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Summer Learning Case Study: Expanding Opportunity Through Partnership
How Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, is Strengthening Academics, Enrollment, and Student Success...
Our Leadership Team
Catholic Education Services is led by respected professionals in Catholic and online education—leaders with decades of experience creating effective learning programs and advancing faith-based academic excellence. Guided by our President, Rob Birdsell, and supported by our Chaplain, Fr. Michael Murray, OSFS, our team combines deep expertise in digital learning with a steadfast commitment to Catholic identity and formation.
Bruce Davis
Chief Executive Officer
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Bruce Davis
Chief Executive Officer
Bruce Davis is a career innovator and leader in educational technology. He has worked and travelled extensively throughout the world and led many innovative efforts. Before leading Hudson Global Scholars, he was Chief Operating Officer of Prometric and managed the company roll-out into more than 100 countries, bringing access to standardized examinations and higher education to students everywhere. Bruce created and developed Discovery Education’s streaming video service, now the largest video education provider, reaching millions of students. He has built and operated numerous private schools ranging from the Kisubi School in Uganda to the International School of Berne in Switzerland. Bruce was the Chief Strategy Officer for K12/Stride Inc., the largest online school and a significant operator of charter schools in the U.S. He was CEO of Teachstone Training, a leader in teacher professional development and assessment. In his early career, he worked for Deloitte consulting on assignment in Cairo, Egypt. Bruce continues his journey to positively affect as many students as possible through mass education.
Dr. Patricia Hoge
Chief Academic Officer
Pat is the Chief Academic Officer for Hudson Global Scholars and its network of schools. Previously, she spent 12 years in leadership roles at Connections Education (Pearson Online and Blended Learning) as Chief Academic Officer and head of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition, she was the Vice President of Education and Learning Innovation for Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore, MD; the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Catapult Learning; and the Executive Director of Education at eSylvan, where she led a team that developed 25,000 online lessons in reading and mathematics. She also supervised reading and language arts curriculum for Baltimore County Public Schools and served as a speech-language pathologist within K–12 schools.
Pat was awarded honors at the 2019 Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge at Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2015, the United States Distance Learning Association – International Distance Learning Awards recognized her for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning and for Best Practices in Distance Learning Program (Connections Education Professional Learning Model).
Pat holds a PhD in K–12 Educational Leadership from Walden University School of Education, and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. She serves on numerous boards and educational association committees, including the Towson University Foundation Board, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum Board in Baltimore, MD, and the Alliance for Virtual Learning where she led the development and implementation of the Alliance’s summer 2020 Virtual Teaching Academy for teachers and school leaders across the globe.
Jonathan Stowe
Chief Operating Officer
Jon is a nationally known education ops leader, bringing over a decade of experience as COO to this role. Previously, he has built and led three different online schools and programs, serving recently as the COO of Teachstone. Prior to this he was the president of Dev Bootcamp where he led the expansion of the company and its sale to Kaplan Education. Earlier, Jon was the CTO and COO of Teachscape, a teacher evaluation and learning company. He completed four patents for the company prior to its sale to Frontline Technologies.
Jon has worked in senior technology and product roles at Pearson Education, Thomson Higher Education, and Cengage Learning. Jon began his career as a software developer and product manager. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Graphics and Sculpture from the University of Connecticut.
Rose Piedmont
Chief Financial Officer
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Rose Piedmont
Chief Financial Officer
Rose is a senior financial executive with over 30 years of experience in various settings and industries, including education, government, banking, leasing, construction-related industries, mutual funds, and insurance. Throughout her career, Rose has managed general accounting, budgeting, treasury, FP&A, financial reporting, fixed assets, information technology, payroll, human resources, procurement, pricing, grants and strategic analysis groups in both profit and not-for-profit arenas. She also has considerable experience with international firms and IFRS. In addition to her deep and varied financial experience, Rose is an exceptional leader. She is able to dive into difficult situations and quickly win the loyalty and cooperation of both staff and other senior managers. This vital attribute is a testament to her honesty and integrity, as well as her ability to learn and understand a company’s business operations quickly. As a member of the team, Rose feels she must contribute to the business’ success by truly understanding the challenges faced by the people who operate the business. She has worked in many diverse and challenging environments where clear communications, insight, the willingness to explore new ideas, personal credibility, and leadership were the critical elements in accomplishing the mission. Rose is a CPA licensed in Maryland. She earned her BS in Cost Accounting and Management from Fordham University and her MBA (with a concentration in financial services) from Boston University.
Danny McElhinny
Chief Revenue Officer
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Danny McElhinny
Chief Revenue Officer
Danny is an accomplished education industry executive with a proven track record in establishing and leading successful global sales teams. Before joining Hudson Global Scholars, he served as the Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing for William H. Sadlier, where he was responsible for the firm’s global competitiveness and revenue strategy.
Danny is passionate about coaching sales teams, implementing new sales-enabled technologies to improve efficiencies and upgrading outdated sales processes. Danny is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and lives with his wife and son in Pittsburgh, PA.
Our Teachers
Our teachers are passionate, experienced professionals who bring Catholic values into every lesson. They are trained in best practices for online and blended learning, ensuring students receive a rigorous academic experience grounded in faith.
Hector Esquivel
Teacher
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Hector Esquivel
Teacher
Dr. Esquivel has over 15 years of experience teaching middle and high school students. He holds a B.A. in History, an M.A. in Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration. Certified in Social Studies, History (Grades 6–12), and as a PK–12 Principal in Texas, Dr. Esquivel is committed to fostering academic growth and student success.
Cheryl Thompson
Teacher
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Cheryl Thompson
Teacher
Ms. Thompson brings over 35 years of experience teaching middle and high school English and college-level composition. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Secondary English and a Master's in English, she is certified in Secondary English/Language Arts, Speech Communications, and Drama. Ms. Thompson is dedicated to creating engaging learning environments that inspire student success.
Craig Carroll
English Teacher
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Craig Carroll
English Teacher
Mr. Carroll has over a decade of experience teaching English. He holds multiple degrees, including English, English Literature, Fine Arts in Theater Arts, and Secondary Education. In addition to teaching high school English, he also teaches at the college level. Mr. Carroll enjoys working with both U.S.-based and international students, bringing a diverse and inclusive perspective to his classrooms.
Louise Jackson
Business Education Teacher
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Louise Jackson
Business Education Teacher
Ms. Jackson is a dedicated Business Education instructor with over 28 years of experience. She holds multiple degrees and certifications in Business Administration and Business Education, with specialized expertise in distance education and online learning. Focused on preparing students for success in the global economy, she enjoys teaching a variety of business and elective courses, with a strong emphasis on international education.
Lyn Stewart
Science Teacher
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Lyn Stewart
Science Teacher
Ms. Stewart is a dedicated educator with over 20 years of experience teaching science—particularly biology—and special education across all grade levels. She holds degrees in Biology and Counseling Services and is TESOL certified. Having taught in a variety of school settings, she now enjoys working online with students from around the world, focusing primarily on science courses.
Walter Griffin
Business Education Teacher
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Walter Griffin
Business Education Teacher
Mr. Griffin is an experienced Business Education instructor with over a decade of teaching at the middle and high school levels. Holding degrees in Business Education, Information Technology Management, and Educational Leadership, he brings a wealth of knowledge to his students. Focused on student success, Mr. Griffin prepares learners with essential skills in business and technology.
Ellie Angove
Social Studies Teacher
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Ellie Angove
Social Studies Teacher
Ms. Angove is a dedicated educator with extensive experience teaching both online and in the classroom. She holds degrees in History, Spanish, and Teaching and has taught Social Studies, Language Arts, and Special Education at the middle and high school levels. In addition to her teaching expertise, Ms. Angove also coached cross-country, track, and basketball teams, helping students excel both academically and athletically.
Jeannette Harshaw
Teacher
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Jeannette Harshaw
Teacher
Ms. Harshaw is a certified educator with over 25 years of experience teaching Pre-K, elementary, and secondary English. Holding an A.A. in Teacher Education and a B.S. in Elementary Education, she has also completed master's-level coursework in K–12 Special Education. Dedicated to fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the classroom.
Our Leadership Team
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Bruce Davis
Chief Executive Officer
View Bio
Bruce Davis
Chief Executive Officer
Bruce Davis is a career innovator and leader in educational technology. He has worked and travelled extensively throughout the world and led many innovative efforts. Before leading Hudson Global Scholars, he was Chief Operating Officer of Prometric and managed the company roll-out into more than 100 countries, bringing access to standardized examinations and higher education to students everywhere. Bruce created and developed Discovery Education’s streaming video service, now the largest video education provider, reaching millions of students. He has built and operated numerous private schools ranging from the Kisubi School in Uganda to the International School of Berne in Switzerland. Bruce was the Chief Strategy Officer for K12/Stride Inc., the largest online school and a significant operator of charter schools in the U.S. He was CEO of Teachstone Training, a leader in teacher professional development and assessment. In his early career, he worked for Deloitte consulting on assignment in Cairo, Egypt. Bruce continues his journey to positively affect as many students as possible through mass education.
Robert Birdsell
President
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Robert Birdsell
President
Rob Birdsell is a veteran Catholic school educator, having started his career teaching in Jesuit high schools. He led the Cristo Rey Network’s national expansion as CEO and was a founder and director of the Drexel Fund, a venture philanthropy fund focused on making grants to expand school choice. Rob also brings international Catholic education experience to the organization, having been one of the founders and executive vice presidents of Amerigo Education. He continues to support Amerigo as Senior Advisor.
Rob is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a Fellow of the Aspen Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and received his MBA is from the Lubar School at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Rob has taught courses at DePaul University and Loyola University Chicago. In addition to his serving on the Board of the Drexel Fund, he currently serves on the Board of Loyola Press and has been a Board Member at Alain Locke Charter School, the Jesuit Virtual Learning Academy, and was a Commissioner for the American Center for School Choice’s Commission on Faith-based Schools.
Dr. Patricia Hoge
Chief Academic Officer
Pat is the Chief Academic Officer for Hudson Global Scholars and its network of schools. Previously, she spent 12 years in leadership roles at Connections Education (Pearson Online and Blended Learning) as Chief Academic Officer and head of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition, she was the Vice President of Education and Learning Innovation for Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore, MD; the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Catapult Learning; and the Executive Director of Education at eSylvan, where she led a team that developed 25,000 online lessons in reading and mathematics. She also supervised reading and language arts curriculum for Baltimore County Public Schools and served as a speech-language pathologist within K–12 schools.
Pat was awarded honors at the 2019 Zaentz Early Education Innovation Challenge at Harvard Graduate School of Education. In 2015, the United States Distance Learning Association – International Distance Learning Awards recognized her for Outstanding Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning and for Best Practices in Distance Learning Program (Connections Education Professional Learning Model).
Pat holds a PhD in K–12 Educational Leadership from Walden University School of Education, and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from Towson University. She serves on numerous boards and educational association committees, including the Towson University Foundation Board, the Port Discovery Children’s Museum Board in Baltimore, MD, and the Alliance for Virtual Learning where she led the development and implementation of the Alliance’s summer 2020 Virtual Teaching Academy for teachers and school leaders across the globe.
Ryan Hunt
Director of Business Development
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Ryan Hunt
Director of Business Development
Ryan Hunt is a seasoned business development professional with deep expertise at the intersection of technology and education. In his current role, he proudly partners with Catholic schools and dioceses to implement online learning solutions that expand access and enhance student success. Previously, he honed his technology-forward sales expertise at Micro Center, leading a department and earning national recognition for top Apple product performance. He also oversaw a 23-location retail portfolio for Dyson through MarketSource, leading training, relationship building, and team motivation to maximize results. A graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in History and English, Ryan blends a people-first leadership style with a strategic approach to ed‑tech sales—making him a dynamic leader in advancing Catholic education through innovation.
Emily Adolph
Account Manager
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Emily Adolph
Account Manager
Emily Adolph is an experienced account manager and education partner dedicated to supporting Catholic schools, dioceses, and faith-based learning communities. She works closely with school leaders to provide flexible online and blended learning solutions that help students remain academically successful while honoring the mission and values of Catholic education.
With a strong background in education, online learning, educational technology, and client relationship management, Emily is known for her thoughtful, relationship-centered approach. She supports schools with course planning, credit recovery, and staffing support, helping administrators navigate challenges with clarity, responsiveness, and care. Her experience in sales and business development across multiple industries allows her to build trusted partnerships and deliver tailored solutions that meet each school’s unique needs.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Consumer Sciences from Fairmont State University. Her academic foundation in human development, communication, and relationship-building informs her work and strengthens her ability to advocate for students, families, and educators. Emily is passionate about using online learning as a meaningful tool to expand access, support student success, and strengthen Catholic education communities.