Our Team

Ola Taras

Founder & Executive Director · Research Analyst, Guilford County Schools ·
PhD Student, Information Systems (UNCG)

Ola Taras is the Founder and Executive Director of SEED. She sets strategy and runs daily operations across the U.S. and Ukraine. Her scope includes programs and grants, partnerships and fundraising, communications, budgeting, and impact tracking. Alongside SEED, she serves as a Research Analyst at Guilford County Schools and is a PhD student in Information Systems at UNCG. She started SEED in 2025 as she believes that education keeps communities strong and gives students a future. Her focus is helping teachers stay resilient and creative so students can learn and thrive.

Tetiana Nazaruk

Grant Evaluation Lead · PhD Candidate, Communication and Media Studies, University of Warsaw

Tetiana Nazaruk leads SEED’s grant evaluation program and chairs the Review Committee. She designs the evaluation framework and reviewer training, sets calibration and quality assurance procedures, and guides the review cycle from rubric design to final funding recommendations to ensure a transparent and equitable selection process. She brings years of experience in grant writing, program coordination, including leadership in Ukrainian community education, and her aim is transparent, effective support for teachers and their students.

Nadiia Frolenkova

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member; Logistics and Coordination; Outreach and Partnerships
Associate Professor, NU of Water and Environmental Engineering
Rivne, Ukraine

With her degree in School Management she leads the “Project Management” program. Through her NGO work she has supported education for many years, so volunteering with SEED feels both useful and meaningful.

Olena Cherkasova

SEED: Grant Reviwer

Physics Teacher, Lyceum “International Perspectives”

Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine

I want to help Ukrainian schools secure funding for better learning. As a volunteer I feel I make a real contribution to rebuilding and development.

Kateryna Obidets

SEED: Grant Reviewer

English Teacher, I. M. Sereda Lyceum

Velyka Pysarivka, Ukraine

SEED helps me grow creatively, strengthen my professional skills, and gain project experience. I want to support children and youth, develop education, and explore international cooperation and innovative approaches.

Yana Khalimon

SEED: Grant Reviewer

SEED Volunteer

Poltava, Ukraine

I want to contribute to community development and help others find new opportunities to learn and grow. SEED is a place to share my skills, learn from peers, and work together on positive change for youth and society.

Tetiana Mealing

SEED: Grant Reviewer
Teacher
Mykolaiv, Ukraine

Experience, new knowledge and skills, self-improvement, a constant search for ideas, and meeting inspiring people make my life full and meaningful. Volunteering lets me keep growing while helping others.

Anastasiia Hliebova

SEED: Grant Reviwer

Berezhany, Ternopil Oblast, Ukraine

I work in education and psychology, combining teaching with youth initiatives. Reviewing mini-grant applications helped me see teachers’ real needs across Ukraine. Volunteering and mentoring motivate me to build community and share what I know.

Husieva Iryna

SEED: Grant Reviewer

Geography Teacher, Project Coordinator at YMCA Zdolbuniv

Zdolbuniv, Rivne Oblast, Ukraine

Volunteering at SEED is about teamwork, a shared mission, and seeing how creative our teachers are and how strongly they want to improve education.

Violeta Poluden

SEED: Grant Reviewer

Ukrainian Language and Literature Teacher

Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine

Grant reviewing at SEED lets me directly support the development of education and help teachers implement innovative projects. It gives me valuable experience in analysis and decision making and connects me with a community focused on a better future for children.

Tetiana Konovalenko

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member; Outreach and Partnerships
Associate Professor, Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine

I have worked in education since 1995 and still find inspiration every day despite the challenges. With the NGO “Progresylni” I support initiatives that improve teachers’ lives. SEED strengthens resilience and Ukrainian identity and I am proud to help.

Yuliya Shylo

SEED: Grant Reviwer

Ukrainian Language and Literature Teacher

Poltava, Ukraine

As a teacher and a citizen I believe in SEED’s principles. It is about the present and the future for me, my family, and my country. I want to be part of planting and growing that future.

Svitlana Pylypchuk

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member

Educator, author and methodologist of educational projects

Ukraine

I have 12 years of teaching experience in rural schools and know the challenges from the inside. My work shifted toward methodology and teacher support. I want to help educators with practical expertise so their daily challenges become easier to solve.

Igor Rudnyckyj

SEED: Grant Reviewer, Selection Committee Member

IT Project Manager

Prague, Czech Republic

I joined after hearing about SEED’s mini-grant idea and the need for volunteers. I am inspired by the creativity of Ukrainian teachers and believe this initiative has strong potential.

Svitlana Kucher

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member
Education Project Manager; Career Consultant
Kyiv, Ukraine

I believe education is the strongest tool for change. It builds critical thinking and responsibility and helps people look for solutions. Changing minds is how we change a country.

Sergiy Sukhoboychenko

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member; Logistics and Coordination; Outreach and Partnerships; Fundraising, and more.

Member of the International Chapter of the Order of the Smile; Research Analyst

Warsaw, Poland

Motivated to drive positive change through SEED and apply experience in volunteer coordination, community integration, and grant evaluation to help strong initiatives take shape.

Stanislav Lupul

SEED: Grant Reviwer

SEED Volunteer

Chernivtsi, Ukraine

I have experience in international and community organizations supporting grant programs and community work. This background helps me contribute to community development, support people, and keep learning new skills.

Marta Sydoruk

SEED: Grant Reviwer

Information Consolidation Analyst; Project Manager;
PhD in Economics

Lutsk, Ukraine

Cooperation with SEED is a good chance to promote the project approach, build institutional capacity, and support the professional growth of everyone involved.

Nataliia Hrebenar

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member
SEED Volunteer
Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine

I am motivated to be useful and to contribute to community development. Volunteering lets me meet new people and keep learning. I believe we can create positive change together and support one another.

Natalia Dovgopolyuk

SEED: Grant Reviewer;

Primary School Teacher, SEED Volunteer

Verbaiv, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine

I want learning to be engaging. Participation in projects motivates students and develops curiosity and communication.

Julia Kharchuk

SEED: Grant Reviewer

School Principal

Krasnovolia, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine

I want to contribute to something meaningful and support people who need it. Volunteering is a way to learn, gain practical skills, and deepen my knowledge.

Inna Saienko

SEED: Selection Committee Member

SEED Volunteer

Kirovohrad Region, Ukraine

Volunteering is a step toward new ideas and growth. It brings together people with creative approaches and strong determination.

Vita Malyar

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member
SEED Volunteer
Poltava, Ukraine

I am motivated to be useful and to contribute to community development. Volunteering lets me meet new people and keep learning. I believe we can create positive change together and support one another.

Tetiana Verbovytska

SEED: Grant Reviewer; Selection Committee Member

Chemistry Teacher,

Lviv, Ukraine

I believe every educational idea can change students’ lives if it gets a chance. Serving as a grant reviewer lets me open doors for new projects and be part of positive change in schools.

Nataliia Dumych

SEED: Grant Reviewer

English Teacher

Hiyche, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine

I teach English and keep building my skills. I am motivated to do useful work for people because helping others helps us grow too. Volunteering lets me share experience, find inspiration, and make step by step change.

Olena Zhornova

SEED: Selection Committee Member

Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences; Professor; Expert at NAZYAVO and DSYAO; Institute of Consolidation and Partnership

Kyiv, Ukraine

Professor and education quality expert with a strong record of public service and support for evidence based improvement in schools and universities.