SquashSmartsStaff |
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Tempest Bowden Tempest is a seven year graduate of the SquashSmarts middle and high school programs. She is a graduate of Simon Gratz High School, the Wolfeboro Summer Boarding School in New Hampshire, and of Mercersburg Academy (PG year). She has completed an intensive one-year training course through City Year Philadelphia and Up2Us before joining SquashSmarts staff in 2015. Like her sister, Quinetta, she is a seven-year graduate of both the middle school and high school SquashSmarts programs and served as captain her senior year. As the leader of SquashSmarts West Philadelphia squash and fitness program, she organizes daily student instruction in court to develop squash-playing ability as well as the basic fundamentals of physical literacy. In 2016, Tempest was humbled to be named Philadelphia Youth Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Coaches Conference as well as 2016 National Coach of the Year by Up2Us Sports. |
Ciara Coleman Ciera joined SquashSmarts in 2021 after working with City Charter High School as a Learning Support Teaching Associate where she served in several roles developing and supporting both educational and social-emotional curricula, from the school's annual Black Excellence week to a monthly Student Voice discussion. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, her passion for children and education began at age 12 with her first job volunteering at a summer camp. Ciara specializes in building strong trusting relationships with SquashSmarts North Philadelphia high school students, helping each of them to realize their voices matter and to reach their fullest potential while establishing positive relationships and self-advocacy. |
Iliana Matos Iliana joined SquashSmarts in December 2021 as the Director of Middle School Academics for North Philadelphia. A Rhode Island native who has called Philadelphia home for the past 11 years, Iliana holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Temple University. Prior to SquashSmarts, Iliana had the wonderful opportunity of teaching English in Madrid, Spain. Her non-profit career launched in undergrad where she focused on education policy and fair-funding formulas. She later transitioned into teaching, developing curriculums, providing bilingual personalized workshops, and managing programs for students and families. Children ignite her passion because there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing kids feel motivated, safe and supported. |
Jose Rubert-Zayas Jose is a seven-year SquashSmarts graduate who joined the staff in 2019. As an alum, Jose believes that it is expected to "own your impact". As a Coach Mentor with SquashSmarts through the Up2Us two-year training program, Jose will use his own personal positive youth sports experience to contribute to the youth development of students from our West and North Philadelphia Middle and High School programs. Jose's daily focus is on daily in-school programming, primarily during gym session, with the goal of bringing SquashSmarts' culture of sport + academics + family directly to children in our partner elementary and middle schools. Jose's role earned the attention of the Aspen Institute which named his in-school engagement activities as 1 of 20 national-recognized "Project Play Champions" |
Jeanie Shanahan Jeanie Shanahan joined SquashSmarts in 2007 after working with the United States Squash Racquets Association for six years as its Office Assistant and Office Manager. The USSRA introduced her to the game of squash. “I am honored to work with the students of SquashSmarts and interact and help with the growth of the SquashSmarts community.” With a city-wide high school dropout rate of over 50%, Jeanie feels strongly that “SquashSmarts will enhance the high school and college student graduation rates and help the students develop into solid citizens and community leaders in Philadelphia.” Jeanie resides in Haddon Heights, New Jersey, is a mother of five children and has nine grandchildren. In every way, Jeanie is the heart-and-soul of SquashSmarts. She embodies the core values of honesty, compassion, integrity and hard work. She build personal, meaningful relationships with every member of the program, taking time to greet every child who enters SquashSmarts with a smile and a hug. |