Vice President, Policy and Advocacy, NWEA

A lifelong educator, Dr. Aaliyah Samuel has put equity at the heart of her work creating partnership and influencing state policies grounded in data, research, and best practices. She earned her doctoral degree in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University, focusing on effective literacy interventions for children in primary grades. She previously led education policy programs at the National Governors Association and First Things First, a statewide organization to fund early education and health programs. Dr. Samuel joined NWEA in 2018 as the Vice President of Policy and Advocacy. In 2019, she was appointed as a fellow to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University.

Co-founder, DEI Works Collective

Aliyah Abdur-Rahman is the co-founder of DEI Works Collective, a collective of diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioners committed to engaging with communities and organizations to operationalize DEI. As part of east Durham’s activist community, she is co-founder of Communities in Partnership (CIP), an organization that cultivates grassroots leadership in east Durham. For almost a decade, Abdur-Rahman worked on the admissions team at Teach For America, most recently as a VP of Admissions. Abdur-Rahman was appointed the first DEI Fellow at the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She is also a board member of Maureen Joy, a community school serving low-wealth students of color with a commitment to ensuring that students have an excellent education while also equipping them to become active citizens engaged in social change.

CEO and Co-founder, Latinos for Education

Amanda is a social entrepreneur and CEO/Co-founder of Latinos for Education, the first Latino-founded and led national organization solely dedicated to creating leadership pathways for emerging Latino leaders in education and diversifying education nonprofit boards. She is a Trustee of the Board for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Roxbury Community College. Fernandez’s career spans over 25 years working in the fields of recruiting, diversity, organization development, change management, strategic planning and Latino community engagement.

Associate Professor of Leadership Studies in the Stout School of Education, High Point University

Dr. Amy Holcombe is an Associate Professor of Leadership Studies at High Point University in the Stout School of Education. Prior to her current role, Dr. Holcombe served as Executive Director for Strategic Planning and Development, Executive Director of Talent Development, Director of Curriculum K-12, Director of Organizational Development, Principal, and Teacher at Guilford County Schools. She has held related roles as an Adjunct Professor of Education at UNC-Greensboro, an external evaluator for Hezel and Associates, and a state-level curriculum developer and trainer for the North Carolina Teacher Academy. During her tenure with Guilford County Schools, Dr. Holcombe launched North Carolina’s first in-district licensure program for teachers. Since its inception in 2008, this program has licensed over 350 teachers, won four national awards, and has been featured in Education Week.

Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development, NC State University

Anna J. Egalite is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development in the College of Education at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on the evaluation of education policies and programs intended to close racial and economic achievement gaps. Her studies have examined school choice policy, school size, the influence of family background on intergenerational economic mobility, and the diversification of the teacher labor force. In 2015, she was the recipient of the University of Notre Dame’s Michael Pressley Award for a Promising Scholar in the Education Field and in 2017, the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas awarded her the Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Provost, Winston-Salem State University

Dr. Anthony Graham has been provost of Winston-Salem State University since 2018. Dr. Graham began his career as a high school English teacher and as an academic counselor/lecturer in the Center for Student Success at North Carolina A&T before working in its College of Education in various capacities – including as chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction as well as the Associate Dean and Dean. His research has focused primarily on the experiences of Black males in K-12 public schools and ways in which classroom teachers and community leaders can transform their environments to promote cultural, academic, and professional identities for these youth.

Superintendent, Vance County Schools

Anthony D. Jackson, Ed.D, Superintendent of the Vance County School System in Henderson, NC, serves at the helm of 17 schools educating 6,229 students, with 1,000 employees. Prior to coming to Vance County Schools, Dr. Jackson served for four years as the Superintendent for Nash-Rocky Mount Public Schools and three years as division Superintendent of the Henry County Public School System located in Collinsville, Virginia. Dr. Jackson’s career in public education spans 28 years and began as a teacher’s assistant and has matriculated through the public-school ranks as a music teacher, assistant principal, principal, and various central office administrative posts in several Virginia and North Carolina districts. Prior to returning to North Carolina, Dr. Jackson worked as the principal and Chief Administrative Officer of the Arts and Technology Academy Public Charter School (ATA), a highly successful public charter school in Washington, DC. In 2013-2014, Dr. Jackson was named the N. C. Central Region’s Superintendent of the Year and in 2017 he received the prestigious Friday Medal for his leadership in implementing technological innovation in school systems in North Carolina. In November 2019, Dr. Jackson was named the 2020 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year.

Third-Grade Teacher, Speas Global Elementary School, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools

Xavier Acuña is a third-grade Dual Immersion Teacher at Speas Global Elementary School in Winston Salem, NC. He is also a Coordinating Leader for an after-school program called Brownsboro University where students receive tutoring. He is incredibly passionate about education and loves building leadership in his students. His next goal is to pursue a Doctorate in School Administration.

Professor, Educational Leadership and Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, NC State University

Dr. Bonnie Fusarelli is a Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development at North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on educational leadership and policy, the politics of school improvement, educational equity, and organizational change, with a focus on state-level education reform and leadership development. Her research examines school leadership on three levels: the building level (school principals and effective models of leadership preparation), the district level (superintendents and their preparation in both traditional and non-traditional ways), and the state level. Dr. Fusarelli is the recipient of numerous teaching awards at both the K-12 and university level, including being an inductee of North Carolina State’s Academy of Outstanding Teachers. Her current work is primarily focused on her role as Principal Investigator for and Director of the Northeast Leadership Academy, an initiative to prepare innovative school leaders for high need rural schools.

Principal, Charlotte East Language Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

Carmen Concepción has served as a principal with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools since 2011 and recently opened Charlotte East Language Academy, the newest Dual Language Immersion School in the district. She has been committed to high achievement for Title I schools throughout her career, leading the highest performing Title I school in the district for four consecutive years, winning state recognition. Carmen coaches beginning principals through the Wallace Foundation Principal Pipeline initiative. Concepción recently completed her certification as a national principal mentor with the National Association of Elementary School Principals and is a Teacher’s College, Columbia University 2017 Cahn Fellow. Concepción received her B.S. in Elementary Education, M.S. in Educational Computing and Technology, and Certification in Educational Leadership from Barry University.

President & CEO, Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity

Dr. Cassandra Herring is President & Chief Executive Officer of the Branch Alliance for Educator Diversity (BranchED). BranchED is a national nonprofit organization aimed at maximizing programming and driving innovation in preparing highly effective diverse educators for all learners. Dr. Herring’s passion for equity-driven education reform fuels her work. Her career spans all levels of education, with professional experiences in Head Start through higher education and leading state education policy. Prior to BranchED, Dr. Herring served as Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at Hampton University for 10 years. Dr. Herring has served on national and international boards, including serving as Chair of the HBCU Academic of Deans of Education Council and as a member of both Deans for Impact and the advisory board for The Jandris Center for Innovative Higher Education.

Special Assistant, Office of Equity Affairs, Wake County Public Schools

Christina Spears is the Special Assistant in the Office of Equity Affairs for Wake County Public School System and the Vice President of Wake County NCAE. A graduate of Meredith College, Spears was initially a special education teacher and served as co-chair of her school’s equity team. She is a founding member of Wake Ed Partnership’s Beginning Teacher Leadership Network, a member of Wake Education Policy Advisory Council, and serves on Public School Forum of North Carolina’s Color of Education Guiding Committee. In her role as Special Assistant, Spears hopes to build district-wide support systems for teachers focused on instructional practices that disrupt inequities and transform school systems.

Assistant Professor, School of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill

Constance A. Lindsay is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has worked in education policy in various contexts, applying her research training in traditional studies and in creating and evaluating new systems and policies regarding teachers. Dr. Lindsay’s areas of expertise include teacher quality and diversity, analyzing and closing racial achievement gaps, and adolescent development.

Principal, North Edgecombe High School

Donnell Cannon is the principal of North Edgecombe High School, and the co-founder of the North-Phillips School of Innovation. The North-Phillips School of Innovation, a micro-school, was created to provide students a liberating education that allows them to develop and pursue their passions, realize their life’s purpose, remain resilient in the face of challenges, and lead social and economic change in their families and communities, creating a ripple for generations to come. Under Cannon’s leadership, North Edgecombe High School, one of North Carolina’s pioneering “Restart Schools,” has exceeded growth under the state’s accountability model for each of the last three years. He began his career as a Teach For America corps member in eastern North Carolina and taught middle school social studies in Weldon, NC. Cannon earned a Master of School Administration degree as part of North Carolina State University’s Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA) and served as the director of the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School in Rocky Mount, NC, from 2013 - 2015.

Former Associate State Superintendent, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

While working for the Department of Public Instruction, Flood, along with Gene Causby, was tasked with helping local communities desegregate their schools. The two men traveled across the state meeting with elected officials, community activists, and parents in order to ensure desegregation. He currently serves on several boards and committees including the N.C. Minority Cancer Awareness Action Team, Public School Forum of North Carolina, Wake Education Partnership Leadership Council, and the UNC Press Advancement Council, as well as many others. Additionally, Flood served on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, as the Executive Director of North Carolina Association of School Administrators and as Vice Chairman of North Carolina Central University.

Dean, Cato College of Education, UNC Charlotte

Ellen McIntyre has served as the Dean of the College of Education at UNC-Charlotte since 2013. In this role, she oversees five departments, multiple Centers and Offices, and a $13M budget. She has developed several new initiatives with community partners focused on educational equity as well as a new project to transform how teachers are prepared. Prior to UNC Charlotte, Ellen served as Interim Associate Dean and Department Chair at NC State University and Professor and University Scholar at the University of Louisville. Dr. McIntyre’s scholarship has focused on reading instruction, teacher preparation, and educational equity. Beginning in January 2020, Dr. McIntyre will become the Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee.

Chair, North Carolina State Board of Education

Eric Davis is the Chair of the North Carolina State Board of Education. Davis holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the United States Military Academy at West Point and is currently a professional engineer in Charlotte. He was previously a combat engineer officer and an Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army. Davis has served as chair of the City of Charlotte Privatization/Competition Advisory Committee, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Bond Oversight Committee and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education. In addition, he has served on numerous boards such as the U.S. Green Building Advisory Council Charlotte Chapter and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent’s Standards Review Committee. Davis is a Charlotte native who is a product of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

Dean, School of Education, UNC-Chapel Hill

Fouad Abd-El-Khalick is Professor and Dean of the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Previously, Abd-El-Khalick was a Professor of Education and Associate Dean for Research & Research Education in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Currently, Abd-El-Khalick is Co-Editor of the Journal of Research in Science Teaching and a member of the Executive Board of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching. He earned his Ph.D. at Oregon State University and his M.A. and B.S. at the American University of Beirut.

Former State Representative and Former NCAE President

Frances M. Cummings is a former teacher, public school administrator, North Carolina legislator, NCAE Associate Executive Director and President and most recently the President of North Carolina Retired School Personnel. As a teacher, she worked to integrate public schools in Lumberton.

Former Senator and Former Chairman, North Carolina State Board of Education

Howard Lee spent his career in public service after receiving a master’s degree in social work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He served as mayor of Chapel Hill, ran for lieutenant governor, and served as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Community Development under Governor Jim Hunt. In 1990, he was appointed to the North Carolina Senate to represent the 16th District. Senator Lee was re-elected in 1992, defeated in 1994, and re-elected in 1996, 1998, and 2000. He served as chair of the State Board of Education and served on the North Carolina State Utilities Commission. Senator Lee is the executive director of the North Carolina Education Cabinet and an adjunct faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Parent, Wake County Public Schools

Ilina Ewen is a writer and advocate. By day, she is the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at the Dix Park Conservancy and a regular contributor to Walter magazine. Before taking on this role, Ilina served as Chief of Staff to the First Lady of North Carolina for over two years. Her professional career spans running her own brand strategy consulting business for 15 years as well as many years in the corporate world at American Express and advertising agencies. She is known as an “accidental activist” who advocates for myriad issues that stem from ACEs, adverse childhood experiences, using her voice as a champion for children.

Executive Director, Center for Racial Equity in Education

James E. Ford is an award-winning educator and principal consultant with Filling the Gap Education Consultants, LLC. He is the former Program Director at the Public School Forum of North Carolina, an education think tank and policy advocacy organization. Prior to that, he served as the 2014-2015 North Carolina Teacher of the Year and was recognized as Charlotte Magazine’s 2014 Charlottean of the Year, the 2014 National Alliance of Black School Educators’ Teacher of the Year and is a Carnegie Fellow. He is a self-professed “equity warrior” who believes education is a human right. He writes and speaks extensively on the topics of race, class and education equity and advocates for the most disadvantaged student populations.

Co-founders, Profound Gentlemen

Jason Terrell is the co-founder and Executive Director of Profound Gentlemen. Along with his fellow co-founder Mario Jovan Shaw, Terrell founded Profound Gentlemen to provide career support for male educators of color so they can, in turn, serve as mentors to boys of color, ultimately improving students’ social and emotional well-being and increasing their opportunities for success. The cofounders have brought Profound Gentlemen to five regions throughout the Midwest, South and East Coast, impacting 400 male educators of color.

Executive Director, EduColor

José Luis Vilson is a full-time math teacher, writer, speaker, and activist in New York City. He is the author of “This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.” Vilson has spoken about education, math, and race for several organizations and has been featured in publications, including the New York Times, The Guardian, TED, El Diario / La Prensa and The Atlantic. He’s a National Board Certified Teacher, a Math for America Master Teacher, and the executive director of EduColor, an organization dedicated to race and social justice issues in education.

Director, Classroom Culture and Community, Teach for America

Keiyonna Dubashi served as a National Board Certified Teacher for 10 years before joining Teach for America staff as a Real Time Teacher Coach. In 2009, she obtained her Master of Art in Education in School Leadership and Administration. Since joining Teach for America staff in 2014, her role has evolved from direct coaching and support to designing learning experiences for incoming and current corps members implementing the practices for teachers to question their own practices and create disruption in the school to confinement pipeline. Most recently, she was named a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness (DEI) Council where she and her peers work to advise, inform, and make recommendations to senior leadership, including the company’s CEO, Elisa Villanueva Beard, and other staff members leading enterprise-wide DEI efforts to position Teach for America to live into the company’s DEI commitments.

Instructional Advocacy & Policy Specialist, NCAE

LaAlice Hopkins is the Instructional Advocacy and Policy Specialist for the North Carolina Association of Educators. She graduated magna cum laude from East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Birth through Kindergarten and K-6 certification. LaAlice earned a master’s degree in Education from Capella University and a master’s degree in K-12 School Administration from North Carolina State University as part of the Northeast Leadership Academy (NELA). She has spent the last 16 years in the education field as a behavior specialist, training facilitator, elementary, and high school administrator. Prior to entering her role at NCAE she demonstrated tremendous school transformation in a rural, high-poverty high school.

Executive Director, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Foundation

Sonja Gantt joined Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in 2016 as the executive director of the school district’s Foundation. She arrived with a deep knowledge of the area, having served more than two decades as a journalist covering Mecklenburg County and the surrounding region. Gantt‘s career as a reporter took her from Florence, S.C., back to Charlotte, and then to Chicago, IL. She returned to Charlotte in 1997 as an anchor and reporter for WCNC, working there from 1997 until she joined CMS. Gantt grew up in Charlotte and is a proud graduate of East Mecklenburg High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition to her work, she is an active member of the board of directors of the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church and the Alpha Lamda Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Project Coordinator, First Americans' Teacher Education Program, UNC Pembroke

Dr. Leslie Locklear is the Project Coordinator for the First Americans’ Teacher Education (FATE) Program at UNC-Pembroke. She is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and is from Hoke County, North Carolina. As a lifetime student and an educator, she spends her free time working with high school juniors and seniors to prepare them for the college application process. Her passions are invested in working to increase the academic success of Native American student populations across the United States. Dr. Locklear received her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and her master’s degree in School Counseling. In December of 2017, Dr. Locklear completed her doctoral degree in Educational Studies and Cultural Foundations at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Co-Founder, Rebrand NC Education

Dr. Mary Hemphill is the Co-founder of Rebrand NC Education and has spent over 14 years in public education. A native of Hickory, North Carolina, Hemphill attended Meredith College as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and received her Master of School Administration at Western Carolina University. After having served as an assistant principal at the high school level and principal at the elementary and middle school levels, Dr. Hemphill earned her doctorate from North Carolina A&T State University’s School of Education. In August 2016, Dr. Hemphill was named Principal of the Year of Scotland County & Regional Principal of the Year for the Sandhills Region for the 2016-17 school year. Dr. Hemphill was appointed in February 2019 as the state’s first director of Computer Science & Technology Education.

President and CEO, United Way of Greater Greensboro

Michelle Gethers-Clark serves as President and CEO at United Way of Greater Greensboro where she is focused on creating partnerships to end poverty. Prior to joining United Way in 2013, Gethers-Clark served as a senior vice president for American Express Company, as an entrepreneur with a consulting firm, as a certified public accountant, and as an author. She currently serves on the board of directors for Ready for School, Ready for Life and Wyndham Championship PGA Tour. Gethers-Clark is an energetic public speaker. Her published book, The Next Level, presents a perspective on leadership.