Meet the Team | SchoolCAMP

The SchoolCAMP team has more than 100 years collective experience supporting school districts with information and tools for effective facilities and operational planning.

Core Team

Mathew Palmer, Senior Research Scholar and SchoolCAMP Project Director

Mathew has 20 years of experience in planning for schools and communities across the United States. He is a founding member and chair-elect for the American Planning Association’s Public Schools & Communities Division. Mathew has experience leading the operational planning, design and service for public school systems in the Southeast US, and also served as operations lead for Durham Public Schools (NC). He has led projects at the state and national levels, including the US Department of Transportation (NHTSA, FHWA and National Center for Safe Routes to School), NCDOT and US Department of Education.

Contact Mathew for school planning and transportation inquiries

A smiling person with a salt-and-pepper beard and swept-back hair, wearing a blue jacket over a white collared shirt in front of a blurred foliage background.

Sonja Parks, EdD, SchoolCAMP Research Scholar

Sonja is an educator with 32 years of progressive leadership experience in public education. Retired in 2022 as Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Logistics for Rockingham County Schools, where she oversaw transportation, school nutrition, maintenance, facilities, safety, student assignment, and technology. Sonja previously served as Director of Elementary Education, Title I, and AIG for Davidson County Schools, and has held roles as Beginning Teacher Coordinator, school administrator, and elementary teacher. She was recognized with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina’s highest civilian honors, by Governor Roy Cooper for distinguished service. Currently, Sonja serves as an adjunct professor at Appalachian State University and works with the masters and doctoral program to prepare educators for district leadership. She also is the Director for the NC Peak Leadership Program, and K12 Industry Advisor for Operations, Facilities, and Capital Improvement Program funding models.

Contact Sonja for academic program, school leadership, facility planning & energy performance contracting inquiries

A person with long, wavy brown hair and light skin smiling at the camera. They are wearing a dark blue blazer over a white top, positioned against a soft-focus background of green foliage and dappled sunlight.

Matt Sears, SchoolCAMP Research Scholar

Matt has 25 years of experience in public education and community partnership development, as well as instructional design, support and leadership. He began his career as a project-based learning teacher, and went on to serve as a local School Board Member for a large urban school district, the Director of Educational Programs for Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP), and most recently as Chief of Partnerships for the Durham (NC) Public Schools Foundation. Matt focuses on opportunities to align community and workforce needs with the design and operation of public school systems.

Contact Matt for inquiries around workforce development, elected engagement, and local education foundations

A person with a light skin tone and a shaved head, wearing a light-colored checkered button-down shirt under a dark grey blazer. The person is looking directly forward with a neutral expression against a blurred background of green foliage.

Linden Thayer, PhD, SchoolCAMP Research Scholar

Dr. Thayer has 20 years experience leading cross-functional teams to develop and deliver policies and plans that support aligned systems in public education and food for students. Linden leads with collaborative, interdisciplinary planning that identifies all stakeholders and institutions to ensure everyone has a seat at the table. She uses a mixed methods design approach to support institutions as drivers of positive systems change, connecting local communities to resources that improve public education and create thriving communities for children and families.

Contact Linden for community engagement, systems planning, food systems, and general SchoolCAMP inquiries

A person with a light skin tone and long, wavy, dark hair draped over one shoulder. They are wearing a dark blue blazer over a white shirt, a small nose stud, and pearl earrings, set against a blurred background of green foliage.

TARP: Technical Assistance and Research Partners

NC State University

Other Partners

Collaborators

Interns & Fellows

Parker Darden, SchoolCAMP Intern

Parker holds a BA in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was awarded both the Robert White Linker Chancellor Award and the Mary S. Miller Award for Service and Excellence. She is currently a Fellow with Design Thinking for the Public Good through UNC’s Graduate Certificate program. Parker has previously worked with Hand in Hand International, the NC Department of Justice, and NC Environmental Justice Network. Currently, Parker is working on a literature review that highlights the policy and funding landscape of North Carolina, as well as the southeastern bordering states to detail similarities and dissimilarities. She is also working on a literature review about the laws, policies, implications, and innovations at the intersection of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and school transportation.

Interested in internships and fellowship opportunities with the SchoolCAMP team?

We offer a host of collaborative options, from summer experiences to year-long internships to custom-built experiences. For more information, reach out to Linden Thayer.