Staff

Monica Rodgers, Executive Director

Monica Rodgers is the Executive Director of Breakthrough Atlanta.  Monica is a graduate of Spelman College and has worked in a variety of leadership posts at her alma mater.

 

For almost eight years of her close to fifteen year tenure at Spelman, Monica worked in the Admissions Office serving most recently as the Associate Director of Admission and Orientation Services.  For six years, she had significant responsibility for residential life at Spelman.  In that capacity, she supervised residence halls and advised students concerning hall government and leadership.  She has had significant responsibility orienting, training, and developing student leaders at Spelman.  For three years at Spelman, Monica served as the Early College Program Coordinator.  In that position, she coordinated academic and extracurricular activities for high school juniors and seniors during a six-week residential program designed to help them garner college credit and to gain additional preparation for college. And while at Spelman, she also did some substituting in the Atlanta Public School System.

 

Monica belongs to a number of professional organizations including the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), and the College Board.  She has attended the Harvard Summer Institute on College Admission. She has served as a class agent for her Class of 1991 at Spelman and while at Spelman, has been a member of the Bonner Scholarship Committee.

mrodgers@lovett.org

(404) 262-3032 ext. 1444 

    Jill van Leesten, MSW Program Director

    Jill van Leesten is a New England native from Providence, Rhode Island and is the Program Director for Breakthrough Atlanta. Before joining Breakthrough Atlanta, Jill was the Field Supervisor for Communities In Schools of Atlanta for five years and the Program of Operations for the Performance Learning Centers with Communities In Schools of Georgia for one year.  Jill is very active in her community and is a mentor to several high school girls.

    Jill graduated from Virginia State University with a B.S. degree in Public Administration and studied abroad for a year at Regent’s College of London. She also received her MSW from Clark Atlanta University, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Instructional Leadership at Argosy University.

    jvanleesten@lovett.org

    (404) 262-3032 ext. 1450

    Kristin Wyckoff, Director of College Prep Programs

    Kristin Wyckoff joined the team in June 2008. In her role as Director of College Prep Programs, she serves as a resource to eighth grade students and families for high school placement. Additionally, she works closely with high school students to provide summer program opportunities, college preparation seminars and spearheads the ninth grade school year program.

     

    Kristin is a native of Huntsville, Alabama who graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Prior to working with Breakthrough Atlanta, Kristin served as Associate Director of Admission at Spelman College. She brings nearly a decade of college admissions experience, including professional affiliations with the National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) and the Southern Association for College Admissions Counseling (SACAC). In 2008, Kristin was selected to be a mentor in the Coca-Cola/Spelman College Intergenerational Leadership Mentoring Program.  

    kwyckoff@lovett.org

    (404) 262-3032 ext. 1173

    Al Johnson, Program Associate

    Al Johnson is a California native born to two Christian ministers in Los Angeles. He relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 2004. Al started working with youth programs at St. Philip A.M.E. Church, which sparked his interest in continuing to change the lives of young people across the city. Al heard about the Breakthrough Collaborative and began working with Breakthrough Atlanta in December 2007. His duties as Program Associate include office management, event coordination and  marketing.

     ajohnson@lovett.org

    (404) 262-3032 ext. 1447

    Courtney Moss, Curriculum Specialist

    Courtney Moss joined the Breakthrough Atlanta (BTA) staff in the Fall of 2008.  As the Curriculum Specialist for BTA, she is responsible for providing the school year curriculum for ninth grade students.  Courtney works very closely with Kristin Wyckoff to make sure the students are receiving an enriched experience during their Saturdays spent with Breakthrough Atlanta. 

     

    Courtney is a native of Washington, DC, but grew up in Atlanta, GA.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Hampton University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University.  Courtney has five years of classroom teaching experience in both the public and private sectors.  In addition to her role as the Curriculum Specialist for BTA, Courtney is an Upper School Mathematics Teacher at The Lovett School.

    cmoss@lovett.org

    (404) 262-3032

    Crystal McHardy, Dean of Faculty

    Crystal McHardy joined BTA staff in the summer of 08; coming to BTA with 13 years of classroom and curriculum experience from various districts across the United States.  Originally from New Haven, CT, Crystal has lived and worked in both district and charter schools in Los Angeles, New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Georgia.  From early on her educational career, Crystal has always been passionate about curriculum and the instructional process.  This passion has lead to taking on numerous leadership roles such as curriculum writing, managing academic programs, teacher support, and departmental leadership.

    Originally entering the field of education through Teach For America, in 2005 Crystal returned to TFA in the role of Program Director for the Atlanta region, supporting and training 1st and 2nd year secondary Teach For America teachers placed throughout the Atlanta Public Schools.  In addition to the BTA Dean of Faculty role, Crystal is the Math/Science Leader at the Atlanta Charter Middle School.

    Crystal holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Spelman College, a Masters Degree in Science Education from the University of New Haven, and is currently completing Educational Leadership Certification through Florida Atlantic University.


    (404) 262-3032 ext. 1450

    Jeremy Crane, Site Director

     

    Jeremy Crane joined Breakthrough Atlanta from the field of education, as a junior high/high school classroom teacher. He graduated Cum Laude from

    Fort Valley State University, where he acquired his B.S. degree in Middle Grades Education and competed in NCAA athletics for four years. He served as a NCAA student-athlete ambassador and was an active member of the student government during undergrad studies.  Jeremy is a native of College Park, GA and is a graduate of The Lovett School (2001).  Currently, Jeremy serves as the Site Director at Breakthrough Atlanta’s newest site, Atlanta Youth Academy.