Kandeh Koroma

Sierra Leone Country Director

Rev. Kandeh Koroma has joined EduNations as Sierra Leone Country Director, bringing more than 23 years of experience serving with Christian organizations, including Great Commission Movement Sierra Leone, Scripture Union of Sierra Leone, and most recently World Vision International Sierra Leone, where he served as National Faith and Development Manager for seven years. An ordained minister with the Assemblies of God Mission Sierra Leone, Rev. Koroma holds a Master of Divinity, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Fourah Bay College, and a Diploma in Theology, and has also served as Principal of Zion Academy JSS in Bo.

Email: [email protected]

Michael Alusine Turay

Education Secretary

Passionate about serving humanity in under resourced communities, Michael is devoted to identifying and developing opportunities that promotes personal growth and uplifts professional development through education. Michael is highly motivated, has a creative mind and always up for new challenges.  Michael holds a Bachelor in Education Degree in Agricultural Education from the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology. Prior to his promotion as the Education Secretary, Michael served as a teacher and later as principal for EduNations Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in Fintonia.Raised by Christian parents, he burns with the desire for God's word and soul winning. Michael has served the Lord in different capacities in different parts of Sierra Leone.

Email: [email protected]

Isaac Boima

Program Manager

Motivated by compassion for the poor, Isaac is devoted to poverty alleviation through education. Isaac holds BSc in Banking and Finance from Njala University. Prior to his promotion as the Program Manager, Isaac served as the Administrative Finance Officer and previously as the Agricultural Project Officer for EduNations Inc. Isaac burns with desire for the Word of God and has a passion for soul winning. Isaac has served as a missionary in different parts of Sierra Leone. He is highly motivated, diligent and pragmatic with quantitative aptitude, decision making skills and experience in teaching and rural evangelism.

Email: [email protected]

Emmanuel Kargbo

Internal Auditor

Emmanuel L. Kargbo is a dedicated professional with a strong passion for serving humanity, shaped by many years of experience in the international non-governmental organization (INGO) sector supporting development work in Sierra Leone and the region. Raised by Christian parents in a Muslim-dominated community, he brings a deep appreciation for faith, diversity, and community to his work. He has served in various finance and leadership roles, including Audit Assistant, Finance Officer, Program Accountant, Finance Supervisor, Finance and Administration Manager, and most recently Senior Finance and Grant Manager with CARE International in Sierra Leone and Liberia, prior to joining EduNations. Emmanuel holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Accounting from IPAM, University of Sierra Leone, and an MBA from Njala University, Sierra Leone.

Email: [email protected]

Salma Rubio

Monitoring and Evaluation Officer

From the age of eight, Salma Rubio felt called to live beyond her native Mexico and serve among the poorest. After coming to know Jesus, she recognized this calling as God’s divine plan, which ultimately led her—following eight years of theological and missionary preparation—to northern Sierra Leone in partnership with EduNations. Since January 2023, she has served as a volunteer and missionary with EduNations and the EPC Sierra Leone. She now steps into the role of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, where she will oversee data collection, measure program impact, and help strengthen the effectiveness of EduNations’ educational and community initiatives.

Email: [email protected]

Samuel Sorie Conteh

Sponsorship Officer

Samuel Sorie Conteh was born and raised in Freetown, Sierra Leones' capital, and is currently serving as the Sponsorship Officer in Sierra Leone.

Samuel graduated with an Higher Teachers Certificate Secondary at the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology in Makeni. He is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed.

He had served as a highly acclaimed teacher of EduNations Hope Academy Junior Secondary School in Mapainda for many years and also served as the school Choir Director. He sings and plays the piano using his skills to share God's love and the message of Jesus Christ to others.

Email: [email protected]

Dana Kaltenberger

U.S. Director

Dana Kaltenberger's partnership with EduNations began back in 2018 when she met Samuel Sesay on a trip to Israel. In 2022, she felt the Lord calling her to step into the U.S. Director role at EduNations. God has placed a passion in her heart for missions and reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.  Earning her bachelor's degree in education, Dana sees the value and impact of establishing schools in developing world countries. 

Email: [email protected]

Sarah Pietryga

Development Coordinator

Motivated by alleviating extreme poverty through education and holistic transformation, Sarah is passionate about finding ways to sustainably ignite hope and a future for the children in Sierra Leone. She is a graduate of Grove City College with a degree in Marketing Management and a focus in International Studies. Sarah visited Sierra Leone for the first time in 2017, where she experienced the hope that EduNations is bringing to many families through education.

Email: [email protected]

Pilar Rodriguez

Sponsorship Coordinator/Administrative Assistant

Pilar Rodriguez has had a deep desire to glorify God by making a difference in this world since she was young. Having grown up in third world countries she experienced first-hand the hope that loving and investing in children can bring. Throughout her life, she has been involved in organizations who are changing lives - especially those sharing the light of Jesus. She has participated in several mission trips around the world that have enriched her life. She is honored to now be serving the children in Sierra Leone. Pilar graduated with a degree in Industrial Management from Grove City College.

Email: [email protected]

Jeff Gingrich

President

Jeff Gingrich is a urologist involved in patient care, education and research now for over 25 years Jeff heard about EduNations through the missions committee at North Park Church.   After his first trip to Sierra Leone, Jeff was convinced that EduNations provides access to a quality education for children who otherwise would not have such an opportunity. “I consider a basic quality education a human right that should be available to all God's children throughout the world.”          

Email: [email protected] 

Rick Kennedy

Vice President

Rick Kennedy has practiced law for 40 years and served as the managing partner of a large New York law firm for the past 6 years.   Rick and his wife were led to help found EduNations to honor our Sierra Leonean daughter's prayers to help her friends and to answer God’s call to serve the least among us.  "EduNations’ work is important because it is part of God’s plan to redeem the world by demonstrating Jesus’ love in concrete terms to every man, woman and child everywhere. I serve on the EduNations’ board to provide guidance and accountability for as long as God chooses to use us."

Email: [email protected] 

Beth Weaver

Secretary

Beth Weaver and her husband Dean are founding members of EduNaitions and Beth formally served as the Sponsorship Coordinator. Beth and Dean have 7 children, 2 adopted from Sierra Leone, and 5 grandchildren. Having been involved with EduNations from the beginning, she is passionate about the organization continuing to grow and thrive. 

"I am so thankful to continue in my support of EduNations and am honored to be a Board Member. The growth and impact of EduNations for the children of Sierra Leone continues to amaze me and I look forward to encouraging and supporting the provision of quality education to the students and communities we serve." 

Email: [email protected] 

Alimamy Bader

Treasurer

Alimamy Bader is a a young engineer just starting his profession with a focus on power systems engineering. Alimamy has been involved with EduNations his whole life. His uncle and aunt both served during the early beginnings of the organization as accounts/bookkeepers, and Alimamy has participated in many events during the early years. Alimamy desires to represent one of the many children EduNations' is serving and to take part in bring impact to his motherland.  “Being a native of Sierra Leone and an adoptee, I still recall much of my early life in Sierra Leone; the lack of food, water, education, resources and a future still remains afresh in my mind. These very needs are what builds up a nation, and it is this that EduNations is helping to provide.” 

 Email: [email protected]                                                                                         

Scott Graham

Board Member

Scott Graham has served as a pastor in Presbyterian churches since 1993.  He come from a family with a long history in both the pastorate and education. Scott was introduced to EduNations by Dean Weaver, one of the EduNations’ founders, and took his first trip to Sierra Leone to learn about the work of EduNations in 2012.  “The only things we keep are those we give away. EduNations gives me the opportunity to give generously, but I receive far more in return. Providing good education in locations where it is otherwise unavailable transforms lives, not just for the students, but for their entire families; not just for the present, but for generations to come.”

Email: [email protected]

Ken Houseknecht

Board Member

Ken Houseknecht, is a founding member of EduNations.  Ken spent 40 years in the professional work world, working with a wide range of organizations in a number of industries, on a host of programs and projects. He spent the last decade running a nonprofit in the mental health field, serving individuals, families, businesses, schools, and community groups throughout Western New York.  Since retiring in 2020, he has served on a number of nonprofit boards, each working to help underserved and under resourced people, both in the United States and internationally.

Email: [email protected] 

Ken Krieger

Board Member

Ken Krieger, is a founding member of EduNations.  His professional experience includes being an educational administrator in the area of Student Services for 30+ years, and he currently works in educational technology sales.  “After adopting two children from Sierra Leone, my wife, Jen and I were troubled by the many children who were left behind and we were motivated to find a way to help lift them from poverty. As a founding member of EduNations, I marvel at the impact we've had in Sierra Leone and I desire to help the organization continue the work. God inspired the founders to be faithful to the vision given and promised that He, in turn, would be faithful to see the work to completion.”

Email: [email protected] 

Bruce Tenenbaum

Board Member

After working in the Banking/IT field for 40 years, Bruce Tenenbaum is now retired.  Bruce was first introduced to EduNations at one of our annual EduNations Benefit Concerts.  Bruce is passionate about moving the Gospel of Jesus Christ forward in Sierra Leone through Christian based education.        

Email: [email protected] 

Stacy Tessaro

Board Member

Stacy Tessaro is a secondary science teacher and has been for 19 years. In 2019, North Park Church sent Stacy to Sierra Leone as part of a group training teachers at our EduNations’ schools.  Stacy’s desire is to serve EduNations from a stateside location in order to serve God. 
“Communities need effective education to escape poverty, and education that comes in tandem with the gospel is preeminent.”       

Email: [email protected]