Behind the Voices
KidNuz is the brainchild of four veteran broadcast journalists who believe that kids deserve a newscast all their own; one that delivers current events in a kid-friendly package, sparks curiosity, and gets them asking critical questions. Together with parents and teachers, KidNuz engages kids on issues that are relevant to them. Or soon will be.
Tori Campbell, Founder/Anchor,
Board President
Tori is an award-winning broadcast journalist with 27 years of experience. She first worked as a radio reporter in the New York metropolitan area and then in the San Francisco Bay Area. For 19 years, she was co-anchor of the region’s #1 morning newscast, KTVU-TV’s “Mornings on 2″. Tori has done a variety of volunteer work, including producing and recording a weekly one-hour program reading news articles for the blind. When she’s not working, Tori spends her days cooking, exercising, and reading. She has two grown sons and lives with her husband in Singapore.
Kimberly Hunter, Founder/Anchor
Kim is an Emmy Award winning television reporter, actor, Ironman Triathlete and former collegiate swimmer. Kim’s journalism experience includes more than a decade in television news, most recently as a correspondent for CNN and reporter for KTVU-TV in the San Francisco Bay Area. She periodically acts in commercials and television including spots for Xfinity, IBM, Vail Ski Resorts and the Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” Kim lives in Northern California with her husband, four children and labrador retriever,
Stephanie Kelmar, Founder/Board Secretary
Stephanie is a 2-time Emmy award winning producer of KTVU-TV’s “Mornings On 2” newscast in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her professional broadcast career producing radio talk shows while still a student at UC Berkeley. Since leaving the full-time working world to raise a family, Stephanie has written programs for an internet television channel, produced a monthly newsmagazine and produced Facebook Live broadcasts for a website geared towards millennials. Stephanie lives in Palo Alto with her husband, two children and their dog.
Ro Thomas Schwarz, Founder/Editor,
Board Vice-President
Ro is the 4-time Emmy award winning Creator and Executive producer of KTVU’s “Mornings on 2”. After more than a decade at the helm, she traded the control room for consulting to help television stations across the country improve formats, talent, writing and ratings. Through it all, Ro proudly raised her 4 children on a steady diet of current events and is thrilled to bring her passion for unbiased and age-appropriate news to a new generation. She lives in Northern California with her husband, kids and golden retriever, Poppy.
Jennifer Anderson, Creative Director/Board Member
Jennifer is the creative eye for KidNuz. Before joining the team, she spent 15 years crafting digital, social, and traditional experiences for companies large and small. She brings insight, enthusiasm, and an entrepreneurial edge to KidNuz, along with a deep passion for positive change. Jennifer complements her professional career with nonstop dedication to multiple nonprofits, for which she has held various board positions. She always leads with kindness, optimism, and authenticity.
Tracey Bracco, Treasurer/Board Member
Tracey brings over 16 years of non-profit accounting experience to KidNuz. She earned her MBA from Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley while working at BofA, was a nationally ranked amateur triathlete and developed a passion for nonprofit accounting at the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA). She is currently the CFO of a small real estate corporation and volunteers on several youth-oriented nonprofit boards. She lives near SF with her husband and two children.
Michelle Deasy
Development/Board Member
Michelle is a principal at Clutch Social Strategy, a consulting firm specializing in strategic operations and development for small to mid-sized non-profit and social impact organizations. Michelle earned a B.S. in Rural Sociology from Cornell University and an M.A. in Demography from U.C. Berkeley. She lives outside San Francisco, with her husband and three children.
Lori McDevitt
Education Director/Board Member
Lori has her Master’s in Education and has taught both elementary and middle school for the last 15 years. Her prior career was in mental health services working with adults and teens and has volunteered for Girls Scouts USA for 8 years. Today, Lori enjoys playing and coaching high school tennis and mentoring foster youth as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in her free time.
Kevin Merritt, Designated Hitter!
Every now and then, KidNuz needs a fill-in anchor and we are so very lucky to have One Foot Productions co-founder Kevin on our team. Kevin’s background is nothing if not eclectic. His creative wanderlust has led him through all kinds of professional and artistic endeavors—from studying music and directing cartoons to writing musicals and producing participatory art projects for Burning Man. With One Foot, Kevin has been working to create his dream company; a place where awesome artists generate great stories that provide service and make people happy... all while having as much fun as possible. He's certainly doing all of that and more with KidNuz!
Advisors
Albert Tong
Albert is a partner at Burke Williams & Sorensen where he practices commercial litigation. He received his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and his A.B. from the University of California at Berkeley. Originally from Los Angeles, he now lives in the Bay Area with his wife and two daughters where he enjoys snowboarding and playing the ukulele
(and is equally terrible at both).
Lisa Parker
Lisa is a principal at Regalia & Associates, CPAs. After more than twenty years in public accounting working with hedge funds and similar organizations in the financial services industry, she now enjoys working exclusively with non-profit organizations, providing audit, tax, and consulting services. Originally from the Midwest, she now lives in Boston. She and her husband have two daughters.
Tom Blaney
Tom is a partner at
PKF O'Connor Davies LLP.
He has spent 30 years specializing in the accounting and tax aspects of exempt organizations. Tom is a frequent speaker and author on private foundations and not-for-profit topics. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Barron's and other leading business publications.
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Tara Singer
Tara is a financial accountant with more than 27 years experience. She graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga, California with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. After working for KPMG in San Francisco, she earned her CPA. Tara lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and enjoys running, skiing and biking. She and her husband have two teenage sons.
Max Woolf
Max is a Managing Director with Tyton Partners, where he delivers strategic guidance and support for companies in the education and media space. He leverages years of experience as an operator, researcher and analyst to help drive the future of the education ecosystem.
He also previously served as the General Manager of The Daily Jolt, a network of 200 college community and news websites across the country. Max has authored dozens of reports and articles, and regularly speaks at industry events, on webinars, and with leading media outlets on topics related to the online education market.
Marissa McGee
Marissa has spent her career in communities that have been historically underserved due to systemic inequities. She taught kindergarten, first, and second grade in Washington, D.C. for nearly a decade.
She now serves as an instructional coach in Oakland, CA and she works with Stanford graduate students who are entering the teaching profession.
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Susan Steiner Saal
Susan is a non-profit and for-profit leader with 20 years of experience facilitating dynamic marketing and operations strategy. Specializing in fundraising and governance, Susan cultivates deeply connected relationships to build and energize mission-driven opportunities. She lives in Palo Alto, California with her husband and two children.
Mike McAllen
Mike discovered the power of podcasting early. Since 2007, he has produced hundreds of episodes and live events for his clients, currently produces virtual and live podcasts for associations and membership-based companies, and enjoys helping newcomers to this awesome audio medium get started. He is also the Executive Director of the California Podcast Association. Mike lives in Oakland, California, with his wife and 5-year-old daughter, two dogs, and two cats.
Noah Teitelbaum
Noah started his work in education as a fifth grade teacher 20 years ago. He's taught, been an instructional coach, curriculum designer, and nonprofit director. He now consults on learning and development and business management for nonprofits and companies. His two kids and he listen to KidNuz on the way to school.
Renee Pyle, PhD
Renee has worked in clinic, hospital, school and private practice settings for almost 20 years. She is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor in the Stanford University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences where she supervises and teaches child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. She lives in the SF Bay Area with her husband and their two sons.
Rachel Rosner
Rachel Rosner is a professional educator with policy and practical insight gained from over 20 years experience both inside and outside of the classroom. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and their two sons.
Teacher Advisor Panel
It takes a village! Please meet our 2022-2023 panel of teacher advisors, all dedicated to making KidNuz the best classroom experience possible!
Nicole Campbell
I teach 5th grade at St. Stephen School in Kingsville, Maryland. This is the same school I attended as a child. I knew I wanted to return as a teacher and share in the same traditions I experienced. I have been teaching for 19 years. I love spending time at the beach with my husband and two children. I enjoy reading a good book, and I like to paint in my spare time. My students and I look forward to listening to KidNuz each day. Creativity in the classroom brings me joy.
Ivy Davis-Palmer
I am a third grade elementary school teacher who loves her job. This is my eighth-year teaching. My hopes and plans are to inspire my students to be the best they can be, ignite their imagination to be anything in this world while giving them an understanding that anything they put their minds to they can and will accomplish.
Janice Forth
I’m excited to be joining the panel from the Great White North! I’ve been teaching for 13 years in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. This school year, I will be teaching a grade 7/8 class. I look forward to incorporating Kid Nuz into my daily teaching practices again this year! When not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our three daughters, along with baking and crafting.
Carie Hayworth
My educational journey began in a Language and Social Skills classroom 26 years ago. I am currently a 4th-grade teacher in North Carolina, but have taught both 2nd and 3rd grades, served as a curriculum coach, and designed an intervention track-out program at a year-round school. I am a Girls on the Run coach and serve on the board of directors for GOTR of the Greater Piedmont. My husband and I have been married 20 years. We have four children, one grandbaby, and love to watch our youngest play ball.
Christine Heilmann
Christine Heilmann is a Marin County native who can’t sit still. She found her passion in sports and teaching, studying Physical Education at UC Berkeley, competing in Ironman competitions around the world, and inspiring kids every day to achieve their best. She has been a classroom teacher for 32 years and enjoys being a part of the evolution of education. She’s concluded that if you’re doing what you love, the worst-case scenario is that you’ll enjoy the journey.
Susan Salava
I am a 4th grade teacher in Minnesota with 25 years of experience. My husband is also a teacher - he teaches high school history. I have two wonderful kids; my daughter is a junior at the University of Minnesota and will be going to Barcelona in the spring for her study abroad program. My son is a senior in high school and plays football. I am so excited to have found Kidnuz. My fourth graders enjoy listening to what is happening in our world and determining the answers to the quizzes. I hope this year is full of great friends and loads of learning!
Ryan Scott
Ryan has been teaching upper elementary grades in the Lake Washington School District outside of Seattle for 15 years. He has a Masters degree in Theological Studies as well as a Masters in Education Leadership, but his true passion is encouraging young people to be good citizens in their school community and to be critical thinkers in the classroom. His wife teaches 3rd grade, and their 8-year old son currently wants to be a teacher when he grows up. Or a chef. Or a YouTuber. Time will tell.
Stephanie Stinchecum
I am a 4th grade teacher in Fountain, Colorado. I am entering my 10th year of teaching. I love teaching history and math. I have enjoyed incorporating KidNuz into my daily agenda.
Cindy Tamez
I’ve taught fourth grade reading, writing, and social studies for 13 years. Before entering public education, I started off as a Marketing major and obtained my BBA before going back to college for a MEd. Since then, fourth grade has always been the perfect grade level for me. Last year, I started using KidNuz in my classroom with a goal to immerse my students in more current events knowledge to build background and content. Now KidNuz is a beloved part of my classroom. In addition to teaching, I serve as a Girl Scout leader for my eldest daughter’s troop for the past 5 years. I’m a wife, mother to two elementary-aged daughters, and an animal lover with two dogs.
Molly Woods
I currently teach 5th grade at OLPH Catholic School in Scottsdale, Arizona. I have a Master’s degree in Educational Administration and have taught 19 years in both public and private schools in varying grades from Kindergarten up to 7th grade. I also teach swim lessons in my free time. When not working, I enjoy swimming, hiking, reading, and watching movies. I currently live in Phoenix, Arizona with my husband and four dogs. My three grown sons are off making their mark in the world and she couldn’t be prouder.
Interns
Mia Bracco, Journalism Intern
Mia is currently a student at The Athenian School. This past summer, she studied creative writing at the Interlochen School of the Arts, where she began work on her first novel. She is an avid learner, and is taking several classes relating to modern politics and humanities. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar, writing poetry, and competing in tennis.
Caroline de Bourbon, Journalism Intern
Caroline is currently a senior at Miramonte High school where she is a staff writer for The Mirador, Miramonte’s student run Newspaper. Whether it be discovering a topic, interviewing someone, or putting words on paper, she takes pride in being a journalist. Caroline plans to continue her love for writing next year in college by majoring in journalism. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys riding horses, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.