Janelle Scharon

Dr. Scharon is the Managing Director of Teacher Engagement Experiences and Virtual Learning at Teach For America. She is a social entrepreneur and educator dedicated to solving education inequities through innovative learning and development experiences for teachers and students. Dr. Scharon graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and received a BS in Chemistry with a minor in Anthropology. She began her research journey in science and education as a National Science Foundation fellow at the University of Wisconsin. Dedicated to community building and social change, she completed a MA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin. Compelled to contribute to change and maximize her profound impact as a Latina Muslim, Dr. Scharon joined Teach For America and taught high school chemistry in Chicago. She completed her MA in Secondary Science Education from Dominican University, IL. To expand her impact, she coached and designed teacher professional development experiences in digital spaces including online teacher communities and learning opportunities. She completed her Ph.D. in Science Education with a focus on teacher instructional practices. Dr. Scharon has contributed to increased impact and advancement of pre-service and in-service teacher support and development with identity based summits, online teacher modules, and design of EdX/TFA MOOC courses.