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SUCCESS BOUND TEAM

Liz Lefkofsky
Board Chair

When I was in Middle School... I wanted to grow up to be Barbara Walters.

Liz Lefkofsky is a leading social philanthropist committed to championing initiatives that enhance the quality of human life. Liz got her start in philanthropy as a young child when helping her mother stuff envelopes in support of the American Brain Tumor Association, which her mother founded. She went on to work at the Printer’s Row Book Fair and Gallery 37, now known as After School Matters.

Today, as the President of the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, Liz advances high-impact programs, initiatives and research in the areas of education, women’s health, medical research and the arts. Liz and her husband Eric Lefkofsky established the Foundation in 2006 and became signees of the Giving Pledge in 2013. Liz serves as a board member for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Ravinia Festival, and Peer Health Exchange.

Rachel Graham
Executive Director

When I was in Middle School... I got my first C because I thought talking was more important than listening in Social Studies.

Rachel is the Executive Director of Success Bound, where she serves as the chief visionary and operational leader of the organization. Success Bound was originally developed as an initiative of the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, where Rachel continues to contribute in her role as a Strategic Advisor. She is a national board member and chair of the policy committee for the Association for Middle Level Education. In addition, she serves on the Local School Council of Otis Elementary School in Chicago, is a board member for Mikva Challenge, and sits on Youth Guidance’s Working on Womanhood Advisory Council.

Previously, Rachel created the Youth Program for Chicago Ideas, which empowered thousands of high school students over five years to spark ideas into action and drive change within themselves, their schools, and their communities. Before joining the Lefkofsky Family Foundation, she worked as a school psychologist in a suburban elementary school.

Rachel holds a Master’s degree in School Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston.

Shauntel Page
Director of Operations

When I was in Middle School... I discovered my love for running track and I dreamed of going to the Olympics. Shoutout to the Monroe Mustangs!

Shauntel Page is the Manager of Operations and Enrollment at Success Bound, bringing over 15 years of experience in nonprofit management and youth development. Since joining the team in 2019, she has played a pivotal role in establishing Success Bound’s national presence. In her current role, Shauntel ensures the organization operates seamlessly, enabling it to maximize its impact and deliver high-quality support to students and educators.

Before joining Success Bound, Shauntel spent over a decade working with youth-serving programs and nonprofit organizations. Her extensive background includes managing school-based youth programs, directing an all-girls after-school and summer program, and overseeing community-based nonprofit initiatives.

Shauntel is deeply passionate about empowering students and equipping educators with innovative tools and resources to foster postsecondary exploration and nontraditional educational pathways. Her leadership has been instrumental in driving program expansion, strengthening organizational infrastructure, and developing systems that promote impactful and sustainable change.

Shauntel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Creighton University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Erica Faulkner
Director of District Implementation

When I was in Middle School... I created and sold hand painted sweatshirts and hairbows to my classmates. My merchandise was in high demand!

Erica Faulkner believes every child is capable of carving out their own unique path and ultimately transforming the world around them. She has 20 years of experience in education and has served as a middle school math teacher for 13 of those years. In addition to teaching, Erica has served as an instructional coach, data strategist, and more recently a Social Emotional Learning specialist with Chicago Public Schools.

Erica currently serves as the Director of District Implementation with Success Bound, supporting school districts with strategic planning to transform middle schools into postsecondary-ready institutions. Erica holds an AM in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. She received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Computer Science from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Erica is passionate about creating sustainable, scalable impact across the education system through developmentally appropriate environments where students thrive.

Dr. Kristen Nguyen
Director of Curriculum and Evaluation

When I was in Middle School... I dreamed of one day having my own show on Animal Planet.

Dr. Kristen Nguyen (she/her) believes in education’s power to create equitable, inclusive, and healing-centered communities. As Director of Curriculum and Evaluation at Success Bound, she develops impactful instructional resources and assesses their effectiveness in fostering student success. Previously, Kristen served as a Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist with Chicago Public Schools, leading district-wide SEL integration.

Since 2008, Kristen has held diverse roles in education, including teaching grades 3-12, curriculum development, and instructional coaching. She earned a B.A. in English for Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University, an M.A. in Adventure/Experiential Education from Prescott College, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum from Northeastern University.

A TED speaker, Kristen shares insights on trauma-informed practices in her talk, “3 Steps to Help Kids Process Traumatic Events.” She is passionate about advancing innovative practices that promote lifelong learning and social justice.

Holland DeBoer
Manager of School Implementation and Teacher Experience

When I was in Middle School... I loved to make YouTube videos with my friends, and appreciated any time I had a creative outlet!

Holland is the Manager of School Implementation and Teacher Experience at Success Bound, where she works closely with schools to support the effective adoption of the program. She is dedicated to fostering professional growth for educators and helping them create environments where middle school students can thrive. With expertise in coaching teachers, designing training programs, and developing resources, Holland focuses on building equitable learning spaces that promote both academic success and personal development.

Before joining Success Bound, Holland gained valuable experience as a middle school teacher and instructional coach. Holland is also a proud Dallas Teach for America alumna, and holds a B.S. from Arizona State University.

Success Bound Champions

School staff supporting Success Bound implementation are the true champions of our work. We aim to recognize and elevate these partners as thought leaders in the field. We do this by ensuring we give voice to the experience of those leading Success Bound in their communities and by providing expanding leadership opportunities as we bring more awareness to Success Bound and its positive impact on middle school students.
Venisa Beasley-Green
Venisa Beasley-Green
School Counselor
Carver Elementary School
Chicago Public Schools
Deborah Bishop
Deborah Bishop
School Counselor
Mason Elementary School
Chicago Public Schools
Aribania Cosey
Aribania Cosey
School Counselor
Chopin Elementary School
Chicago Public Schools
Stephanie Miller-Henderson
Stephanie Miller-Henderson
Educational Consultant
Chantal Muzzall
Chantal Muzzall
School Counseling Specialist
Office of School Counseling and PostSecondary Advising
Chicago Public Schools
Nadia Miranda
Nadia Miranda
Mental Health Interventions Specialist
Office of Social Emotional Learning
Chicago Public Schools
Latasha Evans
Latasha Evans
High School Placement Counselor
LEARN Charter School Network
South Chicago Campus
Kevin Tate
Kevin Tate
School Counselor
Richardson Middle School
Chicago Public Schools

Success Bound Partners

We partner with schools, school districts and organizations who care deeply about creating environments for their middle school students to thrive today and feel prepared for a successful future of their choosing.