Meet the Team
At MILE, we’re more than educators - we’re mentors, builders and partners in unlocking brilliance. With diverse expertise and lived experiences, we share one purpose: delivering support that is rigorous, human centered and liberating.
Read the bios below to understand why and how we go the extra mile so you can see firsthand the values, qualifications, and lived experiences that shape our work.
Dr. Zion Gezaw
She/Her
Founder • Principal • Possibility-Maker
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Equity & Instructional Consulting
Experience
Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction
Current school leader in Denver
Twice exceptional
First generation college grad
Daughter of Ethiopian immigrants
Trilingual
Why MILE
Co-founded MILE to build liberatory environments where every learner can thrive
What Brings Me Joy
Hiking with family and pups
Vegan cooking and baking
Exploring new coffee shops
Sean McKenzie
He/Him
Strategist • Educator • Brilliance Liberator
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Strategy & Organizational Consulting
Experience
Postgraduate student at University of Cambridge
Current sustainability advisor in international development
Taught and advised learners across multiple universities
First generation college grad
Son of Trinidadian/Canadian immigrants
Broomfield Councilmember
Why MILE
Co-founded MILE to create spaces where different thinkers are affirmed and equity becomes the expectation
What Brings Me Joy
Listening to jazz, neo-soul, R&B
Exploring sustainability in everyday life, Net Zero living, EVs, and regenerative food
Being at peace in the great outdoors, being active, meditating, or thinking deeply
Maddie Parker
She/Her
Academic Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Experience
Twice-exceptional
Bachelor's in English and Socio-Legal studies; Master's in Leadership for Higher Education
Four years of teaching experience, currently leading Academic Services at CU Anschutz
Why MILE
Joined MILE to support the whole child - fostering growth beyond test scores and advancing equity in education
What Brings Me Joy
Spending time with my pup, Mollie
Reading romance books
Playing board games with friends
Kevin D. Vo
He/Him
Academic Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Experience
Private tutor, specializing in math and experience with Boston’s Businesses United in Leadership and Development (BUILD) programme
Teaching assistant at Columbia University, health educator at Peer Health Exchange, scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital, and medical student at University of Rochester
Current 9th-grade math teacher
Why MILE
MILE’s mission statement is to help students, especially those from underserved backgrounds, succeed in both school and life - that motivation is the exact reason I became a teacher
What Brings Me Joy
Former students achieving their college, career, and life dreams
Watching people who were ‘not expected to succeed academically’ do awesome
My three cats and one dog
Adora Klinestiver
She/Her
Academic Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Experience
B.S. Chemistry and Spanish Minor, and M.S. Biomedical Sciences Research
Tutored Master’s students in cell and molecular biology
Performed Guarani and Spanish health and academic-related activities in Paraguay for two years
Pursue and accepted into medical school
Why MILE
MILE aims to support children and adults holistically, a unique approach that leads to greater success for our clients
What Brings Me Joy
Going on adventures with my partner and two little kids
Walking and doing yoga
Playing ukulele and reading fantasy novels
Kaylee Schuler
She/Her
Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
Strategy & Systems Consulting
Experience
5+ years teaching and tutoring across numerous subjects and age groups
Teaching from a neurodivergent perspective with a focus on curiosity, validation, and accessibility for each learner
Creative and adaptive educational approaches
Why MILE
I believe academic learning cannot be separated from the context in which it occurs-students need support far beyond the classroom, and MILE’s holistic approach to mentoring and tutoring acknowledges, values, and honors the complexity of each client’s situation in a way I find refreshing and wonderful
What Brings Me Joy
Creating! I love to write, draw, sing, make comics, cosplay, and find new ways to express myself
Dressing up for conventions like Comic Con
Seeing people being their authentic selves and engaging with the things they love as if no one is watching
Sebastianne Kent
She/Her
Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Strategy & Systems Consulting
Experience
Corporate sustainability leader helping large companies understand and address their impacts on the environment and people
Masters of Science in Environment and Resource Management with a focus in ecosystem services and biodiversity from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Bachelors of Arts in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara
Lecturer and educator who has worked with learners of all ages to break down complex topics in an engaging way
Why MILE
Working with MILE will allow me to provide the kind of support I wish I had as a student entering the professional world, in a time when that support is needed even more
What Brings Me Joy
Time with friends and family
My cat, Prince
Spending time in nature
Joe McComb
He/Him
Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
College, Career & Life Readiness
Strategy & Systems Consulting
Experience
I have been passionate about education since I became involved as a high schooler on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education. This led me on a path to pursue my Master’s degree in Educational Foundations, Policy, and Practice at CU Boulder where I also worked with students to improve their written academic performance.
I am currently a full-time paraprofessional at Morey Middle School, serving in the roles of Math Interventionist and 1:1 Dedicated Adult Support in Special Education.
Why MILE
I am thrilled to be part of the MILE team to support families and ensure students have the tools to reach their highest potential.
What Brings Me Joy
Traveling to see new places, cultural sites, and natural landscapes
Exploring all that my home town of Denver has to offer
Organizing with my community to ensure everyone has the resources they need to thrive
Kelsey Moore
She/Her
Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
Strategy & Systems Consulting
Experience
7-12th grade Science & Math teacher
8+ years as a turnaround school leader focused on school climate, safety, and student behavior
Significant experience supporting diverse learners in achieving short and long-term goals
Why MILE
I believe that every child deserves to feel the joy of their full potential with a supportive team at their side
What Brings Me Joy
Spending time with my family
My hobbies (reading, running, and being outside!)
Watching people of all ages and stages achieve their goals
Kim Larson
She/Her
Academic Advisor
Services Offered
Student & Family Success
Experience
Kim has over a decade of experience teaching and working alongside students of all ages. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and History, and a Master’s degree in Art History (with a certificate in Museum Education). Her museum education and 8 years of classroom experience give her a unique expertise in both teaching and applying real world critical thinking, creative problem solving, communication, relationship building, and organizational skills.
Every student finds success in their own way and Kim is passionate about meeting students where they are, academically and personally, to discover tools that work for them. Kim believes in wraparound support, providing students with both structure and freedom to experiment on their own, guidance and space to figure out how their brain works best, and emotional compassion while maintaining high expectations.
Why MILE
Every person’s brain works and learns in a unique way and I am passionate about helping students discover the tools they need to find confidence, success, and joy in learning
What Brings Me Joy
My family
Hiking
Watching students discover they really are able to do hard things
