Our Team
Henry Wellington, Founder and CEO
Henry Wellington is the Founder and CEO of Upbeat. After teaching middle school special education in New York City district and charter schools, Henry supported education technology companies in their sales and marketing strategies at Whiteboard Advisors. He also played a key role in the implementation of blended learning and evaluation of education technology products for Citizen Schools. Henry is passionate about supporting students with disabilities and making the teaching profession more sustainable.
Kylie Davis, Chief Operating Officer
Kylie keeps all of Upbeat’s operations running smoothly — from finances to staffing and long-term planning, Kylie ensures seamless coordination and optimal performance across all facets of the organization. She brings seven years of experience teaching elementary and middle school in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and New York City. Kylie is passionate about improving teacher retention and well-being to create more sustainable school environments and close the achievement gap.
Chris Spence, Chief Technology Officer
Chris leads Upbeat’s technology team, playing a pivotal role in leading Upbeat’s technological vision, innovation, and development strategies to enhance our clients’ experience. Before working at Upbeat, he taught high school science and coached athletics for seven years in the Massachusetts public school system. He is passionate about fostering innovation & creativity in education, scaffolding curricula for kids on the margins.
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Jake Ashley, Vice President of Sales
Jake leads our Sales team and is dedicated to coaching, mentorship and bringing on new Upbeat customers. Prior to joining Upbeat, he worked in higher education admissions for six years before getting into education technology fourteen years ago. He is passionate about serving schools and helping them get the most out of their talent.
Lauren Blanch, Business Development Representative
Lauren is a member of our Business Development team, dedicated to driving growth and fostering relationships with potential clients. Prior to joining Upbeat, Lauren spent two years teaching high school special education in Colorado. She is passionate about empowering educators and promoting lifelong learning, where students and educators embrace continuous personal and professional development.
Zac Calhoun, Partnerships Manager
Zac leads the renewal process for our clients. Zac brings two years of experience as an education recruiter, and five years as a high school teacher in Texas. He is passionate about inclusivity in the classroom and the experience of new teachers.
Kate Chizek, Director of Marketing
Kate leads all of Upbeat’s communications and marketing efforts and also manages our National Teacher Retention Working Group. Prior to joining Upbeat, Kate spent six years as a special education elementary teacher in Tulsa and Chicago. Kate is passionate about special education policy and supporting teachers’ overall wellness.
Paige Currier, Business Development Representative
Paige is a member of our Business Development team, focused on driving growth and building relationships with potential clients. Before joining Upbeat, she worked in pharmaceutical distribution sales. Paige is passionate about fostering collaborative, positive environments where teachers can thrive and, in turn, students can excel academically.
Deanna Ferrante, Director of Product Management
Deanna heads Upbeat’s product management team, playing a crucial role in shaping the vision, roadmap, and product strategies that enhance our clients’ experience. Before joining Upbeat, Deanna taught middle school in Kansas City and has spent the past 20 years working in technology, primarily focused on EdTech. She is passionate about making education and learning accessible for all students and supporting teachers in the classroom.
Mahamadou Jagana, Program Operations Associate
Mahamadou supports program operations for Upbeat, helping our clients with survey administrations and logistics. Prior to joining Upbeat, Mahamadou worked for three years as a middle school and high school social studies teacher in New York City. In addition to teaching, he has worked as a postsecondary manager, helping students in planning for their lives after high school. He is passionate about providing equitable opportunities for student growth and ensuring underserved students receive high-quality academic and social-emotional support.
Justine Martinez, Program Manager
Justine is one of three program managers at Upbeat, where she supports clients from survey launch and through the data analysis and coaching process. Before joining Upbeat, she spent four years working as a bilingual literacy teacher in the New Haven public school district and one year overseeing operations at Uncommon Schools, a charter school in New York City. Justine is passionate about educational equity and ensuring schools are supportive environments for students, teachers and staff.
Peter Niu, Senior Product Manager
Peter oversees Upbeat’s survey tool and data dashboard, leading data operations and conducting quantitative research to manage Upbeat's platform. Prior to joining Upbeat, he created educational software products for MarcoPolo Learning. He is passionate about creating research-driven, evidence-based solutions that improve education opportunities for all.
Keyli Peralta, Program Operations Manager
Keyli leads program operations for Upbeat, supporting our clients with survey administrations and logistics. Prior to joining Upbeat, she spent two years working in the Philadelphia public school system as a middle school science teacher and an elementary Language Arts teacher. Keyli is passionate about early childhood literacy and empowering teachers with tools that grant them more work/life balance.
Cat Robinson, Business Development Representative
Cat is a member of our Business Development team, dedicated to driving growth and fostering relationships with potential clients. Prior to joining Upbeat, Cat worked at FuelSales Academy. She also spent 8 years in social media helping actors build their presence and portfolios. She is passionate about empowering educational leaders to maintain flourishing communities for educators and teachers alike.
Andrew Saturno, Program Manager
Andrew is one of three program managers at Upbeat, supporting clients from survey implementation and through the data analysis and coaching process. Before joining Upbeat, he spent eight years working in Chicago as a special education teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Andrew is passionate about honoring and uplifting every member in a school community’s experiences to improve outcomes.
Dallas Yeatts, Program Manager
Dallas is one of three program managers for Upbeat, overseeing the client journey from survey launch and through the data analysis and coaching process. Prior to joining Upbeat, Dallas worked for three years as a high school special education teacher in the New York City public school district. She is passionate about supporting special education teachers and improving culture in school communities.