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. Brooke is the founding director of Diverse Learners Cooperative. She leads the DLC’s efforts to connect teachers and leaders… Laura Booker is the executive director of the Tennessee Education Research Alliance and a senior lecturer in the department… Christiane Buggs is chair of the Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of Education. She is a Nashville native and… Christopher Candelaria is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. His research interests… Maya Cole is a diligent and committed honors senior Biology major with a concentration in Secondary Education at the… Indira Dammu is a Associate Partner at Bellwether Education Partners. In this role, she works with a variety of… Donna has been actively involved with Ford NGL as a professional development provider and consultant for over 25 years.… Joey Hassell currently serves as the director of career-technical education for the Milan Special School District. He also serves… Erika Leicht is the director of research at the Tennessee State Board of Education, the governing and policy making… UrLeaka Woodard Newsome serves as an Assistant Professor of STEM and Foundations of Education at Tennessee State University where… Ayania Owens is a dedicated and passionate advocate for education and social justice. She has a strong commitment to… Nate Schwartz is the Director of Applied Research and a Professor of the Practice at Brown University's Annenberg Institute… Mandy Spears is the deputy director at the Sycamore Institute, an independent, nonpartisan public policy research center for Tennessee.… Rebekah is the Coordinator of Multilingual Learner & Migrant Programming with Lenoir City Schools. While LC Schools is a… Peter is the Senior Director of Research at Tennessee SCORE, identifying and studying new and emerging trends that could… Dr. Jared Bigham is the co-founder and CEO of myCredential. He is a fourth generation educator with over 20 years of… Troy Grant serves as the Ayers Foundation's Trust's Chief Scholars Officer. In this capacity, Troy provides leadership to the… Miki Mitrik is an organizer of people and information. Of special interest to her is the immigrant community. At… Amy Moreland is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Strategy at the Tennessee Board of Regents. Amy serves… Tucker Mountain, a Tennessee native and first-generation college student, is currently pursuing a dual degree in Economics through the… Jennifer Novo is the executive director of FUTURO, Inc, a college-success professional development organization in Middle-Tennessee. Jennifer has been… Bob Obrohta is an expert in college access and success for first-generation/low-income students. His 35-year career spans being a… Tyvi Small currently serves as the Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He… Dr. Eric Stokes is assistant vice provost for strategic enrollment services and director of undergraduate admissions and orientation at… Jamia leads SCORE’s postsecondary strategy, relying on her deep experience in higher education to build relationships in the field…P-12 Policy Council
Brooke Allen
Founding Director
Diverse Learners CooperativeLaura Booker
Executive Director
Tennessee Education Research AllianceChristiane Buggs
Chair
Metro Nashville Public Schools Board of EducationChristopher Candelaria
Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Education
Vanderbilt UniversityMaya Cole
Student
Tennessee State UniversityIndira Dammu
Associate Partner
Bellwether Education PartnersDonna Gilley
Community Coach
Ford NGLJoey Hassell
Director, Career-Technical Education
Milan Special School District Erika Leicht
Director of Research
Tennessee State Board of EducationUrLeaka Newsome
Assistant Professor of STEM/Foundations of Education
Tennessee State UniversityAyania Owens
College Student
Middle Tennessee State UniversityNate Schwartz
Director of Applied Research and a Professor of the Practice
Brown University's Annenberg Institute for School Reform. Mandy Spears
Deputy Director
Sycamore InstituteRebekah Summers
Coordinator of Multilingual & Migrant Programming
Lenoir City SchoolsPeter Tang
Senior Director of Research
SCOREHigher Education Policy Council
Jared Bigham
Co-founder & CEO
myCredentialTroy Grant
Chief Scholars Officer
The Ayers Foundation TrustMiki Mitrik
RHiTA Lead Faculty
Walters State Community CollegeAmy Moreland
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Policy & Strategy
TBR--The College System of TennesseeTucker Mountain
Student
University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleJennifer Novo
Executive Director
FUTURO, Inc.Bob Obrohta
Executive Director
TN College Access and Success NetworkTyvi Small
Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Engagement
University of Tennessee, KnoxvilleEric Stokes
Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Services
Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation
The University of MemphisJamia Stokes
Vice President of Postsecondary Programs
Tennessee SCORE