About - Innovation For Equity

Interested in attending IFE’s 3rd Annual Black Education Forum on Martha’s Vineyard?

About Us

In August 2018, a group of leaders from across the education sector convened to consider one vital question: How might we collaborate to dramatically improve life outcomes for Black learners of all ages?

The creation of Innovation For Equity, Inc. (IFE) and its accompanying initiatives were the agreed upon answer to this question. In the years since, IFE has grown to become an essential and active community that is leading the way in responding to inequities in education by fostering innovation and developing transformational leaders. IFE is a 501c3 non-profit organization with support from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, NewSchools Venture Fund, The Vistria Group, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundation, and more.

Staff

Board of Directors

Founders

United by their passion for equity, our founding members came together to discuss vital issues, share their expertise, and plan a pathway to a better future for all learners. These leaders are experts in education, research, technology, and business.

ANDRE BENNIN

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Juvo Ventures

BENITA FLUCKER

SVP, Enterprise Development Strategy, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

BRYANT MARKS

Founding Director and Principal Trainer, The National Training Institute on Race & Equity; Morehouse College Professor

CHARLENE DUKES

President, Prince George’s Community College, MD

CURTIS VALENTINE

Deputy Director, Reinventing America’s Schools at Progressive Policy Institute; School Board Member of Prince George’s County Public Schools

DEVONN BAKER

President, Greater Boston Morehouse College Alumni Association

DORSEY E. HOPSON

National K-12 Lead, Cigna

EARL ADAMS JR.

Chief Counsel, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration - US Department of Transportation

HAROLD EDWARDS

SVP, Strategy and Solution Development, Scholastic Inc

HENRY HIPPS

Deputy Director, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

JASON GREEN

Co-Founder, Learning Innovation Catalyst (LINC)

JEAN DESRAVINES

CEO, New Leaders; HMH Board of Directors

JEFF LIVINGSTON

CEO, EdSolutions

JERRY JOHNSON

SVP, Corporate Development, EnPro

JOSH POWE

CEO & Co-Founder, LinkIt!

JULIE WASHINGTON

Professor, University of California, Irvine

LILLIAN LOWERY

VP, Student & Teacher Assessment Educational Testing Service

LISA HERRING

Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools, GA

LYDIA CARLIS

Chief Program & People Officer, Acelero Learning

MAIA SHARPLEY

Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Juvo Ventures

MARC JOHNSON

Associate Dean for Master’s Studies, Harvard Graduate School of Education

MARGO WRIGHT

CEO and Founder, Yenko

MATTHEW MUGO FIELDS

EVP and General Manager, Supplemental & Intervention Solutions, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

MICHAEL CONNER

Superintendent, Middletown Public Schools, CT

PHIL ALPHONSE

Co-Founder and Sr. Partner at The Vistria Group

SANCHA GRAY

Senior Vice President for Entrepreneurial Education Initiatives, Kean University

SHARON JOHNSON SHIRLEY

Superintendent, Lake Ridge, IN