Ann Al Darraji was born in Baghdad, Iraq. In 2008 she received her B.S.C in civil engineering from Al Mustansiriya University. She worked as an engineer at Al Sahaab Company before moving to the United States in 2009 to live and finish her education. Ann now works at Friends Select as an assistant teacher in the After School Program with the pre-kindergarten class, where her goal is to be a teacher who will “always go the extra mile” to ensure her students’ success.
Billy Kelis was born in Chicago and raised in Los Angles. He moved to Philadelphia four years ago to pursue his education. Billy started working with children at a wilderness nature camp in the Adirondacks and found the transition to Friends Select smooth and enjoyable. His interests and hobbies include cooking, hiking, computers, and exploring Philadelphia.
Catherine (Kit) Clever (daughter of After School Program director Judy Clever) was born in Pittsburgh and raised in Philadelphia. She is the single mother of a six-year-old girl and a student at Community College of Philadelphia, majoring in interior design. She loves to write, read, is learning to cook, and reports being “all about doing hair!”
Curtis Dunn was born in Yekepa Nimba, Liberia, but moved in the mid-90s to Guinea because of the war in his country. He returned to Liberia to complete high school and attend a teachers college, where he received a teaching certificate. Curtis became involved in helping students who were not responding in regular classes and later became the sports director at the school where he worked. He reports moving to the U.S. in 2008 “for a better life.”
Jessica Brister grew up in Montgomery County, outside of Philadelphia. She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating, she worked at a school in Pittsburgh for a year and became interested in education. She recently moved to Philadelphia and is enjoying exploring the city.
Joe Hardy traces his lineage back to the Hardy/Crook clan of North England and Ireland. Born in Sweden, he moved to America in 1992, settling in St. Augustine, Fla. An avid musician, Joe records and produces his own music. He is constantly working to expand his vocabulary and liquidity. Joe is planning on attending graduate school for either macro-history, philosophy of science, or just the acquisition of all human knowledge.
Ryan Walter is a lifelong actor. He started his career in kindergarten with a memorable performance as one of the lost boys in Peter Pan, and has been acting on stage ever since. He attended Vassar College where he received his bachelor’s degree in drama, as well as the Mary Thatcher Kazan award for excellence in theater. Besides acting, Ryan works as both an After School teacher, as well as a ghost-tour guide with Ghost Tour of Philadelphia.
Ross Colby is a philosophy professor who has taught at Drexel, Temple, Rutgers Camden, and The Community College of Philadelphia. However, more recently Ross considers "chess coach" to be his primary job. Ross has coached Friends Select and The Philadelphia School to multiple state championships and top-15 national championships. In 2008 and 2011 Ross guided TPS to 1st place finishes in the U1000 and U1250 sections respectively.