Guests

I am the owner of an educational consulting firm where I teach educators about trauma-informed practices. I have been in the educator realm since 2008 and I resigned from my position as a Professional School Counselor in March of 2024.

Akil Parker is a Black man playing his part by teaching math to anybody who will listen either in-person, virtually or on YouTube. He is the founder and CEO of All This Math, an educational services company with a mission to improve the relationship between math and the Black community. He provides physical and online math resources for parents, youth and math teachers. In addition to the All This Math YouTube channel, he has written a math resource guidebook for parents and guardians entitled, 'How To Use All This Math, Volume 1'. One of his major initiatives is to help empower parents to feel comfortable and confident in assisting their children with math homework in order to improve student math outcomes. Akil Parker currently is an adjunct professor at Cheyney University where he teaches math courses such as Elementary Algebra and Math Methods for Teachers. He has been a math teacher for the past 20 years in Philadelphia and beyond in the classroom, as well as in virtual spaces…

Amanda Miller Littlejohn writes and speaks about burnout, our relationship to work, and how to find alignment at work and in life. She is a sought after executive coach and brand strategist whose clients span the globe from San Francisco to Singapore. She is passionate about helping high achievers make themselves and their work VISIBLE in the digital age. Amanda is the author of Package Your Genius: 5 Steps To Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand (PYG Books, 2018) and most recently, The Rest Revolution: How to Reclaim Your Rhythm and Conquer Burnout When Overworking Has Become the Norm (Wiley, 2024) An accomplished freelance journalist, Amanda is a 2024-2025 Rosalynn Carter Mental Health Journalism Fellow. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes and explores the mental health challenges and opportunities of high-achieving midlife professionals.

Analise has been in Denver since 2011 starting as an after school Programming Coordinator with City Year at North High School in Denver Public Schools. After obtaining a MA Ed. from Metropolitan State University, she continued teaching as a special education and concurrent enrollment teacher for 6 years. Analise also taught at Community College of Denver as an adjunct professor. As the Director of Communications and Digital Media, Analise will continue to grow Great Education Colorado social media presence and streamline content delivery.

Arvian L. Harper has been a member of the Denver Public Schools family for most of her life. Growing up in the historic Park Hill neighborhood, she was a DPS honor student from kindergarten through high school. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, and a master’s degree in Education with an emphasis on Literacy; both with honors. After reaching the highest heights of academic success, she decided to dedicate herself to providing similar opportunities to students from under-resourced communities. She started her professional career at a lab school on the Auraria campus. There she worked as a preschool and mentor teacher while acquiring her Preschool Director certification. For the last 15 years, Arvian has enriched the lives of countless DPS students and community members through her work as a paraprofessional, teacher, instructional coach, and dean of instruction. Arvian is a servant leader and a cha…

Asha von Liebtag is certified within the state of New Jersey as an English supervisor and teacher of English, K-12, with pending Principal Certificate of Eligibility. With a Bachelors in English, an Ed.M. in English Education, and a M.A. in Educational Leadership, she served over a decade teaching English literature curriculum in Blue Ribbon schools ranked in the top 20 in New Jersey and in the top 500 nationally according to the US News and World Report. She has experience teaching in charter and public, Abbott and affluent, middle and high school settings in classes ranging from modified to AP Literature with students who display various learning abilities (IEPs/ 504s included). After years of serving on the I&RS (Intervention & Referral Services) Team, she's acquired a plethora of tools and strategies to create individualized action plans for struggling students who may not be granted Special Education services. Asha uses evidence-based curriculum and data analysis to impro…

Dr. Ashlee Saddler is a passionate leader, coach, and changemaker who empowers others to transform systems, elevate practice, and lead with purpose. With over 18 years of experience across education, mental health, and leadership development, Ashlee brings a unique blend of heart, strategy, and results to every space she enters. She currently serves as District Support Chief for the University of Virginia’s Partnership for Leaders in Education (UVA-PLE) and as Senior Director of Leadership at the Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC), where she partners with district and school leaders across the country to drive instructional excellence and lasting impact. Ashlee’s leadership journey has included serving as a principal, assistant principal, and Director of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education—roles in which she championed equity, cultivated thriving learning environments, and saw measurable gains for students. She began her career as a mental health professi…

I have been a classroom teacher or over 20 years. Although my focus has been in the Sciences (Physics), I've been a Gen Ed for elementary and middle school. I did a lot pioneering work in teaching Computer Science in low resource schools in the 00s. People often call Bill Nye the White Aurelius Raines and my teaching has always been a form of activism. I currently get to marry my love of Science, Narratives, and Student Engagement as the person who writes programming for the largest Science Museum in the western hemisphere.

Brittney Carey is an advocate, facilitator, and education freedom dreamer. Brittney holds a B.A. in Advocacy and Social Justice with a concentration in Education from Pacific Oaks College and an M.A. in Legal Studies from the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law. As a seasoned educator with experience spanning from early childhood to adult education, Brittney is deeply committed to fostering authentically inclusive and equitable learning environments. She is the visionary founder of Conscious Pathways Education Consulting, where she launched the Reimagine Education Training Series. This initiative empowers educators with transformative strategies to navigate the complexities of diverse classrooms, ensuring every learner thrives. Her multifaceted experience as an early childhood educator informs her advocacy for child-centered, culturally responsive pedagogy—a cornerstone of her mission to create a more just and equitable society through education. As the host of the Conscio…

I am a meticulous self-starter committed to advancing educational equity in public schools. Working with parents, students, teachers, schools, districts, communities, and policy makers, I enjoy finding creative solutions to complex problems and am able to communicate information simply and concisely. I enjoy working in diverse and collaborative teams in fast-paced environments and helping others achieve their expressed outcomes. I am experienced in using qualitative and quantitative data and am able to synthesize a narrative that people can understand, relate to, and be inspired by, helping them act to effectively meet their goals.

I'm Brittany Dawson I'm a former educator turned solopreneur and TEDx Speaker who's on a mission to unlock the BEST in teams through actionable and energizing workshops, trainings, and keynotes! I've designed and facilitated 100+ trainings across 8+ sectors with organizations like: Constellation Brands (think Modelo/Corona Extra), Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce, and Amazon. I'm a huge Drake, Afrobeats, and r&b fan!

Brittni Joy is a woman who lives a life of purposeful integrity. As a Denver Native, she grew up in a neighborhood that promoted the nurturing of community, a belief in collaboration, and placed a large input in expression and creativity. She has used these skills to develop a platform that builds upon the use of connectivity in business and beyond. Having lived abroad for almost a decade, Brittni brings a very diverse cultural mentality to her workshops and speaking engagements. She understands that culture, experience, knowledge and empathy are the pathways to create a more cohesive community. Brittni has experienced over 45+ countries to date, and knows that the largest connector globally is empathetic engagement. Brittni has a B.A. from Spelman College, located in Atlanta, GA, USA in Child Development and a M.A. in Business Administration from the University of Roehampton, London,UK. She also has a hospitality management certification from Florida Atlantic University in Bo…

Candice Renee Person, MScED | MFA is a mom, organizer, and lifelong educator with over 20 years of experience helping students and teachers thrive. She began her career as a New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching special education to middle schoolers, and later became a school administrator before founding Edututor, where she empowers learners through personalized tutoring and instructional resources rooted in the science of reading. Over the years, she has taught nearly every subject across grades ranging from kindergarten to high school, bringing both breadth and depth to her practice. Candice also works in community with A Queen’s Narrative, which uplifts women and girls through storytelling and empowerment programs, and with the Anti-Racism Community Organizers (ARCO), a grassroots collective dedicated to dismantling systemic racism. A digital nomad in the making, she will begin a worldschooling journey with her 10-year-old daughter in Mexico in 2026.

Experienced Director with a demonstrated history of working in the Education Management industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Management, Strategic Planning, Teaching, and Leadership. Strong professional with an M.A.in Educational Leadership from Regis University.

Crystal Gillis-Drayton is a native of Colorado. She grew up in the Cherry Creek School District. She graduated from Eaglecrest high school. She attended Metro State to receive a bachelor's degree in Human Performance and Sport and continued her schooling for a Masters in Special Education at Colorado University at Denver. She recently resigned as an educator in the Cherry Creek School District teaching Physical Education and Health at Smoky Hill high school. She also sponsored groups that focus on students of color at Smoky Hill High school. She currently works for YAASPA (Young Aspiring Americans for Social Political Activism) as an educator and Healing Centered Engagement manager. At YAASPA her voice is heard and amplified in spaces as a Black educator. YAASPA also created a space that requires one to work within one's own cultural identity...authentically. Her passion is breaking barriers to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and inequalities that her students of color have to…

Deidra, a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut, brings more than 15 years of valuable experience to the field of education. Throughout her career, she has served in various roles, including educator, literacy coach, assistant principal, and consultant. Recognizing a significant gap in urban education, especially concerning the support and development of Black women educators, Deidra took a proactive step. She founded Black Girls Teach, a consulting boutique dedicated to providing affinity spaces and leadership development tailored to Black women educators. In addition to her work with Black Girls Teach, Deidra is a sought-after speaker on topics related to urban school reform. Furthermore, she actively coaches educators who are venturing into launching their consulting businesses, empowering them to become part of the solution. Deidra's multifaceted approach reflects her commitment to addressing challenges within the education system and fostering leadership among Black women educa…

I am a career educator having spent 18 marvelous years in K-12. I launched Nylinka School Solutions because of frustration over K-12's jettisoning of Black boys. Historically, teaching Black boys is based on pathologizing them. Nylinka's support for schools focuses on helping them discover how traditional education marginalizes and disenfranchises Black boys through apparent and not so apparent means, while helping teachers mine the greatness in Black boys. Nylinka will continue to build a suite of services that supports marginalized groups (Latino males, special education students, Black girls in STEM, children in poverty, etc.) Current services include: equity audits, bias-reduction trainings, restorative practices, and building instructional equity that supports all learners. In 2022, I published The Burning House: Educating Black Boys in Modern America. This book articulates how racism works in schools and how Black and Latino boys become disenfranchised via system oppression.

Dr. Adrienne Davenport is a veteran educator who has served as a teacher, instructional coach and building level administrator. She is also the author of Amazon Bestseller, My Hope is Built: Reflections of Faith, Grace and Resilience From An Educational Leader and her most recent release, S.T.A.N.D.: Five Powerful Strategies for Overcoming Barriers to Becoming an Instructional Leader. Dr. Davenport also serves as an adjunct instructor at Anderson University. She is the owner of Dr. D Consulting, LLC which provides instructional leadership professional development to individuals, schools and districts. She is passionate about education and her interests include educational policy and instructional leadership. She volunteers in her community through various organizations such as the United Way. In addition, she works with the youth at her church. Dr. Davenport loves to read and she enjoys music, walking, and spending time with friends and family.

firm that supports foundations, schools, and other non-profits in creating culturally responsive programming and curriculum through equity-centered design thinking. Before founding Lyons Educational Consulting, Dr. Lyons worked as a K-12 educator for over 10 years. She also served as the school-partner specialist. She worked with schools and other non-profits across the Denver Metro Area to provide communities with resources to help close the access gap for Black children and children of Color. Dr. Lyons has her doctorate in Leadership for Educational Equity. Her research focuses on how racism-related stress and racial battle fatigue cross over from Black educators to their families. In addition to her work in consulting, Dr. Lyons is the co-host of, The Exit Interview: A Podcast for Black Educators, a podcast focusing on the lived experience of former Black educators. Finally, she co-facilitates the Black Educator Wellness Cohort, a healing space created to support Black educa…

Dr. Cletis Allen is an Educational Thought Leader with over 13 years of experience in multiple roles in education, including elementary classroom educator, professional learning facilitator, curriculum auditor and writer, and governing board member for a local charter high school. With licensures in Reading, English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and K-5 Science, Dr. Allen is the owner of her elementary education consulting firm, CLETIS Education Consulting LLC. In her doctoral work, “A Document Analysis of the Presence and Relationships between Schwab’s Commonplaces in a Literacy Curriculum that’s Adopted in High-Needs Schools,” Dr. Allen examines the role and interconnectedness of content, teacher, learner, and learning spaces in a literacy curriculum, and the opportunities to incorporate Culturally Responsive Literacy Instructional practices during curriculum adoption and instructional implementation. She works with large and small educational organizations to incorporate cros…

Professional Biography Dr. Danica M. Moore is an experienced scholar, practitioner, non-profit founder, CEO, shoe and sports fanatic, and lifelong learner with demonstrated history working in education management systems. She possesses highly recognized skills in program evaluation, Curriculum and Program Development, Research and educational leadership all intersecting with racial equity work. Her early career as an educator began in religious organizations at age 11, redesigning youth education content and lessons for K-5 students; later she became involved with K-5 summer school opportunities for a public school district in a rural area. These experiences created a foundation for her B.S.E. in Elementary Education from the University of Kansas, followed by an M.S.E. focused in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in TESOL. It was during her graduate program she launched her research centering student identity as an impact on teacher expectations using urban and suburban …

Dr. Darlene Sampson lives by her late parent’s mantra: “Giving back to others is in your DNA-you must respect and honor the shoulders you have stood on.” With that thinking in mind, Dr. Sampson has maintained a space of social justice and cultural humility as she works across the education and social work fields as an administrator, leader, equity specialist, and counselor. Dr. Sampson joined the Equity Assistance Centers after working as a Clinical Field Faculty in the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her previous work in schools as a Director of Culturally Responsive Education, coupled with teaching and social work in schools rounds out her professional experiences. Her lived experiences as a Black woman assist her in infusing empathy for others particularly around the intersectional spaces of gender and race. Dr. Sampson’s professional goals are to infuse culturally responsive consciousness, promote inclusive pedagogy, integrate equity …