Winston is a passionate and visionary educator, leader, and activist with 30 years in professional practice. He began his career as a Humanities teacher in the Cambridge and Boston, MA public schools. Winston went on to become a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, in Boston and in Washington, DC.

Winston also served as the national Director of Turnaround Schools for Expeditionary Learning, now EL Education and as National Implementation Director for Turnaround Arts at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

In addition to his role as Chairman of the Board for the Center for Black Educator Development, Winston serves as a board member at the Fender Play Foundation. He and his wife, Laina, also a career public educator, recently launched their own consultancy, Cox LEADS, LLC.

As proud parents and community members, they share a passion for and commitment to empowering school administrators, teachers, students, and parents to be bold leaders of their own learning and growth. And they extend their expertise in public education to support leaders in other fields in the areas of leadership presence, emotional intelligence, culture and climate, authentic assessment, arts integration, and equity and belonging.

Dr. Harding is the Executive Director of the Campaign for Our Shared Future, where she is responsible for the overall health, sustainability, and success of COSF’s work.

Throughout her career, Heather has focused on the intersection between access to high-quality education and racial equity. She believes that respectful collaboration between parents and teachers is an essential tool for helping our kids succeed in life.

As a mother of two teenagers, she knows that parents play the role of a child’s first and primary teacher. Before earning master’s and doctoral degrees from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, Heather taught middle school and high school in underserved communities. Since then, her mission has been to improve education opportunities for all children, regardless of their class, color, or neighborhood.

She had an opportunity to do this while serving as Teach for America’s Senior Vice President of Community Partnerships; as the founding Executive Director of EdCORE, a DC-focused education research consortium to improve outcomes for the students of the nation’s capital; and in senior philanthropic leadership roles at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and most recently the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies.

Rashid obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting from SUNY Farmingdale in Farmingdale, NY. Rashid was formerly a member of the NYSEA (NY State of Economics Association) & the vice-president of the Economics club at SUNY Farmingdale.

Rashid also obtained his associates degree in accounting from Nassau Community College in Garden City, NY. Rashid has over 10 years of accounting experience working in diverse industries including non-for-profit organizations. He brings his expertise to benefit CBED’s needs by successfully achieving an organizational agenda in the most challenging environments.

Rashid pillars his success in financial analysis, accurate financial reporting, transparency & account management. He lives by his golden rule, “behind every good business is a great accountant.” Apart from being an accountant, he enjoys outdoor activities & spending time with his family.

Joshua, a fervent educational activist, is always ready to be called to action when it has to do with the equity of treatment in the educational space. With eight years of professional expertise under his belt, he has always had a major passion towards aiding other communities in multiple capacities, from coworking collaborations, government affairs and, most recently, education-based nonprofit.

Within his existing role at the Center, he primarily oversees the production of the Center’s live weekly podcast, Building the Black Educator Pipeline, which features impactful conversations with many of our Black and Brown co-conspirators to meet the challenge of diversifying the teacher pipeline.

Additionally, Joshua aides in day-to-day operations, including HR and research support. Joshua attended Prince George’s Community College, majoring in mass communications while also studying CompTIA A+ and interning at DCTV in production/film.

A native Philadelphian and dedicated teacher, Makael’s history students achieved the highest benchmark data in the Mastery Charter Schools network.

In addition to his classroom experience, working with students, he also helped lead Uncommon Schools and managed teacher leadership and development at Teach For America.

Tanaisha is a liberation-centered strategist whose role at the Center allows her to build and sustain intentional spaces with a focus on increasing teacher diversity. Prior to joining the Center, she fostered intentional spaces in higher education and diversity, equity, and inclusion by conducting cultural assessments, designing and facilitating training and workshops, and assisting organizations with mindful strategic planning.

She also has experience creating higher education curriculums for students designed to transform students’ perspectives to be more inclusive and intersectional through dialogues on diversity-centered, service-learning practices and programs on identity awareness.

Tanaisha earned a bachelor’s degree in English and communications at Easter University, a master’s in organizational development at Abilene Christian University, and is pursuing a doctorate in education in social justice at the University of San Diego.

Denise brings over a decade of experience developing and managing educational programs focused on academic excellence, equity, and diversity. In 2014, Denise joined Good Shepherd Services as the Program Director for Brooklyn Lifelink, a college access and retention program.

From there, she oversaw a mentoring program in partnership with Ernst and Young and the District Attorney’s office, a transition-to-high school program, and afterschool programming for Bronx Bridges High School. In 2018, she became the director of programs at Behind the Book leading culturally responsive, multidisciplinary literacy programs in K-12 Title 1 NYC public schools.

Denise holds a bachelor of arts from The New School and is a graduate of Stanford University where she has a master’s degree in elementary education.

Dana has been an educator for more than 25 years, bringing to her work a sense of passion, urgency, energy, and enthusiasm that both inspires and propels projects and programs forward. She was raised and educated in Detroit, MI and received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education at the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in educational administration from Wayne State University.

Dana previously taught English and language arts to students in grades six through twelve, during which time she earned more than 60 awards, including the 2001 Newsweek and WDIV Detroit High School Teacher of the Year Award. She was also the co-creator and chief administrator of Wolverine Pathways, a program designed to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University of Michigan.

Dana has dedicated her work to education and the empowerment of all young people, and particularly Black youth.

Mal is an educator, podcaster, and social justice advocate that believes in the power of people. He has spent most of his adult life working with communities of color to identify issues that cause harm, and then working with schools and nonprofits to create solutions.

He spent roughly five years in talent management, working to identify and hire teachers, support staff, and school leaders in New York City, Camden, and Philadelphia.

He joined the Center as a Stoneleigh Emerging Leader Fellow, working in education policy with a specific focus on equitable hiring solutions for the School District of Philadelphia and schools across PA to increase the number of BIPOC teachers in the workforce.

Nicole is a tenured operational executive with more than 15 years of experience. In her role at the Center, she oversees the strategic vision and priorities of the organization.

Her past experience as operations director at Ascend Charter Schools and KIPP Charter Schools Network provided her with an immense skillset, tackling day-to-day operations, strategic planning and implementation, as well as coaching and managing educators and staff.

Nicole began her career in Georgia, where she served as chief operating officer of a counseling center and executive director of a residential child-caring facility. She holds a bachelor’s in sociology from Georgia State University and an MBA from Argosy University.

Prior to establishing  the Center, Sharif served as the U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow under the Obama administration and principal of Mastery Charter Shoemaker. During his principalship, Shoemaker received the prestigious EPIC award for three consecutive years as one of the top three schools in the country for accelerating student achievement levels. 

In 2014, Sharif founded The Fellowship: Black Male Educators for Social Justice, an organization dedicated to recruiting, retaining and developing Black male teachers. In 2019, he left his principal post to devote his full time to rebuilding the national Black teacher pipeline. 

Sharif is a blogger on Phillys7thWard and a founding member of the 8 Black Hands podcast. He also serves on several boards and committees focused on racial justice and educational equity.

Ann has more than a decade of successful experience in accounting, specializing in working with not-for-profit organizations. She is a co-founder of QBOF2, a consulting and accounting company that helps community based nonprofit entities create a standard of high fiscal responsibility and transparency while being agents of change, addressing socio-economic community concerns. A strong believer in the power of social and human services organization, Ann regularly volunteers, as well.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the State University of New York, has several certifications in various software applications, and continuously participates in CPEs for Accounting. She is a member of Black Women with Nonprofits (BWWN), Nonprofit Network International and Nonprofit Executive Network.

Andrea is a North Carolina native living in Atlanta. Her professional experiences are rooted in education and administration, including roles in K-12 operations and, most recently, as a community liaison.

In addition, she’s worked with smaller organizations and community-serving start-ups. Andrea is a 2017 graduate of Chowan University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

“Ever since I was small, the people who were working in this program and in this space really saw me for who I was–the fullness of who I am–and I think that is something that not a lot of young people get to experience. They are stigmatized a lot; and unfortunately not a lot of Black students are pushed in ways that are going to help to make them stronger.” 

A former teacher, Ansharaye oversees the Liberation Academy at the Center, a multi-year program that provides high school students with an intellectually rigorous, collaborative environment designed to foster a love for educating, personal and professional character development, and a strong foundation for pursuing long-term careers in education.

As a result of the formative instruction, mentorship, and leadership opportunities gained through her years with Philadelphia Freedom Schools, Ansharaye has internalized the significance and impact of educational spaces that center the objectives, development, and intellectual genealogy of people of African descent. Her research and academic expertise focus on Africana history and experience, educational institution building and resistance in Black Philadelphia, and Africana educational philosophy and curriculum.

She received a bachelor’s degree in Afro-American Studies and a bachelor’s in English from Howard University, as well as a master’s degree in education, culture and society from the University of Pennsylvania.

Hallela brings administrative and research experience to the Center from former roles at BARR Center (Building Assets, Reducing Risks) and KIPP DC. She wears many hats in her current position, all which allow her to hone her nonprofit management, community development strategy, and educational innovation knowledge and skillset.

Before joining the Center, she received her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and religious studies with a concentration in American studies from Grinnell College.

Kenyata is a well-versed educator with more than 10 years of experience with core educator competencies in socio-economic studies, parental relations, research and analytical abilities, standardized testing, counseling and mentoring. She is a graduate of University Of Memphis with a B.A. in African American History and from Union University, where she earned her M.A. She has worked in both academic and non-profit settings, providing advising services to students ranging in grades from 9-12.

Kenyata’s experience has taught her how to identify student needs and connect them with the appropriate resources. She is skilled at communicating with diverse populations and building relationships within an institution. In her previous role as a Mentor Teacher, she helped first-generation high school students navigate their way through higher education by developing individualized graduation plans and assisting with time management skills development. As a result, 100% of her advisees met or exceeded their semester credit goals.

Kenyata’s goal is to help all students succeed in reaching their personal and professional aspirations. ​​Throughout her career, she has consistently demonstrated dedication to helping students succeed by working tirelessly to create engaging and innovative lessons that inspire students to think critically and learn more deeply about the world around them.

Taylor is a servant leader and educator activist whose personal and professional mission is centered on improving the quality of life for black and brown students. After graduating with her bachelors in public policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she joined Teach for America in San Antonio, TX where she taught middle school social studies and coached girls’ basketball. 

After graduation, she worked at Teach for America Baltimore in three different roles including: Manager of Teacher Leadership and Development, Manager of Classroom Culture and Climate, and Director of Corps Member Programming. During this time, she received her master’s degree in education policy and leadership from American University.

In 2019, she transitioned from the nonprofit sector to working for the Baltimore City Public School District (BCPSS) before joining the Center in 2021 as the Director of Professional Development.

Dr. Hudson has 15 years of education management, professional development, relationship/account management, and human resources management experience focused on leading instructional design and program assessment.

She began her career in human resources and evolved into teaching and found a love for educational innovation which led her to working as an Executive Director, Online Learning, and Chief Learning Officer overseeing professional development, mentoring, coaching, and setting the strategic direction for creating career development pathways for K-12 and higher-education professionals.

Dr. Hudson brings to her role a wealth of experience in professional development and leadership; instructional design for online learning; and best practices in education administration, continuing education, academic operations and enrollment management.

London previously served in various roles in the non-profit sector, advancing policies centered on strengthening the public school system and expanding reproductive autonomy. After receiving her bachelor of arts degree in political science, with double minors in sociology and intercultural studies from Saint Mary’s College, she stepped into the roles of organizer for Stand for Children, an education advocacy organization, and policy associate at SisterReach, a women’s reproductive justice organization.

London currently serves as Tennessee State Senator for District 33 in Memphis, TN; the youngest female and youngest African American legislator in Tennessee Senate history. She also serves as Chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. As the conscience of the legislature, Senator Lamar champions strong schools, healthy families and safe neighborhoods.

London is honored to have received recognition from more than 10 organizations and has appeared in numerous national publications for her work that uplifts families and communities. She serves on several state level and national boards. In her spare time, she likes to travel and cuddle with her Yorkie Sugar.

Victoria is a Teach for America alum, where she began her 13-year education career as a Special Education high school teacher. This led to additional teaching positions at the kindergarten and 9th-12th grade levels, as well as serving as a middle school leader.

She deeply believes in children and the teacher-activist and that change comes most through teacher development. Victoria has a bachelor’s degree from Temple University, a master’s degree in secondary education from Chestnut Hill College, and a master’s degree from Sarah Lawrence College.

Her role at the Center allows her to continue to be a disruptor and agitator of change and to lead through conviction, authenticity, connection, storytelling, and purpose.

Sean is a native Baltimorian where, before joining the Center, he spent the last 8 years serving gifted black boys. During his time as a special educator, his students saw significant growth and standardized state assessments.

In addition to his time teaching middle school students, Sean has served as a literacy coach and mentor teacher.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and is currently at NYU Steinhardt working on a master’s degree.

Renisha Pierre is a passionate and consummate professional with years of experience in leading and executing programs for at-risk youth and families, in non-profit and educational settings.

Before beginning her most recent role as School Director at Key Collegiate Charter School, in Brooklyn, NYC, she started as a Founding Director of Operations, where she prepared the school for launch by working with the Head of Schools on student enrollment, facility readiness, compliance, and staff onboarding.

She designed and executed systems to create the environment for teachers and students to excel every day. Renisha also brings experience from her director level roles at Pathways to Leadership and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Renisha holds a master’s degree in social work from Hunter College and a bachelor’s degree in social work from City University of New York City.

From both growing up and teaching in an urban area, Shelonda understands how imperative it is to make sure every student receives an excellent education and, for Black students, that means ensuring they have access to Black educators leading in classrooms.

Throughout her career, Shelonda has served as a teacher, mentor, educational grassroots advocate, and educational consultant. Her civic and organizational involvement includes volunteering at a multitude of organizations and conducting inspirational workshops.

Shelonda received both her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in education from Christian Brothers University in Memphis, TN.

Dr. Robinson is entering his 22nd year in the field of education. Throughout his tenure in the urban education space, he has served in the capacity of master teacher, coach, mentor, administrator, consultant and public speaker.

In 2012, Dr. Robinson began his career as an adjunct lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University as part of the inaugural cohort of the Beyond the Bricks program, a media and international community engagement project to encourage and promote community-based solutions to increase educational and social outcomes for school aged Black males. In that same year, he worked for the Eagle Academy for Young Men in New York City, where his primary responsibility was to spearhead the mentoring program, a collaborative partnership between the school and the Manhattan chapter of 100 Black Men, Inc.

Most notably, Dr. Robinson served as a fellow with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans where he worked on education policy issues that impact African American children nationwide through special efforts such as former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative.

Dr. Robinson is a two-time graduate of Columbia University where he earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in Educational and Organizational Leadership. He has also earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Pace University and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Syracuse University.

Jahdiya has nearly 15 years of charter school and nonprofit operations, finance and HR experience. Some of her previous roles include Director of Operations & HR, Senior Financial Consultant and Director of College and Career Readiness.

She is highly skilled in assembling, developing and empowering high-performing teams. Jahdiya has a proven history of partnering with cross-functional teams to ensure strong systems and processes are threaded across an organization.

Jahdiya holds a Master of Business Administration from Metropolitan College of New York and a Bachelor of Government and Politics from St. John’s University.

Danielle is passionate about developing and building individual and community capacity. At the Center, she is responsible for designing and facilitating culturally proficient workshops and sessions for educators and leaders.

Though a Georgia native, Danielle currently resides in North Carolina and has spent more than a decade working in K-12 settings as an educator, teacher coach, and human resource partner in Philadelphia, PA and Baltimore, MD.

She completed her master’s of education training at the University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate training in psychology at North Carolina State University. Danielle desires to serve others and be a conduit of love through her words and actions.

A Philadelphia native, Stephanie graduated from Central High School and went on to attend Howard University where she graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, majoring in English and minoring in Africana Studies, She also participated in Howard’s study abroad programs, spending time in South Africa and Tanzania.

She entered the education profession as a college intern and academic advisor with Philadelphia Freedom Schools, and taught in the classroom at Imhotep Charter High School, Sankofa Freedom Academy, and Ad Prima. Stephanie spent a decade as a contributing writer and editor for The Liberator Magazine and as a curriculum developer for American Documentary/POV, Kaplan, NYCDOE’s Expanded Success Initiative, and the Museum of the American Revolution. She earned a master’s in elementary education and a master’s in early childhood education from Lincoln University and an master’s in African-American studies from Temple University.

She worked as the Director of Steppingstone Academy at Steppingstone Scholars, participating in the Urban League’s African American Nonprofit Executive Leadership Program and the College Advising Program at Teacher’s College. She is currently a Ph.D. student at Temple University in the policy and organizational studies program.

Mimi is an educator and educational justice advocate with more than eight years of experience working in the classroom and in the nonprofit sector. In her current role, she is responsible for developing and executing a highly strategic, innovative, and collaborative plan to engage a coalition of partner organizations to build a Black Teacher Pipeline model for Black students across the country.

Prior to working at the Center, Mimi was the Special Projects & Community Manager at The 74, a nonpartisan, nonprofit education media group. Mimi’s passion for education policy and advocacy stemmed from her Teach For America experience.

She is an alumna of American University where she earned her master’s degree in public administration and also holds a bachelor’s degree in political science with a minor in women’s studies from Texas Christian University.