School Board School Community

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.