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Meet the 2021 Black Education Promise Fellowship Cohort

The Black Community Alliances launched the Black Educators Promise Alumni Fellowship for 4th & 5th year educators in the summer of 2021 to provide professional development and 1-1 coaching

Nelvia Johnson

Nelvia Johnson is an 8th grade teacher at KIPP Delta College Preparatory School.  She focuses on strengthening children in the areas of social studies including antiracism, identity, social justice, and social emotional competencies in order to foster informed student advocacy for their individual and collective needs.  She is a 2017 Teach For America Greater Delta Corps member and Teach Plus Arkansas Fellow.  She earned her BA in Sociology from Spelman College. Ultimately, she would like to develop a trauma-informed social emotional curriculum for BIPOC students. Named after her grandmother, she is one of five Nelvia's in her family. She credits her late grandmother, Nelvia Rainey, as one of her biggest inspirations.

Gregsha “Grey” Lee

Greetings, my name is Gregsha’ “Grey” Lee I am a proud North Carolinian hailing from Durham & graduate of the Illustrious North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where I graduated cum laude with a BS in Sport Science & Fitness Management & concentration in Pre Physical Therapy. I currently serve as a Science teacher, Jr. Class Advisor, Track Director, and asst. Athletic Director at Dudley High School in Greensboro, NC. I will be entering my 4th year in the classroom this coming 2021-2022 school year and currently plan to complete a 5th year while exploring other options proximate to education such as athletic directing and homeless education. Two fun facts about me: I’m an avid novice yogi and competed in beauty pageants as a child.

Ashanti Hardy

Ashanti Hardy is a native of Atlanta Georgia. In 2017, she graduated from Georgia Southern University with a B.S. in Justice studies and a minor in Creative Writing. After completing a year of service through City Year Jacksonville, Ashanti was selected as a 2018 TFA corps member in the Metro ATL region. Her favorite aspect of teaching is the transfer of knowledge between the students and the teacher. She believes that the classroom is a shared learning space that should always center student voice and growth. When she isn’t teaching, she enjoys playing tennis, writing poems and writing/directing screen plays. She currently serves as an ELA Intervention teacher in the DeKalb County School District.

 

Dorrian Swinger

I am Dorrian Swinger. I currently teach 7th Grade scholars in Social Studies at KIPP STRIVE Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. I received my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Georgia State University. I received my Masters of Arts in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education, and I am currently enrolled in Kennesaw State University’s specialist program in Middle Grades Education. I love to teach and love to always get better at it. I am reminded of a quote by Anthony D’Angelo that states “develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” These words embody a winning mindset for me and how I live out what I do. With that, a fun fact about me is that I was born on New Year's Day and always heard that those who were born on New Year's could stop time. I am still looking for how to complete this task.

Nicollette Jones-Flowers

My name is Nicollette Jones-Flowers. I have a 12-year-old son and I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 15 years this November. I have a BAAS Degree in Criminal Justice and an MS in Human & Social Services, with a minor in Conflict Management & Negotiation.

I began teaching in 2018 at Fairview Elementary where I taught first grade. While there, I was rookie teacher of the year my first year. From there I have moved to the Guilford County e-Learning Virtual Academy where I teach first grade exclusively online. There, I am on the first-grade leadership team, a pod captain, and the Technology leader for the first-grade team.

A fun fact about me is that I love to bake and crochet. I love making delicious baked treats and making crocheted hats and blankets.

Jazmin Loveless

Hello, my name is Jazmin Loveless affectionately known as “Ms. Love” by my scholars and colleagues. My love for all things education began many years ago teaching arithmetic to my dolls in my Detroit bedroom as a little girl. 10 years ago I decided to do what I love, obtaining positions in early childhood education, program coordination, and training and development. After receiving my Bachelors of Arts from Mercer University, I joined Teach for America Metro Atlanta in the hopes of deepening my impact in the world through transformative education.

My approach to education, rooted in empowering students to lead and learn through love, named me the recipient of the ‘Positive Learning Environment’ Award and the’ Project Based Learning in Action’ Award this past school year. My unwavering commitment to increasing representation and positive outcomes for black students, recently prompted me to share my knowledge through leadership development. In addition to being an Educator, and a student at Relay Graduate School of Education, I work as a Recruitment Ambassador for the Kindezi Schools. I also collaborate with the TFA Metro Atlanta Leadership team to co-create and facilitate professional development sessions for current Corps Members. As a TFA Alum and 4th year Black Educator, I am completely committed to action and advocacy in the name of educational equity.

Ashlee Bush-Davis

My name is Ashlee S Bush-Davis. I’m currently a 5th/6th Science Teacher in New Orleans East.  I’m originally from South Central Los Angeles, California. After college, I moved to New Orleans, Louisiana where I became a science teacher and continue to fall in love with middle school adolescents on a daily basis. (Clearly, I love my job) . I graduated from high school with my Associate Arts Degree in Science, continued my education at the University of California, Irvine with my B.A Degree in Education ,  received my M.A Degree in Communication of Education from Grand Canyon University, and am currently pursuing my Doctoral Degree in Organizational Education from Grand Canyon University. When I’m not teaching my lovely hormonal pre-teens - I enjoy traveling, shopping, cooking and watching hours and hours of Law & Order SVU. A fun fact about me is that I’ve helped build an elementary school in Tanzania out of plastic bottles and sand my senior year of college.

Crista Washington

Ms.Washington has been teaching Science for 4 years and is currently in her 5th year of teaching at KIPP Soul Academy in Atlanta, Ga as a founding 5th Grade Science teacher. A 2011 graduate of Cedar Grove High school, Ms.Washington was born and raised in Atlanta, GA. She was inspired to enter this profession largely because of her passion to ignite change using her gifts and by her parents, who believe education breeds success.

Ms.Washington received her bachelor's degree in Communications Arts with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising from Reinhardt University and her masters degree in Educational Studies- Elementary from Johns Hopkins University. Ms.Washington is dedicated to providing students with an engaging and equitable learning experience and strongly believes “ If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, then what am I? And if not now, when?” and therefore prides herself on bringing an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to life and the classroom each day. She aspires to inspire the scholars she serves, to do the same.

Cameo Nichols, JD

Kansas native, undergrad completed at Colorado State University in Political Science with a minor in Sociology. Obtained a Juris Doctorate from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law.  After practicing law for over 12 years, I decided to effect change through education. The career path change was greatly influenced by high school teachers that also made career changes into education as well. Also, I have a desire to effect change in our communities and people through education before entering into the justice system having seen first hand the outcomes. After obtaining my teaching licensing through Teach for America in the Greater Delta, I taught one more year at my school district West Tallahatchie, R.H. Bearded Elementary. 

Currently, teaching in CMS as an ELA and social studies teacher within the 5th grade at Walter G. Byers School. My future educational plans include becoming a national board certified teacher and obtaining my Doctorate in Education.  It is my hope to continue the "One Day" fight for equal educational opportunity for all.  Fun fact: I am a true cowgirl. I grew up around the family cattle farm and shared a shetland pony with cousins

Brent Chapuis

My name is Brent Aaron Chapuis. I'm a 2nd grade educator born and raised in New Orleans. I was a member of the GNO 16 cohort following my graduation from LSU in Mass Communications. I currently work at Success at Thurgood Marshall. I am a husband and father. Those are my favorite titles and most prestigious roles. I love to bike, read and sing to my baby. I've also started writing children's books since the pandemic. 

Learn more about the Black Educators Promise Fellowship and the Black Community Alliances

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