Dr. Monisha Gibson is an accomplished educator, leader, and advocate with more than 20 years of experience in education. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in French Language and Literature from the University of Virginia, a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University, an Advanced Certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Long Island University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Bridgeport. Dr. Gibson and her husband, Johnathan Gisbon, are the founders of the Maritime Odyssey Preschool, Norwalk’s largest early childhood center, which serves nearly 300 children each year. Together, they also operate additional preschool programs, out-of school time initiatives, and summer camps that support youth ages 4–12 across the city of Norwalk. Dr. Gibson’s leadership extends well beyond the local level. As the former Director of Early Childhood Strategy for Social Venture Partners Connecticut, Dr. Gibson served as a lead advisor to the Commissioner of Early Childhood on initiatives that led to the creation of the Connecticut Early Childhood Education Endowment, a historic $300 million permanent state fund dedicated to strengthening and sustaining early childhood education. Dr. Gibson often reflects on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” For her, advancing educational equity is inseparable from advancing justice.

Since 2016, Johnathan Gibson is the Co-Founder & COO of Odyssey Learning Inc. as well as the Managing Member of Gibson Educational Consulting LLC. Johnathan specializes in creating and strengthening educational opportunities for children in the field of early childhood education up through high school. Prior to his current roles, Johnathan spent over a decade in the non-profit sector focusing on educational access for students of color where he has helped hundreds of students gain admission into high-performing public high schools and independent schools across the country. Johnathan is passionate about servant leadership as well as supporting students to achieve their fullest potential both in and out of school. Johnathan is happiest spending time with his wife Monisha, his two daughters and the family dog.

Michael van Leesten previously worked at Social Impact Partners, where he led stakeholder engagement, community relations, and statewide expansion efforts, helping to strengthen partnerships and advance the organization’s mission across Connecticut. He now continues to support SIP as a consultant, providing strategic guidance informed by decades of leadership experience and deep financial expertise. Michael’s career spans finance, education, and nonprofit management. Prior to joining SIP, he served as Executive Director of Pathfinder Hopkins School, a nationally recognized academic enrichment program in New Haven. Earlier in his career, he worked in corporate finance at Travelers Corporation and in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, where he developed extensive expertise in financial strategy, organizational growth, and investment analysis. Michael holds degrees from Dartmouth College and Columbia Business School and serves on the boards of Capital for Change and ReadyCT. His unique ability to bridge financial strategy, education, and community impact continues to help organizations drive sustainable growth and meaningful change.