2024 Cohort

Danielle Irving has dedicated several years to the field of education, beginning as a Teachers Aide, advancing to a Substitute Teacher, and presently serving as an Elementary School Teacher for the past four years. As a current Teacher-Leader, Danielle fulfills the roles of Science Department Lead, Dance Coach, and actively contributes to the coordination of numerous school-wide events and family engagement initiatives. Academically, Danielle attained a Master of Public Administration Degree in 2019 and recently completed her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2022. Complementing her educational pursuits, Danielle possesses experience in Youth Camp Leadership and has contributed significantly to various Public and Nonprofit Organizations dedicated to youth development and social justice. Noteworthy affiliations include her involvement with Teach For America as both an Alum and Mentor Teacher, her past role as a Matsui Congressional Fellow, her Internship in the U.S House of Representatives, and her past commitment as a Mentor for the Lift While You Lead Network. Currently pursuing a Master of Education degree in Public School Building Leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College, Danielle's goal is to advocate for educational equity as a School Administrator.

My name is Kerry Doyle, and I am a Native New Yorker who migrated south to Mississippi.  I have been in education for 30 years and have taught 6-12th grade.  I started my career as a Crisis Intervention Specialist; my role was to manage students who were dealing with difficult situations, from abuse to suicidal ideation.  I spent part of my day in the classroom teaching students the dangers of alcohol, drugs, nicotine, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual harassment and assault.  I ran small groups and participated in individual counseling during my office hours.  I then moved to full-time classroom teaching and started Social Studies, my greatest passion.  Over the first twenty years of my career, I worked in two high schools and one middle school.  I taught in the district I grew up in and always in a neighborhood school.  I worked with my former teachers and eventually worked with the person who had been my assistant principal in middle school.  It was a great start.

Being my family is comprised of immigrants I don’t think anyone was truly surprised when I picked up and moved to Mississippi. I was just following the path my grandparents had started.  I have a large family that is a blend of humor and determination.  I was groomed from the beginning to be a leader, not a follower, and to accomplish more than my parents and their siblings.  My grandparents sacrificed for the future of their family and, in return, expected excellence from their children and grandchildren.  We all knew who we represented when we left home every day.  I carry that with me daily, understanding that I am their legacy and that I need to uphold their expectations as well as the dreams and goals I have set for myself.  

Only one of my grandparents was college educated, one had a high school diploma that he earned at night.  My paternal grandmother grew up with no shoes and only went to third grade. She emigrated to America when she was sixteen years old.   My maternal grandmother graduated from eighth grade and emigrated to America a few years later.  I was blessed that my grandfather’s hard work and determination paid for my bachelor’s degree.  My two master’s degrees I had to pay for myself.  

The words of my Uncle Bill echo loudly in my head especially since he passed away before Thanksgiving last year, he always told me “Move the Mountain, you have done it before do it again and again.”  I am moving that mountain now and doing what would make them all proud.

My name is Kaelyn Hughes; currently, I am a 7th-grade English teacher in Las Vegas. I stay in Vegas with my fur baby Sage, a 3-year-old German shepherd mix. I like to go outside with my dog or read a magazine in my free time. Before my journey to Vegas, I was born and raised in San Diego, California, with most of my family. From there, I went to the University of California in Merced and joined Americorp Fellow, where I worked to improve students' literacy skills in the Central Valley. At the end of my four years, I joined Teach for America, where they placed me in the Las Vegas Corps. All the opportunities I have received to be a part of education have helped guide me to the NOLA principal academy, where I plan to use this knowledge to implement it in the Student Success Offices within Clark County.

Jenn is a dedicated educator with a strong passion for anti-racism work and dismantling systems of oppression through education and activism. With 11 years of teaching experience and seven years of leadership experience, she excels in teaching, curriculum development, and team building. Jenn holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction and is currently ABD with a PhD in Psychology, focusing on Teaching & Technology. Her research, grounded in Rosenblatt’s Transactional Theory, explores how literary texts can foster resilience in individuals facing adversity. Having earned a Bachelor’s in Teaching & Learning from the University of Houston in 2013 and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix in 2017, Jenn has a proven track record of academic excellence. Her diverse teaching experience spans 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 8th grades, while her leadership roles include Director of Curriculum and Instruction, ELA Content Lead, GT Liaison, and MTSS Committee Chair. Jenn's dedication to understanding and supporting students facing adversities shines through her work, aiming to create supportive learning environments for both students and teachers alike.

Hello, my name is Sierra Gonzales and I am currently a second-year math teacher at a public high school that serves underprivileged communities. I coach cross-country which is a leadership position for students but I have not yet had the opportunity to be a leader among adults, which I look forward to practicing and engaging with. I graduated from the same high school I currently work at, which highlights how passionate I am about helping my community. I have a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Princeton University and a master’s degree in Teaching Mathematical Education from RELAY. It would be at least a few years before I actually commit to moving out of the classroom but I would like to gain leadership skills now that I can start to apply while I’m teaching to be better prepared for leadership opportunities when I transition out. I am incredibly passionate about education and, in particular, improving the social-emotional and academic achievements of my community.