Our Staff

The success of BEST Kids would not be possible without the hard work, experience, and passion that each of our staff members bring to the organization.
Krislyn Mossman
Executive
Director
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Krislyn Mossman

Executive Director
Krislyn joined BEST Kids as Executive Director in 2013. She received her master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego and her bachelor’s degree in Family Life Services from Point Loma Nazarene University. Krislyn has devoted her career to nonprofit service including experience working with mentoring programs and working with foster youth. She is from Maui, Hawaii and moved to the DC area in 2012. A sports fanatic, she enjoys playing soccer, going to sporting events and playing fantasy football and basketball.
Dana Staley
Program
​Director
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Dana Staley

Program Director
Dana joined the BEST Kids team in 2016 as Program Director after gaining an extensive background in youth and program development working for various nonprofits. She is the former Boston Regional Director for Horizons for Homeless Children, where she worked with youth and families residing in the shelter system. She is also an AmeriCorps alumni, having served as a youth worker focusing on teen employment and urban agriculture. In 2010, Dana earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Liberty University. Dana loves pork roll, egg and cheese sandwiches (on New Jersey Bagels), can quote every line from Bridget Jones' Diary, and loves going on adventures with her husband, Jamie. 
​Lizette Villarreal
Development Director
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Lizette Villarreal

Development Director
Lizette joined the BEST Kids team as the Admissions Specialist in September 2017. A native Texan, Lizette is a proud graduate from Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX, with a degree in Communication Studies, focused on Cultural Media Studies. Lizette’s passion for mentoring and youth development stems from her time serving as an Admission Counselor for her alma mater, and advocating for equal educational opportunities for all students. Lizette loves to spend the day at the park with her dog, dancing, and working on her eternal quest to find the best tacos in the DMV area.
Andy Miller
Assistant
​Program Director
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Andy Miller

Assistant Program Director
Andy joined the BEST Kids team in March 2015. He holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Youth Ministries and Music, and a Master’s Degree in Urban Studies with a concentration in Youth Development, all from Eastern University. Andy has been professionally serving youth in DC since 2007 through a myriad of contexts including public housing and homeless shelters. Along with being a volunteer mentor, Andy and his wife, Julie, are proud foster parents in DC’s Child and Family Services Agency. Andy is a movie buff and will talk good films with anyone. In the springtime, Andy enjoys a good baseball game played by our own Washington Nationals.
Walter MacDougall
Mentoring Support Specialist
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Walter MacDougall

Mentoring Support Specialist
Walter joined the BEST Kids team in January 2016. He graduated from Northeastern University in May of 2015 with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Social Entrepreneurship. Walter has a strong passion for mentoring, stemming from his previous work at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay and from being a former mentor himself. In his free time, he enjoys a wide variety of tv shows, movies and outdoor adventures. He is also quite proficient when it comes to movie quotes.
Destiny Delaware
Mentoring Support Specialist
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Destiny Delaware

Mentoring Support Specialist
Destiny is originally from the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. After graduating with her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from West Virginia University in 2014, she moved to the DMV area to serve as an AmeriCorps literacy tutor for DC Public Schools. She later became a life skills counselor for homeless transition-age youth in Northern Virginia while also pursuing her Masters from George Mason University. In August 2017, she graduated with her MS in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and joined BEST Kids as a Mentoring Support Specialist. Destiny is extremely dedicated to social work, service, and youth development. She aspires to inspire all children to be the best version of themselves. Some of Destiny’s hobbies include creative writing, critiquing movies, and karaoke! 
Ashley Shepard
Mentoring Support Specialist
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Ashley Shepard

Mentoring Support Specialist
Ashley joined BEST Kids in January 2018. She graduated from the University of Kansas in December of 2015 with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Early Childhood Intervention & Education. During her time in Kansas, she spent most of her time working with young children with disabilities and served as a High School volleyball coach. Ashley is a DMV native who has a strong passion in helping children develop and building relationships, all stemming from her time as an Early Childhood Teacher in North Carolina. Ashley is excited to be back in the DMV area with her family and continuing her passion of assisting children in fulfilling their dreams.  In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing volleyball, and trying out new restaurants with her husband.
​Carl Scott
Youth
​Engagement Specialist
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Carl Scott

Youth Engagement Specialist
Carl joined the BEST Kids team in August 2017. Carl is a Bronx native whose goal in life is to travel the world and help adolescents overcome any obstacle. He has lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, and now he is a Maryland resident. Carl graduated from the illustrious school by the sea, Savannah State University, in 2013 with a Bachelors degree in Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Sociology. Carl has a passion for working with under privileged youth, and writing. Carl has a helping attitude and lives by the quote "If one person can eat, so can two. And if Two people can eat, so can four." Sharing and teaching are some his strengths, just to name a few. In Carl's spare time, he enjoys playing basketball, trying new foods from different regions of the world, and watching American Ninja Warrior.
Zack Jamison
Team Extreme
​Peer Group Coordinator
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Zack Jamison

Peer Group Team Leader
Zack joined the BEST Kids team in May 2016. Zack holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master's Degree in Special Education from the University of Virginia. After spending several years as a classroom teacher, Zack currently serves as the Manager of Curriculum and Instruction for the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy. When he's not in the classroom or on the field, Zack can be found at Nationals Park cheering for his beloved Nats. During the winter, Zack expands his knowledge of useless trivia and reads books while he waits for baseball season to start again.
Andrea Barnes
Admissions Specialist
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Andrea Barnes

Admissions Specialist
Andrea joined the BEST Kids team as Admissions Specialist in 2018. She is a proud first-generation college graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy, with minors in Hispanic Studies and Education, in May 2018. As a DMV native, Andrea is a co-founder of Project uPGrade, where she supports young women of color in Prince George’s County, Md in the pursuit of their goals. She is a former AmeriCorps fellow, having supported youth in Maryland navigate educational, personal, and familial challenges amidst their relationship with the juvenile justice system. Having been strongly impacted by uplifting mentors in her community, she is passionate about “paying it forward” and ensuring that underrepresented and low-income youth have agency over their lives. Through mentorship, service, and policy, Andrea hopes to ensure that youth are granted the opportunity to thrive, regardless of identity or circumstance. Andrea loves to dress her beagle, Bella, in ridiculous clothing, explore historical sites, and figure skate!
Cynthia Jones
Peer Group
​Team Leader
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Cynthia Jones

Peer Group Team Leader
Cynthia is originally from Nashville, TN and moved to the Washington DC area at the beginning of 2018. She attended Hampton University and earned her Bachelor's degree in Business Management and went on to receive her Master's degree at Belmont University in Sport Administration. Cynthia's background is in food and beverage management, where she has worked with many teams and individuals and led them to success. She is a beacon for leadership and development and believes that all goals can be met with the right mindset and proper training. Cynthia originally joined BEST Kids as an independent contractor for Art of the Matter 2018, and has accepted the challenge as Peer Group Team Leader. In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys singing, dance fitness, traveling, exploring other cultures, and 90's nostalgia.  
Ashlee McKinnon
Team DC
​Peer Group Coordinator
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Ashlee McKinnon

Peer Group Coordinator
Ashlee is a southern girl from North Carolina who has adopted a metropolitan lifestyle since moving the DMV in 2011. She joined the BEST Kids team in August 2017 as the Peer Group Coordinator for Team DC. Ashlee has a background in dance education, youth ministry, and non-profit administration through serving as a teacher for middle school and high school age students in MD and DC, and working in youth development. She strives to live her life with grace, determination, and creativity, just like the art form of dance that she has studied her entire life.  Ashlee is excited to join BEST Kids to continue enriching the lives of youth in meaningful ways. In her spare time, Ashlee loves to dance, perform, remain physically active, cook, and spend time with her family.​
Nia Brown
Recruitment & Communications Specialist
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Nia Brown

Recruitment & Communications Specialist
Nia joined the BEST Kids team as the Recruitment and Communications Specialist in February 2019. She is a proud DMV native and 2018 graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications, focusing in Public Relations. After graduation, Nia found her passion for nonprofit work by serving on the team of several youth serving organizations in the D.C. metro area. She is happy to bring her experience and passion to BEST Kids. Some of Nia’s hobbies include cooking, reading, and traveling.  
Maya Pendleton
Thundercats
​Peer Group Coordinator
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Maya Pendleton

Peer Group Coordinator
Maya joined BEST Kids in January of 2016 as a Peer Group Coordinator. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government and minored in both African American Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at Georgetown University. Maya has worked with a number of organizations that seek to provide mentorship and support to youth and enjoys helping youth reach their potential and goals. She also enjoys hiking, running, yoga, and reading.