Petition of Support
Jovan Davis is an actor, creator, and educator. In high school, he attended magnet performing arts schools and developed a strong foundation in understanding the works of playwrights such as August Wilson and William Shakespeare. He went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Morehouse College and pursued a professional stage career in DC, NY, and Atlanta, GA. He served as an educator for 5 years, finding inspiration in the adaptability skills it requires. Presently, he is a Constituent Advocate in the Office of Congresswoman Nikema Williams, where he aids and supports the Congresswoman and the residents of the “Fighting Fifth.” Davis is an advocate for mental health and encourages others to take care of themselves, whether it is through therapy or building a playlist of uplifting songs.
Literacy
Seretha Mills currently works as a second grade lead teacher at Dunbar Elementary school. She is an accomplished elementary school instructor with over 20+ years of improving educational and operational performance through vision, leadership, and team building. Her experience spans diverse school districts and includes 8 years of instructional coaching involvement complemented by several years of classroom experience. She received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a minor in Adult Learning from Central Michigan University, she also received her Reading Endorsement in May of 2019. She values building relationships to enhance content and instructional knowledge that increases student learning. She also serves as a mentor teacher for college students acquiring their degrees. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and was elected as the Factory Shoals Middle School PTA board secretary.
Student Life
Veralyn Wen Bingham is a philosopher and entrepreneur creating ways for passion and critical thought to be part of our central culture. She is currently a 19 year old student at Spelman College, studying History with a minor in curatorial studies. As an artist at heart, she navigates her projects through a critical lens. Since 17, she has helped shape communities centered around educational reform, music, maternal advocacy, and critical thought. Her work reflects her need to reflect the world she and many others experience.
Educator Growth and Development
Dr. Jakeshialin Ohene-Nyako is a current educator in Cobb County. She has more than 10 years of professional experience in grades K-5. During that time, she served as the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Specialist, Math Department Chair, and Grade Level Chair. She received her Doctorate and Specialist degrees from Liberty University in Curriculum & Instruction, a Master of Education in Elementary Education from the University of West Alabama, and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia.
Alexis Dulan was an experience specialist at Slack, where she worked with customers to design and prepare people for new ways of working, increase product adoption, and elevate the maturity of Slack usage across the enterprise. Alexis presented at AfroTech 2020, a virtual conference for Black people in tech on behalf of Slack. She previously worked at Accenture for almost 4 years as a management consultant in both Los Angeles and Washington D.C. Metro area offices. Alexis graduated from Spelman College in 2016 with a B.A. in International Studies and Spanish. A native of Los Angeles, she enjoys traveling and attending live music events around the world. She is also an Investor Relations Fellow with Goodie Nation and a senior Venture capital fellow with HBCUvc.
Social and Emotional Development
Gabriela Claro Juarez, is a first generation Latina. She grew up in Marietta, Georgia and is the oldest of 3 siblings. Her roots come from Mexico where her parents grew up and is proud of her Mexican descent. She attended Georgia State University and graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Educational Psychology. Right after graduation she worked in the non-profit sector for two years doing case management and crisis intervention with the minority community. In 2019 she started her Master’s in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Georgia in their part-time professional route. In May of 2022 she graduated with her MSW and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. She is currently working towards her License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) in the state of Georgia. She is passionate about helping others, specifically the younger generation in Georgia. Gabriela’s goal is to one day start a nonprofit in Georgia where she can provide mental health education and other resources minority communities may need here in Georgia. Gabriela is a Clinical Research Coordinator at Emory University and also works as a therapist. In her spare time Gabriela loves to spend time with her husband and her family. She loves the outdoors, meditation, and going on adventures. Her dream is to one day go to Europe and travel all over the world.
Mercedes Liriano is an Afro-Latina born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She has been teaching for 23 years; 17 of those years in the Bronx. 14 years in middle school teaching ELA/Reading & Social Studies to 6th, 7th and 8th graders. She has received her Masters in Education from Columbia University and Master of Science in Education from Fordham University. She is currently in Cobb County as an IRR/7th Grade Reading & ELA teacher and leads her school’s PLCs in ELA & Reading. Mercedes has also taught in Dekalb County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools for a total of 4 years. She is a mom of 3 beautiful children, 2 boys and 1 girl. Mercedes also hosts Culturally Responsive Educators Book Clubs where she highlights the stories of people of color in the realm of education.
Shane Orange is an experienced operations leader with a diverse background in legal practice and non-profit management. With a successful track record of streamlining and scaling startup processes, Shane has launched independent operations for a fiscally-sponsored organization with over $5M annual budget in under 12 months. As a business consultant, Shane provides strategic consulting for various client initiatives related to startup investments, operational efficiency, compliance, and business development.
In his previous role as Director of Operations at Black Ambition, Shane built the founding team and managed day-to-day operations in the organization’s first fully operational prize year. He ensured operational processes were implemented to support organizational activities, including regional pitch competitions, networking events, and the Black Ambition signature prize competitions and demo day, which provided mentoring, investments, and support to over 250 ventures. Prior to his role at Black Ambition, Shane worked as a corporate attorney at King and Spalding, LLP, where he directly managed a team of 120+ in-house and contract attorneys on multi-year legal discovery and review projects. He also advised on and drafted term sheets, letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, operating agreements, and shareholder agreements, as well as corporate and partnership taxation issues and business succession matters for Fortune 500 companies with transactions totaling more than $2 billion.
Dr. Bre Peeler is an accomplished educator with a diverse background in educational leadership, curriculum development, and instructional coaching. Her educational journey has been marked by a commitment to fostering inclusive and effective learning environments. Dr. Peeler’s impressive credentials include a range of certificates, endorsements, and degrees that showcase her dedication to professional growth and expertise.
She holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia, earned in 2015. Dr. Peeler’s pursuit of excellence led her to a Master of Science in Urban Teacher Leadership from Georgia State University in 2003 and a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development with K-5 Georgia Certification from Spelman College in 2000.
Dr. Peeler’s leadership experience spans various roles, each highlighting her dedication to student success and teacher development. She has served as an MTSS Coordinator in the Cobb County School District, where she provided targeted reading and mathematics instruction to students and shared progress data with educators. Her role as an Adjunct
Leah Rosser, M.Ed., is an accomplished educator and leader with a passion for teaching and a knack for business operations. Her journey is marked by adaptability and unwavering commitment to excellence. Leah’s career began with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Winston-Salem State University. She furthered her education by earning a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia Southern University, equipping her with pedagogical expertise. Leah made her mark at A.L. Burruss Elementary School within the Marietta City Schools system. She excelled in instructional strategies and leadership, chairing grade level meetings and driving initiatives like Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Positive Behavior Interventions Support (PBIS). In 2022, Leah transitioned to the role of Chief Operations Officer at SMJ Communications, demonstrating her business acumen in operations, HR, and strategy. Here, she applied her education expertise to the business world, directing operations and collaborating closely with C-suite executives. Her strategic vision and ability to manage resources effectively made her a driving force behind the company’s success. She is proficient in Spanish, adding a multicultural dimension to her expertise. Leah’s accomplishments include recognition as an Outstanding New Employee and roles as a Kiwanis Club Advisor. She holds certifications, including a Gifted Endorsement and Permanent Certification in Elementary Education.
Reverend Roger Vest is an experienced pastor devoted to serving historic congregations and connecting with local communities. Currently serving as pastor at Douglasville First United Methodist Church since July 2022, Rev. Vest has over 30 years of experience leading Methodist churches across Georgia. Throughout his pastoral career, Rev. Vest has initiated outreach programs like food pantries, lunch programs for children, and “Saturday Sacks” to provide weekend meals for over 1,400 underprivileged students. His commitment to community service is further demonstrated through leadership roles with organizations like United Way, Habitat for Humanity, local food banks and homeless coalitions. An active participant in the United Methodist Church, Rev. Vest represents persons living in poverty for the North Georgia Conference and serves on conference committees like the Strategic Growth Team. He is also an engaged leader outside the church, serving on boards and advisory councils for groups like Leadership Douglas, Ferst Readers, the Good Samaritan Center and more. With decades of hands-on ministry focused on connecting worship with community service, Rev. Roger Vest continues to live out his vocation to help those in need and make a positive impact as pastor of Douglasville First United Methodist Church. His bio highlights a long career of servant leadership within the Methodist church and local communities across Georgia.
Cedric Thorbes is an educator, public speaker, and award-winning author from Cleveland, OH. Cedric is a proud graduate of Morehouse College, where he graduated with honors and a degree in African American Studies. Cedric received a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University while earning certifications in school leadership & teacher development. Cedric’s love and passion for working with young people have led him to do his life’s work in education, as he currently serves as the Academy Leader of a Charter Management organization in Atlanta, GA. Previously, Cedric served as Director of School Culture and Career Technical Education at Great Oaks Legacy Charter School in Newark, NJ. Here, Cedric launched an Advisory Board, secured partnerships with corporate sponsors, and spearheaded the development of a CTE program focused on entrepreneurship and career development.
As an educator & author, Cedric has worked with numerous organizations to inspire people from all walks of life and provide tips for success. Cedric has traveled to multiple cities nationwide, encouraging inner-city youth to strive for excellence and develop a sense of self. He aims to promote the importance of obtaining a quality education and challenge young people to take control of their futures. His memoir “Outspoken” shares his story of resilience and transformation to inspire youth. His education policy op-ed called for broadening charter school missions to prepare students better for post-secondary success. He lives by the mantra, “To have what average people don’t have; I must do what average people won’t don’t do.” Cedric’s goal is to provide every young person in the country with a culturally responsive education containing the social-emotional components necessary to succeed in today’s volatile racial and political climate. With his passion for empowering diverse learners and track record of driving improvement, Cedric is well-positioned to continue making a positive impact in education leadership roles.