2023 Cohort

Kevaun Baird is proud to be a Kipp East Academy Eagles! He is from Atlanta, GA, and received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He teaches 8th grade math. Helping each child progress in all areas of their development, academic, social, and language, is a challenge that Kevin is honored to accept daily.  He strives to create a community of learners that nurtures this growth in a positive, fun environment. Kevin likes to hike, travel, and cook in his free time.

Lorraine Fedison-Winder, affectionately known as  Mrs. FW by students, teachers, and parents alike, is an educational leader serving the metro New Orleans region for over a decade. She currently leads Homer A. Plessy Community School as the elementary school building principal. Mrs. FW is a native of New Orleanian who was educated in public schools within the Orleans Parish School System. She attended Eleanor McMain Magnet and earned a bachelor of arts in theater from Dillard University.

Mrs. FW has a blended family and is a proud wife (Jerome) and mother of 5 children (Christian, Jayda, Chancellor, Jordan, and Jerome III). Her oldest son, Christian (Mr. Fedison), also teaches in the Chicago/Indiana region. Mrs. FW grew up in the heart of uptown. As the daughter of a Mardi Gras Indian and second-line costume designer, Mrs. FW has the music, dance, and entertainment culture running through her blood.

Mrs. FW brought joy, laughter, and love to her classroom as a teacher. Her commitment to excellence and her passion for making learning fun earned her the title of Teacher of the Year within her district and a finalist as a Louisiana Department of Education Teacher of the Year. Mrs. FW has earned several awards, nominations, and accolades. She also served on educational boards, panels, and committees at the city and state levels. She has served as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional coach, assistant principal, and regional content manager and founded/directed her summer reading program for students ages 4-13.

Mrs. FW brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise as an educational leader. Her dedication to students and families, commitment to teacher development, love of learning, passion for the arts, and servant leadership is the perfect combination for the inspiring and impactful leadership type!

Brandi Gregg was born and raised in Dallas TX. Born April 22, 1998, Earth day, she believes she has a divine purpose in life, a purpose is to inspire, to advocate, and to love. Because of that, she dedicates her life to improving the world we live in through loving and serving others. After being accepted to Howard University with a Capstone Scholarship, Brandi gave lavishly with her time and effort, spending her spring break and summer vacation of Freshman year interning in Flint, MI. Her profound knowledge, experience, and personality won her widespread recognition from her peers, even being crowned the 2017-2018 Black & Gold Ms. Congeniality and Miss Howard University Mock Trial Team 2018-2019. Brandi performed on a high level academically with fearless determination, having also studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. She was a member of the infamous Howard University Mock Trial Team and The Howard University Pre-Law Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International. Previously, Brandi represented Howard University on the Residence Life Royal Court as Miss Howard Plaza Towers (HPT) West. Through her platform, SLAE: Servant Leadership Activism and Engagement, students were given the opportunity to speak out against injustices they were witnessing, and, most importantly, actively work towards rectifying them. Brandi is striving to become champion of civic betterment and a tireless advocate of honest government. “I am the seed of the free and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit.” 

With a burning passion for child and community development, Brandi has served in education for more than five years, striving to improve the quality of life for all. In her role as a teacher in Dallas ISD, Brandi proved to be an efficient, enthusiastic, and strong leader. Over the course of three years, she designed and implemented rigorous English curriculum for both virtual and in-person learning. In addition, Brandi has served as multiple committee chairs, including Chair of the College and Career Readiness Committee. In 2022, as a member of the Collegiate and Magnet High School committee on my new campus, Brandi helped plan and facilitate a Choice High School Fair and Choice High School Application Night. In addition, she developed an application guide and tutorial to help students successfully complete choice applications for highschool. Currently, she is an English Language Arts and Reading Demonstration Teacher in Dallas ISD, where she helps oversee leadership and development of her instructional team. 

Outside of her work with Dallas ISD, Brandi has served as an Education Fellow with For Oak Cliff, as well as an ambassador for Teach for America. The opportunity to connect her personal passion for education, community, and social capital allowed her work to shine.

Miracle Harris is an educator from Decatur, GA, where she attended Elementary, Middle, and High school. She studied Early Childhood Education at Spelman College, earning her teaching certification in grades P-5 and her bachelor’s degree. While at Spelman, she studied abroad in Cuba, learning about Cuban education and politics, co-authored a book titled "Unsung Legacies of Educators and Events in African American Education" with her college professors, Dr. Andrea Lewis and Dr. Nicole Taylor (https://www.spelman.edu/about-us/news-and-events/our-stories/stories/2019/03/16/unsung-legacies-of-educators ) and completed three full years of total experience and student teaching with the Education Department. When she is not in the classroom teaching her scholars, she enjoys traveling, cooking, engaging in new adventures with family & friends, and being a dog mom to her precious toy poodles (Story and Paisley). She began teaching fourth grade in Fulton County Schools in a Title 1 school in East Point, GA. She educates fifth-grade students in the Dekalb County School District—teaching Math and Science curriculum. Her teaching philosophy is based on creating a nurturing learning environment for diverse learners to ensure they reach their greatest potential socially, emotionally, and intellectually.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Following the completion of my degree, I embarked on a transformative journey to Japan, where I worked as an English teacher in the cities of Sagamihara and Yokohama. During my time there, I had the privilege of serving underprivileged youth in various K-12 schools.

While teaching in Yokohama, our community was struck by a major earthquake that triggered a devastating tsunami, leading to a nuclear meltdown and widespread power outages across the Kanto region. As a parent with a two-year-old daughter, my family and I made the difficult decision to temporarily relocate to the United States until we had a clearer understanding of the safety situation near our home in Japan.

Upon arriving in the U.S., I seized the opportunity to join the teaching staff at Houston Independent School District (HISD), specifically in the Mahatma Gandhi district of Houston, Texas. This district is home to families who have primarily immigrated from Northeast Africa, Afghanistan, Thailand, India, Burma, Pakistan, Iraq, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, among other regions. The rich cultural diversity and unique backgrounds of the students and their families have deeply influenced my teaching philosophy and approach.

At my school in HISD, I actively engaged in various initiatives and projects aimed at fostering student success and community development. One of our primary focuses was the establishment of community gardens, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and promoting healthy eating habits. Additionally, I organized and facilitated after-school clubs, tutorials, and homework sessions to ensure that students received academic support, completed their assignments, and enjoyed a nutritious meal before returning home.

I am driven by a strong desire to empower these remarkable students, helping them navigate the challenges of assimilating into American culture while simultaneously striving for academic excellence. My ultimate goal is to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to break the cycle of poverty, not only for themselves but also for their families and communities. By fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment, I aim to instill in them the values of compassion, resilience, and the importance of being active, contributing members of society.

Passionate servant leader with a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry and public education. Skilled in relationship development, civic engagement, youth development, and program management. Driven professional committed to education and youth advocacy with a Bachelor of Science focused in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Certified public school educator in the areas of K-6 Elementary Education and 6-12 Social Sciences with the Florida Department of Education.

NaTazah O'Neil was born and raised in Indianapolis and is a passionate special education teacher committed to challenging the school-to-prison pipeline. She attended Howard University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology, before pursuing a Master's degree in Education at Johns Hopkins University.

NaTazah has been teaching since 2018. She has taught in Washington, DC, and her hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. Throughout her career, she has strongly advocated social justice and equity in education, working tirelessly to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

When not teaching, NaTazah is a loving mother to a friendly little boy who is the light of her life. Her dedication to her students and passion for education make her a shining example of the positive impact that teachers can have on their communities.

I am Olivia Oliver. I am an Atlanta, GA, native who spent my college and teaching career in New Orleans, LA. I graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. I continued my education at Xavier to obtain my Master of Teaching in Middle School 4-8 Education with a concentration in Special Education. I am entering my sixth year of teaching middle school science and my second year formally coaching as the Science Instructional Coach. Teaching is my favorite thing; problem-solving challenges that my students face and brainstorming creative ways for my students to learn is an indescribable feeling. Since I started teaching middle school five years ago, I remained passionate about changing the educational system in New Orleans so that our students receive the education they deserve.

Stephanie Russum Bolland is Assistant Principal at Liberty Collegiate Academy in Nashville, TN. She has been in education for eight years and has taught elementary and middle school. While she was in Elementary school, she taught 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade. She also taught 8th-grade Mathematics before becoming her school's Assistant Mathematics and Computer Science Principal.

Stephanie grew up in Jackson, MS. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. During her time in college, she participated in the Disney College Program and, upon graduating, was a professional intern for Disney Internship and Programs Education Team. Her passion is to ensure all scholars have access to a high-quality education, which led her to the Summer Principal Academy to pursue her Master's in Public School Leadership. 

When she isn’t at school, Stephanie enjoys trying out all the restaurants that Nashville offers with her husband, Taylor. She also enjoys taking their nine year old dog, Rascal, to dog parks, brunch, and hiking. She is excited to continue her education at the Teacher’s College starting this summer.

Originally from Decatur, Alabama, Mr. Jalen T. Smith began his journey to effecting change as an educator while matriculating through Morehouse College to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While there, Jalen worked as a Summer Advisor for the Dreams to Teach NOYCE program, Lab Assistant for the Phage Hunters Program, and Teacher with BaSix Knowledge Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. In each role, Jalen had the opportunity to instill knowledge in students and grow his passion for education. Upon graduating, Jalen accepted a Teacher in Residence with Achievement First position in Brooklyn, NYC. The program was designed to be a teacher training program; however, due to unforeseen circumstances, Jalen began taking over his classroom after two months within the program. 

Since then, Jalen has had the opportunity to serve as 6th and 8th Grade Science Teacher with Achievement First Network, 9th Grade Biology Teacher, Grade Level Chair, Biology Course Facilitator and Dean of Students with YES Prep Public Schools, and now Assistant Principal of STEM Instruction and future Principal in Residence with KIPP Texas Public Schools. Throughout that time, Jalen has learned much about educational disparities and is working endlessly to create a system to close the achievement gap. Participating in Summer Principals Academy at Teachers College with Columbia University is the next step to help achieve that goal.

In his spare time, Jalen enjoys reading working, and is a huge foodie!

Krystle Speller is a highly accomplished educator and nonprofit executive who believes that every student contains boundless potential and is a gift perfectly crafted to meet some need in this world. Krystle has devoted her career to developing strong and successful students, staff, and school cultures within public, private, and charter schools of all stripes. Raised in poverty in rural South Carolina, Krystle’s academic and social-emotional journey was guided heavily by educators who cared. She has devoted her life to lifting young people from poverty and despair through education. 

Krystle believes that engaged, highly qualified, and relatable teachers and school leaders can change the trajectory of any child’s life… just like they did hers. Throughout her career, Krystle has demonstrated her commitment to creating socially-emotionally healthy and academically excellent school cultures that value and serve all students well. Krystle has served schools as a teacher, a Founding Dean of Culture, 

and a Dean of Curriculum. Currently, as a Numeracy Coach, Krystle has worked tirelessly to foster significant achievement gains and has multiplied math proficiency gains several times over in a turnaround school. 

In addition to her work as a building-level leader, Krystle has spent nearly a decade teaching, serving on school-wide and district-wide curricular and HR-related committees, mentoring fellow educators and students, as well as counseling and supporting students in community-based organizations where she has led in building programs and authentic connections with young people in some of the most economically challenged parts of Durham, NC, Houston, TX, Brooklyn, NY and Montgomery, AL. Krystle believes in educating and empowering students to actualize their potential through rigorous, trauma-influenced, individualized, and culturally relevant experiential education to challenge every student to unearth their gifts and make real-world connections to the curriculum. Krystle’s passions for STEM and fine arts education align with her desire to see minority students from challenging backgrounds achieve uncommon academic and professional success. In 2019, these passions drove her to found the “Greater in Me Movement,” which seeks to obliterate the achievement and earning gaps by priming young minority girls for access and success through STEM enrichment, dance camps, mentorship, academic support, and much more. 

Holding three degrees, including a Master of Education degree and a second Master’s from Duke University, Krystle is currently enrolled in the Summer Principals Academy of Teacher’s College – Columbia University, preparing to fulfill her ultimate goal of developing an excellent school that prepares students to be global competitors in any career they choose.