Join changemakers across education, tech, and policy!
Past Senior Leadership Fellows
Cohort 3 Fellows (2023-2024)
GREGORY C. HUTCHINGS, JR.
Founder and CEO, Revolutionary ED
- Phone: Founder and CEO, Revolutionary ED
- Email: Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Revolutionary ED. He is a nationally recognized educational leader, antiracism activist, and published author who unapologetically advocates for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and racial equity in education. Dr. Hutchings is the first Executive in Residence at American University’s School of Education and plays a key role in elevating the school’s Antiracist Administration, Supervision, and Leadership (ARASL) certificate program. Dr. Hutchings has over twenty years of combined educational experience as a college admissions counselor, teacher, school principal, central office administrator, superintendent, and college professor. He specializes in antiracism in education, educational leadership, strategic planning, strategic thinking, professional learning, school board and superintendent relations, and executive coaching. Dr. Hutchings is the co-author of the book, "Getting Into Good Trouble at School: A Guide to Building an Antiracist School System." He has contributed his expertise in education on CNN with Jake Tapper, The Kojo Nnamdi Show, C-SPAN, NPR, and as an opinion writer for EdWeek. Dr. Hutchings earned his doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from the College of William & Mary. He currently serves on numerous national boards and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Dr. Hutchings is a native of Alexandria, Virginia. He and his wife, Cheryl, are proud parents of two amazing human beings.
MARVIN PIERRE
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Eight Million Stories
- Phone: Co-Founder and Executive Director, Eight Million Stories
- Email: Marvin Pierre is a native New Yorker. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Eight Million Stories, a Houston-based nonprofit he co-founded whose mission is to transform the lives of vulnerable youth through education, skills training, employment, and authentic relationships. Marvin began developing Eight Million Stories as a Bridge Fellow with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), with the goal of upending the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting previously incarcerated youth as they re-enter school and curbing unnecessary referrals from schools to the justice system in Houston, TX. Under Marvin's leadership, Eight Million Stories has expanded to support not only justice-involved youth, but also other vulnerable youth populations in Houston who are disconnected from school and work, as well as to assist school districts and the juvenile justice system in finding alternative pathways for students who are not succeeding in traditional school settings. Prior to launching Eight Million Stories, Marvin worked as an assistant principal at KIPP Polaris Academy for Boys, where he focused on creating an environment that fostered both academic and character development in students. He was Dean of Students at Excellence Boys Charter School in Brooklyn while in New York, and prior to entering the field of education, he worked as a financial analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co. Marvin has a B.A. in Economics from Trinity College (Hartford, CT) and a Master's in Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. Marvin is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is an American Leadership Forum Fellow (Class XLI) and was chosen for Leadership ISD's inaugural class. He also serves on the boards of Tabor Academy, Trinity College (Hartford, CT), American Leadership Forum, Children's Defense Fund (TX), and Friends of the Children (Houston Chapter). RICTOR CRAIG RICTOR CRAIG Founder and CEO, National Association of Black Male Educators; Co-Founder and Founding Director of Instruction, Statesmen College Preparatory Academy SARIKA SIMPSON SARIKA SIMPSON Vice President of Instruction, Edmentum
RAHESHA S. AMON
Senior Executive Director of School Support Operations, New York City Department of Education
RAHESHA S. AMON
Senior Executive Director of School Support Operations, New York City Department of Education
- Phone: Senior Executive Director of School Support Operations, New York City Department of Education
- Email: Dr. Rahesha S. Amon is a respected education executive with over 25 years of leadership and management experience in complex organizations. She has exceptional strategic decision-making skills and leadership expertise – contributing extensively to education domestically and internationally. Preceding her current role as Senior Executive Director with the New York City Department of Education, Rahesha served as an award-winning classroom teacher, Educational Coach, Academic Director, Principal, and Assistant Principal. She became the founding Principal of Frederick Douglass Academy III in the Bronx, New York, then served as Deputy Superintendent and later Superintendent of Community School District 16 in Brooklyn, New York. Under Rahesha's leadership, District 16 received accolades from the New York City Mayor and School Chancellor for achieving the highest gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics for the 2018 - 2019 school year. She is credited in 2020 with creating and implementing the Superintendent Support and Evaluation System (SSES) to onboard, cultivate, and support while monitoring the effectiveness of the 45 superintendents in New York City. The SSES is still in use today. Rahesha has demonstrated outcomes-based experience as a forward-thinking educator with research-based strategies to drive mission-aligned impact on schools, students, families, and communities. She cultivates relationships and increases impact through a cross-sectoral approach with partners such as elected officials, advisory boards, and community-based organizations, fostering collaboration and driving success. Her comprehensive approach to cultivating leadership from recruitment to retention directly accelerates and grows district and school-based leadership practices to support further building solid instructional results-driven leadership. With a strategic focus on coherent and relevant leadership, Rahesha ensures greater alignment between policy and practice. Rahesha has received numerous awards and accolades. This past May, she was selected for New York University Steinhardt's doctorate in Leadership and Innovation commencement celebration as the student speaker. In 2020 Rahesha was chosen to serve as an International Advisor with The Ministry of Education (MOE), the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC), and ALEF education, where she supported the organizations with forming a new charter management organization, New Century Education, Abu Dhabi (NCE). NCE currently serves over 6000 students across six campuses. Rahesha holds a doctoral degree from New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She has a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina Central University. She participated in the distinguished Cahn Fellowship program at Teachers College, Harvard University Principal's Institute, is an Aspen Scholar and is currently a member of the Sterling Network. The Network is a diverse group of leaders from the public, private, and non-profit sectors working together to increase economic mobility across the five boroughs in New York City, with racial equity as a central guiding value. Rahesha is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Her family and those she loves are the cornerstone of all she does. She is the proud mother of Savannah. When her daughter, Savannah, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, she started "Savannah's Heartbeats," a foundation that supports newly diagnosed family members. Rahesha lives by Belle Hook's quote, “What we do is more important than what we say or what we say we believe.”
JOHN C. JONES
President and CEO, HOPE Toledo
- Phone: President and CEO, HOPE Toledo
- Email: John C. Jones is an accomplished leader who focuses on diversity, inclusion, board governance, strategic community building, and leadership development. He is currently the President and CEO of HOPE Toledo, a non-profit organization dedicated to the belief that improving education will increase opportunity for all of Toledo's children and youth, prosperity for its residents, and the future of our families and neighborhoods. Prior to joining HOPE Toledo, John spent sixteen years at ProMedica in various roles, the most recent of which was with the social determinants of health team. John served as President and CEO of the Greater Toledo Urban League from 2008 to 2012. He is a diversity practitioner certified by the American Hospital Association's Institute for Diversity and Health Equity. He has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Toledo and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance from Central State University, Ohio's only publicly funded HBCU. Through organizations, boards, and other volunteer opportunities, John gives back to the community in a variety of ways. His greatest calling is being an ordained minister. He serves as an Associate Minister at the Christian Temple Baptist Church under the leadership and pastorate of his father, Rev. Charles E. Jones. Preaching and ministering for twenty years, John clearly defines who he is through this service and it is the guiding principle for what he does in his professional life. John resides in Toledo with his wife, Charity. His most significant blessings are his four beautiful children, Alexa Renee, Naomi Elise, Cathryn Elisabeth, and John Michael.
RICTOR CRAIG
Founder and CEO, National Association of Black Male Educators; Co-Founder and Founding Director of Instruction, Statesmen College Preparatory Academy
RICTOR CRAIG
Founder and CEO, National Association of Black Male Educators; Co-Founder and Founding Director of Instruction, Statesmen College Preparatory Academy
- Phone: Founder and CEO, National Association of Black Male Educators; Co-Founder and Founding Director of Instruction, Statesmen College Preparatory Academy
- Email: For Rictor Craig Jr., going to school was never a drag. He knew early on that both giving and receiving an education would be major passions of his. He knew so much so, that he began taking college courses in the 11th grade in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rictor began his educational career in 2003, teaching 11th and 12th grade English in the Baltimore City Public School System. In 2005, Rictor joined the Friendship Public Charter School system, where he taught 10th grade English, AP Literature, AP Language, and a Dual Enrollment Literature course. In 2012, Rictor led Friendship Woodridge International School to receive its Tier 1 status (high-performing charter school) and led the school to receive its International Baccalaureate status in 2015. Rictor is a Cohort 11 New Leader Alumni and a RELAY GSE Principals Cohort 1 Alumni. He serves on several boards, including CityBridge/CityTutor Foundation, The Leadership Academy, and the New Leaders Alumni Board. Rictor is the Chairman and Founder of the National Association of Black Male Educators, an organization whose mission is to dramatically increase the number of marginalized children who succeed by dramatically increasing the number of highly effective black male teachers and leaders who positively impact them. Rictor is an Amazon Best Selling Co-Author of the HBCU Experience Anthology: The North Carolina A&T State University Edition. Rictor holds a B.A. in Professional English from North Carolina A&T State University, a M.A.T. from Morgan State University, a Masters of Science in Administration from Trinity Washington University, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Rictor attributes his love of learning to his parents, who didn’t have the same opportunities as he did when it came to education. For Rictor, encouraging and overseeing scholars, similar to how his parents did for him, is important in guaranteeing quality education and a hope for a better future, especially for minorities. "My mission as an educator is to provide a Tier 1 education to students of color. It is my goal to ensure that all scholars, no matter their socio-economic background or race, receive an exceptional education to ensure they are prepared to get TO and THROUGH college." In 2017, Rictor became the Co-Founder and Founding Director of Instruction at Statesmen College Preparatory Academy for Boys in Washington, DC.
STANY LEBLANC
Program Associate, Education Measurement, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
- Phone: Program Associate, Education Measurement, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative
- Email: Stany Leblanc is a first-generation Haitian American originally from Long Island, New York. After attending college at Stanford University, he moved back to New York City in 2009 to join Teach for America and work at a new middle school in the South Bronx. After 13 years in his placement school as a 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English teacher and the Assistant Principal, he is beyond proud of the hundreds of students and teachers he taught, mentored, and coached throughout his tenure. Right now, he is in the final stages of his dissertation as part of Columbia University's Urban Education Leadership Program (UELP), where he is focusing on describing measures of success for new schools in NYC to hopefully inform new school support in the future. Currently, he is also working at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative as a Program Associate on the Education team. He is focusing on education measurement and supporting organizations across the country as they innovate the way we measure success for our students.
JOY DELIZO-OSBORNE
President, Student Achievement Partners
- Phone: President, Student Achievement Partners
- Email: Joy Delizo-Osborne is the current President of Student Achievement Partners (SAP). Joy holds a B.A. in English and Women's Studies from Pomona College, as well as a Master's in Education from Claremont Graduate University. She worked in schools in the Bronx, Harlem, and the Bay Area for over a decade in various capacities, including teacher, instructional coach, and principal. She then worked as a School Design Lead for Education Resource Strategies before joining SAP in 2019. She resides in Denver, Colorado.
SARIKA SIMPSON
Vice President of Instruction, Edmentum
- Phone: Vice President of Instruction, Edmentum
- Email: Sarika has dedicated her life to education, beginning her career as a teacher more than 20 years ago. She has served in educational leadership roles, from an Assistant Principal to the Vice President of instruction, with a focus on improving student outcomes. Sarika has trained district leaders on best practices using teacher supervision and evaluation tools, as well as piloted Data Wise protocols throughout the district. Sarika initiated and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Mosaic Steering Committee to bring awareness to the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging issues that we face in our country. Sarika serves on the board of directors of Wellness for Educators and collaborates with the consulting group Consult4Ed Group. Sarika has proven success in the areas of leadership coaching, professional learning, emotional intelligence, creating healthy teams, and academic achievement. Over the years, she has received the Woman on the Move Award for making positive change in the education profession, the Crystal Ruler Award for leadership development and student achievement, and the Services Innovator Award for innovation in the professional services field. One of her greatest joys is improving the lives of others.
STEPHEN MCCLAIN
Partner, Education Equity Sector, The Management Center
- Phone: Partner, Education Equity Sector, The Management Center
- Email: Dr. Stephen McClain coaches and advises high-performing leaders desiring to maximize their impact and advance equity in their education organizations across the United States. In his current position at The Management Center, Stephen trains and coaches educational leaders and executives of non-profit organizations on how to lead more effective, equitable, and sustainable organizations. Previously, Dr. McClain served as Chief of Schools at one of Chicago’s largest charter school networks, supporting fourteen campuses and leading innovation, community engagement, and policy teams. McClain was a Principal and Assistant Principal in Chicago Public Schools, elevating each school to Level 1 or Level 1+ with impressive student academic growth and substantial improvement in attainment. Dr. McClain started his career teaching middle grades reading in the Knowledge is Power KIPP Chicago network. Stephen earned a B.A in Elementary Education from Michigan State University, Ed. M from Harvard Graduate School of Education and an Ed.D in Urban School Leadership from the University of Illinois at Chicago. SIMONE WRIGHT SIMONE WRIGHT Associate Chief of Academics, Denver Public Schools TERRIS ROSS TERRIS ROSS Managing Director, Equity Initiative, American Institutes for Research ZACHARY SHIRLEY ZACHARY SHIRLEY Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader, Cambium Assessment TIFFANY TAYLOR TIFFANY TAYLOR Partner, Chief People & Impact Officer, GSV Ventures TS HOARD
Cohort 2 Fellows (2021-2022)
ANTONIO A. SAUNDERS
Founder and CEO, The Experience Consulting Firm
- Phone: Entrepreneur, Educator, & Speaker
- Email: Antonio never asked for permission to change inequitable systems. As a teenager, he became financially independent and the patriarch of his family, navigating through racial systems in Birmingham, Alabama. For more than 15 years, Antonio has advised organizations across multiple sectors on race and equity to drive systems change. He works with chief executives and leadership teams in education, tech, and healthcare to apply a DEI lens on a range of issues that include strategy, innovation, and change management. With deep expertise leading complex systems during uncertain or pivotal moments, Antonio developed an equity change process that has transformed organizational operating models, services, and performance by centering on the experiences of the global majority. Amid the pandemic, Antonio leveraged his insights on generational trends and the future of work to help organizations across diverse industries and geographies digitize their user experience by scaling new technology and platforms for thousands of educators and front-line workers. Antonio hosts The Promised Land podcast and uses storyteller traditions passed down from his grandmother to galvanize audiences on topics that expand our collective consciousness and imagination. Antonio plans to use the IFE Fellowship to launch an organization that curates reclamation journeys for Black people to experience their full humanity, freedom, and dreams.
BERNEX RICHARDSON
Senior Director, Solution Discovery, Guild
- Phone: Education
- Email: Bernex Richardson is a DEI and education technology expert committed to creating educational and professional opportunities for individuals who have been denied access for far too long. Throughout his career, Bernex has served in education and program leadership positions at global tech companies, national education non-profits, and high performing charter and traditional public schools. His administrative and instructional experience include leading elementary and middle school literacy, school leadership as a Dean and Principal, supporting K-12 schools as a teacher and school leader coach and professional development facilitator, and leading state-wide and national initiatives related to higher education programs and partnerships. Currently, Bernex is a Senior Director of Solution Discovery at Guild Education, an EdTech startup that is on a mission to unlock opportunity for America’s workforce through education and upskilling with a double bottom line business model that does well by doing good. In this role, Bernex is responsible for leading market validation and solution discovery to enable Guild to explore new and expanded capabilities that extend Guild's programs to support adult learners while preparing organizations for the future. Prior to launching into his career, Bernex joined the Teach For America organization where he was a Greater New Orleans corps member. Bernex received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Music Education from the University of North Georgia, a senior army military academy located in Dahlonega, GA, and a Master of Science in Education degree from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. When Bernex is not at work, he is teaching indoor cycling across NYC and spending quality time with his partner, plants, and 12 year old Catahoula, Simba.
DANNY LACKEY
Central Office Administrator, Merrillville Community School Corporation
- Phone: Community School Corporation
- Email: Danny Lackey has spent the last several years working with children and families in mental health and educational settings, specializing in the treatment and service to children and adolescents. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Purdue University. In 2014 he received his administrative license after completing his administrative coursework at Indiana Wesleyan University. In 2017 he received a 2nd Master’s in Specialist in Education from Ball State University. During the summer of 2019 he received a Doctorate Degree in Education from Ball State University ——Dr. Lackey has been noted for his work with a diversity club called S.T.A.N.D. (Socially Together and Naturally Diverse) in Merrillville, Indiana. S.T.A.N.D. is a student-led club that promotes an appreciation for diversity by doing various community service and social justice projects and activities throughout the year. Dr. Lackey has been a Guidance Counselor and Coordinator of Diversity Programming for Merrillville Schools and in 2013 he was promoted to an administrative position, Director of Diversity and Student Support Services. In his new role ——Dr. Lackey has been responsible for supervising school social workers corporation-wide, the school nursing department, as well as overseeing the climate, cultural and social-emotional issues as it relates to student achievement. Lastly, Dr. Lackey serves as the District 504 Plan Coordinator, P.B.I.S. (Positive Behavior and Intervention and Support) Coordinator, the McKinney-Vento Liaison for the district, the Point of Contact Person for foster students in Merrillville Schools, and oversees the diversity and cultural competency training for the Merrillville School Corporation. ——*Biographies are considered current for the submission year only.
TITILOLA (TITI) HARLEY
Program Officer, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Phone: Foundation
- Email: Titilola Harley is a Program Officer on the K-12 Education team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In this role, she works with grantees and partners to explore the elements of effective educational solutions and practices that are integral to improving the educational experiences and academic outcomes of students who are Black, Latino, English learner-designated, and/or are experiencing poverty (e.g. culturally responsive and sustaining education, social emotional learning, language learner supports, etc.). ——Titi started her career in education as a Business Analyst in the Office of Special Education at DC Public Schools and then transitioned to management consulting to pursue her interest in helping education agencies better meet the needs of students from all backgrounds. As a consultant, she led and supported projects in areas such as strategic planning, performance management, program implementation and evaluation and data system adoption with educators across the United States. In 2017 she branched out and founded her own consulting firm, Harley Consulting Group, which supports a variety of organizations including non-profits, start-ups, and foundations to help them successfully manage change and develop and implement strategies exceed their goals. ——Titi is passionate about expanding equitable access to high quality, culturally responsive education, and working collaboratively to solve problems and improve opportunities and outcomes for the most vulnerable students. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University School of Business and serves on the university’s National Council for Education and Human Development. Titi loves to travel, and she and her husband live in Maryland with their 4-year-old son, Caleb, and 2-year-old daughter, Chole. ——*Biographies are considered current for the submission year only.
