Lead Liberated

L. Daneen Keaton

Executive Director & Founder

L. Daneen Keaton founded Lead Liberated in 2021. She founded their core program, the Antiracist Collective at Educate78 by leveraging her experiences as a coach and facilitator at the National Equity Project and as principal of César Chávez Public Charter School Capitol Hill Campus in Washington D.C.. She led the school in transforming its grading practices and improving school culture – changes that resulted in the largest graduating class in the school’s history. Prior to her time in D.C., she was a founding teacher and leader in two Bay Area high schools. Daneen holds a BA in secondary mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in Educational Leadership from CalState Hayward. She is a member of the New Leaders 2008 cohort. Most of what she has learned comes from years of listening to and collaborating with students, families, teachers, and colleagues.

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L. Daneen Keaton founded Lead Liberated in 2021. She founded their core program, the Antiracist Collective at Educate78 by leveraging her experiences as a coach and facilitator at the National Equity Project and as principal of César Chávez Public Charter School Capitol Hill Campus in Washington D.C.. She led the school in transforming its grading practices and improving school culture – changes that resulted in the largest graduating class in the school’s history. Prior to her time in D.C., she was a founding teacher and leader in two Bay Area high schools. Daneen holds a BA in secondary mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in Educational Leadership from CalState Hayward. She is a member of the New Leaders 2008 cohort. Most of what she has learned comes from years of listening to and collaborating with students, families, teachers, and colleagues.

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Tara O'Flaherty

Director of Programs

Tara O’Flaherty is the Director of Programs at Lead Liberated and joined the team full-time in 2024. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Director of Schools at DC Prep, a Charter Management Organization (CMO) in Washington, DC, and coached, developed, and supervised elementary and middle school principals since 2012. She also provided coaching and mentoring to leadership teams and campus leaders at all DC Prep schools and was a part of a team that led DC Prep to be the highest performing CMO in Washington, DC since 2012. Before joining the DC Prep team, Tara was a member of the founding team of Chavez Prep and served as both Assistant Principal and Principal. She was a school leader at Chavez for seven years and in 2012 was named Principal of the Year by the DC Association of Public Chartered Schools. Tara has a BA from Drew University, an MEd from Lesley University, and an MA from The George Washington University.

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Tara O’Flaherty is the Director of Programs at Lead Liberated and joined the team full-time in 2024. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Director of Schools at DC Prep, a Charter Management Organization (CMO) in Washington, DC, and coached, developed, and supervised elementary and middle school principals since 2012. She also provided coaching and mentoring to leadership teams and campus leaders at all DC Prep schools and was a part of a team that led DC Prep to be the highest performing CMO in Washington, DC since 2012. Before joining the DC Prep team, Tara was a member of the founding team of Chavez Prep and served as both Assistant Principal and Principal. She was a school leader at Chavez for seven years and in 2012 was named Principal of the Year by the DC Association of Public Chartered Schools. Tara has a BA from Drew University, an MEd from Lesley University, and an MA from The George Washington University.

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Kristin Bijur

Sr. Liberated Leadership Coach

Kristin Bijur is a leadership coach and facilitator with Lead Liberated. She comes to this role after working as a classroom teacher, a school leader, and while currently serving as a senior leader in a large school district. In her leadership roles, she learned and practiced the leadership skills necessary to implement systemic changes in assessment practices, collaborative structures, and school governance practices, resulting in sustained increases in the achievement of African American students. Deriving from that experience, she has developed and implemented models for leadership development in a large school district. Kristin holds a BA from Middlebury College in Vermont and teaching and administrator credentials in California. She is passionate about shared leadership, white people taking responsibility for racism, educators seeing brilliance in every student, and learning from and with colleagues of color. She is a lifelong learner and educator, committed to contributing to improved results for students and families long under-served by public school districts. Every child deserves highly effective and loving educators!

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Kristin Bijur is a leadership coach and facilitator with Lead Liberated. She comes to this role after working as a classroom teacher, a school leader, and while currently serving as a senior leader in a large school district. In her leadership roles, she learned and practiced the leadership skills necessary to implement systemic changes in assessment practices, collaborative structures, and school governance practices, resulting in sustained increases in the achievement of African American students. Deriving from that experience, she has developed and implemented models for leadership development in a large school district. Kristin holds a BA from Middlebury College in Vermont and teaching and administrator credentials in California. She is passionate about shared leadership, white people taking responsibility for racism, educators seeing brilliance in every student, and learning from and with colleagues of color. She is a lifelong learner and educator, committed to contributing to improved results for students and families long under-served by public school districts. Every child deserves highly effective and loving educators!

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Leon Lundie

Principal Leadership Coach

Leon Lundie grew up in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a city about 50 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised by two outstanding, loving, caring, and supportive women, his Grandmother and Mother. These two women instilled in him the importance of hard work, integrity, and serving others. Education has always been Leon’s passion; however, his life-long purpose was developed and energized during his tenure at “The Southern University” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has spent the last 28 years in the Cherry Creek School District in Greenwood Village, Colorado as a Mathematics teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant to the Principal, Assistant principal, and finally the last 9 years as Principal of Overland High School (one of the most diverse schools in the state of Colorado). During his tenure as principal, Overland High School increased the overall on-time graduation rate by 10% (from 78.9% to 89%), increased Advanced Placement (AP) pass rate from 44% to 62%, while increasing the number of tests taken, surpassing the state and global average. Finally, Overland High School was selected by the Washington Post as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. After retirement from the Cherry Creek School District, he relocated to the Bay Area, and became Co-Principal at Lionel Wilson Prep in East Oakland for three years. Leon Lundie received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix Colorado Campus. Finally, in 2017 he received his Education Specialist Degree (EdS) in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Leon Lundie grew up in Bogalusa, Louisiana, a city about 50 miles north of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was raised by two outstanding, loving, caring, and supportive women, his Grandmother and Mother. These two women instilled in him the importance of hard work, integrity, and serving others. Education has always been Leon’s passion; however, his life-long purpose was developed and energized during his tenure at “The Southern University” in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has spent the last 28 years in the Cherry Creek School District in Greenwood Village, Colorado as a Mathematics teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant to the Principal, Assistant principal, and finally the last 9 years as Principal of Overland High School (one of the most diverse schools in the state of Colorado). During his tenure as principal, Overland High School increased the overall on-time graduation rate by 10% (from 78.9% to 89%), increased Advanced Placement (AP) pass rate from 44% to 62%, while increasing the number of tests taken, surpassing the state and global average. Finally, Overland High School was selected by the Washington Post as one of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. After retirement from the Cherry Creek School District, he relocated to the Bay Area, and became Co-Principal at Lionel Wilson Prep in East Oakland for three years. Leon Lundie received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He obtained his Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix Colorado Campus. Finally, in 2017 he received his Education Specialist Degree (EdS) in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Amber Luna Saberton

Principal Leadership Coach

Amber Luna Saberton is a principal leadership coach at Lead Liberated. Her journey with Lead Liberated began as a member of The Antiracist Collective Cohort 1, where she was inspired to create and maintain an antiracist learning culture in her school while attending to her healing as a leader of color. With 17 years in education, Amber served in various roles, including elementary teacher, Dean, Assistant Principal, and Principal. As Principal of a school in East Oakland, she implemented strategies that significantly improved outcomes for scholars, particularly in reducing exclusionary discipline, improving chronic absenteeism, and increasing academic achievement. Amber is a proud first generation college graduate from Stockton, California. Her grandparents, who were instrumental in her upbringing, immigrated to the United States from Mexico and were farm workers in the Central Valley. They instilled in her the importance of education, integrity, serving with love and authenticity, and fighting for justice. She graduated from University of the Pacific with a BA in Liberal Studies and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

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Amber Luna Saberton is a principal leadership coach at Lead Liberated. Her journey with Lead Liberated began as a member of The Antiracist Collective Cohort 1, where she was inspired to create and maintain an antiracist learning culture in her school while attending to her healing as a leader of color. With 17 years in education, Amber served in various roles, including elementary teacher, Dean, Assistant Principal, and Principal. As Principal of a school in East Oakland, she implemented strategies that significantly improved outcomes for scholars, particularly in reducing exclusionary discipline, improving chronic absenteeism, and increasing academic achievement. Amber is a proud first generation college graduate from Stockton, California. Her grandparents, who were instrumental in her upbringing, immigrated to the United States from Mexico and were farm workers in the Central Valley. They instilled in her the importance of education, integrity, serving with love and authenticity, and fighting for justice. She graduated from University of the Pacific with a BA in Liberal Studies and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction.

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Anni Denzel

Director of Development

Anni Denzel joined the team at Lead Liberated as Director of Development in 2022. Prior to this role, Anni supported development efforts at Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute in Baltimore, and ZUMIX, a creative youth development organization in Boston. She specializes in supporting mission-driven organizations that focus on building a more equitable world and is an experienced fundraiser for the arts and youth education initiatives. She is honored to be trusted to steward Lead Liberated's mission of creating antiracist learning cultures where everyone thrives. Participating in this mission through partnership building is what Anni enjoys most about her role. She holds a BA in History from Skidmore College and an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She currently lives with her family in Japan.

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Anni Denzel joined the team at Lead Liberated as Director of Development in 2022. Prior to this role, Anni supported development efforts at Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute in Baltimore, and ZUMIX, a creative youth development organization in Boston. She specializes in supporting mission-driven organizations that focus on building a more equitable world and is an experienced fundraiser for the arts and youth education initiatives. She is honored to be trusted to steward Lead Liberated's mission of creating antiracist learning cultures where everyone thrives. Participating in this mission through partnership building is what Anni enjoys most about her role. She holds a BA in History from Skidmore College and an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She currently lives with her family in Japan.

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John Westerlund

Director of Finance & Operations

John Westerlund joined Lead Liberated as Director of Finance and Operations in 2024. Prior to this role, he served as Director of Operations and Director of Finance at Grabango Co., where he played a pivotal role in scaling the company more than 10x. At Grabango, he established HR systems, managed multiple office expansions, and led key financial processes including payroll, purchasing, and monthly close procedures. Before his time in the startup world, John served as Chief Financial Officer at Roses in Concrete Community School in Oakland and as a Senior Client Manager at EdTec, where he supported up to nine charter schools simultaneously with budgets ranging from $1–24 million. In these roles, he acted as a strategic partner to school leaders, ensuring long-term sustainability while maintaining focus on educational equity. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, with additional coursework in business, accounting, and economics. When not working, John plays in multiple soccer leagues and is a proud dog-dad to a remarkably sweet and well-mannered Labrador Retriever.

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John Westerlund joined Lead Liberated as Director of Finance and Operations in 2024. Prior to this role, he served as Director of Operations and Director of Finance at Grabango Co., where he played a pivotal role in scaling the company more than 10x. At Grabango, he established HR systems, managed multiple office expansions, and led key financial processes including payroll, purchasing, and monthly close procedures. Before his time in the startup world, John served as Chief Financial Officer at Roses in Concrete Community School in Oakland and as a Senior Client Manager at EdTec, where he supported up to nine charter schools simultaneously with budgets ranging from $1–24 million. In these roles, he acted as a strategic partner to school leaders, ensuring long-term sustainability while maintaining focus on educational equity. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, with additional coursework in business, accounting, and economics. When not working, John plays in multiple soccer leagues and is a proud dog-dad to a remarkably sweet and well-mannered Labrador Retriever.

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