Join Our Team & Our Mission

Since June 2013

I was born and raised in a small rural area in South Carolina. Although resources were scarce, my parents instilled a love for education in my siblings and me. Their decision to go back to college in their thirties, with four children, changed the trajectory of my life and shaped my perspective on how education, and the opportunities that spring from it, changes everything. Witnessing how education changed our household, coupled with my desire to be a teacher, I became fascinated and passionate about the art of teaching and learning (at all levels) and creating opportunities for people. Over the years and through the privileges that I have had to work in both rural and urban school districts, I’ve seen students in the most troubling, underserved environments outperform other students because conditions were created for them to thrive and there was a belief that they could learn and excel. They rose to the expectations. And, that’s my why! I do this work because I believe that when conditions are created for learning and there are beliefs in the capabilities of leaders, teachers, and students, we’ll consistently see “all students learning.” I want nothing more than for every Black and Brown student, like my own children, to have opportunities galore.

In 5-10 years, New Leaders will be the leading, premier leadership development organization, changing the educational landscape nationally and internationally.

I can sing and have been singing since I was a little girl!

Since November 2013

I have been in education since 2001 when I was a high school English teacher in Chesapeake, VA – incidentally at the alma mater of both Alonzo Mourning and Jay Pharoah. Throughout my education career, I’ve been passionate about finding innovative ways to serve the educational needs of all students, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented communities.

In 5-10 years, New Leaders will continue to be the premier destination for school leaders to develop the tools to transform their schools and their communities and to ensure that the American educational system is a fair, equitable, and just one.

I have edited several books and have been a leading voice in the movement for better representation of people of color in the entertainment industry since 2009, with bylines appearing in the New York Times, NBC News, and other outlets.

Since November 2014.

I grew up in low income housing in Harlem in the late 70s/early 80s in a household of five with two non-English speaking parents who both had less than a high school education. My parents made huge sacrifices to put my sisters and I through parochial schools, however, growing up I was keen on the “haves” and “have nots” and knew that education was my ticket to a different life. That remains true today—a quality education is a ticket out for many students, and that’s why I am committed to this work. Your demography should never define your destiny.

I imagine that New Leaders will be the premier “go to” organization for the development of educational leaders in the ed reform space, and I envision continuously supporting and rolling out innovative training and professional development programming to grow and develop the talents and skillsets of our staff.

I was once hypnotized as part of a live show. When the hypnotist awoke the audience from the trance, he said there would be one person remaining who would not be able to speak. I was that person. YIKES!