Our Team
Project Schoolhouse has a hard working talented team in both Nicaragua and the US
USA Team
Selina Serna
Executive Director
Selina brings a graceful yet firm, quiet accountability to Project Schoolhouse. Her role as Vice President and Treasurer for the Board as well as Executive Director for the organization ensures that fundraising meets or exceeds projections and that our project costs fall in line with budgets.
A long-time team member of Whole Foods Market, Selina knows the importance of balancing social good with successful business models. Selina has served as Financial Controller for Whole Foods’s UK expansion, Assistant Controller for US Southwest Region and, most recently, Sr. Coordinator for Growth and Business Development. Selina is a graduate of Rice University.
Thomas Barker
Director of Operations / Founder
Thomas Barker, or ‘Tab’ as he is commonly known, founded Project Schoolhouse in 2004. The ideology behind Project Schoolhouse’s approach to development comes from an Economics degree from Carleton College, further work in Argentina on a Fulbright Grant, followed by many years abroad traveling and studying. Always working to minimize outside impacts while leveraging local initiative and knowledge, Tab works to turn scarce resources into sustainable development projects.
Renata Aleman
Development and Communications Coordinator
Renata is the Development and Communications Coordinator for Project Schoolhouse. Renata was born and raised in Nicaragua and moved to Pittsburgh, PA with her family in 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Allegheny College. Prior to Project Schoolhouse, she led Digital Marketing and Communications efforts for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh. She is committed to social justice and community service, as evidenced by her volunteer work in educational programs for under-served youth during her time as an undergraduate student. Renata is deeply committed to Project Schoolhouse’s mission and helping her home country of Nicaragua.
Nicaragua Team
Maria Ines Bracamonte
Nicaragua Operations Coordinator
Manuel Selva Garcia
Head of Construction
Jairo Bracamonte
Carpenter
