Jermaine Wilson is the Executive Director of Student Support Services at DeSoto Independent School District. “As a Surge Fellow, I hope to increase my leadership capacity to challenge the status quo while connecting with other leaders to contend with issues on the educational landscape that are rooted in socio-historical oppressive narratives and beliefs to help…
Garrett Webster is the Executive Director of Youth Guidance Kansas City. “The Surge movement is larger than the sum of its individual parts. My hope is that being a part of Surge will equip me with the tools I need to truly help my people. In addition, I believe Surge will help me to align…
Catina Taylor is the Founder of Dreams Consulting. “Surge means an opportunity to be self-reflective. It will afford me the opportunity to look at the impact that a white supremacist system has had on me as an education professional & individual and how I perpetuate the very things that I find oppressive. I hope to…
Jacqueline Rodriguez is the Director of ESOL and Migrant Programs at Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. “The Surge Fellowship is an opportunity for me to expand my leadership with like-minded individuals. It provides me an experience that will differ from my academic experiences because of the focus on diversity.”
Kim Riley is the Founder and Executive Director of The Transition Academy. “Surge is committed to lifting up and strengthening education professionals of color for the purpose of transforming schools and equipping students for success. This commitment also extends to students of color with disabilities who were born in a world that was not designed…
Jahna Riley is the Founder of Aya Coffee and Books. “I think people of color – specifically those fighting for the lives of our children – have been beaten up by the institutions we work for. We all need some healing to liberate ourselves and be a part of liberating our communities. After speaking with…
Cescily Phillips is the Dean of Students at Ewing Marion Kauffman School. “Surge is a movement! Something amazing about movements is that they are not just for those actively working within them. Surge’s movement works on behalf of our amazing, talented young people who aren’t always able to fight on their own behalf. And while…
David Muhammad is the Executive Director and Head Youth Instructor at Integrity Martial Arts Academy. “I’ve been craving an environment that will challenge me to work through my shortcomings. I recognize that my professional experience thus far has primarily been in comfortable environments. However, I realize that to achieve my goals, I need to be…
Ajia Morris is the Founder & CEO of The Greenline Initiative. “Realizing how pervasive institutional oppression is has compelled me to be an educational leader and now, as a Surge Fellow, I will be significantly more prepared to advocate on behalf of students in my community. Every major metropolitan city I have lived in (Compton,…
Eduardo Mendez is the Director of Student Services at the Guadalupe Centers School. “While the achievement gap between Latino and African-Americans compared to white children has been well documented over the years, what has been less noted is the equity or opportunity gap that exists among these groups. Part of what I hope to gain…