
Role: Stanford collaboration, partnership development, equity framework oversight
Keith Coleman is Co-Chair of the UN Joint SDG Fund Breakthrough Alliance and Founding Co-President Emeritus of Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs of Southern California. He brings decades of experience in education, workforce development, and equity-focused public-private partnerships.
Stanford Affiliation:
- B.A. Economics, Stanford University (1986)
- Advisory Scholar, mediaX at Stanford University (2019-2022) - Industry Affiliate Program of Stanford's H-STAR Institute extended from the Stanford Graduate School of Education
- Active leadership in Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs, Stanford Alumni in Sustainability, and connections to Stanford Venture Studio and Stanford Center for Social Innovation
Qualifications:
- UN Joint SDG Fund Breakthrough Alliance Co-Chair - Building alliances to create opportunities for all, managing partnerships supporting $290M+ portfolio across 150+ countries
- Capitol Partners General Partner (17 years) - Coalition building for education and economic opportunity
- Climate Action Pathways for Schools - Education pathway development with equity focus
- Consultancy with U.S. Department of Education, universities, and non-profits on educational initiatives
- M.A. Applied Positive Psychology from University of Pennsylvania - research-based approaches to human flourishing
Project Responsibilities:
- Stanford collaboration and research integration
- Equity framework oversight and accountability
- Community partnership development
- Connection to Stanford HAI and Graduate School of Education resources
Advisory Structure
Family Advisory Committee
Representatives from El Segundo USD families ensuring community voice in all project decisions:
- Parents of students with disabilities
- Parents of English language learners
- Parents representing socioeconomic diversity
- Student representatives (grades 9-12)
Educator Advisory Group
District teachers and administrators providing pedagogical expertise:
- Classroom teachers from each grade band
- Special education specialists
- English learner specialists
- Curriculum coordinators
Technical Advisory Panel
External experts ensuring quality and accessibility:
- Accessibility consultant (WCAG expertise)
- Learning sciences researcher
- AI education specialist
- Assessment design expert
Partner Organization
El Segundo Unified School District
El Segundo USD serves as the implementation partner, providing:
- Student population for curriculum implementation
- Teacher participants for professional development
- Classroom settings for pilot and scaled implementation
- Administrative support and data access
- Commitment to sustaining curriculum beyond grant period
District Commitment:
- Dedicated staff time for project coordination
- Access to student information systems for data collection
- Integration of curriculum into district course offerings
- Long-term sustainability planning
Staffing Plan
| Role | FTE | Funding Source |
|---|---|---|
| Project Director (Sims) | 0.25 | Grant + In-kind |
| Technical Lead (Coleman) | 0.25 | Grant |
| Curriculum Developer | 0.50 | Grant |
| Accessibility Specialist | 0.25 | Grant |
| Project Coordinator | 0.25 | District In-kind |
Organizational Capacity
Skafld Studio brings:
- Established educational technology development processes
- Track record of successful project delivery
- Commitment to equity and inclusion
- Capacity for curriculum development and training
El Segundo USD brings:
- Active K-12 student population
- Experienced teaching staff
- Established community relationships
- Infrastructure for implementation
Together, these organizations provide the complementary capabilities required for successful curriculum development, implementation, and sustainability.