Our Team

Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of The Fishing School’s leadership, staff, and instructors.

Our Team

Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of The Fishing School’s leadership, staff, and instructors.

Senior Leadership

Leo Givs

Executive Director

Topher Anuzis

Director of Development and Communications

Leo joined The Fishing School in September of 2007, following more than 20 years of senior executive experience with local, national, and international nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining TFS, he served as Deputy Executive Director of Membership Mobilization for Amnesty International USA. He was a member of the organization’s senior management team leading youth membership development, advocacy, public education, volunteer recruitment, training, and membership mobilization efforts. Earlier in his career, Leo served as a founding Deputy Director of the Doug Williams Foundation where he managed five city-wide youth programs that reached several thousand students in DC public schools. Leo has a Master’s in Mass Communication from Howard University and a Bachelor’s degree in Radio and Television from Grambling State University.

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Topher joined The Fishing School in October 2019 with seven years of nonprofit work experience supporting both fundraising/development and program implementation. As Senior Program Manager at Playworks of Greater Washington, DC, Topher was responsible for executing their year-round events calendar, stewarding high-level corporate partnerships, and securing multi-year funding to expand into new partner schools through OSSE grants. Topher also served as a Vice President with the American Latvian Youth Association, leading their volunteer board in strategic planning to better serve their members’ needs. Topher received his Bachelor of Arts in International Service from American University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration focusing on Nonprofit Management.

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I am proud of our team at TFS. Our staff are committed to the well-being of our students and give their very best each day. All our staff – from our administrative team to our frontline workers – believe strongly in the work we do.

-Leo Givs, TFS Executive Director

Staff

Aimee Oda

Senior Program Manager

Sasha Brown

Senior Operations Manager

Nicholas Marshall

Parent Engagement Manager

Taquasha Riddick

Site Manager

Maranda Estwick

Manager, High Impact Tutoring

Devonta Williams

Development Operations Manager

Bria Shields

Operations Assistant

Aimee’s professional experience includes program management, tutoring, curriculum design, and training development and facilitation. She has worked in nonprofit program management both domestically and abroad throughout her career. Previously, Aimee served as the Senior Program Manager for Reading Partners, where she managed their AmeriCorps program and supported program quality at 22 sites. Aimee is also involved in the Protect Us Kids Foundation where she serves as the Youth Life Coordinator for 9-12 year olds and supports with curriculum creation. Aimee received her Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Beloit College and her Master’s Degree in International Development from American University.

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Sasha joined The Fishing School in August of 2021. Sasha has worked in several operations and administrative roles throughout her career, building professional expertise in several critical functions including bookkeeping and accounting, expense reporting, document management and event planning. Previously, Sasha served as the Operations Coordinator for BASIS DC Public Charter School, where, outside of her role, she started the BDC Dance Team and served as their Coach. She also served as the Office Manager for Seraaj Family Homes, Inc, a foster care agency in Maryland. Sasha enjoys working with mission-driven organizations focused on improving the lives of children and helping them meet their full potential. She is actively involved with Outreach Christian Center’s Dance Ministry and has served as the dance teacher for children ages 3-8 years old for 12 years. Sasha studied Political Science at Towson University.

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Nicholas Marshall joined TFS in July of 2022. Nicholas’ professional experience includes community engagement, curriculum development, crisis management, student engagement, advocacy, program support, and event planning. Previously, Nicholas served as an Area Director at Yoke Youth, where he facilitated programming and program components across multiple sites. Nicholas was the liaison between school leadership and the site program teams, organized and helped implement after school clubs, and trained site staff. Nicholas has also served as Restorative Interventionist at Vine Middle School in Knoxville, TN, and as Teaching Partner at DCPS. Nicholas is actively involved with Tru2form hoops as a lead trainer and head coach and is passionate about mentoring young people through coaching. Nicholas received his Master’s degree in Sports Administration with a focus in educational leadership from Southeastern Oklahoma State; he received his Bachelor’s in Management of Non-Profits from Johnson University.

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Taquasha originally joined The Fishing School as an Instructor in April 2016. She was promoted to Site Manager in Spring 2018 and returned to work in that role in March 2021. Taquasha brings robust youth development experience to our team, having previously served as a teacher assistant for the Center for Mental Health. In this role she assisted with classroom management and worked with children in a small group setting to reinforce instruction. Taquasha also worked as a Home Coordinator, managing daily schedules for staff and hosting monthly trainings for her team. She has experience working with persons with disabilities. Taquasha received a certificate in Child Development from the University of the District of Columbia in 2001.

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Maranda previously worked with The Fishing School last summer and has now been appointed to the role of Manager, High Impact Tutoring. Maranda will be responsible for refining and enhancing the work we started with our partner, CityBridge. Maranda most recently served as an educator with DCPS. She also has many years of experience as an academic tutor and tutoring program coordinator, overseeing tutoring programs for some of the most well-regarded organizations focused on literacy intervention in Washington, D.C. These include City Year, The Literacy Lab, Reading Partners and Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

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Devonta joined The Fishing School in June 2021. Devonta’s professional experience includes nonprofit fundraising strategy, including events, individual and major donor stewardship, campaign development, and more. He has worked in the nonprofit sector for over five years. Previously, Devonta served as the Development Coordinator for the YMCA of Metropolitan Atlanta where he developed annual campaign strategies to support the Y’s $4.4M annual campaign goal. He also managed organization-wide special events and other smaller projects related to development operations. Devonta has an affinity for community and social service organizations that provide communities in need with tools and resources for success. He studied Public Policy and Nonprofit Management at Georgia State University.

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Bria joined TFS in April of 2023. Bria’s professional experience includes office management, retail management, customer service, data entry, and communications. She has worked mostly within the customer service industry and enjoys being a part of organizations that work to advance everyone’s quality of life and self-efficacy. Previously, Bria has served as the Kid's Department Manager for ZARA. Bria is passionate about children and helping them succeed, especially those who are underprivileged and live in single parent households. She is currently studying to complete several Information Technology certificates as a student at Prince George’s Community College.

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Instructional Team

Our instructional team includes: Haley Williams, Kahliya Ruffin, Elon Reid, Trinita Robinson, Crystal Ettridge, Montana Hilliard, Lillie Warner, Jasmine Cooper, Sarah S. Wright, Iyanna Wofford, Jacquelyn Couser, Reuben Phomsopha, Regina Banks, Taylor Isaacs, Yvonna Garrett, Jada Custard, Tiffany Adams, Kiara Simon, Miracle Pittman.

Board of Directors

Our Board members serve as vital support to achieve our goals and empower the communities we serve. They represent diverse backgrounds and fields, but are connected by their passion for service to youth. We have maintained a commitment to a diverse board of directors and staff since our inception over 31 years ago. We consistently recruit directors and staff of varying races, ethnicities, genders, professions, and affiliations.

Eric Causey – Chair

Partner

KPMG, LLP

Sheila Harley – Vice Chair

President/Founder

Harley Business Group

Terry Lineberger – Secretary

Community Outreach Advocate

Adheer Bahulkar

Partner

Accenture

Larry Bank

Executive Vice President

Matador Capital Management

Tsitsi Batia – Treasurer

Strategy and Operations Manager

Deloitte, LLP

Gretchen Brainard

Principal

Deloitte Digital

Kate Holman

Senior Manager, Customer and Marketing

Deloitte Digital

Earl J. Silbert

Retired

Former Partner at DLA Piper, LLP (US)

Dave Watts

Chief Digital Advisor

World Wide Technology

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