Administrative
Devendra Veda (Co-Founder & CAO) Devendra is a longtime K-12 educator who has taught across all levels—from elementary through high school (gen ed, ESE, ESOL, and AP classes). Witnessing talented, curious students lose their love for learning in systems prioritizing standardized testing over exploration, he co-founded Ark Institute to create educational experiences that foster curiosity, student agency, and real-world skill development that truly prepares learners for their future.
Shara Veda (Co-Founder & COO) Dr. Shara Veda is a professor and Director of Online Learning with over a decade of experience creating flexible, supportive educational systems. Through teaching and academic advising, she's witnessed how students flourish when given genuine responsibility for their learning. Co-founding Ark Institute allowed her to realize her vision of individualized, interdisciplinary, purpose-driven education that develops students' skills and confidence to shape their futures.
Marlene Martins (Media & Marketing) Marlene combines her psychology background with extensive marketing expertise and global perspective, having resided in Western Europe and East Asia. With experience across wellness, education, and real estate sectors, her collaborative approach emphasizes building meaningful connections through human-centered communication that drives genuine impact.
Dusty Noller (Student & Family Engagement) Dusty brings 18 years of technology leadership and quality assurance experience to student-centered education. After leading high-impact projects in engineering and product development, they now support learners in building real-world skills through flexible, future-focused pathways.
Nicole Hendricks (Student & Family Engagement) Nicole brings a unique perspective to online education, combining 18 years of teaching experience with 10 years of legal practice. Specializing in engaging social science courses, she has contributed to Oregon's distance learning guidelines as a state committee member. Her diverse background in law and education creates dynamic learning experiences that connect historical contexts with real-world applications.
Instructional Support
Beverly DeCuir (Course Guide) Beverly (MA.Ed.) is an educational technology consultant and instructional designer with 20+ years in K-12, higher education, and virtual learning. As a former Intel® Master Teacher and Microsoft-certified instructor, she's led national professional development, facilitated online instruction for major organizations and presented at conferences including CUE and iNACOL, bringing global expertise to enhance learning experiences.
Fabio Garcia (Course Guide) Fabio Garcia is a storyteller and media producer with experience spanning television promotions, documentary filmmaking across continents, and working with indigenous communities. He teaches video editing and storytelling, developing interactive programs for youth while researching how narratives shape individual and collective experiences.
Teresa Davis (Course Guide) Teresa is a 20+ year veteran educator with a master's in curriculum and instruction, credentialed in English and Social Studies. She specializes in secondary education, serving diverse junior high and high school students. As a self-published author of fantasy and memoir works plus corporate instructional designer, she champions "learning by doing" through project-based coursework.
Natalia Porto (Mindfulness Guide) Natalia Porto combines 15 years in holistic wellness as a Certified Life Coach and Yoga Instructor to help young people develop stress resilience and self-awareness. Her integrated approach uses meditation, breathwork, and somatic techniques to plant lifelong seeds of balance and confidence in the next generation.
KerryAnn Hayden (Course Guide) KerryAnn brings 20+ years of secondary/post-secondary teaching experience in social sciences and 7 years in online ESL education. As a published author and curriculum coordinator, she's passionate about inquiry-based learning that makes subjects come alive.
Isey (Dance Instructor) Shenise Naene aka Isey brings award-winning dance expertise from World of Dance and Dance World Cup stages to her teaching practice. Her decade of international experience across four continents infuses diverse dance styles with cultural richness, energizing students with creative expression.
Ronika Haughton (Course Guide) Ronika holds a Biochemistry degree and specializes in inquiry-based science education for online and homeschool students. With expertise in curriculum development and interactive learning design, she champions mastery-based, project-driven education that gives students agency.
Revathy Ravikuttan (Math Tutor) Revathy is a certified math educator with 8+ years of international experience, holding advanced degrees in Mathematics Education. She specializes in test prep (SAT, ACT, GRE, AP) and is experienced with creating engaging lessons using interactive tools.
Sarah Ortonovi (Course Guide) Dr. Sarah Ortonovi holds advanced degrees in Physical Geography and Natural Risks, with 10+ years of GIS experience and laboratory work. She specializes in natural hazards research and sustainable land use, and has contributed to interdisciplinary, projects at the crossroads of geosciences and education.