Leadership at EXPLO Ortho

Through the years, more than 50,000 students have experienced a summer of inquiry, investigation, adventure, and exploration at one of our innovative academic enrichment programs.

Head of the Program
Elliot Targum began working for EXPLO in 1997. Prior to becoming the Head of the EXPLO at Wellesley, Elliot held many positions at EXPLO, including Residence Director, Programming Director, and Dean of Day Students. Elliot was a founding teacher at a Boston charter school and taught math and science in the Cambridge, MA public school system. Elliot is known as an "idea factory" and one public school teaching colleague described him as "the most progressive teacher in the district." Elliot's interests and talents are broad. He was a math correlation specialist at Riverdeep, Inc., working on interactive mathematics software, and he worked with Games-To-Teach, a partnership between MIT and Microsoft's iCampus. In addition, he is the founder of EB Tutoring and juggles flaming torches during the summer at EXPLO. Elliot is a graduate of Haverford College and earned his M.Ed. at the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he concentrated in technology and education.

Director of Curriculum
David Summergrad, a long time principal, teacher, and curriculum developer, brings deep wisdom and enthusiasm to his role as Curriculum Director of EXPLO at Wellesley. While principal of the John D. Runkle Elementary School, the school was named the top pre-k through eight school in Boston Magazine. Prior to serving as a principal, David was a house leader, curriculum leader, and technology curriculum specialist at Wayland Middle School. He has won numerous awards including TEC’s “Distinguished Teacher Award”, the “Outstanding Contribution Award” from METCO, and various grants and travelships. David has run the New York City marathon numerous times and to date has raised $75,000 for METCO, a grant program funded by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is a voluntary program intended to expand educational opportunities, increase diversity, and reduce racial isolation, by permitting students in certain cities to attend public schools in other communities that have agreed to participate.

Manager, Focus Programs
Bre McKenna holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bowdoin College with a major in Spanish and a minor in Psychology. She began her educational career in an unconventional way — teaching employees about retirement plan options — and from there has served as an instructor and teaching fellow throughout New England. Bre spent five years at the Governor’s Academy in Byfield where she taught Spanish, lived in the dorms, and coached cross-country in addition to serving as the Freshman Dean and the Director of Student Activities. After spending two summers as the EXPLO at St. Mark’s Dean of Students, Bre now works with Explo in the Norwood office year-round as the Manager of New Programs.

Dean of Students
Stacey Jones graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in Sociology. She began her career as a Director for SCORE! Educational Centers, building specialized curriculum plans to provide enrichment and basic skills support for students. In 2004 she returned to Bowdoin College as Director of First Year Programs where she supported the First-Year class and several identity-based student groups. She is currently the Associate Dean for Students at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire, where she coordinates student clubs and counsels residential students. After working in both the Dean’s Office at EXPLO at St. Mark’s and Explo at Wellesley, Stacey will return to EXPLO at Wellesley as the Dean of Students.

Focus Program Coordinator
Laura Stocke is a graduate of the University of Virginia where she received a BS in chemistry and an MT in Secondary Science Education. She has student taught and volunteered in the Charlottesville Public Schools, and volunteered at a children's museum in Charlottesville during her time at UVA. While at UVA, Laura served on the board of directors at Madison House, a non-profit organization in Charlottesville that works to send over 3,000 volunteers into the community each year. For her sixth summer with EXPLO at Wellesley, Laura will return as the Focus Programs Coordinator. She now works year-round for EXPLO as the Assistant to the Head of EXPLO at Wellesley.