Executive Director

Wendy Swanson Choi currently serves as our full-time Executive Director. Wendy's depth of experience ranges from board and school administration to school and education program development. Prior to working for NEO, Wendy served as a School Improvement Specialist for Minneapolis Public Schools. She also provided school start-up leadership for Venture Academy, a blended-learning charter school in Minneapolis, and served as a Venture Academy board director for four years. She has also served as Interim Executive Director and board member at Nova Classical Academy, providing leadership for the high-school program and site expansion, and as an instructional leader and leadership coach in high-performing charter schools.

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Systems Analysts

Tu Nguyen serves as our primary Systems Analyst responsible for ensuring that NEO most effectively and efficiently implements systems and procedures including data analysis and school performance monitoring, school document review, and use of technology. Tu has previously worked in a charter school as a Special Education teacher, case manager, and educational assistant, and has his Masters Degree in Special Education. He also brings experience to the team in teaching through distance learning.

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Adam Myhand serves as our second Systems Analyst responsible for ensuring that NEO most effectively and efficiently implements systems and procedures including information flow, board observations, new school readiness to open, and school site visits. Adam has also previously worked at a charter school as a Special Education educational assistant.

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Advisors

To assist in effectively and efficiently monitoring the progress of each new school, the Executive Director coordinates and oversees the work of the NEO Advisors comprised of experts in charter school and student performance, charter school operations and finance, and charter school governance.

 

The Executive Director, the Administrative Assistant, and the NEO Advisors monitor and document progress with the pre-operational and operational indicators and the school and student performance indicators as outlined in the authorizer-school contract. NEO contracts for specialized work with NEO Advisors and budgets annually for their work by July each year. As charter authorization volume increases, additional Advisors with expertise in the areas of oversight and technical expertise are added based on the school and authorizer needs.

 

Ron Berger serves as an expert in education finance, facility, and management as well as governance. Ron Berger, a former charter school founder, board chair, and charter school business manager retired from Lionsgate Academy where he served as Business Manager for many years and helped the school grow from one to three campuses. He works with NEO to improve the quality of feedback that schools receive regarding charter school facilities, operations, finance, and governance.

 

Dr. Jean Neuman serves as an expert in academic and organizational oversight and evaluation. Dr. Neuman served as a teacher and coach in St. Paul Public Schools for ten years, a middle school principal and a high school principal in Anoka Public Schools for five years, and a principal in Minneapolis Public Schools for more than twenty years. Dr. Neuman has led, designed, developed and restored innovative elementary school programs including Windom Spanish Immersion and Seward Montessori and high school programs including Broadway High School. Her PhD is in Education Administration: Preparation of the Urban Principal.

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Dr. Willie Jackson serves as an expert in the areas of early learning programs and education program development and evaluation as well as mediation. She has her Ed D. in Education Policy and Administration specializing in Curriculum Design and Industrial Relations and MS in Education and Counseling. She is a licensed District Superintendent, School Business Officer, Director of Special Education, Elementary and Secondary School Principal, and Elementary Education Teacher specializing in Specific Learning Disabilities. She is certified as a Mediator under MN Rule 114, a hybrid civil mediator and as a National Principal Mentor and Parent Consultant.

 

Anita Dualeh serves as an expert in the areas of charter school governance and operations and charter school and student performance, having worked at the Minnesota Department of Education providing oversight and managing the development and implementation of the performance assessments for English learners. Anita has her Masters Degree in Teaching ESL.

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Jennifer Borgeson serves as an expert in technology, academic, and organizational oversight and evaluation. Jennifer served as a testing coordinator and administrative intern at Park Center IB World School in Brooklyn Park, Assistant Principal at Connections Academy in St. Paul, Instructional Leader and Data Coach at Broadway High School in Minneapolis, and Staff Development, Assessment, Media, and Technology Specialist in Osseo Public Schools. Her Master of Science is in Information and Media and Technology. She is licensed in Minnesota as Principal, Library Media Specialist, and Elementary Teacher and has National Certification for Online and Blended Teachers.

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Lulzim Axhijaj serves as an expert in oversight of charter school operations, governance, and education programming. He has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership as well as a Bachelor of Science in Education Technology.

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​Eric Molho serves as an expert in oversight of charter school governance and organizational leadership. He was Interim Director for College and Career Readiness at Minneapolis Public Schools where he 1) provided coaching and professional development to program managers to strengthen leadership skills and improve departmental results, 2) developed a new organizational structure designed to align responsibilities within the academic division structure, and improve departmental results, and 3) secured $13 million federal grant to support innovative new programs designed to increase student participation in post-secondary opportunities. Eric also led the launch of an innovative new principal development program designed to prepare highly skilled transformational leaders prepared to address the unique challenges and opportunities of chronically low performing schools and served as Director of School Improvement at Minneapolis Public Schools.

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Dr. Diane Restorff serves as an expert in oversight of charter school operations, governance, organizational leadership and education programming. Dr. Restorff led and directed Lionsgate Academy, a public charter school with 3 campuses and four programs specializing in teaching secondary students on the autism spectrum. She provided overall strategic direction to the growth and development of the school. She oversaw the implementation of best practices in instruction, therapeutic interventions, and transitions beginning in grade 7 and continuing through age 21. She ensured compliance with all federal and state educational mandates. She led the school from one campus and an enrollment of 90 students to 3 campuses and an enrollment of 350 students.

 

Ted Anderson is an experienced charter school and district leader with deep expertise in school leadership, governance collaboration, assessment coordination, operations, and equity-centered improvement. His background as an executive director, principal, and associate director, including oversight of budgets, facilities, staff supervision, strategic planning, and authorizer relationships, strengthens NEO’s capacity for effective oversight, leadership coaching, and continuous improvement aligned with high-quality authorizing practices.

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Terri Anderson brings extensive experience as a charter school superintendent, startup coordinator, and authorizing consultant, with deep expertise in school governance, board training, leadership coaching, and school development. Her background in school oversight, expansion support, evaluation, and compliance, combined with decades of work in rural and Indigenous communities, strengthens NEO’s capacity to support high-quality, sustainable charter schools and effective authorizing practices.

 

The Advisors:

• Review start-up charter school applications for approval or rejection by the Board of NEO

• Review existing charter school applications for change of authorizer

• Monitor the activities of authorized schools

• Review the annual reports of authorized schools

• Recommend technical assistance to authorized schools

• Review authorized charter schools for renewal of contracts

• Conduct or arrange for formal reviews of authorized schools

• Attend authorized charter schools’ board meetings

• Monitor finances of authorized charter schools

• Remain current with charter school procedures and related statutes

 

Board Of Directors

 

Najam Qureshi (Board Chair)

Najam serves as a federal delivery team manager for an IT services and consulting company, Mythics, Inc.  He brings experience and skill to NEO in ensuring successful implementation of infrastructure designs through collaborative team communication, planning documentation, system testing, and problem resolution, as well as in project planning and project status monitoring and communications.

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Dr. Nabeel Syed

Dr. Nabeel Syed has his Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Minnesota. He provides experience and expertise to NEO in organizational management and regulatory compliance. He spent nine years overseeing and managing radiopharmaceutical production and ensuring compliance with all regulatory agencies and three years overseeing peritoneal dialysis products distribution to home healthcare patients. He is currently responsible for manufacturing of high energy radioisotopes, radiochemistry, quality control and commercial distribution of diagnostic products.

 

Henna Bagha

Henna serves as a senior culture and engagement coordinator with Dorsey & Whitney, LLP in Minneapolis. She brings experience and skill to NEO in leading planning and execution of organization-wide culture and engagement programs, cultural heritage observances, and employee engagement initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic inclusion goals. She also brings experience and skill in overseeing the implementation of agendas and programming to foster connection and professional development, developing and managing communications, coordinating logistics for events, and tracking and reporting on strategic initiatives and budgets, ensuring accountability for outcomes and resource use. Henna serves as the NEO Board Treasurer.

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Faraz Currimbhoy 

Faraz is a results-driven HVAC professional with proven leadership in technical and aftermarket management. Recognized as a top Daikin leader in 2020 with a 96% favorability rating, he excels in quality control, workflow standardization, and digital transformation. He brings experience and skill to NEO in leading teams to develop customized solutions, and is committed to operational efficiency and outstanding results.

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Abuad Rahi

Abuad Rahi is a senior IT consultant and project manager who brings expertise in digital transformation, data analytics, and systems integration to Novation Education Opportunities. With a strong background in Agile project delivery, business process improvement, and regulated environments, he supports NEO’s authorizing work by strengthening operational systems, data-informed oversight, and continuous improvement practices.

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Abdirahman Hassan

Abdiraham serves as an equity specialist, committed coach, passionate mentor, and dedicated educator for Bloomington Public Schools, supporting multiple schools. He brings experience and skill to NEO in public school education including in professional development, coaching, restorative practices, and developing culturally responsive curricula.

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