Award Winning Team

Our team was recognized by the State of Maryland with an Official Citation for their distinguished service to essential first responding and front line working families during the 2020 pandemic.

Perry Hall Team

Ms. Lechel

Position: Director / Lead Teacher
Education: University of Baltimore
Years in Education: 6 years
Background: Ms. Lechel has been the director of our Perry Hall location for three years. She holds a degree from the University Baltimore and comes to us from Johns Hopkins where she was in the medical field for over 10 years.
Ms. Lechel is always on the move. She loves traveling with her family and her Pomeranian Kobe….not to mention coffee!
Ms. Logan

Position: Assistant Director / Teacher
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Ms. Logan started with Active Minds in the summer of 2021, while attending Towson University as an education major. She graduated and currently is a 4th/5th math teacher in Baltimore County Public Schools. Ms. Logan recently gave birth to her first daughter, Harley. Campers love her big personality and fun activities she plans at camp!

Parkville Team

Ms. Hannah

Position: Teacher
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Ms. Hannah joined Active Minds in the Fall of 2020 when she was a student at Towson University to help support our Digital Learning Program. Ms. Hannah is a camper favorite and known for her wacky & fun personality! She is currently an ESOL teacher in the Howard County Public School system.
Ms. Shanelle

Position: Senior Support Staff
Years in Education: 5 years
Background: Now finishing her fifth year as an Additional Assistant in the classroom at Seven Oaks Elementary, Ms. Shanelle is a camper favorite. Working in both our before/aftercare and summer learning program, Ms. Shanelle enjoys introducing our campers to her passion...baking! Weather working with small groups on a no bake Oreo cheesecake, or snowmen cake pops for the Holidays, you can be sure campers will be learning about something tasty.

Lutherville Team

Ms. Jordyn

Position: Director / Teacher
Education: Stevenson University
Years in Education: 8 years
Background: Ms. Jordyn is one of the educators who helped found Active Minds Learning. A former educator at Pot Spring Elementary, she is the director of our Lutherville program. She is also the preschool teacher at our Perry Hall location where she is piloting a curriculum based on experiential learning.
Ms. Jordyn loves getting outdoors and hiking with her dog Champ…..as well as being a world traveler!
Mr. Rick

Position: Teacher
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 23 years
Background: Mr. Rick joined Active Minds as a Teacher in the summer of 2021. He is retired from Baltimore County Public Schools where he was a 4th grade teacher at Hampton Elementary School.
Mr. Rick is a huge fan of aviation and planes, and you can often find him at an airshow or giving tours in Annapolis as Squire Prescott!
Ms. Laurie

Position: Teacher
Years in Education: 9 years
Background: Ms. Laurie joined our team in the Fall of 2021. She comes from Baltimore City Public Schools and Kennedy Krieger, where she was an Instructional Assistant in the classroom for 9 years at Lois T. Murray Elementary School.
Ms. Laurie’s calm demeanor is perfect for our younger kids, and fits our Active Minds culture. You can often find Ms. Laurie on the weekends doing yoga and meditating. She is also a huge Harry Potter fan!

Bel Air Team

Ms. Sam

Position: Director / Teacher
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Ms. Sam joined Active Minds in 2019 when she was a student at Towson University’s Education Program. In the Fall of 2020 she became the Director of the Bel Air Digital Learning Program helping kids during distance learning get educational support each day.
Ms. Sam grew up in Nepal where her father is the principal of a private school. She is often spotted at the gym at 5am, or at museums on the weekend. She has an infinite mindset to always be learning new things.
Ms. Jeanea

Position: Teacher
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Ms. Jeanea joined our program for the summer of 2022. She is currently a Teaching Assistant (IA) in Baltimore County Public Schools, helping instruction and doing pull outs for individualized support. Often referred to as the Momma Bear of the Bel Air campers, she is all about fun!
Ms. Jeanea loves spending time with her family and loves to try new things and experience life!

Field Trip Specialists

Mr. Mike

Position: Team Leader
Education: University of Maryland, College Park
Years in Education: 12 years
Background: Mr. Mike spent 12 years in both Baltimore and Harford County Public Schools as a science teacher and special educator. For nearly a decade, Mr. Mike worked at a special school that focused on experiential learning, connecting field trips to learning in the classroom. From, museums to kayaking to rock climbing and rappelling field trips we’re a weekly focus. During this time, Mr. Mike became an expert in risk assessment and field trip design. As one of the founding educators of the program he now leads this process on all Active Minds experiences.
Mr. Mike loves playing basketball and cooking. He loves going on vacations with his family. His family has a history steeped in the thoroughbred industry in Maryland and he loves rooting for their horses!
Mr. Cole

Position: Trip Specialist
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 8 years
Background: Mr. Cole started teaching kindergarten at Fifth District Elementary before moving to 1st grade at 7th District Elementary in Northern Baltimore County.
Mr. Cole is often found walking around the room with his guitar playing music for the kids as they are in stations. Mr. Cole loves helping the kids learn through experiences and hands on learning.
Mr. Moe

Position: Trip Specialist
Education: Towson University
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Mr. Moe joined our team in 2019 when he was a student at Towson University in their Special Education Program. He helped support our families with our Digital Learning Program during distance learning in 2020-21, helping ensure kids had one on one support. He is currently a special educator at a private school in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Moe loves basketball, playing or coaching. He loves trying new things….coffee, food, traveling….this loves to experience life.
Mr. Adam

Position: Trip Specialist
Years in Education: 1 years
Background: Mr. Adam joined our team in the Fall of 2022 when deciding to change careers and follow his passion…teaching!
You can find Mr. Adam going to hockey and football games each weekend, or with his family finding an adventure of their own!
Mr. Kijiah

Position: Trip Specialist
Education: Morgan State University
Years in Education: 2 years
Background: Mr. Kijiah is a science teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools. Next Fall, Mr. Kijiah will be starting medical school in Philadelphia. He is passionate about giving back to his community and help guide children on a path to life long success!

Senior Support Staff

Ms. Taylor

University of Maryland Baltimore County
B.S History
Mr. Alex

Mount St. Mary’s University
Major: Neuroscience
Ms. Nicole

Loyola University of Maryland
Masters of Education in School Counseling
Ms. Jessie

Hampton Elementary School
Ms. Diana

CCBC Essex
Ms. Emman

CCBC Essex
Mr. David

CCBC Essex