Meet Our Team
At Future Ready Five, our team is the heart of our mission.
With over 125+ years of combined experience in early childhood education, our educators and staff are deeply committed to helping every child in Central Ohio enter kindergarten confident, capable, and ready to thrive.
We bring together experts in early literacy, child development, and family engagement—because preparing children for success starts with a team that believes in the power of early intervention.
Mario Basora
Chief Executive Officer
As Chief Executive Officer, Mario leads the strategic vision and partnerships that drive our mission to ensure every child in Franklin County is ready for kindergarten by age five. With over 20 years of experience in education—as a teacher, principal, superintendent, professor, and senior executive—Mario brings a proven track record of leading transformative change efforts that close opportunity gaps for marginalized children.
A first-generation college graduate, he believes that every child—regardless of background—deserves the opportunity to dream big and achieve greatness.
Dr. Vanisa Turney
Chief Operating Officer
As our Chief Operating Officer, Vanisa oversees our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative, designing and implementing organizational strategies, plans, and procedures that aid the organization in meeting its kindergarten readiness goals. Having witnessed the effects of early exposure and education during her 20+ years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator in P-12 settings, Dr. Turney is committed to eliminating poverty through education.
Maureen Thomas
Chief Financial Officer
As our Chief Financial Officer, Maureen oversees our budget, ensuring our financial goals are met, and, perhaps most importantly, that everyone on our staff and in our cohort are receiving their well-earned dollars! Having spent the last 30 years in the nonprofit sector, Maureen is passionate about the work FR5 is doing with early childhood educators and children and believes that education should be equitable and accessible to all. Previous roles include executive positions with the Wexner Center for the Arts, Girlscout’s of America’s Heartland and the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Maureen is an inactive CPA.
Brittany Jackson
RISE Director of Early Childhood Scholarships & Incentives
As the RISE Director of Early Childhood Scholarships and Incentives, Brittany is responsible for overseeing the distribution of the RISE scholarships and incentives, as well as managing our team of dedicated RISE program managers. Having spent 17 years in education, Brittany is passionate about empowering the early educators and caregivers in Columbus because she has witnessed the lasting impact they can have on the lives of young learners.
Megan Hamilton
Director of Kindergarten Readiness
As our Director of Kindergarten Readiness, Megan oversees the day-to-day needs of our KRC program, providing support and resources to our childcare program directors and providers. With 14 years of experience in education, Megan pursued this role to better advocate for our most vulnerable youth, and to ensure all children in Franklin County have a fair and just opportunity to succeed.
Qorsho Hassan
KRC Program Manager
With over 13 years of experience in education, Qorsho brings a powerful blend of leadership, advocacy, and cultural responsiveness to her role as Program Manager of our KRC. She supports and coaches childcare program directors, providers, and parents across our network—ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to prepare children for kindergarten.
Leslie Miller
RISE Program Manager
Leslie serves as one of our RISE Program Managers, working closely with early childcare professionals to ensure their children are receiving the best care possible. With 24 years of experience in early childhood education, Leslie leverages her extensive background and passion to inspire others and create positive change within the field of education.
Felicia Robinson
Executive Administrative Manager
Felicia Robinson has worked in the nonprofit sector for ten years, mostly in the anti-violence field working to reduce domestic violence and sexual violence. Felicia began her career in Pennsylvania before moving to Ohio. Felicia holds a bachelor’s in history, with a focus on Women’s History and Gender Studies. Felicia began her career in nonprofits as a Program Coordinator and grant writer for a victim services program. Felicia enjoys lending her time to community outreach and awareness as well as spending time with her husband at farmers’ markets on the weekends.
Rebecca Scheel
Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative Coordinator
With 12 years of combined experience in formal and informal education, Rebecca is passionate about creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for children and families. She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy and has experience in classrooms, educational programming, and community-based learning environments. Her work focuses on fostering curiosity, confidence, and a love of learning through developmentally appropriate and hands-on experiences.