Our Team

RPLN Advisory Board

Behind RPLN is a small team working alongside schools in Northern California and an advisory board that brings perspective from rural communities across the country. Together, they make sure the network stays rooted in what educators and students are living.

Amy Harris Robinette

ICAP Director, North East Carolina Preparatory School

Brenda Hornsby Heindl

Branch Manager, Liberty Public Library

Elizabeth Connolly

Partnerships, Brand New Day

Hillary Oravec

Managing Partner, The Learning Agenda

Kaitlin Deschane

Program and Operations Director, M&M Area Community Foundation

Karen Ball

Teacher Education Faculty, Gogebic Community College

Miyesha Bates

Support specialist, Persevere

Monica Ng

Co-Director / Program Director, ASAP, Nicodemus Ford, LLC + Sonoma State University

Nini Brenda Sulamoyo

Teacher, Turquoise Trail/Instructional Leader

Rebecca S. Rouland

Associate Professor; Graduate Program Director, Nazareth University

Sara Ahlers

Teacher, Bishop Garrigan School

Shaniqua Corley-Moore

Director of Tech Workforce, Center on Rural Innovation

RPLN Staff

Nicodemus Ford

Director/Founder

Nicodemus Ford is the founder of Design With Joy and leads the Rural Professional Learning Network (RPLN), a collaborative network of educators, school and district leaders, and community partners working to foster joy, cultivate healing, and transform education. Through the RPLN Network and its Advisory Board, he creates opportunities for shared learning, meaningful collaboration, and relationship-building, centering student voice, community wisdom, and joyful, equitable learning experiences.

Monica Ng

Co-Director

Dr. Monica Ng is Co-Director of Design With Joy and an expert for the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Children’s Justice. Her work focuses on educational equity, student identity and belonging, and addressing discriminatory policies and practices affecting BIPOC students and students with disabilities. She holds an Ed.D. and M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Noreene Puri

Operations Manager

Noreene Puri is the Operations Manager for Design With Joy, supporting the team’s programs, partnerships, communications, and day-to-day operations. She helps coordinate projects and events, strengthen systems and workflows, and ensure that Design With Joy’s work moves forward smoothly and with care.

Carolina Rollano

Technical Support Coordinator

Carolina is a virtual events producer who helps create welcoming, smooth, and joyful experiences for Design With Joy’s virtual gatherings. She supports speakers and participants, manages the technical details behind the scenes, and helps events run with ease and care. With her calm, optimistic approach and love of problem-solving, Carolina helps bring Design With Joy’s spirit of connection, learning, and joy into every virtual event.