Our staff actively supports every Need in Deed classroom.

With years of experience and a deep commitment to student learning, our staff supports each student project, the Teacher Network, and the many partnerships that connect the classroom with the community.

Kyra Atterbury
Executive Director
215-964-9020
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Kyra Atterbury
Executive Director
215-964-9020

Executive director Kyra Atterbury has nearly a decade of experience in the classroom and public history settings, she has a master’s in public history from Temple University and a bachelor’s in history from Loyola College (MD).  She served as Need in Deed program director for over a decade before assuming the role of executive director.

Janet Chance
Associate Director
215-964-9020
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Janet Chance
Associate Director
215-964-9020

Program manager Janet Chance supports experienced members of the Teacher Network. Janet has extensive experience teaching, supporting teachers’ professional learning, and developing community partnerships. She has a master’s degree in education from Harvard University, an M.A. in English from Middlebury College, and a bachelor’s degree from Swarthmore College.

Julia Chrestay
Program Director
215-964-9020
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Julia Chrestay
Program Director
215-964-9020

Julia Chrestay joined the Need in Deed staff with more than 10 years of classroom teaching experience in both traditional public and charter schools, and experience in community-based arts programming. A former Need in Deed teacher, she supports members of the Teacher Network during their initial two-years of training. She holds a master’s degree in multicultural education from Eastern University and a bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a Spanish minor from Eastern University.

Lisa Johns
Finance and Operations Manager
215-964-9020
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Lisa Johns
Finance and Operations Manager
215-964-9020

Operations administrator Lisa Johns manages all of Need in Deed’s office, finance, and development functions and supports Need in Deed’s annual events. She joined Need in Deed from the University of Pennsylvania’s Development Office. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and psychology and a master’s of liberal arts from Penn.

DaCia Newkirk
Summer Intern
215-964-9020
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DaCia Newkirk
Summer Intern
215-964-9020

DaCia Newkirk, Need in Deed’s Summer Intern, is a rising senior at Swarthmore College, with a double major in Educational Studies and Black Studies. At Swarthmore, she is president of the Swarthmore Afro-American Student Society (SASS) and secretary of the Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA)

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