Our Team
Jessica Donner
Executive Director
Jessica Donner is the executive director of Every Hour Counts, a coalition of national citywide organizations that increase access to quality learning opportunities, particularly for underserved students. The organization is a leading voice promoting expanded-learning systems.
Jessica manages the organization's efforts to develop policy recommendations and solutions, test the feasibility of policy and practice recommendations and disseminate findings, and deliver technical assistance to communities to build expanded learning systems. Prior to joining Every Hour Counts, she directed statewide and national service-learning initiatives at the National Service-Learning Partnership at the Academy for Educational Development and the Massachusetts Department of Education. She holds a master's degree in urban policy and management from The New School, and a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Pennsylvania.
Email: jdonner (at) everyhourcounts (dot) org
Hikma Sherka
Program Director of Youth Engagement
Hikma Sherka (she/her) is a Seattle-based community organizer and consultant working with local and national nonprofits, political organizations, and government entities looking to implement and improve policies and practices to better serve and work with youth.
Passionate about engaging young people as strategic partners in designing and implementing their future, Hikma is directing Every Hour Counts’ newest initiative, Powered by Youth Voice. Hikma is excited for the opportunity to co-design the future of afterschool with youth development experts (including young people) and other partners across the field.
Hikma is a product of many life changing youth development programs that share her values of intergenerational partnerships that center youth voice and believes all young people deserve to be surrounded and nurtured by communities that value their leadership and joy.
Email: hsherka (at) everyhourcounts (dot) org
Susan Diaz
Senior Director of member engagement
Susan (she/her) is a dedicated professional with extensive experience in the Out-of-School Time space. As the Senior Director of Member Engagement, Susan spearheads our network learning opportunities, overseeing workgroups, coaching support, content creation, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Having personally benefited from afterschool and summer camp experiences, Susan developed a profound passion for enrichment work at a young age. Her background includes serving as the Director of Enrichment Programs at the NYC Department of Education, Office of Community Schools. In this role, she provided invaluable coaching and guidance to school and program leaders, ensuring the success of enrichment and summer programs.
Outside of work, Susan is an avid traveler and culinary enthusiast. She loves exploring new places and trying diverse cuisines with her family and friends.
Email: sdiaz (at) everyhourcounts (dot) org
Partners & Advisors
Research Advisors: Dr. Femi Vance and Dr. Jill Young, American Institutes for Research; Dr. Jennifer McCombs, Learning Policy Institute and RAND Corporation; Dr. Anamarie Whitaker, Assistant Professor, University of Delaware.
Communication Partners: Collaborative Communications Group and Daniel A. Brown, freelance writer
Racial Equity Advisor: Racial Equity Institute
Design: Kristin Gunn
Penn Hill Group
policy advisors
Every Hour Counts works closely with Penn Hill Group, a leading bipartisan policy and advocacy organization, to inform federal legislation and strengthen the capacity of expanded-learning organizations to undertake local policy efforts.