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.
Andy Miller
​Program Director
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Andy Miller

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.
Dan'Talisha Deans
Development
Director
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Dan'Talisha Deans

Development Director
Dan'Talisha joined BEST Kids as the Development Director in October 2019. She received her master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing and Social Administration from the University of Pittsburgh and her bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University. She brings extensive experience in leadership, project management, conducting analyses, and strategic planning. She has a wealth of knowledge on building and strengthening communities, non-profit management, and human capital management. Dan’Talisha has a love for the arts and is also a professional singer, recording artist, and songwriter. She loves to dance too.​
Ashley Shepard
Assistant Program dIRECTOR
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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.
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.
​Carl Scott
Mentoring
​Support Specialist
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Carl Scott

Mentoring Support 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.
Saad Rehman
Mentoring Support Specialist
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Saad Rehman

Mentoring Support Specialist
Saad joined the BEST Kids team in September 2019. Before joining BEST Kids, he spent seven years serving as a teacher, mentor, and community organizer in high-need communities, mostly in the Detroit area. He received his master’s degree in Secondary Education from Oakland University and his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland. Saad is excited to return to the DMV area and use his experience and skills in the service of a powerful mission. Saad enjoys exploring nature (mountain biking, hiking, camping, swimming), watching movies, and playing video games.​
Ira Luke III
Youth Engagement Specialist​
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Ira Luke III

Youth Engagement Specialist
Luke joined BEST Kids in September of 2019 as a Peer Group Coordinator and transitioned to Youth Engagement Specialist in February 2020. He is originally from Philly and moved to the Washington DC area in 2014. Luke has mentored youth beginning in high school with the Philadelphia Freedom School Movement. He attended Susquehanna University and earned his Bachelor's degree in Communications. Luke has an array of experience in guiding youth and their families to successful outcomes in three different states (PA, MD, NJ) and the District. In his spare time, Luke enjoys sports, fitness, cooking, music, and spending time with his family. 
Nia Brown
Communications & Engagement Coordinator
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Nia Brown

Communications & Engagement Coordinator
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.  
Keesha Lockette
Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator
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Keesha Lockette

Recruitment & Admissions Coordinator
Keesha joined the team on her birthday in July 2020. Before joining BEST Kids, she worked in staffing and corporate recruiting. Keesha immediately entered the workplace following college graduation in May 2018. In addition to her Bachelor degrees in both Psychology and Spanish, Washington and Jefferson University afforded Keesha multiple extracurricular activities to stay connected with her myriad interests. She spends her free time exploring the outdoors with Peanut, her 10-year-old Rat Terrier, enjoying art in all of its forms (including Netflix), and giving back - most notably at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Keesha is hopeful that BEST Kids will be her start in the nonprofit sector on a lifelong pursuit to change the world for and build up future generations.  
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.  
Christine Vernon
Peer Group
​Coordinator
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Christine Vernon

Peer Group Coordinator
Christine joined BEST Kids in July of 2019 as a Peer Group Coordinator. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration of Child/Human Development and minored in both Political Science and Theater at Howard University. Christine works as a 4th grade teacher where she is committed to creating a world filled with love and limitless opportunities for youth. She also enjoys having a good time with friends, trying out new and not so new restaurants, and reading. 
Prisma Herrera
Peer Group
​Coordinator
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Prisma Herrera

Peer Group Coordinator
Prisma joined the BEST Kids team in February 2020. She is a born and raised NYer, attended Scripps College, where she graduated with a dual major in Chicanx/Latinx Studies and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Prisma has worked with young people in various capacities and really enjoys being able to spend time with them, learn from them, and be in community together. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Maryland- College Park in the American Studies department. She is really excited to be joining the organization and get to explore DC. Prisma enjoys listening to podcasts, trying new foods, reading and dancing.
Maya Miller
Development Assistant
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Maya Miller

Development Assistant
Maya joined the BEST Kids team as the Development Director Intern in August of 2020. Maya graduated from the illustrious Winston-Salem State University, in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in Spanish. She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, and moved to the Washington DC area in 2019. Maya is currently a second-year graduate student at Howard University, a master’s in social work with a macro concentration in mental health. Inspiring our next generations of leaders has always been her passion.  She began at a nonprofit as a summer camp counselor and has been employed at Nonprofits ever since that experience! She is excited to be joining the BEST Kids team.