For the Nations DC Staff
Matt Kasowski
Executive Director
Matt brings more than 12 years of cross-cultural experience working in Central Asia. He has led teams both in the business and non-profit sector. Matt is happily married to Jill for 17 years and they have 4 very active children.
Katheryn Wolfe
Operations Director
Katheryn has experience in non-profit management, project management, and instructional design. She also has a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults. She enjoys spending time with students, either on the soccer field or at the dinner table.
Arielle Bateman
Development and Communications Director
Arielle has worked as a nonprofit storyteller for more than 12 years. As a fundraiser and communicator, she enjoys sharing stories of transformation and building relationships in the community. She loves helping people to discover their philanthropic passions and to support the work that’s closest to their heart.
Ellim Wegerbauer
Co-Site Lead, Fairfax
Ellim has experience in cross-cultural ministry, career consulting, project management, and fundraising. She happily serves the students, teachers, and volunteers at our Fairfax location. She enjoys building long-lasting relationships with friends, eating good food, and talking about the transformative love of Jesus.
Justin Raymer
Co-Site Lead, Alexandria
Justin loves to meet, connect, and pray with people. He’s a farmer at heart who has experience in agricultural development, construction, and project management. He enjoys learning languages, making new friends, and tasting food from any culture.
Vera Fernandes
Kids' Club Lead
Vera brings decades of cross-cultural experience serving with women and children at-risk in nations including Ukraine, India and Afghanistan. Over the years, she has cared for child-survivors of trauma and worked towards their healing and restoration. She loves being a bridge between cultures and sharing her stories.
Danny Wegerbauer
Co-Site Lead, Fairfax / Lead Teacher, Fairfax
Danny brings 4 years of working with international students through his time with Bridges International. He has a Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults.
Kristen Raymer
Co-Site Lead, Alexandria / Teacher Trainer, Alexandria
Kristen is a former elementary education teacher who focuses on literacy with our adult language students. She has experience in several bilingual educational settings and enjoys building relationships with students and their families.
Anissa Tyler
Teacher / Special Projects
Anissa has been a teacher for 25 years in a variety of disciplines and settings. She completed her TESOL certification through the University of Georgia. Anissa enjoys engaging not only with our students but also with their children, including providing occasional homework tutoring sessions over WhatsApp. Anissa also enjoys deep conversations around the backyard fire pit.
Brenda Paniagua
Early Childhood Lead
Brenda is passionate about working with children. She is from Peru, and in her country, she began working with children at the age of 16 in an early childhood education center. She takes joy in being part of the lives of the little ones, as she loves the idea of being part of their earliest memories. She is deeply grateful that God is using the talent He gave her to serve Him at FTNDC.
Jaysen Ens
Family Services Coordinator, Alexandria
Jaysen serves as the part-time Family Services Coordinator to help families thrive in the United States. The experiences of living in the Middle East for two years (where he met his wife, Bethany) and going through the US immigration process have given him perspective on the challenges that many families have when settling into a new country and culture. He enjoys coming alongside families as they make the US their home.
Amanda Taylor
Lead Teacher, Alexandria
Amanda has 15 years of experience teaching English learners in public and private schools, churches, and at FTNDC for the past six years. She enjoys connecting with students from all over the world. As the Lead Teacher, she supports the dedicated teachers whose work is the core of FTNDC! She has been married to Cullen for 26 years and they have three children.
Shanti Gidwani
Teacher, Alexandria
Shanti has experience working for many nonprofits in the DC area. She is a Deaconess of Community Care at her church and previously volunteered with FTNDC in the Kid’s Book Club. She enjoys CrossFit, photography, serving Afghan refugees and learning about their culture, going on mission trips, and helping people in the local community.
Nurame Akiso
Operations Assistant, Alexandria
Nurame previously interned with a non-profit organization, which fueled her passion for serving God and helping people. Her love for working with children has given her the opportunity to engage with kids from diverse cultures and backgrounds. As an immigrant, she deeply understands the challenges faced by students, and she is dedicated to supporting them in their journey to learn English and integrate into their new communities.
Board of Directors
Chris Sicks
Board President
Pastor at One Voice Fellowship
Maura Handle
Board Treasurer
Accounting Manager, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Bashar Ayesh
Board Member
Consultant with Washington-based training school