School Board School Community

Chanda Davis is a Cincinnati local from the South bringing southern hospitality and a passion for the education of all youth. She is currently a Board Member for the Mechanical Engineering Department at Northwestern University and a Product Development Engineer for 15 years and counting. She looks forward to working for the community, specifically the youth, parents, and educators of Cincinnati.

David is a CPS graduate and the proud parent of 4 current CPS students, with 2 of them currently attending Breakthrough Cincinnati. He has 30 years of experience in Information Technology at some of the largest companies in the Greater Cincinnati region. An outspoken proponent of and advocate for public education, David is a member of the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition, a board member for the Tri-State Freethinkers, currently serves as the chairman of the Local School Decision Making Committee (LSDMC) for Sands Montessori Elementary, and he was a 2017 candidate for the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education.

Heather Couch is a school counselor, writer, and advocate and is involved in her local church and community. She sits on a number of committees for the School Counseling Association and Junior League of Cincinnati. A West Side resident, she is passionate about urban education and child mental health. It is her desire to meet the needs of the 'whole child.’

Heather Gerker is a Montessori education leader who is wildly enthusiastic about helping teachers and administrators hone their practice. She has coached hundreds of educators in emotional intelligence, leadership, and classroom technique; served as president of the Cincinnati Montessori Society; and founded and led the Kentucky Montessori Alliance. She currently designs global professional development opportunities for the American Montessori Society, serves as a board member of Invest in Neighborhoods, and is a CPS parent.

Jasmine believes in living her life in the service of her community. Jasmine is a proud graduate of Cincinnati Public Schools and is equally proud to be the parent of a current CPS student. Her mission is to empower youth and advance the efforts of creating an equitable and inclusive society.

Kareem Moffett is an educator with a passion for community engagement and advocacy training. Kareem has graduated two young men from CPS and currently has a senior at Withrow High School where she is the chairperson of the Withrow LSDMC. Kareem considers herself and her role in the community as a conduit to building into and engaging every constituent. For Kareem, "Every voice matters, all the time."

Ms. Stewart, a Louisville, KY native, has called the Evanston community home for over a decade and has a son who attends Walnut Hills High School. She received a Masters degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Community Development from Northern Kentucky University. She joined P&G with a background in mortgage lending. After spending nearly a decade serving customers through developing Process Improvements and Project and Program Management tools, she ventured out on her own to create her own jewelry and founded Persephone Gems. Additionally, she volunteers with the Queen City Foundation, Wave Foundation/Newport Aquarium, Ohio Anime Expo, and Cincinnati Comic Expo.

Marlena Brookfield is a full-time volunteer and activist, focusing in particular on matters regarding public education and student advocacy. She is a member of the Cincinnati Educational Justice Coalition and co-sponsor of True Colors, Dater High School's LGBTQ Alliance, as well as a proud graduate of Western Hills High School, supporter of Cincinnati Public Schools, and parent of a CPS student.

Melisse May is a STEM education advocate and leader, founding the Greater Cincinnati Data Collaborative and serving as a Managing Partner for Leads from Insights. She brings a long history of business and innovation experience to solving the problems education faces today. She is an East End resident, community leader, and the proud parent of a CPS graduate.

Samuel Burbanks is a graduate of and former teacher in Cincinnati Public Schools as well as an educator with 20 years of dedicated service to the field. Samuel’s dedication to education led him to develop the Supplemental Educational Services program at the Mallory Center for Community Development for which he served as director for eight years. Samuel believes that part of his duty as an educator and scholar is to serve families and the community in the academic and social development of their most prized asset, their children.

Stephanie Norton is a CPS teacher committed to bringing hands-on and authentic learning experiences to all students. She is passionate about using environmental education, citizen science, and social justice issues from the past and present to inform, engage and motivate students to learn 21st century skills and create meaningful work.

Tess Brown is a lifelong Greater Cincinnatian with a deep passion for communities on both sides of the river. She serves as the Director of Marketing & Communications at Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky, where she is the unofficial "chief storyteller" on behalf of the nonprofits that serve Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties. She lives with her husband and two dogs in Prospect Hill/Mt. Auburn.

Tim'm West is an author, poet, educator, and Hip Hop artist who can be best described as a Renaissance man, leveraging a broad and diverse set of skills and interests to advocate for marginalized communities. Since 2014, he has served as Senior Managing Director for Teach For America's LGBTQ+ Community Initiative, which advances safer and more supportive classrooms for all students and their educators. Since returning to his hometown of Cincinnati in 2017, Tim'm has served his community as a Cincinnati Public Schools Strategic Planning and Engagement Committee member, a Wordplay Board member, and member of the Chase Elementary LSDMC, among other points of engagement. Tim'm is a graduate of Duke, The New School, and Stanford universities.

Akshayaa is a proud University of Cincinnati and Johns Hopkins University graduate, Teach for America alumna, and current CPS teacher. She is passionate about promoting equity and access in science and creating meaningful learning experiences in her classroom at Dater High School. She is grateful to co-sponsor the True Colors Club, PEARL, and Soccer Club for her student community.

Alex is a leader and mentor who supports the community by providing workforce solutions for job seekers and employers through his work as the COO of Pipeline Workforce Solutions. He is also an aspiring nutritionist and a mentor at Western Hills High school. Alex strives to help people achieve their goals with his expertise and skill sets.

Alicia has close to 10 years of experience working with youth. She believes that our youth are leaders and it is her goal to recruit our young people into power positions within Cincinnati Public Schools. Alicia hopes to find a way to build sustainable safe spaces through comedy and other platforms for youth to express themselves while building their knowledge in areas such as financial literacy and social justice issues affecting their communities. Her desire is to develop critical thinking skills within youth which will help them live successful and independent lives once they graduate high school.

Amber is a Cincinnati native who has spent nearly twenty years working on various community efforts to improve academic outcomes for children and youth. She is passionate about reducing the racial achievement gap for the next generation of learners. Amber has extensive experience in the areas of strategic planning and facilitation, relationship management, change leadership, and team-building. A proud parent of a current CPS elementary student (and future one), Amber enjoys spending lively moments at home with husband Corey and their two daughters. She is a graduate of Xavier University (B.S. Marketing) and Indiana University (M.A. Philanthropic Studies).

Annie has been working in public education for over 10 years. She started her career as a middle school teacher and spent the last five years as principal of a small charter school in Sacramento that was dedicated to closing the opportunity gap within their community. Annie deeply believes in the power and duty of our public school systems and hold teachers in the highest regard. She is passionate about ensuring equity across classrooms, schools and communities. Annie and her spouse welcomed their first child just over a year ago and are enjoying life as new parents. They are new to Cincinnati and eager to learn about and become involved in their new community.

Arthur serves as a volunteer reading tutor at his Northside neighborhood school and has also been a volunteer tutor and mentor with the City Gospel Mission Whiz Kids program. He believes that "the educational well-being of all children is of utmost importance,” which is why he plans to spend even more time as a volunteer in the local school community upon retirement from his long career with the United States District Court.

Candice became a Cincinnatian more than twenty years ago when she moved from Toledo to attend the University of Cincinnati. As the founder of a nonprofit business accelerator focused on supporting women and minority entrepreneurs, she fosters relationships between investors, corporations, and entrepreneurs as she helps to grow the region’s innovation economy. A downtown resident and OTR business leader, she serves on the board of Cincinnati Squash Academy and is a parent of two sons.

Dawn recently moved back to Cincinnati after 35 years living in Atlanta, Georgia. She is an experienced educator with 35 years of working with children in grades 1-12. Dawn created the first STEM certified program in the state of Georgia and as internship coordinator for the Cobb County School District, she successfully placed over 2000 students in diverse internship opportunities. Dawn holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, Master’s degree from Kennesaw State University, Specialist degree from Georgia State University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Leadership from Capella University.

Dureka is a lover of life who works to sow peace and abundance. When it comes to education, Dureka holds strong to four beliefs: children are the only future of any people; schools mirror society; the activity of the schools is central because schools are the major socializing institution of society; and “the education that is best for the best of us, is also best for the rest of us.”

Emily is a future CPS parent, expecting her first child this winter. She is a product of public schools in Northern Ohio and a graduate of the University of Dayton and Xavier University. Emily has been an employee of GE Aviation for fifteen years where she is currently a Senior Product Manager on the GEnx engine. A long-time tutor at Chase Elementary, mentor at Aiken High School, and classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement in a number of area K-12 schools, Emily’s passion for education lies in students’ exposure to new people, places, and ideas outside their immediate neighborhood and walls of their school.

Gay hails from Northern Indiana, but has called Cincinnati home since the late 1960s. Gay retired after a 40-year career in education, including twenty years teaching in Cincinnati Public Schools and twenty years as a school counselor in the Forest Hills Schools. Gay now creates personalized, meaningful commitment and wedding ceremonies as an interfaith, ordained minister. She is the parent of two daughters, who both graduated from Walnut Hills High School and is involved at Kilgour, where her two grandsons attend. Gay is particularly concerned about providing more extensive mental health services because to be an engaged, successful learner, a child must feel safe, secure, understood and cared about emotionally, physically and mentally.

Gus is a proud lifelong product of public schooling and recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he received his Master's degree in Philosophy and a certificate in Urban Planning. Gus is passionate about nonprofit work in the Cincinnati region and aims to combine practical and theoretical knowledge to become an effective leader and advance positive progressive policies in the city and region.

Nona is originally from the beaches of Maryland and Delaware, but has lived in southwest Ohio for 8 years. She has a Ph.D. in English and a graduate certificate in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Miami University, where she is also a Visiting Assistant Professor. She has 8 years of teaching experience at both the college and secondary level. Her research focuses on comics, graphic narratives, and, most recently, young adult literature that tell stories about the experiences of marginalized groups. Nona is the product of public education, from kindergarten to graduate school, and is now eager to contribute to the growth of the public schools in her neighborhood and city.

Click HERE to view her Impact Presentation!

Jessica has a long history of being passionate about education, including serving as the student representative to the Northmont City Schools Board of Education. She is excited to connect to a community to enact real change and looks forward to addressing the unique needs of each student through varied teaching and learning styles. Jessica also believes in the importance of health and nutrition and the role it plays in the success of students, citing that a healthy diet is an essential part of brain development and attention span. She is devoted to helping improve nutrition access to low-income families. Jessica is newly married and stepping into her full potential as a future mother.

Jon has worked for P&G for two decades after graduating from the Ohio State University with an Industrial and Systems degree. He has had a diverse set of roles including digital marketing, business analytics, product supply, and software development. He enjoys mentoring, technical training, and volunteer efforts in his community, such as Junior Achievement. Jon lives is a proud father of three daughters, the oldest of whom attends Walnut Hills High School.

LaRonda is a Cincinnati native and the CEO of LRT Global, a local marketing firm. She is an entrepreneur, a creative storyteller, and a marketing brand strategist with over 25 years of exemplary leadership experience and 13 years of experience in the healthcare profession. LaRonda also founded a nonprofit that provides mentoring to youth and young adults from ages 13 to 21. She is a 2019 graduate of MORTAR Cincinnati. LaRonda is a wife and mother of four children, and she engages in opportunities where she can spark purpose and empower those she encounters.

Click HERE to View Her Impact Presentation

As a product of the Chicago Public School system, parent of 3 Cincinnati Public Schools graduates and grandparent of a current CPS student, Marcia is a dedicated advocate for an education system that empowers our children to become creative, independent thinkers. Her passion has centered on engaging the parent voice, the need for accountability to the community, and transparency for how our school district uses its resources. For over 30 years, Marcia has exercised her advocacy through organizations at the local, state and national level. Professionally, after a 23-year career in Information Technology, Marcia now serves as a licensed financial services professional who educates and empowers people to meet their financial goals.

Click HERE to see her impact presentation.

Miyohnna is a Prevention Specialist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center who works to promote drug-free lifestyles among youth. She is the mother of a 5-year-old who attends Cincinnati Public Schools. An educator at heart, Miyohnna looks forward to serving and empowering families and children within CPS and the community.

Click HERE to see her Impact Presentation.

Indi is a Cincinnati native who has spent the last eight years as an educator in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. He and his wife Jess started the Prosocial Supper Club in Seattle, an informal series of fundraising dinners aimed at involving like-minded peers in advocating for organizations working to end systemic oppression, and they are excited to start the Cincinnati chapter soon. Indi has recently returned home and is ready to bring his passion for culturally sustaining education practices, authentic family engagement, and equitable partnership to his work with School Board School and his role as a Program Specialist at Mayerson Academy.

Pam is a healthcare manager at a large hospital system with a passion for kids. She is a proud Fellow with CIPL (KY), an original member of the Fort Thomas Independent School’s Superintendent's Parent Council, and the current PTSO President at her son's middle school. Pam looks forward to collaborating and finding new ways to positively impact students and families, as well as opportunities to improve parent engagement and strengthen ties to surrounding districts.

A retired high school administrator and Spanish teacher, Renée has dedicated her entire career and free time to education activism and safeguarding equity within our public schools and organizations that work with youth. She worked with CPS and Sycamore Community Schools, serving in both communities for 15 years, respectively, and in 2017, Renée ran for CPS School Board. As the daughter of a Spanish immigrant, Renée spent her youth in a bilingual home learning the language and her culture. Renée combines her expertise within the educational system and her passion for equity to create safe, excellent and valued public schools.

Rodney is an active community member in East Westwood with a love for using basketball to teach youth about life and God. He is President of the East Westwood Community Council, as well as one of the founders of United Men's Breakfast, United Worship Team and One Westwood Team. Rodney runs a recreation center at his church and is passionate about helping to create a space for youth where they are listened to and valued.

Ronny retired from a 25+ year career in sales, marketing and branding in order to become a stay-at-home dad. He is a proud parent of two Mt. Washington School (MWS) Knights in the Cincinnati Public Schools system. Ronny serves as the MWS LSDMC Chair and the parent representative on the MWS Foundation Board. Both of Ronny's sons are in the structured classrooms for autism, informing his passion for ensuring equal educational opportunities for all students.

Click HERE to see his impact presentation!

Sarah is an attorney with the Children’s Law Center, where she is on the KEYs to End Youth Homelessness project. As a part of the KEYs team, Sarah works with several Hamilton county shelters to help remove legal barriers to sustainable housing for youth ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness. She is on the board of the Mt. Washington community council, where she resides with her husband, rising first-grader at Sands Montessori, and her 4-legged children.

Shawn brings over 15 years of experience to the areas of youth leadership development, community engagement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work. As a co-founder of Youth At The Center, Shawn is dedicated to advancing opportunities for young people to be seen, heard, and valued. Shawn lives with his partner and their dog Mobley in North Avondale.

Click HERE to see his impact presentation.

Andrew is newly arrived in Cincinnati, his wife's hometown, after working in Phoenix for 12 years which started with a Teach for America placement teaching middle school science. He then established and taught a full-time sustainability CTE program at a STEM magnet high school, all public and Title-1. Most recently he was Faculty Associate and Senior Sustainability Fellow at School of Sustainability at Arizona State University, teaching systems thinking and circular economy. He was also the manager for an after-school media center for at-risk youth and former Senior Science Reporter for NPR station KJZZ. Andrew holds a Ph.D in Sustainability Education from Prescott College and a Masters of Secondary Education- Science from Arizona State University. Andrew lives in Oakley with his wife, doggo and brand-spanking new daughter Juniper.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Ashlee is a Cincinnati native and CPS graduate (Walnut Hills High School). She graduated from Xavier University with a bachelors in Early Childhood Education. Ashlee is a 2018 Teach for America alumna and began her teaching career in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now, she is back home teaching kindergarten in CPS. She hopes to inspire her students to love reading and become lifelong learners.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Ashley Felts is a sister, friend, mentor, plant mom, life long learner, and student advocate. Ashley currently serves as the Student Engagement Specialist and District Coordinator for Girls to Women program for Cincinnati Public Schools. Ashley is passionate about providing equitable access to leadership opportunities and experiences for students to assist in the growth into their full leadership capacity. When she isn't working, she enjoys traveling to visit loved ones, dining, and tending to her plants.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Bryan Hatcher has 6+ years of experience as a media producer, entrepreneur and creative educator to develop tools that increase the efficiency and frequency of the benefits of mentorship inside and outside the classroom. Cincinnati native, a former educator at Hughes STEM High School, creative director of Hatcher Studios, and currently Lead Mentor of Architek Studios, Bryan is focusing on cultivating quality mentors and facilitating quality mentoring experiences for under-represented teenagers through their unique interests and talents.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Buthaina is passionate about fighting for greater health equity all over the world. She believes in community building and using an interdisciplinary approach to solving global health issues. As the Program and Development Director of Village Life Outreach Project, Buthaina works in partnership with communities in rural Tanzania to develop sustainable solutions to increase access to clean water, health care and overcome obstacles to education. Buthaina holds a Masters of Public Health from the University of Cincinnati and currently resides in Madisonville.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Colleen Noble is a CPS educator who is dedicated to helping students discover the joy of learning. As the gifted intervention specialist at Sands Montessori, Colleen encourages her students to explore their own passions, to learn from failed attempts, and to celebrate progress. She has partnered with community organizations including Hamilton County Solid Waste and Recycling, Brazee Street Studios, and the Architectural Foundation of Cincinnati and to bring real-world learning to her students. Colleen’s two daughters also attend Sands Montessori.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Dawn grew up in Madisonville and attended and graduated from CPS schools.Her volunteer work with summer programs when she was a teenager generated a strong desire to work and remain in the lives of the children and families of the inner-city community. Dawn has positioned her training and work experiences to fulfill this desire. After working with preschool age children for several years, she gained a greater and more intensified desire to aid and advocate for urban and under-resourced children and their parents. More recently she has had opportunities to fulfill her desire for advocacy. She found that she can use her voice to be alongside or to assist in helping parents and children speak for themselves. Before her current position with Beech Acres Parenting Center as Program Manager Of Kinship Connection, she has gained a lot of experience in this area. Dawn has worked to ensure that parents and children receive adequate opportunities for growth and improvement.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Emma Cesar recently finished her Americorps service year where she served as a college & career counselor at Gamble Montessori High School. This time solidified her desire to become a superstar educator that empowers young voices and decolonizes the curriculum. Emma is currently working on her MA in Secondary Education at Xavier in hopes of teaching English and working in community organizing.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Jaclyn has been working in education for over 10 years and has experience in both traditional public and charter schools. Jaclyn is passionate about closing the achievement gap and believes that all children deserve an excellent education. She started her career as a teacher and has also worked as an administrator. She now works as a school improvement consultant with Hamilton County ESC where she supports school staff in using data to inform decision making. Jaclyn is originally from the Chicagoland area and is a graduate of Southern Methodist University, Dominican University, and Harvard University. She and her husband have two young children and she is enjoying getting to know the Cincinnati area.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Janiah Miller, born and raised in the Greater Cincinnati area, is a recent graduate of Northern Kentucky University. Her major consists of three minors in Political Science, Social Justice, and University Honors, with a focus area in Women and Gender Studies and Public Service. She completed a pragmatic thesis as part of her honors capstone project, which focused on resilience in Black women's educational experiences. Her advocacy has taken many forms: she has provided support to political campaigns and offices, assisted in legislative and constituent support, and built intersectional coalitions within the community. Janiah’s passion for local government started while serving as an intern on Yvette Simpson's mayoral campaign and as an aide in Simpson's City Council office. After this opportunity she worked in Mayor Cranley’s office in constituent services and as a Victory Congressional Intern on the House Appropriations subcommittee of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. She advises Council Member Kearney’s office on all community relations efforts, is a 2020 New Leaders Council Fellow, serves as the Coordinator for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Charter Amendment led by the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, and is a member of ReNewport’s Education Task Force.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Jill Jonassen is a well-rounded professional who brings compassion, mission-mindedness, and an entrepreneurial spirit to her work. She’s passionate about work that makes an impact in the community and has experienced the world of nonprofits through many lenses – as a board member, as staff, as a consultant and even as a founder. She produces and hosts the inspiring podcast, ‘Look for the Helpers’ and works full-time as a business systems analyst for an international marketing company. She has two children in the Lakota School district and is dedicated to advocating for diversity and inclusion in the school system.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Jon Labbe is the President of the Mercy Health Foundation. The foundation raises charitable funds for the not-for-profit programs and facilities of Mercy Health - Cincinnati, including hospitals, the senior living facility and community outreach programs. Jon has been a member of the foundation leadership team since he joined Mercy Health as a director of operations for the foundation in 2014. Previously, Labbe spent twelve years with the American Heart Association in a progressive leadership roles.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Kate McCracken is a parent to an 8th grader at Clark Montessori in CPS, living in Pleasant Ridge, Cincinnati, and newly married to her spouse Jennifer. Kate is a SoCal native who moved to Cincinnati in 2018. She currently serves as the Director of Learning & Culture at Leadership for Educational Equity and is an I organizational and leadership development consultant specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion, & justice.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Katie lives in Madisonville with her three daughters (2 who attend a Catholic school in the neighborhood) and husband who is in year two of medical school at the University of Cincinnati. She is an entrepreneur and filmmaker who started her company Bachmeyer Press in 2020. Her work focuses on celebrating stories of rising leaders and allies who are interrupting harmful cultural narratives by making change happen. Katie has been involved in Madisonville Community Council's Education Committee and recently completed a film documenting the effects of Madisonville's rapid development as part of an 8-month community studio by Design Impact. She has degrees in Anthropology and Video Production from The University of North Carolina at Asheville, is a 2010 Fulbright Scholar, and recently became a Certified Yoga Instructor. She's also a former Girl Scout dropout and once worked at a canning factory in Alaska.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Kristan moved to the Cincinnati area over 11 years ago from Detroit, Michigan where she was born and raised. She is a proud product of public school education, a Teach for America alumni, and current Cincinnati Public Schools math teacher. She is the proud mom of two daughters who attend a CPS school. She is passionate about building relationships with her students. Kristan also enjoys working with families in her school community through the Parent Empowerment Panel which she created and facilitates. There, she helps parents build a growth mindset in order to work on pushing through specific barriers of oppression in the education system.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Lauren has served as an educator in the Greater Cincinnati Area for ten years. She is passionate about improving children’s lives by achieving equity in school systems and communities. Lauren is eager to learn from and collaborate with equally passionate individuals to create opportunities for change. She holds an Honors Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Xavier University and a Master’s degree in Teaching from the University of South Florida. She lives in Northside with her spouse and their cat, Coraline.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Malinda is a former journalist who spent several years as a news reporter/anchor for 55WKRC Radio/TV in Cincinnati before turning to education. She began her teaching career in the Milford Exempted Village School District, however, she transitioned shortly after into private Independent school settings for fourteen years. As an educator at The Seven Hills School and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy Armleder, she gained a plethora of experiences from co-leading diversity groups to sponsoring and participating in experiential learning opportunities for students. While at CHCA, she began to transition into leadership roles to assist with educational equity in acquisition of learning goals designed for all students to succeed and diversity within the school community. In 2015, after earning her principal's license, she became Assistant Principal in Cincinnati Public Schools at Hartwell Elementary. As the old adage goes, Malinda came full circle a year later and returned to the Milford Exempted Village School District from which she graduated, first taught and then became an administrator of the Junior High Building.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Maura grew up in Cincinnati, where she has been most of her life. She went to college in Chicago, then lived in Italy for three years and has been back in Cincinnati since 2015 working for a local non-profit, where she manages their Quality Improvement efforts. Maura loves sand volleyball, her dog, her 100+ house plant collection and true crime. She is passionate about equality - in every sector - and wants to learn to channel her passion into a voice that can impact her community and bring about sustainable change.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Michelle Eiland I currently resides on the westside of Cincinnati with her husband, 5 year old daughter, and 3 year old son. After graduating from Dater high school, she received her bachelor's from Cincinnati Christian University and my MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University. She currently works in IT at Western & Southern where she manages a software quality assurance team. Michelle enjoys serving in various community projects, attending church and mentoring high school students.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Miyah is a Cincinnati native and freelance writer/DEI Consultant. She joined the nonprofit field after working as a SPED teacher. She deeply believes in the power of knowledge and the freedom that comes with it. She is passionate about closing the racial/socioeconomic achievement gaps for students in our district and creating opportunities for families to own their futures. She's worked with the Holocaust and Humanity Center, Cincinnati Museum Center, Community Matters, and many others. Currently, she lives in Western Hills and works at Mayerson Academy.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Mohamad Maarouf is based in Houston and serves as a coach for leaders in various industries across the United States. In partnership with schools in Dallas/FW and Baltimore, Mohamad provides instructional leadership training and hands-on coaching support for campuses covering the K-12 spectrum. Previously, Mohamad served as principal of a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon high school campus, where he implemented mastery grading, restorative practices, and an AP For All culture. Mohamad has had the honor of earning a Top Texans Under 30 award, Bachelors Degree from Duke University, and Masters in Education from the University of St. Thomas and serving as a New Leaders Council Fellow, Teach For America corps member, and Leadership for Education Equity member. Outside of being an educator, Mohamad enjoys reading books, traveling, dancing, and trying new foods.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Phil Nguyen is located right off of the shore in Toms River, New Jersey. He is currently serving as the Founder and Executive Managing Partner of EdChiefs, National Partnership Manager for K12 Learning Solutions, President of NAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals - NJ), Founding Board Chair for TFA-NJ's Alumni Board, and Chief Program Officer for the New Jersey Charter School Launch Program. Phil Previously served as a classroom teacher, campus administrator and district leader in OKC, Austin, Houston, Denver, and Philadelphia. In his free time he and his partner love to do anything outdoors (hiking, biking, kayaking, you name it!)

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Quanice G. Floyd is a renaissance woman who wears many capes. Born and raised in NYC, she has spent over a decade in Washington, DC where she has received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Educationfrom Howard University and Kent State University respectively. Her passion for arts administration led her to pursue her second Master’s degree in Arts Management at American University and is currently a doctoral student at Drexel University. Quanice is currently the Executive Director of Arts Education in Maryland Schools, an advocacy organization. Quanice is also the Founder & Director of the Arts Administrators of Color Network, an organization committed to empowering artists and arts administrators by advocating for access, diversity, inclusion, and equity in the arts in the DC and Baltimore metropolitan areas. For the past decade, she has been a public-school music educator where she taught elementary school general music, chorus, band, and orchestra. Quanice also serves as a board member for two DC arts organizations, and is an alumna of ArtEquity's Racial Facilitator Cohort, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Music Educators and Arts Administrators Academy, 4.0 Schools' Essentials Program, and the Arts Education Collaborative’s Leadership Academy. In 2018, Quanice was honored with the American Express Emerging Leader Award by Americans for the Arts.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Rabina is an educator, and mother, to a CPS preschooler and almost one year old. Originally from Canada, she and her family have called Northside their home since moving to Cincinnati two years ago. As a former high school teacher, believing that every student has the right to an equitable education, influenced her thinking and teaching methodologies. Wanting to shift my focus to the impacts of community partnerships on schools, she earned her M.Ed. in Adult Education and Community Development which lead to providing after school development programming for Chicago's All Star's Project youth. Now with the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative Rabina has combined her passion for youth and education by creating Summer Work Experience Opportunities. She is eager to learn more about CPS and invest in the children of tomorrow.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Randi was born and raised in Cincinnati. She works as a program evaluator and much of her work over the past 20 years has been based in schools and school districts across the country. Previously she has served as a White House Fellow, completed an Emerging Leaders In Public Health fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill, worked on a USAID Global Project covering several countries in Africa, and seen patients as a staff psychologist at the VA Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from Spelman College and her PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. Randi currently serves on the diversity committee at The New School Montessori and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for ProKids.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Stephanie Reed has been a resident of the Greater Cincinnati area for the past 6 years. She is a 6th year educator at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy where she teaches Second Grade ELA (English Language Arts) and SS (Social Studies).

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Sally Grimes, as Director of Advancement for Activities Beyond the Classroom, leads the organization’s fundraising, marketing, and community partnership initiatives, ensuring all CPS children have access to extracurricular activities at no cost. She began her nonprofit management career right out of college, and over the years, has filled many roles in a variety of organizations, including Executive Director of a women’s organization and an environmental organization. In her volunteer time, Sally serves on the LSDMC at Spencer Center, is troop leader for two Girl Scout troops, and fosters kittens through the SPCA. An Indianapolis native, she lives in Clifton with her husband, Chez, and their two daughters (8th and 10th graders at CPS' Spencer Center), three rescue pittie mixes, and two cats. She loves traveling, gardening, eating Indian food, and being outdoors or underwater any chance she gets.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Terana Boyd is the Job Search Coordinator at Cincinnati Works, where she works with members experiencing poverty. Terana is also the founder of Well Rounded Resources and launched the organization in 2018 to create a new and innovative approach to community building in Roselawn with community residents to assist with limited resources in the neighborhood. Terana´s expertise is in bridging life experiences and community development to address social inequities at the community level. Her professional experience includes community organizing, social enterprise, and strengths-based community development. In addition to her role at Cincinnati Works, she serves on the Roselawn Community Council, serves a Precinct Executive for the Democratic Party and serves on the StrivePartnership Leadership Table.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Abdine Lewis, affectionately known as Brother Abdine, is a native of Avondale, Cincinnati, Ohio, and an alum of Withrow University High School and the University of Cincinnati. Abdine jump-started his career in education as a high school science teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools through Teach for America Southwest Ohio. During his tenure at Withrow University High School, Abdine implemented restorative justice and culturally responsive practices, leading to a substantial reduction in suspensions among males of Color on his roster.

Brother Abdine currently serves as a program coordinator for community engagement at the University of Cincinnati's Office for Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement. Brother Abdine oversees several programs including the CPS Strong Physics Program, the Family Engineering Academy, and the UC Robotics Competition. Aside from his work at the University of Cincinnati, Brother Abdine serves as a founder and the Board Chair of the Greater Cincinnati Education Network, a local Cincinnati nonprofit focused on creating educational programs and initiatives, and the President of Generate Equity LLC, a startup education technology enterprise.

Although Brother Abdine has many accolades and accomplishments, in 2019, Brother Abdine was a recipient of the 101.1 The Wiz 30 Under 30 Award, and in 2015 he was featured in the 8th Edition of Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati as an Emerging Leader.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Abby has been working in the Cincinnati Public School district for the past 9 years. She is a passionate, hard working, and fun teacher! :) Abby attended McAuley High School and then went on to go to the University of Cincinnati to earn both her Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education and Master's of Special Education. This makes her a huge UC Bearcat fan! Abby enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, and 2 dogs, Charlie and Shadow. During remote learning, the dogs participated daily in lessons! Her family is growing as Abby and Joe are welcoming their first child in November!

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Alex moved somewhat reluctantly to Cincinnati three years ago due to his spouse’s job. Since then, he’s become a great fan of the city and far too invested in the variable fortunes of the Reds for his own mental well-being. Born and raised in Maryland, Alex works as a lecturer at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, where he teaches expository writing and courses on storytelling through public policy. In addition, he serves as editor of the Corruption in Fragile States Blog and is at work on a novel set in 1970s Detroit. He lives with his wife and two boys (ages 14 and 11) in North Avondale.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Ashley was raised in Madisonville, but currently lives in Sharonville. She graduated CPS from Withrow and earned a bachelor’s in Early Childhood and master’s in Education concentrating on Literacy Instruction from the University of Cincinnati. Ashley has 6 years of teaching experience and is currently long-term with Sycamore Schools. She has a passion for teaching reading and wants to raise awareness about implementing equitable reading practices so that literacy instruction can benefit ALL students.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Brian McConnell is a father, Marine Corps veteran and an Ohio resident since 2008. He currently lives in the Springdale community of Cincinnati where he has resided since 2012. He is a current federal employee with 20 years of service. His youngest children attend Springdale elementary as incoming 2nd and 4th grader. Brian has a passion for learning and enjoys serving in, and outside, his community when possible. He enjoys visual arts, music, and reading in his spare time. He is also an avid Baltimore Raven and NCAA S.E.C. Football fan which sometimes makes for entertaining conversation during football season in Ohio.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Chris Lord has been working in elementary education since joining Teach For America in Southwest Ohio in 2012. As an educator, he has served as an interventionist, classroom teacher, math specialists, team leader, board member, coach, and content coordinator. As a committed DEI practitioner and life-long learner, Chris has continued his graduate education at Miami University and Columbia Teachers College. Chris and his partner currently live in Cincinnati.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Crystal Smith is a Cincinnati native. She graduated from Robert A. Taft High School and studied at Northern Kentucky University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a master’s degree Executive Leadership and Organizational Change.

Crystal lives in West Price Hill and has one child, a 2018 Walnut Hills High School graduate currently studying at Northern Kentucky University.

Currently, Crystal is Manager of Mentor and Volunteer Development at Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. She is overjoyed to be an SBS member, and I’m very much looking forward to the great work her cohort will accomplish on behalf of Cincinnati students.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Damian Hoskins is the Executive Director of Elementz, the premier Hip-Hop Cultural Art Center in Cincinnati. Through the preservation, protection and advancement of Hip Hop as art, culture and a global creative force, Elementz fosters talent, ignites potential and inspires possibilities for young creatives, and local artists in the urban core. Previously, Damian was Vice President of Arts Impact at ArtsWave, the leading fundraiser and promoter of the arts in Greater Cincinnati. Damian is also a visual artist with a focus in oil painting and graphic design. He has developed branding, logos and websites for The Cincinnati Preschool Promise, The Strive Partnership, Black Art Speaks and many local and national businesses and nonprofit agencies. Damian holds a bachelor’s degree in English education from Central State University and a master’s degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Emanual is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio growing up in Avondale where he currently serves as an Education Coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati. Emanual is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Political Science, with a double minor in Sociology and Africana Studies. Emanual is also pursuing his Masters of Arts degree in Educational Studies with a focus in the Foundations of Education and Social Change. Emanual is committed to becoming a social agent of change in his community while using several foundational principles within education to empower and inspire all members of his community.

To learn more about how he’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Eunique Avery is a Dayton, Ohio native, who currently lives in Cincinnati (College Hill). Eunique is a young leader with a passion for serving her community. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with her bachelor’s in Social Work and her master’s in Public Administration. Her previous research focused on the state of Ohio’s school report card, and its impact on the perceptions of Cincinnati Public Schools. Eunique enjoys working in spaces that focus on community engagement, youth program development and social justice. She has served as a Community Resource Coordinator for Cincinnati Public Schools and Site Coordinator for The Children’s Defense Fund, Freedom Schools Program. She is excited to continue learning how to advocate for equitable learning environments for students.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Isabelle is an educator with classroom experience in private, charter, and public schools, currently teaching middle school Social Studies at Roberts Academy (CPS). As an educator, Isabelle strives to elevate the voices and perspectives of marginalized groups while creating an environment where student voice is centered through Student Council and service learning. In the non-profit sector, she has served as senior coordinator for Cincinnati Museum Center’s Youth Programs. There, she focused on youth leadership and career development, diversity and inclusion by providing youth unique experiences while also guiding them through the college admission process. Isabelle’s family has called Cincinnati home since her parents emigrated from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 80s. Isabelle and her husband Calvin are proud parents to their son Trey, who will be a preschooler at North Avondale Montessori this fall. Outside of teaching, Isabelle shares her passion for the sport of track and field at her alma mater Seven Hills where she has been a Varsity Sprints and Jumps coach for 14 seasons.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Jackie is a single parent to a 5th grader at The New School Montessori, has served on their Board of Trustees for 5 years and is starting her inaugural year as president. She's also a first generation college grad, Director of Field Human Resources at Caleres, Inc., and in 2020 she founded Open Door Culture, LLC., an HR consulting firm focused on supporting small businesses through thoughtful people initiatives. Jackie has always been a passionate supporter and advocate of various facets of educational resources, initiatives and advances in policy that promote access, equity, and well-rounded experiences for all stakeholders.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Kaitlin Dauner is Cincinnati-native serving as an Assistant Principal in Cincinnati Public Schools at Carson Elementary School in Price Hill. Previously, she has taught 5th & 6th grade in Cincinnati Public Schools and St. Louis Public Schools. She has served in other roles within a school including a Teacher Leader Coach and a Manager of School Operations. Along with being an educator in the classroom, she has also coached Junior High Women’s Basketball at Taft High School and works on other youth initiatives throughout the school year with non-profits including Saturday Hoops and Youth Hope Cincinnati, both focused on youth development outside the classroom. Kaitlin is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, University of Missouri-St. Louis and Columbia University.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Karen Kuhn is a professional school counselor at Oyler School in Cincinnati Public Schools. A Greater Cincinnati native, Karen grew up in Milford. After receiving her Bachelor's degree in Linguistics from The Ohio State University, she started working in childcare and found her true passion; education. She then returned to the classroom, and Cincinnati, to earn her Master's in Education in School Counseling from the University of Cincinnati. Since graduation, she has been active with CPS on a professional and volunteer basis, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and playing in a community band. Karen is passionate about serving students of all ages, helping them identify their goals and how to achieve them, and supporting equitable access to those goals. She currently resides in Mount Lookout with her sister and her two cats.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Kendra J. Mapp is a native of Cincinnati and is a Licensed Professional Counselor at A Sound Mind Counseling Service, LLC. For five years, she has worked authentically and diligently to provide mental health services to a diverse clientele, through the platforms of private practice and school-based therapy. She is passionate about helping her clients on their quest of self-discovery and healing; by educating them on the connection between mind, body, and heart. She received her Master of Arts degree in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program from Xavier University where she graduated with honors, and was inducted into the Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society. In conjunction with her clinical foundation, she has acquired eleven years of experience as an educator in the elementary and high school setting; serving as a teacher, lead counselor, and Director of Counseling Services. Kendra is an avid learner and enjoys attending workshops and conferences to hone her skills. Equally, she has a love for service, mentorship, and advocacy. Kendra is proud to be recognized as a 2020 YWCA Greater Cincinnati Rising Star, certified as an equity/non-profit board leader.Above all, her zeal and most notable role entails being a mother to her three beautiful children; a 2-year-old, a 1st grader, and 9th grader in CPS.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Marché Gendrew was born and raised in the Bond Hill neighborhood in Cincinnati Ohio. Marché has attended both public and private schools, graduating from Roger Bacon High School. Marché attended the University of Cincinnati, receiving her associates degree in Criminal Justice, followed by her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a focus in psychology. In December 2020 Marché received her Master of Arts in Social Work from Miami University. Marché currently work with the elderly population where she implements services to ensure the safety and wellbeing of her clients.

Her professional experience includes 11 years of direct practice with various populations including mental health, homelessness, substance abuse, children and families. In addition to her work with the elderly population, Marché is the Coordinator for the Cincinnati Education Justice Coalition (CEJC), Co-founder of Community Act Now (CAN), and Co-founder of Crosswalkers: Hamilton County Developmental Disability Service.

Marché is passionate about advocacy, community organizing, and empowering others to be self-sufficient. She values collaborating with others in an effort to yield positive outcomes from diverse perspectives. Her personal and professional experience paired with her education has been key to identifying gaps and eliminating barriers of services to vulnerable populations.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Mary Wineberg, OLY is a 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist in track and field. A native of Brooklyn, New York but now calls Cincinnati her proud home. She resides in Mt. Airy and is known for her involvement as a motivational speaker, educator, author and active community advocate. Mary is passionate about education and the direction in which the youth of today will be able to pursue their potential. She inspires them to believe, dream and conquer. Mary has taken advantage of her opportunities in life to pursue greatness. Her favorite quote by the late Wilma Rudolph states "Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." Mary is a 2nd grade teacher at Hyde Park Elementary, and currently running for Cincinnati School Board. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters and husband, and reading and participating in her sorority and other service organizations.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Dr. Victoria (Tori) D. Vogelgesang, MPA is the Director of Assessment and Institutional Research at Chatfield College. Tori graduated from Wittenberg University with a BA in sociology. She attended Northern Kentucky University for her Master's of Public Administration with a concentration in nonprofit management and for her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership. Her dissertation is titled "A Quantitative Analysis of High Impact Practices and Civic Learning Outcomes Among Community College Students." Tori teaches part-time at Thomas More University and was most recently the Associate Executive Director at Kentucky Campus Compact, the premier civic and community engagement resource for higher education in Kentucky. Tori resides in the Mt. Washington neighborhood in Cincinnati, OH.

To learn more about how she’ll work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Trish is a Cincinnati native and a graduate of Ursuline Academy. She currently serves as the Associate Principal at La Salle High School. In her current role, Trish’s responsibilities include developing systems that promote exceptional classroom instruction, academic achievement, and equity for all students. Prior to her current role, Trish taught math and social studies courses in CPS at Aiken High School and Withrow High School. As a 2015 Teach for America alumna, Trish has served in various instructional and leadership positions to promote equity within Cincinnati Public School District. As the math department chair and instructional leadership team member at Aiken, a member of the Withrow LSDMC, and a member of the CPS steering committee for math curriculum, Trish has worked to close the achievement gap and promote equity and access for all students. Trish holds a Masters of Education with a Secondary Education Concentration from Xavier University and a Masters of Education in Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. Her undergraduate degree is in Political Science & Business Institutions from Northwestern University.

Trish and her husband Howard have 4 children and live in Hyde Park.

Amy Thompson currently serves as the President & CEO of Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. She is a Mom of a High-School student (Kaylee) and a passion-driven leader inspired to make a difference in our community. Amy has been bringing people together since she was 12 years old when she started a camp in her backyard. Having spent 20 years in leadership roles at Camp Joy and the last 6 years at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Amy has a unique combination of youth development work, adult leadership education and facilitation, and business connections. Amy serves on the YMCA Board and Valley View Foundation Board. Amy’s motto is work hard, play hard and love even harder! She can be found spending time with family and friends, out in nature, playing games, making crafts, traveling and enjoying life.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Andrea is a lifelong Cincinnati resident, currently living in Anderson Township. Her professional career has been in the non-profit sector, first in social services organizations, and now in education. All of her various professional roles have shared one common thread: building relationships.

Today she serves as the Community Resource Director at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, working to impact student success. She has done this by building the school’s volunteer program; developing strategic community partnerships; and connecting students with opportunities, such as summer camp scholarships and free field trips. Andrea also plays a role in school communications.

In 2019, as Andrea enrolled her oldest child in Kindergarten, Andrea felt called to become involved politically in her own school district. She began as a volunteer for a school board candidate’s campaign, and then, in 2021, ran for board herself. Although the outcome of the election did not put her in a school board chair, she remains fiercely dedicated to work towards a district that empowers every child to reach their full potential.

Andrea and her husband, Andrew, enjoy time with their daughter and son, visiting parks, playing games, swimming, watching movies, and trying to teach their four cats to use talk buttons.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Originally a native of Southern Indiana, Kentucky is now home for Ashley. Ashley moved to Northern Kentucky after graduating from the University of Kentucky in 2014 (Go Cats!) . She taught high school English for six years before pursuing a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati. In 2020, Ashley became an assistant principal at Holmes High School in Covington (Go Bulldogs!) She is the proud mommy of Cash and Mia. In her free time, Ashley enjoys traveling with friends and family, reading, and hanging out with her kids.

Brice is a social justice educator, storyteller, and consultant, born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went from Cheviot Elementary, to Walnut Hills High School, to the University of Cincinnati where he found his calling for DEI work participating in, and later running, UC's nationally recognized Racial Awareness Program (RAPP) - the oldest intergroup dialogue program in higher-ed.

After winning some major awards and leaving UC, he went on to advocate for trans youth at Living With Change and underrepresented emerging leaders with Public Allies. Now he spends his time consulting with Cohear and Avant Consulting Group where he helps institutions realize their potential.

He feels most at home when in front of a group of people leading a workshop/focus group and prides himself on connecting with all kinds of people and making them feel included regardless of identity.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Bryan Cannon was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated with a Bachelor's degree from University of Rhode Island. He completed his M.Ed. from Towson University and completed doctoral studies at Clark Atlanta University. His three-decade career in education began in Baltimore MD, where he taught for 10 years, and then in Atlanta, GA, for his first Assistant Principal position. From there, he has continued in school leadership, transforming schools in East St. Louis, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. Bryan has been the Principal at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy and is now a teacher in the Mt Healthy School District. Bryan loves roller coasters, motorcycles, and pit bulls. His goal is for his students to always treat one another with respect and achieve their best.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Cindy Jones is the Director of the Marian Spencer Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. She holds a B.A. in Sociology (Auburn University in Montgomery), a master’s in Business Administration (UC) and is a current doctoral student in the Urban Education Leadership Program (UC). A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Cindy has spent nearly 13 years working in higher education in various capacities of student engagement, financial aid, student retention, and academic advising. As Marian Spencer Scholars Director, she leads the six-million-dollar scholarship initiative, reserved explicitly for CPS students in the top 10% of their senior class. The scholarship includes full cost of attendance, tuition, books, room, and board, a study abroad service trip to Tanzania, and all experiential learning and co-op opportunities. The first cohort of Spencer scholars will begin classes at UC fall semester of 2022. Cindy has a passion for student success. She was awarded the Distinguished Staff Student Centered Award at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash campus. Cindy hopes to bring a unique approach to college readiness, retention, and graduation of students from urban high schools. In addition, Cindy has extensive experience in dual credit and College Credit Plus, strategic programmatic planning, facilitation, and community engagement.

When Cindy is not working, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and spending precious family time with her husband, two daughters, and rambunctious dog, Eden.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Deon Mack is a lifelong resident of Cincinnati and attended CPS schools. He is a graduate of Withrow High School. He attended college at the University of Cincinnati and received his Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Deon is the proud parent of a rising 6th grader who attends CPS schools.

Deon began his career in law enforcement at the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office as a Victims Advocate. Later, he joined the Cincinnati Police Department as a member of the 93rd Recruit class in 2001. Deon has 20 years of service with the Cincinnati Police Department, and 24 years overall.

Deon has devoted his life to ensuring our communities are safe. Deon embodies leadership, integrity, honesty and commitment - all of which he believes are values that are important to being a good citizen. Always leading by example, he was awarded the Exemplary Conduct Award by the Cincinnati Police Department.

Deon aims to support organizations that take a hands-on approach to developing not just the community, but the people in them. He uses authenticity to mentor and inspire young men as a Board Member of Big Brothers Big Sisters Cincinnati and as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., assisting with Alpha Esquires youth programs.

As a community leader, Deon also serves as a member of the USA Regional Chamber Leadership Cincinnati Class 45, USA Regional Chamber Leadership Action Class 4 Alumni, Leadership Council for Nonprofits BOLD Class 4 Alumni, The Urban League's Leadership Class 24 Alumni, Board Member of Rosemary’s Babies, Board Member of UMADAOP of Cincinnati, Board Member of Last Mile Food Rescue, and Founding Board Member of IDEA Schools Cincinnati.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Dionne was born and raised in Cincinnati and is a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School. Dionne received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, and a Master's degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the University of Cincinnati. Dionne has been working as a school based speech language pathologist for the past 15 years, and is beginning her 13th year with the Princeton City School District. Currently, Dionne is enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Cincinnati in Educational Studies, with a research interest in family and community engagement in urban school districts. Dionne is passionate about building relationships with students and families and collaborating with stakeholders in order to create positive educational outcomes for students.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Raised in Avondale, Elyse attended Losantiville Elementary School and Walnut Hills High School in CPS. A proud graduate of the HBCU North Carolina A&T, Elyse’s strengths in engineering and technology contributed to her corporate experience before transitioning into an entrepreneur while helping others learn. She has served as the Midwest Regional Alumni Director of North Carolina A&T and continues to create a pipeline for aspiring students from the area matriculating into the university, creating continuous opportunities for success for youth during college education and career placement. Elyse has worked with CPS in various capacities from subbing to teaching to most recently working as the Strategic Director of Marketing and Communications, bringing about the first ever successful and safe engaging Block Party events during COVID. Elyse serves in the Academic Ministry at New Prospect and continues to serve students of all backgrounds in various ways, including in her service with the NAACP. Elyse is the founder of SELEBRIAN Strategic Technical Marketing and Consulting ensuring businesses meet goals. As a mother to a Walnut Hills graduate, Elyse is well informed about both urban and suburban education needs. With over 25 years of experience, Elyse provides a broad knowledge of ways to market to families in education and continues to inspire others with positivity.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Erynn is a hair stylist and enjoys coaching Color Guard. She has worked as a coach in this capacity with the marching bands of Walnut Hills & Reading High Schools.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Estee Harris is an Early Childhood paraprofessional in the Cincinnati Public School District, teaching and supporting families at the Spanish language Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS) for over 17 years. She is a Cincinnati native, with a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati-DAAP. A proud product of Cincinnati Public Schools (Walnut Hills High School class of 1995), and mother of two CPS graduates (Clark Montessori classes of 2015 and 2016), she prides herself on being an advocate for strong and lasting relationships and connections with CPS families and students, and working together to support their path to success.

Her dedication to high quality education grew from her inner-city childhood, a diverse education, community activist and volunteer experiences and being the mother of two ""different-abilitied"" and neurodivergent children. She believes students deserve inclusive environments and equitable high quality education and resources in every classroom, including early childhood and self-contained classrooms. She is devoted to reaching these goals within her classroom, her district and within her community.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Jess Link is an Associate to Innovations and Community Partnerships at the University of Cincinnati in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and IT. When they aren't coordinating connections between community members, resources, and programs, they enjoy developing skills in a little bit of everything: Jess is a Certified Laughter Yoga Instructor, exercise and movement enthusiast, and dramaturge.

To learn more about how they will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch their Impact Presentation here.

John Espy has been involved in education for over 15 years. He began his journey as teacher in two Greater Cincinnati school districts. John is currently the Treasurer/CFO for Miamisburg City Schools in the Dayton, OH area. He is also a parent of a Loveland second grader and member of the Elementary PTA. John earned his BA in Education at Marshall University, an MBA from Xavier University, a Master's of Science in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan, and is currently completing his Doctoral degree at Miami University.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Junius Smith is a Colerain Senior High graduate and the father of a CPS student. He works for SeniorStar-Kenwood ( Senior living) and coaches youth soccer. Junius is passionate about increasing male parental involvement in education, and community building and mentoring for all Cincinnati public schools. Junius (Juju) has been involved with programs such as Junior Achievement, Black Achievers, and advocating for Remote learning.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

Kate is a proud University of Cincinnati graduate with a degree in Secondary Education of Integrated Science. She is originally from Louisville but now considers herself a Cincinnatian. She is currently working in the Princeton School District and has her sights set on working through education and community involvement to make public schools in Cincinnati a more equitable environment- from the heart of the city as well as the schools that fall just outside of CPS. Her passion lies in her desire to see change in the public education system, having gone to public school herself in Kentucky, and to bring awareness to the inequalities for English language learners in public schools. She currently lives in College Hill with her husband where she enjoys cooking, reading, and watching competition based TV shows.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Larry Hodge is the co-Founder and CEO of Hodge-EDU, a learning and tutoring organization. He is the parent of two students: one second grader Larry C. Hodge, and one Kindergartner Hannah A.S. Hodge. They both attend Bethany School. He works with school districts within the inner-city to assist students with their educational goals such as standardized testing, math, and reading fundamentals. He and his wife are staunch education advocates.

To learn more about how he will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch his Impact Presentation here.

A strategic leader and passionate student advocate, Dr. Lori Wright has made student success a top priority during the span of her decades long career in higher education, serving the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky Region. As the inaugural Director for CPS Strong at the University of Cincinnati, Dr. Wright is charged with leading the University of Cincinnati’s strategic plan aimed at leveraging the institution’s assets in support of increasing the enrollment, persistence, retention, and graduation of Cincinnati Public School graduate’s attending the University of Cincinnati. In this role, she is also responsible for engaging campus and external partners in support of this transformative work centered around readiness, access, and success for students in our region.

Dr. Wright is a lifelong resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended Cincinnati Public Schools kindergarten through senior year and is a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati, a Master of Education from Xavier University, and a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Northern Kentucky University. Dr. Wright is an accomplished higher education professional who is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a trained facilitator and DEI leader, Dr. Wright provides leadership to school districts, K-12 schools, higher education institutions and organizations, to assist in developing culturally responsive policies, programs, and services, designed to eliminate structural and institutional barriers.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Dr. Mariette Wade,hc., is the CEO of Mariette Lynn Wade Consulting, a certified transformational mindset coach, a licensed minister, and the Director of Development and Community Relations at Abilities First Foundation. A native of Kentucky, Mariette relocated to Cincinnati in 2007 and is a member of several local organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of Southwest Ohio, Rotary Club 17 and Impact 100 and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Christian Counseling from North Central Theological Seminary.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Margie Bazin is originally from Connecticut, and lived in Orlando, Florida, before moving to Cincinnati in 2010. She most recently calls Avondale home. She is the mother of 6 children: an 11 month old, 4 CPS students in the 3rd, 4th, 6th & 11th grade, and one recent Winton Woods Football Champ graduate. She recently worked as a substitute teacher for Hamilton County, loved it, and will continue to work as a substitute teacher when needed. She then went back to the case management field which she has been doing for over 10 years. Her goal is eventually to obtain her Masters degree and become a high school guidance counselor. She is intensely passionate about assuring all kids get the fundamental aspects of school and the education they deserve. She is super excited to join School Board School in hopes of making a change in our schools and community.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Rashanna was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Finneytown High School and received her degree in Biology and certification in 7-12 life science education from Mount Saint Joseph University. She is currently a Princeton High School teacher and has worked in Reading, Cincinnati, and North College Hill School districts as well. Rashanna is deeply passionate about equitable education and increasing the representation of marginalized people of color in STEM. In total, she has been a lifelong learner and an educator for 19 years. Rashanna is also a wife and the mother of two extremely active children who attend Wyoming City Schools. She is currently working on her doctoral degree in Educational Leadership at Miami University.

To learn more about how she will work towards building a more equitable school system, watch her Impact Presentation here.

Thembi Carr has been in the field of education for 20 years. Her passion to assist students to obtain their education has led her to touch the lives of many different students; from pre-school students, students obtaining their GED to traditional undergraduates and graduate students. In 2008, Thembi received her doctorate from the University of Cincinnati in Educational Studies, focusing on multicultural education. Thembi has most recently shifted her educational focus to sex and sexual acceptance. Using short stories, she provides a space for people to safely explore their sexual identity, mentally, emotionally, and physically without harm or judgement. Currently, she works as an independent research consultant for a research network that examines reproductive health access and issues. Despite all of her accomplishments, the greatest thing she has ever done is give life to her 9 year old son.

Tommie Lewis is a native of Cincinnati and the President and CEO of Make It Plain Consulting, a business management firm specializing in HR consulting, workforce training, diversity management and performance coaching. For the past 30 years, Tommie has committed his life's work and education to guiding school districts, companies, and communities along their journeys to equitable, diverse and inclusive cultures. As the co-host of “Diversity Conversations”, the national podcast show dedicated to all things DEI, Tommie provides practical, research-based and outcome-driven solutions to complex individual, institutional and social issues.

Tommie graduated from Mt. Healthy City Schools, Tennessee State University, the University of Chicago, the University of Houston, the UCLA Emotional Intelligence and Diversity Institute, and the Advanced International Executive Coaching Seminar in Rome, Italy.

Tommie offers past and present board experience with 4C for Children, Camp Joy, Best Point (formerly The Children's Home), Chatfield College, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, and Peaslee Neighborhood Center.

Abby grew up in Defiance. She currently lives with her family in Delaware. She earned a bachelor’s in Special Education from The University of Toledo and a master’s in Teaching and Learning from NOVA Southeastern. Abby has a total of 27 years of teaching experience, starting her career with 8 years at Delaware City Schools, and the past 19 years at Olentangy Local Schools as an Intervention Specialist, Mentor Teacher, and Intervention Department Chair.

Abby currently serves on the Facilities Committee for Delaware City Schools which was re-established in 2024 to evaluate and suggest short- and long-term facility needs for the district, including PreK-high school and extracurricular needs.

Abria was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH and is a proud graduate of Walnut Hills High School. She attended HBCU Wilberforce University where she majored in Political Science. She has spent the majority of her career in non-profit sector with local government agencies. Abria currently serves as a Senior Admin Specialist with the City of Cincinnati, and she is a parent of two CPS students. Strongly opinionated and an advocate by nature drives her to strive to make changes in issues, policies, and decisions that affect our local community. She is eager in her pursuit of transparency, equality, and proficiency in our schools.

Amanda is a visionary leader who creates opportunities for students to excel through innovative programs, resulting in educational attainment and fostering community engagement. She has served the public and private sectors of K-12 and post-secondary education in four states.

Ana was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at the age of 18. She holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Administration from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies from Mount St. Joseph University.

Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Studies with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certificate. She is entering her 15th year in the Princeton City School District as the District Bilingual Parent Liaison and Family Engagement Leader. Her journey working with the community began in a diverse community in New York. Later, she brought her expertise to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she has been actively engaged with the community for over 19 years.

Facing personal challenges while navigating the education system highlighted the need for support, inspiring her to become a family engagement leader and parent advocate.

Angela Houston is deeply rooted in Cincinnati's educational community, having graduated from Cincinnati Public Schools herself. Her commitment to education spans both her personal and professional life. Angela's journey in teaching began in 2001 as an English instructor at Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy, followed by Alliance Academy in 2004. Since 2008, she has been an integral part of Cincinnati Public Schools, starting at Withrow High School where she served as an English teacher, department chair, and member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT).

Currently, Angela holds a pivotal role at Hughes STEM High School as a Reading Specialist English teacher, department chair, CFT Union Rep, and member of ILT. Her dedication to fostering educational excellence extends beyond the classroom. Angela has actively contributed to various educational foundations and organizations, including the North Avondale Montessori Foundation and PTO, and presently, the Gamble Montessori Foundation. Her commitment to educational leadership is further evidenced by her two-year tenure on the board of a start-up charter school.

Angela is not only an educator but also a parent deeply invested in the educational journey of her two teenage sons, Jaycee and Jaylen, who also attend Cincinnati Public Schools. Her multifaceted roles in teaching, leadership, and community involvement underscore her passion for advancing education and supporting student success in Cincinnati.

Angela is a published author, singer, actress, founder and Executive Director of a non-profit 501C3 Sistah's acts of kindness. She has decades of experience in banking finance and account management. During the pandemic she was inspired to work as a case worker for Hamilton county Job and Family Services.

Angela currently works for the City of Cincinnati's Fire Department supporting the CFO and fire chief . She is a mother of three adult children that graduated from Cincinnati public Schools and all graduated from accredited colleges. She is also grandmother of one. Her passion for children with special needs comes from her personal experiences, trials and successes. She has written a children's book called William Wiggle Worm that captures a day in the life of a child with ADHD and how to navigate their world.

Ben Kelly is a lifelong Cincinnati resident living in OTR. He has worked on a variety of campaigns in Cincinnati and Hamilton County, including on Aftab Pureval's mayoral run where he served as a fundraiser. Currently he serves as the Director of Policy and Communications for Councilmember Victoria Parks. Ben is passionate about mental health and previously volunteered at the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, where he talked with callers in crisis and aimed to stop them from making any dangerous decisions. This experience showed Ben the importance of honest communication and how we need to be aggressive in combatting the mental health epidemic, and one of the best ways to do this is to start in our schools. A graduate of Ohio State University with a double major in Political Science and Public Affairs, Ben is completing his Master's in Public Policy at Northern Kentucky University.

Betty Torrence is the Co-Director of Education for Dohn Community High School. She has 8 years of experience in education. Betty is passionate about curriculum & instruction and its contribution to the cognitive development of a student brain. She is also passionate about providing students with a safe environment where they are comfortable being themselves. 

Betty pushes herself to experience and learn different roles within education, having previously  served as a classroom teacher, school leader and curriculum specialist. During Betty’s time as a school and district administrator she has focused on supporting, educating and coaching others. 

Betty is a proud Alumna of  Florida A&M University. Followed by earning a Masters of Education from the University of Cincinnati. 

Betty kicked  off her education career in Jacksonville FL as a Teach for America corp member. While Betty has a wide range of experiences in education. She’s spent some of her most enjoyable years to date as a high school math teacher. 

In her spare time Betty enjoys spending time with family, playing cards and watching sports. 

Brian grew up in Angola, a town in the northeast corner of Indiana. He attended Hanover College where he studied piano performance and philosophy. He then earned his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Kentucky. Throughout this time, Brian was an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bluegrass. After deciding to not pursue a career in academia, Brian began working in the tech sector as a web designer and developer. He now works for Edgy Labs, a digital marketing and technology company. Brian leads Edgy's development team and also does search engine optimization strategy.

Brian has just moved to Cincinnati to be closer to family. His niece and nephew both attend Maddux Elementary.

Brian's passion for education comes from the many positive experiences he had in the public school system and his experiences as an educator. In his free time, Brian likes to play guitar, piano, and drums and spend time with his family and two dogs.

Caitlin was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and is a proud graduate of Clark Montessori High School. Caitlin received her Bachelor's degree in Education, and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Cincinnati. Caitlin is going into her eleventh year of teaching, and most recently received a Reading Recovery certification from Wright State for Reading Intervention.

Caitlin is passionate about building relationships with students and families. Caitlin is a new mom to Everett. In her free time, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and playing soccer.

Chandra is a dedicated advocate with over four and a half years of experience at a Nonprofit Organization in Cincinnati, where she serves as a school-based team leader. In this role, she leads a team of clinicians who provide vital behavioral and mental health services to students on campus. Her passion for supporting children and families is evident in her daily work, where she not only addresses immediate needs but also fosters long-term resilience and well-being.

As a proud mother of four children who successfully graduated from the Northwest Local school district, Chandra cherishes the importance of strong family bonds and believes in the transformative power of education and easily accessible mental health services.

Her dedication extends to advocating for families, helping them remove barriers and access the resources they need for a healthier path forward. Chandra is particularly passionate about working to eliminate stigmas around mental health care and connecting families with mental health services within the school setting or community.

Beyond her professional role, Chandra believes deeply in the power of mentorship and positive role modeling. She actively mentors two college students, guiding them with her shared life experience, empathy and encouragement as they navigate their academic and personal journeys. Chandra is committed to instilling confidence and positive strengths in others, believing that the awareness of these qualities is essential for personal growth and community empowerment.

In her spare time, Chandra enjoys spending quality time with her family, diving into books that broaden her perspectives, and engaging in activities that nurture her passion for lifelong learning. Through her leadership, advocacy, and unwavering dedication, Chandra continues to make a meaningful impact on education and mental health through her work in the school community she currently serves in.  

Chris Macklin is not just a community leader but also a family man. He is a father, grandfather, and Army Service-Connected Disabled Veteran born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has lived in the Springdale community of Cincinnati since 2011 and is currently employed at Cincinnati State Technical & Community College as the Veterans & International Students Affairs Manager. He is a man of faith and a member of Corinthian Baptist Church.

Chris is a lifelong learner, an advocate for Veteran individuals and families, and enjoys serving as Fatherhood & Mentoring and Brother You're on My Mind Chair for Beta Iota Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Inc, and also Armed Services and Veteran Affairs Committee Chair for the Cincinnati Chapter of NAACP.

He enjoys taking photos, watching movies, and spending time at the range in his spare time. He is also a huge Baltimore Ravens fan, which always makes for entertaining conversation during football season in Ohio, especially at Corinthian Baptist Church.

Dalkesha Bryant, MHS, is a dedicated education specialist and former high school teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio. She holds a BA in Psychology from Wright State University and an MA in Human Service Counseling from Liberty University. Dalkesha’s academic background provides a strong foundation for understanding human behavior and addressing societal challenges—necessary components for helping children learn. Her passion for education began in the charter school sector, leading to a diverse five-year teaching career across various secondary and post-secondary institutions. While teaching, she identified critical gaps in educational opportunities, student-teacher dynamics, and literacy development, which prompted her to establish Reflections of Greatness, LLC (R.O.G.) in 2017.

Originally created to provide private tutoring services, R.O.G. was transformed in 2021 into a dynamic educational development and consulting company focused on enhancing educational outcomes and reshaping the learning landscape. Currently pursuing a doctorate in education (EdD), Dalkesha remains committed to advancing the school system and advocating for effective educational practices. Her emphasis on positive, trusting relationships between educators, parents, and students—encapsulated in her motto, "connections before lessons"—underscores the importance of holistic education that goes beyond mere academic instruction.

As part of her continued effort to make a meaningful impact, Dalkesha serves on the selection advisory board for GreenLight Funding Cincinnati and mentors teens and young adults in the inner city.

With over a decade of experience as an elementary school teacher, Danni Tymitz transitioned into the realm of educational technology, driven by a passion for enhancing learning experiences through innovative tools. Currently, she serves as an Educational Change Agent for Learn21, where she has the privilege of supporting school districts nationwide through professional learning, instructional design, and consulting services.

Her areas of expertise are constantly evolving and include media literacy, integrating AI in the classroom, online learning, and curriculum development. These skills enable her to collaborate effectively with educators and administrators, fostering environments that embrace modern educational practices. Danni is also a proud member of the Mason community. As the wife of a Mason Comet and the mom of two Mason Comets, she stays actively involved in district activities and volunteer work, always looking for ways to make a positive impact.

When she's not working, Danni and her family enjoy hiking, trying new foods, and spending time in the kitchen where she loves to cook up delicious and diverse meals.

As a public health professional, educator, mentor, and devoted parent, Dr. Zeeshan champions excellence and equity in education. With humility, agility, intelligence, and a passion for learning, he strives to secure a brighter future for the Sycamore School District and public schools, promoting inclusive policies that cultivate growth and success for every child.

Kayla, a Greater Cincinnati native and Princeton High School alumna, graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a bachelor’s in News and Editorial Journalism and holds a master’s in Transformative Education from Miami University. She is the executive director of Everybody is LITT (Learning Intentionally To Transform) Academy, a literacy space in Cincinnati dedicated to tutoring students, providing professional development for teachers, and training parents to advocate for their children. With a passion for education and community service, Kayla is committed to fostering academic success and empowerment in her community.

Keith Futel was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a proud graduate of Withrow International High School and the University of Cincinnati. Keith began his career in education at the Hamilton County Math and Science Academy (HCMSA) in 2011 and has spent the last eleven years as a social studies teacher. Determined to make history come alive for his students, he founded Futel Learning LLC to provide students and educators with an engaging and inclusive African American history curriculum and resources.

Keith Futel’s influence extends beyond education. For the past five years, he has served as Impact Coordinator for Forever Kings, a non-profit that inspires change for adolescent boys in the community. From educator to mentor, church member, and fraternity brother, his dedication illuminates a path toward a brighter future for his community and beyond.

When Keith is not working, he enjoys reading, traveling, and relaxing with his wife, NaQuia, and dog, Royalty.

Lanisha Simmons is an Assistant Principal at Winton Woods High School. Lanisha holds a Master of Education (M.Ed) in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Master of Education (M.Ed) in Educational Leadership from Ashland University, and a BS in Secondary Education and Teaching from Ohio University.

Originally from Columbus, OH, where she was born and raised, she is a proud Columbus City Schools graduate of Brookhaven High School. Lanisha's journey in education began 15 years ago as a High School English Language Arts teacher. Her career trajectory led to her family coming to Cincinnati in 2019 and accepting the role as Curriculum Manager of English Language Arts at Cincinnati Public Schools. In this position, she led the development of instructional frameworks and practices that focused on the whole child, aligned with district goals, and enhanced leadership and instructional capacity district-wide. Her collaboration with district leaders, coaches, principals, teachers, and reading specialists was instrumental in improving literacy outcomes for students. In 2021, her commitment to equitable education was recognized with the Champion of Equity-District Leadership award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education.

A deep passion for literacy drives her, she firmly believes that every student has the fundamental right to learn to read, ensuring that education is an accessible opportunity for all, not a privilege reserved for some. Every child should receive the best education possible, regardless of circumstances.

Lanisha is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. She enjoys traveling, new adventures, spending time and being active with her husband and daughter, working out, in-service of self-care, and good food.

Lisa Sensale Yazdian holds a Ph.D. in educational psychology and educational technology with specializations in early literacy and assessment. She has worked to engage birth-adult learners in P-12, higher education, community, and for-profit settings for the last 29 years and is passionate about mobilizing school, family, and community partnerships to support youth learning and development and strengthen neighborhoods.

Lisa (Dr. Lisa) currently manages outreach and engagement efforts at Cincinnati Educational Television (CET)/PBS. In addition to developing resources for formal and informal education settings, she is charged with building relationships and partnerships with various agencies and neighborhoods across Greater Cincinnati to meet local needs and support lifelong learning. She serves as CET Team Lead for the Adopt a Class program at Hays-Porter Elementary, is Vice Chair of the Regional Youth Leadership Steering Committee for the 2024-2025 year, and is on the Robert O’Neil Multicultural Arts Center (ROMAC) Board of Trustees.

Lisa was born and raised in Westchester County, NY and now resides in West Chester, OH with her husband, Reza, and two sons who attend kindergarten and third grade in the Lakota School District.

Marie Krulewitch-Browne is the Founder, Executive & Artistic Director of ish, a Cincinnati-based non-profit dedicated to fostering social connections and acceptance through arts, creativity and Jew-ish culture. A Cincinnati transplant with local roots, Marie has called Cincinnati home since 2011. With a background in Fine Arts and Psychology, Marie has built her professional career in community engagement, arts and culture, and has served as both an employee and volunteer leader for several area arts organizations and initiatives including ArtWorks, BLINK, and MUSE: Cincinnati's Women's Choir. Marie is Mom to a CPS fourth grader at Pleasant Ridge Montessori and a CPS Kindergartener at Silverton Elementary. Marie is shaped by her Sicilian-Italian, Jewish-American heritage, which has informed her commitment to family/community, education, equity, creative expression, progress, the power of ritual, and a vision for building a more human-centered way of life.

Maurice Huey is the Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope Cincinnati. As a longtime member of the nonprofit sector, Maurice has served in leadership roles with several local, national, and international nonprofit organizations, including the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative, the American Diabetes Association, and the OneSight Foundation. He is a past recipient of the Michigan Nonprofit Association Emerging Leader Award, the Spirit of Detroit Award from the City of Detroit, Michigan, a Who’s Who in Black Cincinnati recipient, and a member of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Leadership Cincinnati Class 34.

A certified nonprofit program developer and fundraiser, he has a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University, a master’s degree in business administration from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and is currently a doctoral candidate at Liberty University. Maurice currently lives in Silverton, OH with his wife Malaika, son Maurice Jr., and is the father of four adult children.

Meggan is the Chief Program Officer at the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. Prior to joining the organization in April of 2024, Meggan spent more than a decade in the financial services industry. Meggan serves on the Board of Directors for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center and is a member of Junior League Cincinnati. Meggan enjoys spending time with her family, any of her three mentees and her dog, Phoenix.

As a dedicated member of the Milford School Board, Michael is deeply committed to ensuring the district provides an exceptional education for all students. His core values center around fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels empowered to succeed. He believes in the importance of strong character, morals, and values in education, and he strives to model these qualities in his role as a board member.

Drawing from his professional background in educational IT sales, Michael understands the challenges and opportunities facing our schools. While advocating for access to essential tools and technologies, he also recognizes the value of programs that support students' academic and personal growth.

His commitment to his Milford community goes beyond the boardroom. He actively participates in local organizations and events and is always eager to hear from parents, teachers, and community members about their concerns and ideas.

In making decisions, Michael prioritizes the needs of students and their families. He believes in open communication, fiscal responsibility, and data-driven decision-making. His goal is to work collaboratively with his fellow board members, the superintendent, and dedicated staff to ensure that Milford Schools continue to be a source of pride.

Nathaniel grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, moved to Dayton, Ohio and attended Sinclair Community College, transferring to University of Cincinnati to graduate summa cum laude with his bachelor's in English Literature. While at UC, he spent two years in the Racial Awareness Program, receiving the Terrence L. Jones Diversity Award for his service in that organization.

After graduating from UC, Nathaniel went to graduate school in Detroit, Michigan at Wayne State University. He taught college English classes there and obtained his master's in English. Having fallen in love with teaching but unsure of academia, he began his journey into secondary education in 2019. He's back in the Cincinnati area, teaching 12th grade English and dual-credit English at Holmes High School in Covington, Kentucky. He believes an English classroom, when done well, is inherently liberatory.

He lives in Price Hill with his wife, Becca Costello, and their eleven year old boxer mix, Cincy. In his downtime, he enjoys reading comics, playing video games, and spending time with his five nieces and nephews.

Robert is a Cincinnati native born and raised on the Westside of town where he currently resides. He is a graduate of Western Hills High School and a graduate of Central State University where he earned a Bachelor Of Science Degree in Communications.

He owns a childcare center in Westwood and holds a Long Term Substitute Teacher License from Cincinnati Public Schools and is a member of the LSDMC at Carson Elementary in Price Hill.

As a leader in his community, he works and serves as Vice President of the East Westwood Improvement Association where they work to improve the quality of their community. Robert is a mentor and youth advocate as well where he helps lead and motivate young men and women through sports, recreation and various youth focus groups.

Rome Ntukogu is a Cincinnati based brand strategist, designer, and event producer for whom building positively to support local communities is central to his approach. A transplant to Cincinnati, his work in developing events for neighborhoods, connecting organizations, and community stakeholders is a real source for his passion to serve.

"Getting more information, and understanding is not a static endeavor, it never ends, so take it where you can" - Rome

Tarah is a Cincinnati native and currently serves as a 6th grade teacher and Department Lead in Cincinnati Public Schools. She obtained her Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education from Wright State University (2012) and her Master's in Education from Xavier University (2017). Tarah is currently re-enrolled at Xavier, completing an Educational Administration Licensure program. Her professional passions include creating equitable solutions to educational issues that plague marginalized communities. She is also a champion for the importance of literacy for all. When she is not working, Tarah enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Teresa Hoelle is a Senior Vice President and Co-Owner at Ignite Philanthropy (Cincinnati, OH) which employees over two dozen individuals who partner with non-profits and private foundations to connect people, ideas and capital to fuel community solutions. Teresa was appointed to the Hamilton County Developmental Disability Services Board in 2023 and serves on the advisory board of DDX3X Foundation to fund research, support and build community for children and families living with rare diseases.

A Cincinnati Business Courier Forty under 40 recipient, Teresa earned her MBA from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University. She proudly serves on the Local School Decision Making Committee (LSMDC), CANS Equity Representation and Inclusion Committee (CERI) and as a parent representative of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) at Clifton Area Neighborhood School (CANS), where her 1st Grade daughter attends school within Cincinnati Public School District.

As a parent of a child with Speech Apraxia, she believes every child deserves a voice and is committed to fiercely advocating to ensure all children have the opportunity, and appropriate resources, to develop speech and communication skills.

Tiffany George is a dedicated Program Manager and Certified Community Health Worker at All-In Cincinnati, driven by a profound commitment to enhancing maternal health among Black women in Cincinnati. Inspired by her personal journey through a challenging birthing experience, Tiffany embarked on a path to empower other mothers, guiding them to advocate for their rights and needs during childbirth. This passion led her to become a Doula in June 2020, dedicating herself to support and educate mothers for a year before joining Public Allies in September 2021.

Through her placement with All-In Cincinnati, under the mentorship of Denisha Porter, Tiffany gained invaluable insights into the pressing need for equity and the strategies to address health disparities within our community. In August 2022, she achieved certification as a Community Health Worker, focusing her efforts on advocating for Black pregnant women in Avondale and surrounding neighborhoods.

Tiffany's mission is to elevate community awareness and contribute to the increase of healthy outcomes for Black mothers and their babies. She leverages her role to advocate for impactful policies and initiatives that aim to create a more equitable environment for all families. Her work embodies the spirit of All-In Cincinnati's commitment to fostering change and promoting health equity across our communities.

Last, but certainly not least, she is a mother to CPS students in sixth and eighth grade!

Tonya is a Cincinnati native who grew up in Bond Hill and graduated from Purcell Marian High School. She attended Kent State University, has a degree in Interior Design, and is currently furthering her education at Northern Kentucky University.

Tonya has a hunger for real world experiences and is always seeking growth. Committed to a lifetime of learning, she has a broad and diverse set of skills as she has taken higher education coursework on a wide range of disciplines.

Passionate about community engagement, Tonya currently serves on the Board of Trustees for REVIVE, is a member of the Credentials committee for the Cincinnati Open, is an active P&G Alumni Network member, a current volunteer at Bethany House Services, an avid supporter of Purcell Marian High School, the former Chief of Staff at the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, and a former administrator at StriveTogether.

Tonya’s hobbies include entrepreneurship, real estate development, choreography, and contributing to society in various ways to advance and empower others.

In her free time, she loves to attend live performances, travel abroad and experience different cultures, practice mindfulness and self-care, and spend quality time with her son.

Tyra Oldham is a dedicated strategist expert, devising solutions for organizations and leaders through a platform she developed at Miami University to generate success. Her awards in sustainability have driven her to increase capacity, talent and answers for today’s businesses, leaders and ideas to unleash innovation, capacity and growth. Tya delivers boutique, targeted and informed solutions that support goals, personnel and effective leadership.

Dr. Tyra Oldham is a powerful interactive and educational speaker.  An author of over 3500 articles, papers, research and three books dedicated to employing change solutions in thinking and leadership. She is a “futurist” and “ideaist” (developer of ideas) having the talent to see, predict and determine future GAPs in business, as well as trends based on historical data, human dynamics and the expansion of technology.

Tyra has worked with CEOs and new business ventures to assist in their development and change orientation. Her background in manufacturing, Kaizen, quality supply chain, supplier development and diversity talent has equipped her with tools to design plans and procedures for organizations and individuals.

As an advocate for women, and inclusion, she addresses the vital role women play in the development of society and business.

Waleia Larkin is a founder and governing board member of AUTISM and WE. She is the proud parent of a child with Autism and has a background in Healthcare as a Certified Medical Assistant specializing in Insurance verification. Waleia has a BS in Communication and serves as a rape and domestic violence advocate for Women Helping Women. She is a certified Ohio peer to peer mental health and addiction coach. Waleia currently works at Butterfly Services as a mental health performance coach and has clients at Dohn, COTA, and Bethany House.

Her goal is to empower parents and caregivers to advocate for those with Autism and other Developmental Disabilities. Through education, sharing of ideas, and providing a listening ear, she hopes to provide a support system that will foster a nurturing environment that will expand our communities' capacity to grow and become more inclusive. 

Wally Hart is the Rap Coach and Marketing Coordinator at Music Resource Center - Cincinnati.

Wally has been involved in hip hop music and culture for over 20 years as a DJ, producer, rapper, researcher, writer, promoter, educator, mentor, and rap coach.

Wally did his PhD work in Sociology at Texas A&M where he taught Sociology courses for 5 years. His research focuses on systemic racism and the production and consumption of and public discourse about hip hop.

Yolanda is a dedicated educator currently teaching Algebra 1 at Western Hills High School and serving as a Girls 2 Women Advisor. With a deep commitment to educational equity, she believes passionately that every child deserves the opportunity to achieve greatness, irrespective of their zip code.

Her journey in education has been enriched by diverse experiences. Previously, she worked with The Ohio State University's Young Scholars Program and with the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative as an Educational Talent Search advisor. These roles have allowed her to empower students and advocate for their academic success beyond the classroom.

Personally, Yolanda is proud to have raised five sons who each graduated from different CPS high schools, which has given her a unique perspective on the educational landscape in our community.

She is driven by the belief that education is the cornerstone of empowerment and social change. Through her work, she strives to inspire and support young minds, nurturing their potential and fostering a future where all students can thrive.