Lessoncast Team

Nicole Tucker-Smith / Founder, CEO

Nicole Tucker-Smith, founder and CEO of Lessoncast, helps schools implement professional learning initiatives focused on inclusive teaching and equity best practice. Nicole co-authored Supercharge Your Professional Learning: 40 Concrete Strategies to Improve Adult Learning (CAST Publishing, February 2020), which provides practical how-to information for applying the UDL Guidelines to professional learning experiences. In addition, she wrote Remote PD Zen, available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play. She also leads the Jumpstart PD Network, a community of educators to share ideas, spread resources, post tips, and dialogue on key areas of interest related to designing and delivering effective PD focused on inclusion and equity. Nicole’s latest article, “The Illusion of Equity PD,” is featured in the March 2021 issue of Education Leadership.

She has served as a teacher, supervisor of parent support services, principal, and systemwide coordinator of professional development and training for Baltimore County Public Schools. Nicole was also a program coordinator for Johns Hopkins University Center for Technology in Education and teaches as a faculty member for the JHU School of Education. Nicole is an international presenter on Universal Design for Learning, a member of the CAST National Faculty, co-chair of the UDL Rising to Equity initiative, and she provides her professional development expertise to support implementation of UDL in P12 and higher education learning environments.

Khalid Smith / Founder, CTO

Khalid is an experienced marketing and brand manager, startup founder, community-builder, social entrepreneur, engineer, educator and facilitator that has found his purpose in growing communities dedicated to equitable outcomes for all.

Khalid is cofounder of the Academy of Future Health Professionals, a network of parents, students and black medical professionals seeking to create a pipeline of world-class black health professionals improving outcomes for black communities.

Khalid is cofounder of Lessoncast Learning, a professional development firm that helps school districts operationalize their plans for equity and inclusion with research and adult learning-theory backed practices for putting equity-related professional learning into classroom practice.

Khalid holds a BS degree from the University of Virginia in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Applied Biomedical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

Khalid has been married to T. Nicole Tucker Smith, CEO and co-founder of Lessoncast Learning for 19 years. They have two amazing children and make Baltimore, Maryland home.

Namaala Liebenthal / COO

Namaala Liebenthal is a corporate attorney, business manager, entrepreneur and choreographer. She has a wealth of experience in the USA and Zambia in law, bank management and advisory work, including commercial transactions, financing, acquisitions, e-commerce, and real estate. Namaala has helped small, medium and large businesses with strategy, growth acceleration and operational management.

Namaala is also the Founder of ZOCA Dance, a dance fitness movement and multinational franchise. Ms. Liebenthal holds a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and a BS in Commerce (Finance) from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. She is a member of the Bar in New York and Zambia.

Belinda Jackson / PM & Social Media

Belinda Marie Jackson is an educator, visual strategist, and organizational planner. Belinda began her professional career as an educator in her hometown of Mount Vernon, NY. After transitioning from classroom teaching to higher-education research she began combining her love of art with systems thinking. While coaching many high-performing professionals in her leadership roles over the years, Belinda found her niche in helping people identify and draw out their gifts. With her expertise in instructional design, strategic planning, and 20+ years in education, Belinda clearly communicates complex ideas and propels the vision of leaders and teams into meaningful impact.

Cody Hanu / Creative Director

Cody Hanu is a Creative Director, photographer and Graphic designer born and raised in New York City. He has worked commercially in the creative field for nearly two decades, weaving digital content and stories together for various companies and startups. Currently he works as Creative Content manager for 1199SEIU Training and Employment Funds which has provided over 1.5 million healthcare workers with services focused on workforce development, education, job security and a persistent fight for social justice. Especially now, Cody is inspired to take action and use his creativity, energy and skills to bring about positive change.

Hannah Murphy / Executive Assistant

Hannah Murphy is the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Lessoncast. She brings over 10 years of experience to the table with proficiency in scheduling and correspondence. Hannah’s expertise in data management systems and project coordinating make her an invaluable asset to the Lessoncast team. She has the natural ability to implement innovative creative touches and aspects to any and all projects.

Originally from Poughkeepsie, NY, Hannah continued her education in Charlotte, NC, landing her the ideal opportunity to become part of The Nascar Technical Institute team before finding her home as part of the Lessoncast family. Her passion and vision is to assist Lessoncast in becoming the leading company spearheading innovative awareness that brings a new found structure and reaches new heights in the educational foundation that currently exists.

Marina Gillmore / Session Facilitator

Dr. Marina Gillmore has built her professional career around working with youth and teaching, training, researching, and writing about issues related to critical literacy, equity and access, social justice, belief and value exploration, and self-efficacy. She holds a doctorate in Leadership for Educational Justice and has conducted award-winning research on the experiences of underserved youth in urban environments. Marina currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer at the Cambio Group, an educational consultancy that specializes in working collaboratively within complex systems to create large-scale equity transformation that is sustainable. She is also the co-founder of the Jumpstart PD Community, a free online community for equity-minded educators to equip their ability to provide impactful PD, so that we can achieve equitable outcomes for all students. Marina has co-authored multiple books related to education, including What I Learned in the Midst of KAOS: The Making of an Ubuntu Teacher. Additionally, she is the co-founder of the SPARK Center for Professional and Personal Renewal, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to helping educators and other change agents balance lives of personal wellness and purpose with professional efficacy and effectiveness. Her educational consulting work in the areas of literacy and equity has taken her throughout the country, with a strong emphasis in serving linguistically and culturally diverse communities. She currently splits her time between southern California and Costa Rica.

Shauntā Singer / Session Facilitator

As an educator in both the K-12 and higher education settings, Shauntā uses the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework as a conduit for educators to design learning environments and opportunities that recognizes and honors students’ cultures, identities, experiences, and preferences on their learning journey. For over 20 years, Dr. Singer has supported students, parents, communities, and educators as a regional, district-level, and school-based educator. She has a special interest in working with pre-service and in-service teachers to support a world where students have access to profound teaching and learning and are honored for who they are and what they bring to the learning environment. On a personal note, Shauntā has two young daughters and a loving husband that add additional value and perspective to her life.