Jacqueline Pickens is a Juvenile Justice Re-Engagement Specialist at Chicago Public Schools. “Participating in Surge will give me the space to learn from other leaders of color in Chicago. Many times, I doubt my ability to communicate my vision and don’t follow through because I find it difficult to articulate my ideas. I often hold back…
Scott Tillman is a High School College Counselor at Butler College Prep High School – Noble Schools. “Surge to me is an opportunity to be in community with other leaders in education. In community we learn and grow together and from each other.”
Julian Williams, Ph.D., is the Senior Partnerships Manager at Partnership for College Completion. “The Surge Fellowship provides an opportunity for me to connect with like-minded Black and Latinx educators. Engaging in equity-centered work is important, meaningful, and necessary. But it can also be isolating, uncomfortable, and stressful. The Surge Fellowship means that I will have…
Lucy Weatherly is a Director of Communication and Community Development at Intrinsic Schools. “The Surge Fellowship creates an opportunity for me to listen and learn from inspiring peers in a safe space. It will encourage me to peel away layers to create room for healing and growth to pay forward.”
Ugochukwu Ukasoanya is an Equity Policy Fellow at Chicago Public Schools. “Historically, systemic marginalization has played a role in the plight of Black and Latinx individuals and families. Racism, bias, and oppression has contributed to divided communities, segregated public schools, resource inequities, broken public trust, and called integrity into question. This fellowship will allow me to…
Tierionna Pinkston is an Instructional Leadership Coach at Noble Schools. “The pandemic has changed both the world and education landscape as we know it. I’m looking forward to learning alongside other leaders of color, as we redesign education so that it heals and liberates those families and communities we serve.”
Tiara Jordan is a Principal at Intrinsic Schools. ” ‘You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.’- Maya Angelou. I am passionate about being a Surge Fellow because of the testimonies I have heard/witnessed from others who went through the program. We…
Martiaè Jenkins-Alexander is a Resident Principal – Chicago Leadership Collaborative at Chicago Public Schools. “Surge means operationalizing the principle of Ujima. This happens by bringing my gifts as a strategist and servant leader to a community of talented education leaders with a collective clear purpose in standing firmly in our commitment to serving Black and…
Stephanie Hernandez is the Teacher Leadership Operations Manager, Distributed Leadership Specialist at Chicago Public Schools. “To me, Surge is a collective of like-minded people of Color serving youth in Chicago who are striving to create and improve organizations so that kids and families of Color receive nothing less than they deserve, which is access to every…
Sameka Gates is a 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher at KIPP Chicago. “Surge means an opportunity to continue to grow as a person and as a leader. To be surrounded by driven individuals who will support me while I support them and to be in an environment where growth and authenticity are the norm.”