IDEA's staff is small but mighty.
Dana Bennis, Director of Research and Programs
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dana has been deeply involved in the growing network of democratic education practitioners and supporters since 2001, dedicating his time to researching, teaching, and advocating for education that respects young people to be meaningfully involved in their learning. He has taught in democratic, progressive, and conventional school settings and earned a Masters Degree in Education from Vermont College of Union Institute and University. Dana has published essays in various education journals, and collaborates with others locally, nationally, and internationally to advance democratic education. He brings to IDEA his commitment to youth engagement and democratic practice, national and international education connections, and his strengths in research, education theory and analysis, and critically listening to the viewpoints of others. Dana lives in Minneapolis with his partner and fellow educator, Julie Hill.
Melia Dicker, Director of Communications
Location: Jackson, Mississippi
Melia Dicker, a writer and educator who has worked with students of all ages, is the Communications Director of IDEA. She co-founded Spark, a nonprofit organization empowering youth through leadership development and apprenticeships in their dream jobs. Melia blogs at Reschool Yourself (www.reschoolyourself.com), having spent a year retracing her steps through education from kindergarten through college. She has a degree in Psychology from Santa Clara University and is an alumna and board member of AmeriCorps' Public Allies. Melia brings to the IDEA team her experience in starting and managing a nonprofit organization, bridging differences between alternative and traditional educators, and using personal narrative to introduce democratic education to mainstream audiences.
Jeanette Miller, Director of Operations
Location: Sunnyvale, California
Jeanette is a writer/artist, with a Masters Degree in English from Portland State University and an ongoing interest in Gender and Identity Studies. Jeanette writes a blog of “autobiofictionography,” loosely based on her own life experiences and artistic work. With over ten years of experience in executive administrative and program support, she has worked at small and large, public and private institutions of higher education, such as Western Oregon University, Portland State University, Stanford University, and Santa Clara University. Jeanette became interested in democratic education when she was introduced to the grassroots inception of The Village Free School in Portland, Oregon where she served briefly as a Council Treasurer. Along with her extensive administrative, finance management, and organizational skills, she brings to IDEA her attention to detail, discernment, and tenacity of purpose.
Scott Nine, Executive Director
Location: Portland, Oregon
Scott Nine is the Executive Director of IDEA. A dynamic public speaker and organizer, he enjoys teaching and learning about leadership, social justice, community, educational reform, environmental sanity, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and how we get along with one another. Scott has a Masters Degree in Social Work from Arizona State University. He has experience teaching, advising, and creating learning communities for people ages 5 to 95. Raised by two public school educators, Scott fell in love with his partner Hollie while growing up in Apache Junction, Arizona. He is normally based in Portland, Oregon but is spending the school year in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where Kristofer, KD, and Ellanore teach him new lessons on an almost daily basis.
Shawn Strader, Administrative and Development Associate
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Shawn is a Vegan and musician with a degree in Philosophy from Arizona State University. He is committed to alleviating human social struggle and supporting collaborative communities. Shawn's personal values are heavily aligned with those of IDEA, and he is perpetually learning more about the wide range of social benefits that emerge in communities practicing democratic education. In 2008 at the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in Vancouver, BC, during Yaacov Hecht’s keynote speech, Shawn found himself awestruck by the social benefits that emerge within communities that implement democratic principles into education, and he has been a proponent of democratic education since then. Shawn's work with IDEA thus far has focused on researching and curating resources for the Eduvation Library, non-profit development, responding to inquiries from the public, statistical/survey analysis, blogging, and helping to frame IDEA’s missions and values. Shawn is married to his longtime partner.