Meet our Staff:     

John Landesman, Study Circles Program Coordinator: Before coming to Montgomery County Public Schools, John was director of Community Assistance for Everyday Democracy, a national organization that provides technical assistance to communities around the country on issues such as race relations, immigration, education reform, and police–community relations. John also was the founding director of Community Wide Dialogue on Racism and Race Relations in Central New York. He lives in Silver Spring and has children in MCPS.   

Deanna Kuhney, Study Circles Parent Community Coordinator:     

Yesenia Escolastico, Study Circles Parent Community Coordinator: Yesenia graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology and a minor in Non-Profit Management and Administration. The topics that interest Yesenia are educational equity, inequalities in urban education, Latino studies and discourses on race, class and gender inequalities. 

Benjamin Eichberg, AmeriCorps Member/Study Circles Program Assistant: Benjamin is in his first year as an AmeriCorps member for Study Circles with Project CHANGE. He graduated from the University of Maryland in May 2014 with a Bachelors of Art in Sociology and is a proud product of Montgomery County Public Schools. Benjamin is passionate about social justice, public policy, and education reform issues, specifically surrounding the intersectionality of race, class, and gender in underrepresented communities. He is excited to work with Study Circles and MCPS leadership teams, teachers, parents, and students to address the race-based achievement gap and further his career goals of advocating for positive social change. 

Caprecia Camper, AmeriCorps Member/Study Circles Program Assistant: Caprecia is participating in her first year as an AmeriCorps member for Project CHANGE. Caprecia attended the University of California San Diego where she majored in Political Science Public Policy and Minored in African American Studies. She is currently interested in education equity and policy. Caprecia previously interned with the  San Diego ACLU office’s Inspire program where she helped develop programs to inspire high school students to vote. Originating from California, Caprecia is excited to be a part of the Study Circles team here in Montgomery County. 

JerMarkus Booker, AmeriCorps Member/ Study Circles Program Assistant: JerMarkus is in his first year with the Study Circles program. He graduated from Dillard University New Orleans, LA with a major in political science and Urban Studies/Public Policy and enjoys being able to use his experience and personality, in his work with Study Circles. He recently relocated to Maryland, from New Orleans, la where he worked with Youth Empowerment Project as a youth advocate for the After School and Summer Enrichment Programs.  He enjoys working with communities throughout Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties and is looking forward to seeing the program develop over the next couple of years, with the hope of continuing his career creating equality and social justice for all.