Elevating Educator Voices on Teaching Truth About Racism

In 2013, Dr. Jemelleh Coes was nominated to represent Bulloch County as Teacher of the Year. She went on to become Georgia’s 2014 Teacher of the Year. She taught middle grades English/language arts and math in both the general and special education setting.

She is the Director of Teacher Leadership at Mount Holyoke College where she leads the program, develops curriculum, and provides professional development opportunities for teacher leaders. She is also a professor at the University of Georgia where she teaches future educators along with future professionals dedicated to disability advocacy. She also serves as a teacher mentor for classroom teachers throughout the state. In this capacity, she supports teachers with career development and special projects. Her work is about helping other educators grow. Through this, she is thankful to be able to learn from some of the most exciting and uniquely innovative educators in the country!

Her work has a laser focus on equity and disrupting traditional ways of engaging in education. She believes that equity is the thread that runs through everything!

Jemelleh says, “In the sweater of life, if you remove the equity thread, you can guarantee indecent exposure.” 

As Educator Engagement Coordinator for the Education Civil Rights Alliance Convened by the National Center For Youth Law, Natasha  recruits and trains educators on key education equity issues and to speak out in the media and with policymakers. The primary objective of Natasha's work is to ensure that children have access to culturally diverse curricula and materials in school and can learn the full and accurate history and current realities of racism and other discrimination in our nation.

Prior to this role, Natasha taught high school social studies , and served as the Senior Policy Specialist for Resource Allocation for the Illinois State Board of Education.  She earned a Bachelor's degree in Public Policy from University of IL, and a JD from Michigan State University, as well as a Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown's McCort School of Public Policy.

Abdul Wright is an Assistant Principal at a middle school in North Minneapolis. Prior to his current role, he taught Language Arts for ten years, and served a term as the Board Chair of Mastery Charter School in North Minneaoplis. Mr. Wright earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts and Literature from Concordia University (2011), and later graduated from Hamline University with a Master’s degree in Education (2016). Mr. Wright received the Minneapolis PeaceMaker award from the City of Minneapolis (2015), along with the ‘You’ve Made a Difference’ award from Cristo Rey Jesuit High School (2015 and 2016). He completed an African American Leadership program (2016) and was the recipient of the 2016 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award, where he was recognized as the first black male to receive the honor, the youngest, and the first teacher from a charter school. Mr. Wright was also identified as a Minnesota African American Heritage Award Honoree in 2018