Guests

To let her tell it, she’s a wordsmith and an acrobat. Peek at her resumes... you can't help but agree. As a former international educator, Jae earned her BSED in Early Childhood Education and her first EdM in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership as well as four (4) different yoga certifications before heading classrooms in Charlotte, NC; Zhengzhou, China; her hometown of Chicago, IL, and; Porto Alegre, Brazil. After an emergency evacuation from her home in China at the height of COVID, Jae took time in stillness and silence to reflect and re-evaluate her definitions of success, happiness, and fulfillment. Shortly after, she traded in her textbooks and lesson plans for yoga mats, journals, microphones and stages. Thus, S. Jae Ali Speaks and The Wellness Workshops were born. Jae has shared her stories and lessons with diverse audiences of all ages and walks of life. Whether she is educating high school students, relating to middle-aged moms, or empathizing with a more se…

Stacey Taylor Brandon has over 30 years of experience in the field of education serving in the capacity of school social worker, PBIS Coordinator, Educational Equity Coordinator and Director of Inclusive Excellence.. Stacey holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Spelman College and a Master of Social Work from University of Denver. She also holds a K-12 Principal License. Stacey is the mother of four grown children and grandmother of three. Stacey is passionate about racial equity and racial healing. As a proud Black woman, Stacey is committed to honoring the humanity of all people, by acknowledging, understanding, and interrupting predictable patterns of racialized inequities and hierarchies.

A native South Carolinian from Orangeburg, Vanity Jenkins is buoyed by her deep ties to her native state and Midwestern roots. A lifelong commitment to equity for children in underserved communities has guided her. A graduate of Rutgers University, Vanity started her career as a classroom teacher and 5th-8th grade level reading interventionist. After pursuing a Master’s in Education, she became a teacher coach, senior leader for the South Carolina region of Teach For America, and the head of design at Teaching Trust. This organization works to develop school leadership teams, executive directors, and assistant superintendents in Dallas, TX. In her last three roles, she led her teams to outpace national goals by over 30%. Vanity is bolstered by the hope that her work will lead to dismantling systems of oppression and that there will be a world in which all children and communities thrive. Vanity Jenkins serves as the Executive Director for Citizens of the World Charter School in Cinci…

Thee Redd Method A Note from the Author: If you ask Dr. Asia or anyone who has been in conversation with me, please understand that I like to paint a picture when explaining why I created Thee Redd Method. My story is a bit long, and might have some tangential runs, but I promise I always tie it back together. I’m passionate about my work in empowering educators for the wellness of the entire community they are in service to. So come take this journey through my lens... When I was in elementary school, I attended school in Riverdale, Georgia. While I was born in the Bay Area of California, I always say that my time at W.A. Fountain Elementary School inspired my motivation to be an educator in primary schools. I remember every teacher I had there from 2nd to 5th grade. In second grade I had Mrs. Dykes. She was strict but truly made sure that we were academically focused; she played little to no games around math or reading. In 3rd grade, my teacher was named Ms. Gray. She wa…

Whitney Tolliver is a native of Wichita, Kansas. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications from Wichita State University. She also attended WSU to obtain a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Building Level Leadership Certification. Whitney has served as an Assistant Principal in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. She has also had the opportunity to teach kindergarten, 1st grade, and 3rd grade. It is her heart's passion to make a positive impact on the lives of educators and students through long-lasting relationships, advocacy, and acts of service. Her goal is to help educators gain a work-life balance and truly focus on self-care while selflessly serving children.

Yasha Chapman, CEO/Lead Consultant of Elementary Education Evolved, is an accomplished educator with a rich background in various educational roles having served as a Classroom Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator/Writer, and Instructional Coach. Holding degrees in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum Instruction, she's dedicated to both student success and supporting fellow educators. Yasha's influence is evidenced by her impactful professional development sessions and the impressive academic growth of students, with over 80% meeting or exceeding Math and Reading standards. Her targeted literacy-focused approach notably increased reading proficiency from 6% to 72% and enhanced teacher competency by 55%. Yasha's lifelong dedication showcases her unwavering belief in equitable education and empowering educators to ensure every child's success.