Our Team

Meet the Teach For America Jacksonville and Central Florida team.

Local Leadership

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer

Statewide Executive Director & Vice President, Executive Director Coach & Regional Field Advisor

Teach For America Florida Regions

LaKeisha Wells-Palmer serves as the Statewide Executive Director and Vice President for Teach For America Florida, where she leads the organization’s work across Miami-Dade, Jacksonville, and Central Florida, and strengthens statewide alignment toward long-term student success. In addition to her Florida portfolio, she serves nationally as an Executive Director Coach and Regional Field Advisor, supporting executive directors across the enterprise in sharpening their strategic judgment, deepening their leadership capacity, and navigating the complexities of regional vision, execution, and impact.

Meet Our Staff

Vice President, Programs and Impact

Gerthy Eugene


Vice President, Statewide Operations

Patrick Evans


Director Statewide Operations

Heather Phelps


Managing Director, Board & Network Coalitions

Megan Cole


Director, Statewide Alumni Educator & Fellowship Initiatives

Zahirah Calloway


Managing Director, Statewide Alumni & Network Strategy

Jazmin Miller


Director, Alumni Impact

Matt Boerner

Managing Director, Government & Public Relations

Chelsea Franklin


Senior Managing Director, Statewide Leadership Development

Kiara Drummond


Director, Leadership Development

Zandra Bryant


Managing Director, Leadership Development

Cayla Young


Managing Director, Leadership Development - Operations

Emily Mayeda


Managing Director, Statewide Matriculation Generalist

Xavier Suarez


Managing Director, Ignite Program Impact

Courtney Coffill


Senior Managing Director, Head of Southeast Development Hub

Cheria Funches


Director, Grants, Southeast Development Hub

Lauren Collens


Director of Development

Rachel Engle


MD, Ignite Program Impact

Anna Lisa Caraveo-Flores

Director, Statewide Talent Pipeline

Angie Arroyo

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