Staff
The HOME WORKS! staff of professional educators, administrators, and advocates includes:
Kathryn Brayton
Director of Development
10+ years of experience in the legal and nonprofit sector. BA, University of Illinois-Chicago.
Katrina Brown
Director of Program Operations
Social Services Professional with over 13 years of experience, including advocacy, program development and management, evaluation and facilitation. Special interest in the Social Determinants of Health and educational and health disparities. BS, Fontbonne University, M.Ed., University of Missouri St. Louis, and MHA Saint Louis University.
Kathy Coyle
Data Manager
Senior Finance/Accounting Professional with 18+ years of broad and deep experience in manufacturing and corporate environments; MIS Master’s Degree.
Anna Gardner-Andrews
Program Leader
15+ years of experience in education; served as a high school instructor of English, manager of an educational non-profit, creator/director of a writing mentoring program at University of Missouri–St. Louis, and guest speaker on urban education at Washington University; BA from Oberlin College and MAED from Washington University.
Susan Loftin
Support Specialist
30+ years of experience in medical research; worked as a Research Specialist at Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis for 15 years. Also worked at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for 13 years in medical research. Special interest in community involvement, children’s literacy, and social equality. BA from University of Florida.
Colleen Polak
CEO
Child Advocate with over 10 years' professional experience, including nonprofit leadership, program management, evaluation, and facilitation. BA from Saint Louis University and JD from California Western School of Law.
Betty Tobler
Program Leader
Teacher, curriculum developer, accreditation compliance specialist, and administrator with 40+ years of classroom and administrative experience.
Leslie Reardon
Program Leader
Retired Principal with 30+ years' experience in counseling and administration. Passionate about family engagement, education, relationships, and giving back to the community.
Sue Zerbe
Program Leader
Educator with 30+ years of teaching, administrative, and consulting experience. MS in Educational Administration from University of Missouri St. Louis and EdS in Educational Administration from Lindenwood University.
Board of Directors
The HOME WORKS! Board of Directors provides guidance and oversight for the leadership team. Among our 13 members, the Board holds a wealth of knowledge and experience that they bring to the organization. They meet an average of six times a year.
Christopher Bedell
Associate Attorney, Polsinelli
Harriet Blickenstaff
Retired PR Professional
Latashuia Browning
Board Chair
Sr. Director & Head of Sales, Americas, Millipore Sigma
Ed Dickinson
Former CEO, LMI Aerospace
Karen F. Evans
Former AT&T Executive, Reading Interventionist at Patrick Henry Elementary School, SLPS
Melissa Garcia
PhD. Candidate,
University of Missouri-St. Louis; Professor, Harris-Stowe State University
Alexis Goetz
AVP Human Resources —West Coast Operations, Enterprise Holdings
Matthew Hawley
Mortgage Production Manager, Regions Mortgage
Lisa Huck
Director of Business Development, Dot Foods
Joseph Kraichely
COO/CFO, Assistance Home Care
Susan Stith
VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Civic Affairs, Corporate Responsibility, and ED of the Cigna Foundation
Constance "Connie" Taylor
Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Ameren Missouri
Thomas Walker
Sr. Tech Customer Relations Manager, Wash U Med School