Caroline Storm, Executive Director 

Caroline Storm became the Executive Director of the Coalition for Education Equity in September 2023. Raised partially in Canada and South Africa by immigrant parents, the value of a good education was instilled upon Caroline as the springboard to achieving one’s life goals. It is because of this value that Caroline has volunteered in different capacities advocating for adequate public education funding in Alaska and enjoys volunteering as a Civics teacher with the Alaska Literacy Program.

Prior to taking the role as ED for CEE, Caroline was a self-employed architect living and practicing in Anchorage. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture and a bachelor’s in environmental studies from The University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. During her 21-year career in Alaska, Caroline has worked on healthcare facilities around the state ranging from OR's to skilled nursing facilities. Projects off the road system in Alaska have provided her with a unique opportunity to understand the exceptional nature of communities around the state. These projects required a high degree of collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure their success, and it’s through this type of design process that Caroline has come to deeply value the process of problem solving through relationship building.

Caroline is an active hiker, cyclist, and rock climber, as well as a haphazard gardener, over-enthusiastic DIY’er and proud dog mom.

Nisha Marino, Communications Fellow

Nisha joined the Coalition for Education Equity as the Communication Fellow in September 2024. She is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and recently graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a bachelor’s in political science. Nisha is in Alaska with the Alaska Fellows Program, a fall-to-spring residential fellowship program that pairs young people with strong communities and professional mentors. Nisha is excited to work for CEE to advocate for more accessible and equitable public education for all Alaskan children.

Christine Hess

Christine has worked extensively on Arctic science, governance and policy issues. She began as a clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court and moved on to become the Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel to Representative Reggie Joule. Christine was General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for the Northwest Arctic Borough and Mayor Reggie Joule, in Kotzebue. She has also worked for Alaska’s North Slope Borough in Barrow as Deputy Director of Administration and Finance and as a Borough attorney. As a partner of J and H Consulting, she provides consulting and lobbying services on the state and federal level, and on municipal and administrative governance issues.

Reggie Joule

Reggie served continuously as a state representative from 1996 until 2012, representing Alaska’s 40th District. In 2012, Reggie became the Mayor of the Northwest Arctic Borough. Reggie served as a Commissioner on the Arctic Policy Commission and was also appointed to the President's Task Force on Climate Change Preparedness and Resiliency. Reggie has been involved in many public service organizations including: the Kotzebue City Council, the NANA Regional School Board, the statewide Alcohol and Drug Abuse Advisory Board, the Governor’s Interim Commission on Children and Youth, and as a highly recognized Bundle Carrier for the Sobriety Movement.

Jerry Covey,
JSC Consulting

Jerry co-led Coalition for Education Equity’s Educator Quality and Quantity Project, a multi-year effort to increase the number of Alaskans going into the teaching profession, prepare them better for our schools, and retain them longer in their jobs. He previously led our Residential Learning Center Project, which aims to create opportunities for students in small rural high schools to receive greater educational opportunities while remaining enrolled in their home villages. That project reached fruition with strong legislative support and funding from Juneau. Jerry is a former Commissioner of Education and one of Alaska's most respected educational leaders.

Dr. Barbara L. Adams,
Adams Analytic Solutions 

Barbara co-led Coalition for Education Equity’s Educator Quality and Quantity Project, a multi-year effort to increase the number of Alaskans going into the teaching profession, prepare them better for our schools, and retain them longer in their jobs. Dr. Adams is a mixed methods researcher with an interdisciplinary PhD from University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a background in applied mathematics and statistics. She has conducted educational research in Alaska since 2000 centering on Alaska Native and rural classrooms and teachers. In addition to conducting research she has also created culturally relevant math curriculum for elementary teachers, designed and conducted teacher professional development, taught research courses to graduate students and supplied data for policy makers.