The Team

Sanchez Tuitt, Senior Executive Editor: Sanchez is the President of EARS Entertainment, and Entertainers 4 Education Alliance, where he facilitates celebrity, and corporate partnerships for the I WILL GRADUATE campaign. Some of the brands include the New York Knicks, NY Jets, Audi, White Castle, and celebrities such as Tyrese Gibson (Actor/Singer), Coldplay (Alternative rock band), Russell Simmons (Business Mogul) Keri Hilson (Singer/Song Writer) and many more.

Tina Derby, Executive Editor: Tina has been in the magazine and media business since her career began in 1985, first as a writer, and then an Associate Editor of the legendary show horse magazine, Saddle & Bridle. Tina then moved on to work on newspapers, blogs, books, and television shows. Tina holds graduate degrees from Thunderbird and Jones International University in the areas of business, marketing, and communications.

Mike Longo, Managing Editor: Mike first because involved in student media in college as a writer for the student newspaper, where he eventually became News Editor and Editor-in-Chief. Since moving to New York City in 2006, he has been freelancing video production services to small businesses, NPOs, artists and musicians.

Marcia Amidon Lusted, Managing Editor: Marcia is the author of 70 books and over 300 magazine articles for young readers. She is an assistant editor for Cobblestone Publishing, a writing instructor, and a musician.

Scott Derby, Writer and Mentor: Scott lives in Connecticut with his wife, Isa, daughter, Yssa, and son, Aiden. Scott earned a B.A. with a major in History from the University of New Hampshire in 1988, and a J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 1998. When he isn’t writing or working, Scott enjoys spending time with friends and family, travel, and acquiring knowledge and new ideas.

Chrissy Carew, Contributor and Mentor: Chrissy Carew is a Hall-of-Fame Master Certified personal and business coach, mentor and trainer as well as the author of Insightful Player: Football Pros Lead a Bold Movement of Hope, published in October of 2011 by Morgan James Publishing. She is the founder and head coach of Insightful Player, LLC., a bold movement of hope that features inspiring stories, programs and interviews of high-integrity NFL Players to inspire youth. In addition, Coach Carew is a pioneer in the personal and business coaching industry.

Chris Biskup, Writer and Host: Christopher Biskup of South Portland, Maine is a recent graduate of New England College where he received his degree in Business. While attending New England College, Chris was a member of The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), captain of the baseball team and a member of the Game Day Management team.

Interns

Aisha Derby Shodeinde, Writer and Host: Aisha is currently studying business at Jones International University. She is also an actress and model, and a history aficionado.

Advisory Board

Laticia Headings is a television and documentary producer & writer with over 13 years of experience. During her three years at E! (1999 to 2002), Laticia wrote and produced over a dozen one and two-hour shows, including E! True Hollywood Story: OJ Simpson; Anna Nicole Smith; Jaws; Batman: Adam West; Village People; Rodney Harvey (Prism Award winner); Gia; Billionaire Boys Club; Claus Von Bulow; The Price is Right; Welcome Back, Kotter; Fast Times at Ridgemont High; Dave Draper (Prism Award nominee); Scott Hamilton; Ginger Lynn (Prism Award nominee). Laticia then began work as a freelance producer, subsequently working on a variety of television shows in the reality, beauty, fashion and lifestyle genres before transitioning into the documentary film world. In 2004, she established and managed an emerging documentary department at Participant Media (Syriana, Good Night, and Good Luck, An Inconvenient Truth, The World According to Sesame Street), a company dedicated to using the power of media to harness positive social change. At the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, Laticia revisited her position in front of the lens by hosting, producing, writing, and directing segments, and a promo spot, for Mobi TV. To view: http://www.youtube.com/user/lheadings.Laticia’s next project took her to the Arizona desert to spend six weeks in Maricopa County’s Estrella Jail with the only all-women chain gang in the country. Chain Gang Girls, an intensive two-hour documentary she produced for We TV (Women’s Entertainment), premiered in June of 2008 and garnered the second highest ratings in the network’s history. During 2008-09, she produced 13 episodes for the PBS series, MoneyTrack (Season Three). Laticia continues to freelance for television and documentary projects she finds inspiring, in particular, ones that shed light on social issues.

Paige Schwarz has been a teacher and school leader for eight years. She teaches special education and is the seventh grade team leader at the Bronx Preparatory Charter School.

Amy Reisinger has been in children’s publishing for the last 13 years. She has extensive knowledge of both marketing and the production process for print magazines and books as well as digital editions and ebooks. When not working, Amy enjoys teaching yoga, volunteering with greyhound rescue, and hiking with her dog.