Meet the Bizi Team.
Meet Jack and Kate, the dynamic duo driving innovation at Bizi, and learn about their commitment to reimagining education.
Meet Kate.
Before partnering with Jack to found Bizi, Kate dedicated 13 years to public education, transitioning from a middle school math teacher to roles as an instructional coach, assistant principal, and ultimately, to school principal.
In 2020, Kate earned recognition from the State of Florida as the Florida Assistant Principal of the Year for her leadership in Duval County and impact at Matthew Gilbert Middle School. Despite being appointed to principal at Pinedale Elementary at the onset of the pandemic, she led the Pandas to historically high improvements in reading and math proficiency, elevating the school grade from a ‘D’ to a ‘B’. Pinedale's progress earned statewide recognition and was one of 22 schools in the state to receive an ECTAC Exceeding Expectations Award which identifies high-poverty schools demonstrating exceptional progress in enhancing student achievement for all students. After her second year in the position, Kate was nominated for Turnaround Principal of the Year and promoted to principal at Westview K-8 to leverage her expertise in making a transformational impact on school culture.
Kate is passionate about challenging the status quo and infusing joy into the educational experience. She believes that student motivation is a catalyst for student achievement and sees financial literacy as a crucial component to long-term success.
She earned her B.S. in economics and finance from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and an M.A. in Urban Education Leadership from Columbia University in New York City. In her spare time, you’ll find Kate soaking up the sunshine, socializing with friends and family, loving on her dogs, cheering on the Jags, or plotting her next epic adventure.
Meet Jack.
Before founding Bizi, Jack served in various roles throughout a range of public school settings. Upon completion of his two-year Teach for America experience teaching middle school mathematics in Jacksonville, Florida, he transitioned into a new role as an instructional math coach at the elementary level. After obtaining his Master's in Educational Leadership from Lehigh University's Urban Principals Academy, he became an assistant principal where he propelled his school towards receiving the prestigious Exceeding Expectations Award, a recognition for schools in the top 1% of the state of Florida in academic growth and achievement.
Beyond Bizi, Jack is an avid traveler, having visited 49 states and 22 countries. In addition to exploring new places, he finds joy in playing sports, providing professional development to novice teachers, and enthusiastically rooting on his hometown team, the Chicago Cubs.