The Team

Mark is the co-founder of Edhype, in addition to founding Method Schools and SmartFox. He has been working in the marketing and finance areas of K-12 education for two decades, including experience leading teams at charter schools, a school district, and a K-12 industry corporation. Finding new ways to solve age-old K-12 problems is one of his work passions. He holds a B.S. in Business from Utah Valley University and an MBA from Brigham Young University. Mark resides in Southern California, where he’s happily married and has two adult children and one teenager. In his spare time he’s often enjoying the California sun on his mountain bike or is out with his black lab Apollo.

Jessica holds deep origins from a Southern California working class family of seven upbringing. Her experience includes experience working for small and large charter schools, in K-12 curriculum sales, and as a founder of Method, a successful network of charter schools, and SmartFox, a fully-integrated SIS, LMS, and online K-12 curriculum platform. With more than 20 years of experience in the non-traditional K-12 space, Jessica has encountered change, and resistance to change, for her entire career. She's made breaking down barriers to change a primary focus in her career, and is currently writing her second management book. Jessica holds a BA degree from Cal State Northridge, a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from Cal State San Marcos, and a PhD in Curriculum from New Mexico State University.

Jade Fernandez, an educator since 2007, currently serves as Senior Director of Schools at Method Schools. She is a veteran school leader with several years of experience leading instructional teams toward student growth and academic improvement. Beginning her career as an educator as a high school English teacher at a traditional brick and mortar high school, Jade then moved to the independent study public charter school model as a teacher, department lead, lead teacher, and Head of Schools before serving in her current position. Jade earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Literatures in English at UC San Diego and Masters Degree in Teaching and Education at National University. She enjoys building and leading collaborative diverse school staffs that serve equally diverse populations and advocates for equity in access, school choice, and student-centered learning.

Originally from Escondido, California, I moved just up the road to Temecula in 2012. A love for languages inspired me to earn my Bachelor’s in Linguistics from UC San Diego, and I later earned a Master’s in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from National University. When I’m not working, I enjoy reading, golfing, and playing outside with my son and our dog, Leroy. I love traveling somewhere new with my son every year, and often choose our next adventure by throwing a dart at a map!

Stefanie is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Method Schools and SmartFox K-12. She has over 25 years of experience in accounting and finace. She has held positions in the areas of audit, tax, private sector finance and as CFO of a public school district in Utah. She holds a Masters in Accounting from the University of Utah and a Certified Public Accountant license. Stefanie joined the Method/SmartFox team in the summer of 2021. As CFO she oversees the financial and accounting aspects of the organization. Trips to the Caribbean chasing salt water fish on a fly are at the top of her non-work priorities.

Sarah is the Director of Curriculum for Method Schools. A former high school English teacher, professional development coach, trainer and school administrator, Sarah has over two decades of experience in education. With the goal of evolving the traditional one-size-fits-all approach to public education, Sarah developed the practice of Standards Based Instruction and Assessment as an equitable approach to teaching and grading that allows students to approach learning and mastery at the rate that works for them. Sarah believes the online independent study space is the perfect place for students who don’t benefit from the traditional constraints of brick and mortar institutions to find success. Sarah has a BA in English from UC Santa Barbara and earned her MS in Educational Counseling from the University of LaVerne. Credentialed in secondary English instruction, Pupil Personnel Services, and Educational Administration, Sarah is currently working on her PhD in Psychology. Her professional interests are in the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the need for wellness and social emotional practices for both students in schools and employees in organizations.