About Banyan Global Learning

Vision, Mission, Purpose

Vision

    • High-quality live virtual learning empowers students and families with the tools, mindset, empathy, and diverse perspectives to succeed in our connected world.
    • Long version: Our vision is to empower students and families with the tools and mindset needed to succeed in our connected world by providing high-quality live virtual learning that emphasizes empathy, humanism, and new perspectives. We strive to create a learning environment that promotes acceptance and empathy, encouraging the exploration of diverse perspectives and ideas.

Purpose

    • Find your place in the world

Mission

    • We teach understanding and skills to find your place in the world. We do this by connecting students to new people, undiscovered places, and fresh ideas. We do this for K-12 schools, districts, and institutions who outsource content creation and delivery.
Domestic Mission
    • We provide unique learning experiences that are convenient, accessible and highly engaging to K-12 schools, districts and organizations who outsource content delivery to enhance targeted areas. We do this by virtually connecting students to new people, undiscovered places and fresh ideas.
International Mission
    • We provide unique experiences and opportunities for the creative and authentic use of English by developing cultural, linguistic and digital competencies. We do this for globally-minded K-12 schools and institutions who embrace progressive educational trends and whose medium of instruction is not primarily English.

Banyan Website

Banyan English - Bridges & DL

Banyan Organizational Chart

Banyan Global Learning Bios

Seth Fleischauer

Seth Fleischauer

Founder and President; Director of Sales

Seth Fleischauer is a graduate of Princeton University, Queens College School of Education, and the New York City Teaching Fellows Program. He taught in NYC public schools and in Taiwan before founding Banyan Global Learning in 2008 and establishing its unique distance learning model. Since then, he has enjoyed watching Banyan grow as it expanded its programs and services with a team of dozens of excellent educators on multiple continents. In addition to Banyan, he has a podcast on bringing consciousness to education.

Seth loves positive change, both internal and external. He enjoys sports, horticulture, food, pop culture, and humor. He lives in Portland, Oregon but still loves the New York Mets.

Seth Fleischauer

Founder and President; Director of Sales

Courtney Dayhuff

Courtney Dayhuff

Director of Learning Live

Courtney is the lead manager for the overall instructional design for Banyan and its partnership with Tsai Hsing School in Taiwan. She is also the lead for the development and implementation of live virtual programs.

Originally from Montana, she is now based in Ridgefield, WA. After graduating with a degree in Multilingual/Multicultural Education from Arizona State University, Courtney has since worked in various ESL/EFL classrooms in the United States, Costa Rica, Taiwan and China.

When Courtney is not in the classroom, she enjoys playing music, travel, all types of adventurous outdoor activities and spending time with her family and friends.

Courtney Pederson

Director of International Programs

Travis Moyer

Travis Moyer

Director of Programs and Marketing

Travis Moyer graduated from Duke University in 2005, earning a B.S. in Biology. After working as a microbiologist in a major Chicago hospital, he taught high school science for three years. In 2012, he left Chicago for Los Angeles where he received his Masters in Education from Pepperdine University. His professional passions include creating innovative lessons incorporating STEM technologies and helping teachers to better incorporate technology into their curriculum. Outside of teaching he enjoys hiking with his German Shepherd, tinkering with his Arduino and watching the Indianapolis Colts

Travis Moyer

Director of Domestic Programs and Marketing

Mara Backer

Mara Backer

Distance Learning Teacher

Mara is both an international student and an international teacher! Born and raised in New York, Mara graduated from The University at Albany in May 2014 with a degree in Marketing and Communications and double minor in Psychology and Sociology. In February 2017, She moved to Prague, Czech Republic to become an ESL teacher. After almost two years abroad, she moved to Florida to be closer to family. Mara spent three years teaching kindergarten and STEAM at the elementary level, and now works as a Preschool Pathways Teacher at Primrose. In her free time, she volunteers for Make-A-Wish and at her local YMCA. She earned her Masters in Educational Leadership at Barry University in August of 2021.

Mara joined Banyan in 2021 as a junior high distance learning teacher for the Learning Live program. She also supports the team with market research will help host live virtual programs for students around the world.

Mara is most fulfilled while traveling and connecting with strangers around the world. Her greatest passion is people; learning about others and their cultures first hand. She is a strong advocate for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

Fun fact: Mara loves to collect funky and unique earrings.

Mara Backer

Distance Learning Teacher

Katrina Baran

Katrina Baran

Chief of Staff; Human Resources; Curriculum Developer

Katrina is a TESOL specialist who has been teaching for almost 20 years.  She’s taught in Canada, the US, South Korea, Japan, and Saudi Arabia and has also worked in educational management and assessment for many years. At Banyan, Katrina works with the curriculum development team to lead and support a variety of projects. She also supports the leadership team in human resources, recruiting, organizational structure, planning, and wherever else support is needed.

Katrina holds a MS in Educational Learning Design and Technology, an MA in Teaching (ESOL), teaching qualifications in Canada and the UK (OCELT/DELTA), and a PGC in Arts Administration and Cultural Management.

Favourite things include knitting, stitching, using the Oxford comma, soaking in onsens, and travelling with her adventure-kitty, scaredy-dog, and fun-husband.

Katrina Baran

Chief of Staff; Human Resources; Curriculum Developer

Amanda Bestor

Amanda Bestor

Curriculum Developer

Amanda grew up in Wisconsin and moved to Montana after graduating from the University of WI-Stevens Point with a degree in Environmental Education/Interpretation & Natural Resource Management. She got her Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction and a K-8 teaching license at the University of Montana and has spent the last 15 years as a 5th- 8th grade teacher with an emphasis on Science and ELA. Amanda has spent the last 3 years teaching ESL for an online company in China.

Traveling and exploring new places is a favorite pastime and she has been to 19 countries and has visited 40 of the 50 states. Her free time is spent hiking, camping, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.

Amanda Bestor

Distance Learning Teacher; Curriculum Developer

Kris Bluett-Woolen

Kris Bluett-Woolen

Virtual Program Puppeteer

Kris is a puppetry specialist with a passion for deep feelings and puppets. She has spent her life entertaining. Her teaching goal is to get her audience to laugh together. Kris has been working in education since 1988.

Kris graduated from East West College of the Healing Arts as a Licensed Massage Therapist. She also has a BS in General Studies Social Science Option from Portland State University.

Kris joined Banyan in 2019 as a puppetry specialist, offering an SEL program called Bird That Wants to Fly. Kris and her special puppets have been an important part of other SEL programs that teach children the magic of puppet making and puppetry.

Kris works with other puppetry groups, like Pacific Puppetry and Puppeteers of America, who “build a community of people who celebrate puppet theatre.”

Kris likes to sing, dance and roam woods near lakes in Oregon.

Kris Bluett-Woolen

Virtual Program Puppeteer

Robyn Bodin

Robyn Bodin

Executive Administrator; Academic Manager of Kindergarten Learning Live; Curriculum Developer

Robyn is an educator, administrator, and mentor. She earned a Masters in Elementary Education, a BS in Child and Family Studies, a Minor in Studio Art, a Minor in Education, and a Certification in Early Childhood Education all from the University of New Hamsphire.

Robyn founded, owned, and directed a school business for 11 years in Portland, Oregon. She earned the highest 5 STAR accreditation from the Quality Rating System in Oregon. She taught in an elementary classroom for 7 years in New Hampshire and was a distance learning teacher for kindergarteners in Tsai Hsing. She also teaches piano privately with students of all ages. She has a passion for bringing her artistic creativity and worldly experiences into her teaching communities and guiding best practices with educators, parents, and young learners. 

Robyn enjoys exploring nature, swimming, kayaking, creating art, playing piano, and singing. She loves her family and being a mom to 2 amazing children and dog.

Robyn Bodin

Administrator; Academic Manager of Kindergarten Learning Live; Curriculum Developer

Daniel Cyckowski

Daniel Cyckowski

Distance Learning Teacher

Daniel is a professional educator and self-identified lifelong learner. He has taught history and English as a second language in the New Jersey public school system and is currently a technology coach, assisting fellow educators with the implementation of technology in their teaching practices.

He currently holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership, Bachelors degree in History, and a Graduate Certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Daniel has a passion for labor advocacy and is actively involved in several educator labor unions throughout the United States.

In his free time, Daniel can be found reading a book, researching some current events, traveling to a new place, or learning something new.

Daniel Cyckowski

Distance Learning Teacher

Vanduncan Johnson-Phillips

Vanduncan Johnson-Phillips

Virtual Program Teacher; Program Developer

Vanduncan is a classically trained actor from Boston. He went to AMDA College and Conservatory where he received his BFA in acting. He has been in several National commercials, worked alongside Emmy Winners’ Sterling K. Brown, and is represented by CESD. Along with the performing arts, he is a skilled portrait photographer and an avid reader. He is hoping to bring all these skills and more to each performance.

Vanduncan Johnson-Phillips

Virtual Program Teacher; Program Developer

Anika Krause

Anika Krause

Distance Learning Teacher

After graduating with her Bachelors in English and Secondary Education from Northeastern University in 2017, Anika has been teaching English Language Arts in Boston and Costa Rica for the past 4 years. She has taught every grade from 6 – 12 except for grade 10, but her favorite is 8th and 9th. This year, Anika is completing her master’s in Human Development and Education with a focus on Language and Literacy Development in Cambridge, MA.

She is also working towards her second license in English as a Second Language.

When she is not joking around with her students or grading essays, Anika loves hiking, baking cookies, watching RuPaul’s Drag Race, snuggling her beloved cats Peanut Butter and Jelly, and hanging out with her fiance, Giancarlo.

Anika Krause

Distance Learning Teacher

Deirdre Marlowe

Deirdre Marlowe

Professional Development

Deirdre has a School Admin Certificate from Johns Hopkins, an MA in Leadership in Teaching from Notre Dame of MD University, a BA from UC, Berkeley, and a TESOL certificate. Deirdre has taught and developed curriculum for PreK-16. She has helped start schools on both coasts and spoken at national conventions. She writes for and teaches musical theater. She is also a Linked Learning and College & Career Readiness coach.

She grew up in Europe. She loves to travel and cook. Her best trip  was biking the western edge of the Pacific Rim.

Deirdre Marlowe

Professional Development

Emily Natrop

Emily Natrop

Distance Learning Teacher

Emily has been teaching since 2009 and has taught in Thailand, Taiwan, and her home state of Minnesota. Her favorite age is middle school.

She has a Masters degree in K-12 Education with a dual focus and licensure in K-12 Art and K-12 ELL. She also has a dual Bachelors degree in Fine Art and Art History

She enjoys working in various art forms, baking, mixology, sailing, being outside, board games, comics, and science fiction/fantasy.

Emily Natrop

Distance Learning Teacher; Curriculum Developer

Nancy Noice

Nancy Noice

Communications and Administrative Coordinator

Nancy earned her BS in Music Education and Elementary Education and an MS in Elementary Education at the University of New Mexico. She started her 17 year teaching career in New Mexico before moving to Oregon. She has taught kindergartners through 6 graders. She has taught general education, music education, and intervention education in the public school setting. Now, she has the privilege of supporting educators and students around the world with Banyan Global Learning.

Nancy is a classically trained violinist who enjoys playing and singing with local groups.  Nancy enjoys crocheting, camping, kayaking, and traveling with her husband, young daughter, and their chihuahua, Skippy. 

Nancy Noice

Communications and Administrative Coordinator

Marty Perlmutter

Marty Perlmutter

Media

Marty has worked in interactive media for over four decades creating award-winning new media products, building exhibits and providing strategic advice to companies large and small. His interactive and education work has won awards in the US, Japan and Europe.

Marty built popular interactive video exhibits at the Boston Museum of Science, Lawrence Hall of Science and New York Hall of Science. He has lectured at Harvard and MIT and taught at Tufts, NYU, San Francisco State and Cogswell College. His writings on new media have been widely published.

Marty worked on the campaign to save Africa’s elephants using social media to reduce demand for ivory, a campaign that ended ivory commerce in China. Marty’s education nonprofit, Multisensory Interactive Learning, developed a mobile math game, “Tangram Jam,” for Apple and Android devices. He invented an early immersive display helmet and has worked in immersive technology for decades, serving on the board of the Virtual Worlds Society.

Marty plays the trumpet, loves to paint and reads history for pleasure.

Marty Perlmutter

Media

Lila Perkins

Lila Perkins

Virtual Program Teacher; Distance Learning Teacher; Program Developer

Lila attended The American Musical Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, California, earning a B.A. Lila is an actress, activist and model. She has over 6 years of volunteering as a student teacher under her belt.

Lila joined Banyan in 2020 as a kindergarten distance learning teacher. She was also a co-host of Banyan’s after-school Student Activism Club, helping young learners make sense of current events.

Lila is now on board with Banyan’s engaging Digital Citizenship series for young learners. Through this, Lila has become one of Banyan’s specially trained puppeteers, and is available to support these fun programs. She also supports administrative tasks, content development and creation, and teaching when more hands are needed.

Lila likes to practice yoga, salsa dance and get lost on YouTube!

Lila Perkins

Virtual Program Teacher; Distance Learning Teacher; Program Developer

Nimene Wureh

Nimene Wureh

Virtual Program Teacher; Program Developer

Nimene is a recent graduate of NYU Tisch Drama. She is a Bi-Coastal artist. She speaks 3 and a half languages and has worked with Lincoln Center Theater, Second Stage Theater, and was a casting intern for the medical drama ‘New Amsterdam’ on NBC. 

She has studied and performed at UCB Theater, Groundlings, and she is a Story Pirate who transforms stories written by kids, and turns them into sketch comedy and songs. As a Story Pirate, she possesses the titles: producer, songwriter, and main cast member on ‘The Story Pirates podcast’. She is also host of the new iHeartRadio podcast History Remixed produced by Questlove and Jonathon Glickman. 

Most recently, she can be seen sweating from places she didn’t know could sweat while dancing at The Playground LA, riding her bike around Brooklyn, and on season 2 of That Damn Michael Che on HBO Max, and season 5 of Inside Amy Schumer on Paramount+.

Nimene Wureh

Virtual Program Teacher; Program Developer