Meet Our Team
Meet Our Executive Board Members:
Valencia Hicks-Harris,
Founder/Chief Executive Officer
“The classroom, with all its limitations, remains a location of possibility. In that field of possibility we have the opportunity to labor for freedom, to demand of ourselves and our comrades, an openness of mind and heart that allows us to face reality even as we collectively imagine ways to move beyond boundaries, to transgress. This is education as the practice of freedom.” ~ bell hooks
Harris seeks to diversify the teacher pipeline, push culturally sustaining pedagogy as standard teaching practices, increase the presence of students of color in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), and create an equitable education for all students.
Amanda West,
Co-Founder/VP of Education
“Who we are matters immeasurably more than what we know or who we are told to be.” ~Brené Brown
West seeks to examine existing patterns of curriculum and instruction and improve them to respond better to human diversity--to turn on meaningful learning for our students.
Emily Wade,
Co-Founder/VP of Marketing
“The pursuit of full humanity, however, cannot be carried out in isolation or individualism, but only in fellowship and solidarity;”― Paulo Freire
Wade seeks to create an authentic community within the school system and beyond. She believes in the exquisite nature of all humanity and works to create spaces where individuals can feel their worth, connect with themselves and others, and step powerfully into their potential.
Meet Our Board Members:
Matthew Martinez
Consultant for Significant Disabilities
Carissa White
Program Design & Implementation/Facilitator
“I wish for…all children, a world where they can be who they are and become their most loved, blessed, appreciated selves.” ~ Laurie Frankel
Jennifer McKinnon
“Better is possible. It does not take genius. It takes diligence. It takes moral clarity. It takes ingenuity. And above all, it takes a willingness to try.” ~Atul Gawande
Ashley Hicks
Licensed School Counselor
Emily Adams
School Library Media Coordinator
“Every child deserves an education that guarantees the safety to learn in the comfort of one’s own skin.” ~ Dena Simmons
Amber Hanks
Public Relations
Chandrika McCall
Fundraising
Eunique Browder
"Be who you needed when you were younger."
Chelsea Foshee
Elementary Educator
“It is not enough to be compassionate, we must act.”
~ Dali Lama
Andrea Echols
"Mathematics may not teach us how to add love or how to minus hate. But it gives us every reason to hope that every problem has a solution."
Douglas Curry
“Without community, there is no liberation.”
~ Audre Lorde
Advisory Board
Dr. Chaunte Garrett
Dr. Micha Jeffries
Wiladean Thomas
Dr. James Hargett
Natalie Perkins
