About Us

Ben Acquah

Contractor - Academy Student Support Lead

Ben, a product of the One World Program himself, now uses his knowledge of the program and student learning to enhance the program from within. His love of the mighty pen has moved him to write poetry and participate in a local open mic Spoken Word. In addition, Ben is the first District Supply Chain lead for One Medical. In this role he aims to transform healthcare by making getting quality care affordable and more accessible to all. Ben values opportunities where he can aid others and better himself.

Drew Anderson

Student Success Manager

Drew has spent the last few years as the Public Speaking Coach for the One World Challenge, and is now actively recruiting students from all four quadrants of the city who can best benefit from the Challenge Academy where he will, once again, work closely with the students to hone their presentation skills and inspire confidence on stage. Drew is a hip hop artist, poet, producer, screenwriter, event host, and veteran teacher who has combined his extensive experience and passion for education and the arts into his present role as a teaching artist.

Benjamin Bradburn

Development Director

Ben leads revenue development and fundraising for One World Education. He brings with him years of experience and a proven record in fundraising, nonprofit management, board governance, strategic planning, and external relations. His commitment to community-centric fundraising principles was honed at Friendship Place and more recently Fair Chance, a capacity-building organization and network of youth- and child-serving nonprofits, of which One World Education is a partner. Ben earned his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Manhattanville College and has served on local nonprofit boards, including co-chairing an organization dedicated to preventing and ending genocide.

Summer Ellis-Xavier

Program Director

Summer leads the Programs Teams to support impactful in-school and afterschool Academy work of all stakeholders. She joins One World Education after over a decade in schools where she started as a middle school ELA teacher before moving into student support, school leadership, and programming. She is passionate about education as an act of not just social change but liberation. Summer holds a BA in English American Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, an MAT from Emmanuel College, and an Adult Education Certificate from the University of the District of Columbia. 

Eric Goldstein

CEO & Founder

Eric founded the program as a classroom teacher at SEED Public Charter School in Anacostia and has run the organization ever since. His career in education started after a solo, 5,000-mile bicycle trip across the United States. As a teacher, Eric earned a United States Department of the Interior Partners in Education Award. Eric holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Vermont and Master’s in International Policy from George Washington University.

Jessie Grosshart

Program Manager

Jessie leads One World’s program evaluation process with school partners, facilitates communication with teachers, and maintains the Student Resources section of our website. Jessie also manages students’ participation in the One World Academy. She earned her undergraduate degree in History, English, and Classical Humanities with an Emphasis in Greek from William Jewell College in 2016. Prior to One World, Jessie taught preschool and interned with the Southern Missouri branch of Child Care Aware.

Jessica Leader

Director of Curriculum and Instruction

As Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jessica supports teachers in helping students find their voices and develop as writers. A teacher for over 10 years, she first encountered One World at Capital City PCS, where her students rocked the One World Challenge! She is an author, too—of curriculum for PBS Learning Media and of the middle-grade novel Nice and Mean, published by Simon and Schuster. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College of Fine Arts, a Master’s in Teaching from NYU, and a BA from Brown University. She believes in the power of stories.

Dave McGloin

Director of Impact and Communications

Dave directs One World’s communications strategy. Prior to joining the organization, Dave worked for a number of edtech startups as well as started the annual Read Across America celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Earlier in his career, he won an Emmy as one of the producers of the CBS News Special, The Killing Fields of America. Dave holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of Journalism and a B.A. degree from Princeton University.

Leith Mondry

Director of Operations

Leith oversees One World’s daily operations, including development of financial management strategy and contributing to the development and execution of the organization’s strategic goals. Her career path has ranged from direct social work to research and website management to editing a parenting website. Leith earned an AB in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College and an MSW from SUNY Stony Brook, School of Social Welfare.

Lyric Simms

Program Manager

Lyric earned her double BA in classical languages and literature and psychology from Agnes Scott College in 2017 and her Masters in Education Policy and Leadership from American University in 2020. Prior to joining One World, she taught for four years in schools in Atlanta, GA, and Washington, DC, teaching grades K-8.