Our Team
George Popham, Founder, Executive Director, Mentor
“Whatever I was doing in my work as a teacher, it wasn't teaching. It was some kind of exercise in command and control. I wanted to see engaged minds: enthused, and in full ownership of their own learning.”
George has been in education for over 20 years. He holds a master's degree in Liberal Arts from St. John's College in Santa Fe, NM, and a master's in Religious Studies from Boston University. George has taught at community colleges, Boston University's MET college, and a variety of high schools and middle schools across a wide socioeconomic spectrum. His interests include literature, philosophy, and world religions, and when not in the classroom, he enjoys hiking, birding, meditation, and yoga.
You can reach George at george@baystatelearning.org
JayJay Mudridge, Center Co-Director, Mentor, Tutor, and Neurodivergent Specialist
“The people who leave you were never your tribe in the first place. And people will gravitate towards you, the right people, will see you being your full self and be enamored of and impressed by your authenticity."
JayJay joined the BSLC team after many years as an autistic advocate speaking about the neurodivergent experience from a neurodivergent perspective. They went into education in an attempt to be the autistic educator they needed as an autistic child, but quickly found the public education system harmful to their own, and their students, autistic neurology. They became a tutor and mentor for Autistic and neurodivergent youth using their experience in education to develop curricula specific to their students' needs and interests. JayJay enlists many techniques including guided movement for students with attention differences with the intent of fostering a healthy neurodivergent identity in their students and mentees. One of their deepest held beliefs is that neurodivergent youth need neurodivergent adults to look to for role models.
When JayJay isn't teaching/mentoring, they can be found reading and writing poetry, building and fixing jeeps and arcade cabinets, or entertaining their CrossFit habit
You can reach JayJay at jayjay@baystatelearning.org.
Terry Louison, Mentor, Program Director
“I could see that Bay State was a place where learning could be thrilling and fun and creative, that I would learn so much myself, and that becoming a part of the Bay State community would change my life in all the best ways. I was right.”
Terry has been creating photographs in her signature natural, timeless, and organic style for many, many years. She has worked as a traffic coordinator and broadcast producer in advertising and held various positions in photography throughout her career, and in 2004 she launched Terry Louison Photography.
She joined Bay State in January 2017 and this year begins her journey as a team leader specializing in the arts. You can take a look at her work at www.terrylouison.com.
You can reach Terry at terry@baystatelearning.org
Owen Akeley, Mentor, Director of STEM Program
“No amount of good grades or academic honors were going to make up for something I was completely lacking— internal validation. So, I took steps to tap back into what I wanted to learn. At BSLC, not only do I get to continue down that road of inquiry and discovery, I get to pay it forward and help young people do the same."
Owen joined the BSLC team in 2020 after many years of work in the realms of nonprofit and alternative education, specifically in Nashville, TN, where he also earned an honors degree in English from Vanderbilt University, and in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where he spent over two years writing and developing curriculum for rural after-school programs across various academic subject areas. Native to suburban Massachusetts, he is excited to continue his work closer to home, and build on an already-exciting relationship with the Bay State community as a whole.
Owen is an avid reader, writer, surfer, musician, and 200-hour certified Yoga Instructor. He also enjoys skateboarding, climbing trees, and stroking his beard to make it look like he’s thinking.
You can reach Owen at owen@baystatelearning.org.
Jon Ireland, Operations Director
“I watched my kids struggle to fit into a mold of schooling I assumed was preordained, then we discovered they could choose their own path and enjoy learning again. We've never looked back and our family is happier for it.”
Jon joins us from a series of various industries ranging from Hospitality to Software. He has consistently taken on client-facing roles with an emphasis on customer satisfaction and sound business practices.
Jon has two boys, alumni of BSLC, and is a strong believer in allowing kids the freedom to choose their educational paths with the patient guidance of a great mentor.
You can reach Jon at jireland@baystatelearning.org
Our Board
Keith Phelps
Keith is a passionate advocate for youth empowerment and was thrilled to find a kindred spirit with BLSC, stepping in to support their mission as Board President in 2023.
Shortly after relocating from Detroit to Boston five years ago, he and his wife opened their home to foster teens and found some mutual benefits with a couple of long term placements. For over a decade before coming to Boston, he actively participated in Boy Scout adult leadership witnessing firsthand the profound impact of empowering youth to chart their own course.
Professionally, Keith is the Chief Information Officer at Needham Bank, contributing his leadership and technical expertise to the BLSC board.
With his unwavering commitment and broad experience, Keith is a passionate advocate in BLSC's mission to empower teens to flourish through personal relationships, genuine engagement, and self-directed education.
Chandu Krishnan
Chandu Krishnan comes from the non-profit world with work experience in the field of sustainable development and anti-corruption. He is presently a Senior Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He was also a Fellow at the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University (2013-14) and the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School (2015-16). He was Executive Director of the NGO Transparency International UK (2004-2012) and served in various capacities at the intergovernmental Commonwealth Secretariat UK (1985-2004), including as Deputy Director for Strategic Planning.
Chandu serves on the Town of Sharon (MA) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, playing the piano (with more enthusiasm than talent!) and binge-watching TV crime thriller series.
Susan Brostrup-Jensen
Susan is a mother of 3 adolescents/young adults, one of whom began attending BSLC in January 2023, where she found a caring community grounded in ideals of mutual respect, empowerment, and love of learning.
Susan has a master’s and doctorate in social work. She has worked within the domestic violence movement providing direct, community-based services, advocating for larger systemic change, and overseeing programs. Since having children, Susan has worked in higher education as adjunct faculty and faculty/field advisor at several local schools of social work. Since 2018, she has been in an administrative role coordinating an off-campus MSW program.
During her down time, Susan’s first choice is to spend time outside—hiking, gardening, walking the dog, and/or playing in and on the water.
Ilana Margalit
Ilana is a huge fan of Bay State. She has witnessed the magic of this place up close through her two children, one of whom is currently still a student there. Ilana has been homeschooling since 2016 and has experience with a variety of homeschool communities and cooperatives. Ilana is an acupuncturist with a private practice in Newton, MA. She lives with her husband, two teenage sons, and dog in Newton.
