Stephanie spent nearly 20 years at Rutgers University working with faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students in a variety of capacities. Most recently, she was the Senior Director of the BOLD Center for Leadership, Career, and Personal Development at Douglass Residential College for women in New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the BOLD Center, Stephanie ran programs for students to clarify their academic and career goals through hands-on experiences, connected them with role models and professionals, and prepared them for success in their personal and professional lives.
Stephanie holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies, and a master’s degree in education, specializing in the social and philosophical foundations of education. She is currently finishing a second master’s in educational theory, organization, and policy. Her research is centered on urban public school financing and governance. Stephanie’s passion for educational equity comes from her own experiences growing up in Paterson, New Jersey and seeing her father fight for public school funding in the early 1990s.
Read more about Stephanie’s professional experience and academic research interests.
My coaching style in three words
My favorite part about coaching
I love seeing individuals grow over time, watching them build confidence in their own talents and abilities, and providing connections and resources that have an immediate impact on someone’s journey.
Ask me about:
Resources for early and mid-career professionals, translating your skills for new career paths, building your resume and/or LinkedIn, navigating a job search, finding internships or other experiential learning opportunities, and applying to graduate programs or law school.
Judith Cruz is a native Texan with Guatemalan heritage and lives in Houston with her husband and three sons. Judith received a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Bilingual Special Education from George Washington University. She has twenty-five years of experience as an educator, non-profit leader, and volunteer in public schools. She is a former Trustee and board chair for the Houston Independent School District and is the Texas Assistant Director for the Education Trust. In her spare time, she dances with Mexico en Danzas Ballet Folkólrico, bakes, and cheers her kids on at their soccer games.
My coaching style in three words:
Adaptable
Pragmatic
Focused
My favorite part about coaching:
I love helping those I coach get unstuck or accomplish something they didn’t think was possible.
Ask me about:
Student Outcomes Focused Governance
Superintendent evaluations
Superintendent search
Audit function
Email me at: judith.cruz@educationalequity.org
LeKisha Jordan (she/her) currently serves as the Legislative Policy Advisor for the DC Council, specifically leading education policy efforts for Chairman Phil Mendelson. LeKisha began her career in education teaching fifth grade in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where she solidified her passion for educating and ensuring equity in educational opportunities for all students. Prior to joining the DC Council, LeKisha served as the Director at a non-profit focused on developing the leadership of former educators interested in expanding their impact by using their teaching background to effect change through policy and/or elected leadership. LeKisha received a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration, with a specialization in education policy from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College. She currently resides in southeast Washington, DC with her husband and daughter.
Prompts
Erica Mosca is proud to be the first person in her family to graduate from college. She is a former teacher, Special Projects Manager for the fifth largest school district, along with being a founder and executive director for her own non-profit, Leaders in Training. Today, Leaders in Training empowers over 200 students annually with a 100% college acceptance rate and an 81% postsecondary persistence rate including 20 different institutions in eight states. 100% of members in Erica’s non-profit commit to using their education and success to empower their home community. She currently serves in the Nevada State Legislature as the first Filipina to ever serve in the state.
Jessica has spent her career in education, from teacher to principal, and now as a leadership coach working with districts and systems across the country to provide students a joyful and rigorous school experience. As a principal, she founded a middle school that was one of the top #10 in NYC in 2012 and as a coach she has done everything from helping lead turnaround work in Florida, implementing new evaluation systems in Kansas City, and developing and launching cohorts for principals to strengthen their leadership skills. She was elected to two consecutive terms on her local Community Education Council in Brooklyn and even ran for City Council in 2021.
Email me at jessica.simmons@educationalequity.org
Megan is a political strategist, attorney, and voting rights advocate with a passion for helping leaders overcome barriers to success. She has served in various leadership roles with municipal, state, and federal campaigns, specializing in political compliance, coalition building, community affairs, and building infrastructure for remote teams. Megan currently serves as Vice President of Law & Policy at Voting Rights Lab and previously served as Senior Director of Elected Leadership for LEE where she managed a team of political professionals supporting the leadership and campaign development of LEE members across the country. Megan earned a BA in English from the University of Florida and a JD from Howard University School of Law. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children.
Marcus is an educator, activist, community organizer, and trailblazer that’s passionate about helping future leaders find agency through critical thinking and an equitable curriculum. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from the Foster Business School at the University of Washington-Seattle, and a Master of Arts in Counseling/Psychotherapy from Rowan University. Marcus currently serves as Director and Vice Chair for the Bend-La Pine School developing policy and equity leadership, co-founder of the Father’s Group (a non-profit establishing leadership opportunities for youth in the community), and serves on the Oregon Department of Education Curriculum Development Council for African-American Education. In his spare time, he officiates in the community, enjoys cycling, and is a world traveler.
Email me at: marcus.legrand@educationalequity.org
I have spent the last 20 years advising senior executives in state and local government, non-profits, higher education, politics, and corporate philanthropy. My diversity of experiences and cross-sector relationships have given me a unique insight into the intersection between organizational transformation and personal and professional growth.
I specialize in leadership practice and personal change management; working with clients to seize opportunity and move beyond barriers that are limiting their personal and organizational success.
Having the honor to support and experience clients arriving at “Aha” moments, gaining key insights about themselves their work and leadership. The look and sound of reflections that lead to clarity, understanding and the realization of mastery.
Building partnerships and collaborations with individuals and groups who have traditionally been considered or labeled as the “opposition”.
During a nine-year tenure of serving on the Executive team at Harris County Public Health as the Policy and Planning Director, Rocaille developed a niche for strategy where it intersects with policy and systems change. Healthy Living Matters is one example of this, where she served as both Founding Director and Co-Director to address childhood obesity through a policy lens. Though her background is in public health, she specializes in systems leadership, which requires innovative, public-private partnerships across sectors such as healthcare, education, community and economic development and transportation. She is now an independent consultant, working to build systems of impact in health, education and the environment to improve lives for all.
Within the education sector, her professional portfolio consists of stakeholder engagement and community mobilization efforts in early childhood development, School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs), and District-level wellness policies. As a new member of the Fort Bend County School Health Advisory Council, she will inspire system-level change to advance social and emotional learning across the District with an eye towards equity for children with special needs.
In my work, I enjoy the discovery process required to bring about transformational change, both across systems and within individuals. I hope to have a similar experience while coaching.
Systems leadership and non-traditional partnerships to advance policy, advocacy or organizing goals; influencing policy at local and state levels.
Sandy has spent her career in either politics or education, and in the ideal positions, doing a combination of both. She is excited to help the next generation of policy and advocacy leaders for educational equity realize their goals. Sandy has more than a decade of experience in the classroom, having taught English in Chihuahua, Mexico; government and economics in McAllen, Texas; and, most recently, environmental education in West Virginia and various national parks. Prior to that she served as Vice President of Government Affairs at Teach For America; Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), and as a legislative assistant for Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell.
Seeing coachees realize their own potential, and gain confidence in themselves.
Policy, advocacy or Hill careers in DC; managing and inspiring teams.
Tai A. Dixon is CEO and Principal Consultant at Tai D. Coaching and Consulting Inc., where she works with leaders as an executive coach and workplace culture consultant in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, talent management and talent acquisition. Tai brings over 17 years of experience to this work centered on leading in a variety of sectors. Tai is also a Senior Consultant and Project Lead at Frontline Solutions part-time, where she leads large-scale DEI projects with the support of a team of consultants.
Most recently, Tai was the Chief Talent and Equity Officer at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School Network where she led the Talent Management Team. Prior to joining staff at E.L. Haynes, Tai was the National Director of State Offices and Field Operations for the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), a national child policy, community organizing, and advocacy organization. In this capacity she led an 80+ person team and directly managed CDF’s state office Executive Directors, national community organizing staff, CDF Haley Farm staff, national Beat The Odds Scholarship Program staff, and CDF Internship Program staff.
Tai has dedicated her career to advocacy, social justice and developing others to become ever stronger leaders and agents of change. She’s held prior roles leading fundraising for Teach For America- Baltimore and leading National Talent Acquisition for Teach For America. She’s also practiced law as a civil litigator at Goodell DeVries, LLP in Baltimore, and she taught 7th and 8th Grade English and ESL in Houston Texas.
For the past 13 years, Ms. Dixon has worked as the Assistant Coach and now adjunct Professor of Appellate Advocacy for the Charles Hamilton Houston National Moot Court Team at her alma mater, Howard University School of Law, helping law students of color hone their oral advocacy and appellate brief writing skills. In addition to her Juris Doctorate from the Howard University School of Law, Tai holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Spelman College and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas, a Certificate in Professional Coaching from The Center For Coaching Certification, and a Strategic Human Resources Leadership Certificate from Cornell University.
I love supporting individuals in tapping into the why behind their aspirations and creating action plans and accountability to reach their goals. Using my professional experiences to help support others in their personal and professional journey is the most rewarding work I’ve done.
Leadership, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Consulting, Law, Education, Policy, Human Resources, Operations Leadership, Interview skills, Resume and Linked-In Guidance, Support in Reaching Your Goals.
Blanchi brings extensive experience in legislative advocacy, policy development, strategic outreach and knowledge in navigating the congressional process. She served in many roles as a political appointee at the Department of Education and also worked for Senator Gillibrand. Through her career, she has provided strategic advice to leadership; built and managed relationships with Members of Congress and other agencies; developed and implemented strategies for ED’s outreach and policy efforts with local, State and Federal stakeholders. She has spent the last 8 years in the following industries: government, education, politics, lobbying and consulting.
Helping those most closely impacted by policy change to get a seat at the table and contribute to the policy conversation, particularly people of color. There is nothing more rewarding than to see someone grow into a role that will impact students across the nation.
Guidance on how to approach jobs on Capitol Hill and Federal Government. Also, if you are interested in applying for fellowships or graduate school. I can also provide support on your own coaching practice or thought-partnership on a coaching challenge; questions about coaching across teams at LEE; referrals for members who need coaching support to determine their path to impact if considering multiple pathways
Prior to joining LEE, Naya spent 10 years as a senior leader at Teach For America, after nearly 6 years as Executive Director of a school-based educational non-profit in South Los Angeles and having worked for the Mayor of Los Angeles. She began her career in education as a 1994 TFA Corps member teaching in Washington, DC. Naya holds a BA in Latin American Studies and Latin American Literature from Smith College and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Naya attributes her focus on ending educational inequity to her experiences growing up and being raised in the rural Southwest (she proudly hails from small town Alamosa, Colorado). Community, family, equity, and the importance of JOY are values that both drive and guide Naya as a leader, as a friend, as a mother, as a partner, and, as a person deeply committed to making tangible, positive change.
Meeting new people and being a part of their journey, deepening connections and growing through shared experiences and trust; gaining inspiration and insights from members.
Prepping for interviews; networking strategically; career changing (even as a senior leader); executive coaching; bringing your most authentic self to interviews; transitioning successfully into a new role.
I’m excited to begin working with you as a coach! I am the director, program supports, and innovations here at LEE. My dedication to ending inequity is inspired by my mother, who taught special education in public schools for 38 years. I believe that the surest path to social justice is through supporting education leaders within and beyond the classroom.
Prior to joining LEE, I worked for the Children’s Defense Fund-CA, Chrysalis, TreePeople, and the ACLU of Maryland.
I have supported more than 125 members in landing roles at organizations like the Georgia Department of Education, First 5 LA, and United Way, and I look forward to supporting you in your next steps.
More about Mollie’s professional experience
My coaching style in three words: warm, relational, supportive
My favorite part about coaching: building a connection based on shared stories, experiences, and vision for impact, and growing this relationship over time.
Ask me about: prepping for interviews and salary negotiation
I LOVE to see people succeed and to challenge self-imposed limitations. I enjoy it so much, I founded a personal and professional development company committed to helping individuals and organizations achieve their desired outcomes.
During my career in Federal government, I took joy from the opportunity to DEVELOP and ENGAGE managers and employees through training, mentoring and coaching. Blessed with amazing opportunities – including leading government-wide efforts to improve CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE – I derived extreme satisfaction from identifying and implementing solutions to improve government operations for customers. I have a natural gift for finding solutions to develop organizations and individuals. I also have a PASSION for empowering people to make their greatest contribution.
In my federal Training Director, Customer Service Director, and Senior Executive Service positions, as well as my tenure as the Executive Director of a 1,500-member, professional development focused non-profit, I led people and change to improve organizational impact. Now, as an Executive and Career Coach, I guide employees to align their values, strengths and interests with meaningful career paths, and help them quickly advance along their career journey.
After more than 15 years of leading people and change, I decided to focus specifically on personal and professional development. A different type of public service, this career leverages experience in training design, employee engagement and coaching to optimize outcomes.
I enjoy seeing and hearing those “aha” moments among my clients. When they identify something that has blocked their growth, and commit to action to change their situation, I know we are about to celebrate a win!
Ask me about challenging the status quo and disrupting the matrix within the Federal government, and capacity building within nonprofit organizations.
© 2024. Leadership for Educational Equity. All Rights Reserved.
