The P-12 and Higher Education Policy Councils at The Education Trust in Tennessee are comprised of civil rights, education, research, public policy, business, and community leaders who have a demonstrated commitment to educational equity in our state. Council members act as ambassadors, advocates, and allies to help expand and deepen the influence of the organization by providing access to new alliances and critical thought-partnership on a range of issues impacting the public education system in Tennessee. The councils advise The Education Trust in Tennessee with a bold policy agenda that illuminates the magnitude of the achievement gap in education, challenges the status quo on behalf of children, and empowers our diverse Tennessee communities.

P-12 Policy Council

Brooke Allen

Brooke Allen

Founding Director
Diverse Learners Cooperative

Brooke is the founding director of Diverse Learners Cooperative. She leads the DLC’s efforts to connect teachers and leaders…

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Laura Booker

Laura Booker

Executive Director
Tennessee Education Research Alliance

Laura Booker is the executive director of the Tennessee Education Research Alliance and a senior lecturer in the department…

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Christiane Buggs

Christiane Buggs

Chair
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education

Christiane Buggs is chair of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education. She is a Nashville native and…

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Christopher Candelaria

Christopher Candelaria

Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education
Vanderbilt University

Christopher Candelaria is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. His research interests…

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Maya Cole

Maya Cole

Student
Tennessee State University

Maya Cole is a diligent and committed honors senior Biology major with a concentration in Secondary Education at the…

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Indira Dammu

Indira Dammu

Associate Partner
Bellwether Education Partners

Indira Dammu is a Associate Partner at Bellwether Education Partners. In this role, she works with a variety of…

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Donna Gilley

Donna Gilley

Community Coach
Ford NGL

Donna has been actively involved with Ford NGL as a professional development provider and consultant for over 25 years.…

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Joey Hassell

Joey Hassell

Director, Career-Technical Education
Milan Special School District

Joey Hassell currently serves as the director of career-technical education for the Milan Special School District. He also serves…

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Erika Leicht

Erika Leicht

Director of Research
Tennessee State Board of Education

Erika Leicht is the director of research at the Tennessee State Board of Education, the governing and policy making…

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UrLeaka Newsome

UrLeaka Newsome

Assistant Professor of STEM/Foundations of Education
Tennessee State University

UrLeaka Woodard Newsome serves as an Assistant Professor of STEM and Foundations of Education at Tennessee State University where…

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Ayania Owens

Ayania Owens

College Student
Middle Tennessee State University

Ayania Owens is a dedicated and passionate advocate for education and social justice. She has a strong commitment to…

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Nate Schwartz

Nate Schwartz

Director of Applied Research and a Professor of the Practice
Brown University's Annenberg Institute for School Reform.

Nate Schwartz is the Director of Applied Research and a Professor of the Practice at Brown University's Annenberg Institute…

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Mandy Spears

Mandy Spears

Deputy Director
Sycamore Institute

Mandy Spears is the deputy director at the Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee.…

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Rebekah Summers

Rebekah Summers

Coordinator of Multilingual & Migrant Programming
Lenoir City Schools

Rebekah is the Coordinator of Multilingual Learner & Migrant Programming with Lenoir City Schools. While LC Schools is a…

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Peter Tang

Peter Tang

Senior Director of Research
SCORE

Peter is the Senior Director of Research at Tennessee SCORE, identifying and studying new and emerging trends that could…

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Higher Education Policy Council

Jared Bigham

Jared Bigham

Co-founder & CEO
myCredential

Dr. Jared Bigham is the co-founder and CEO of myCredential. He is a fourth generation educator with over 20 years of…

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Troy Grant

Troy Grant

Chief Scholars Officer
The Ayers Foundation Trust

Troy Grant serves as the Ayers Foundation's Trust's Chief Scholars Officer. In this capacity, Troy provides leadership to the…

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Miki Mitrik

Miki Mitrik

RHiTA Lead Faculty
Walters State Community College

Miki Mitrik is an organizer of people and information. Of special interest to her is the immigrant community. At…

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Amy Moreland

Amy Moreland

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Strategy
TBR--The College System of Tennessee

Amy Moreland is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Strategy at the Tennessee Board of Regents. Amy serves…

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Tucker Mountain

Tucker Mountain

Student
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tucker Mountain, a Tennessee native and first-generation college student, is currently pursuing a dual degree in Economics through the…

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Jennifer Novo

Jennifer Novo

Executive Director
FUTURO, Inc.

Jennifer Novo is the executive director of FUTURO, Inc, a college-success professional development organization in Middle-Tennessee. Jennifer has been…

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Bob Obrohta

Bob Obrohta

Executive Director
TN College Access and Success Network

Bob Obrohta is an expert in college access and success for first-generation/low-income students. His 35-year career spans being a…

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Tyvi Small

Tyvi Small

Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Tyvi Small currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He…

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Eric Stokes

Eric Stokes

Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Services
Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation
The University of Memphis

Dr. Eric Stokes is assistant vice provost for strategic enrollment services and director of undergraduate admissions and orientation at…

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Jamia Stokes

Jamia Stokes

Vice President of Postsecondary Programs
Tennessee SCORE

Jamia leads SCORE’s postsecondary strategy, relying on her deep experience in higher education to build relationships in the field…

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