past special presenters
Nancy Chang is the Executive Director of Reel Grrls, whose mission is to support young people to explore, critique, and author media through a feminist lens. She is a founding board member of the Womxn’s Creative Industries Meet-up, centering womxn of color in the field of the creative economy. Nancy co-founded Skate Like a Girl to create gender and racial equity in skateboarding, and expanded operations from Seattle to Portland, Oregon, and the San Francisco / Bay Area. Nancy is the co-author of a chapter that examines equity in after-school programs in a practitioner book: Feminist Interventions in Participatory Media: Pedagogy, Publics, Practice. A facilitator, trainer, and panelist for various equity discussions, most recently Nancy facilitated discussions on racial equity for the National Art Education Association's Museum Division.
In our keynote session, Nancy will be joined by James Miles, Executive Director of Arts Corps. James is an original cast member of In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda and a former Professor in the Steinhardt School of Arts, Education and Community Practice at NYU. James is an advisory board member for the SXSW Edu Conference, ensuring that social justice is embedded into the highly regarded conference program. James has trained school districts in racial sensitivity and is only one of a handful of arts educators to receive a grant from George Soros' Open Society Foundation for his work on race and social justice. Also joining Nancy and James will be Shannon Halberstadt, CEO of Artist Trust and former Executive Director of the Vera Project, Seattle’s only All-ages Venue, where she worked with youth-led membership, board, staff, and stakeholders to create and document an organizational culture of skill sharing, power sharing, and equity. Shannon led Artist Trust’s organizational transformation to embrace racial equity as a priority in leadership, operations, and mission delivery. She has over 25 years leadership experience, with a depth of experience in youth services, non-hierarchical organizational structures, racial equity, and the arts.
Their keynote session will be entitled, Examining and Tackling White Supremacy in Education Through an Intersectional Feminist Lens.
In our keynote session, Nancy will be joined by James Miles, Executive Director of Arts Corps. James is an original cast member of In the Heights with Lin-Manuel Miranda and a former Professor in the Steinhardt School of Arts, Education and Community Practice at NYU. James is an advisory board member for the SXSW Edu Conference, ensuring that social justice is embedded into the highly regarded conference program. James has trained school districts in racial sensitivity and is only one of a handful of arts educators to receive a grant from George Soros' Open Society Foundation for his work on race and social justice. Also joining Nancy and James will be Shannon Halberstadt, CEO of Artist Trust and former Executive Director of the Vera Project, Seattle’s only All-ages Venue, where she worked with youth-led membership, board, staff, and stakeholders to create and document an organizational culture of skill sharing, power sharing, and equity. Shannon led Artist Trust’s organizational transformation to embrace racial equity as a priority in leadership, operations, and mission delivery. She has over 25 years leadership experience, with a depth of experience in youth services, non-hierarchical organizational structures, racial equity, and the arts.
Their keynote session will be entitled, Examining and Tackling White Supremacy in Education Through an Intersectional Feminist Lens.
Dr. Gene Batiste
Executive Director at Independent Education
Dr. Batiste, Executive Director at Independent Education, leads a team that provides professional development, networking, advocacy, and other services to a diverse community of independent schools serving 33,000 students in the Washington, D.C. capital region. Most recently, Dr. Batiste served as Vice President for School Field Services & Equity and Justice Initiatives at the National Association of Independent School (NAIS). He holds a B.S. degree in the social sciences, summa cum laude, from Wiley College, (a historically Black College/University) a M.Ed. degree, Phi Delta Kappa, in urban education and public school administration from North Texas State University, and an Ed.D. degree in educational and organization leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Batiste comes from a military family, having lived in Japan, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, Texas. He and his partner, Scott Honeychurch, a nursing administrator at George Washington University Hospital, live in Washington, D.C. with their Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier named “Toby”.
Executive Director at Independent Education
Dr. Batiste, Executive Director at Independent Education, leads a team that provides professional development, networking, advocacy, and other services to a diverse community of independent schools serving 33,000 students in the Washington, D.C. capital region. Most recently, Dr. Batiste served as Vice President for School Field Services & Equity and Justice Initiatives at the National Association of Independent School (NAIS). He holds a B.S. degree in the social sciences, summa cum laude, from Wiley College, (a historically Black College/University) a M.Ed. degree, Phi Delta Kappa, in urban education and public school administration from North Texas State University, and an Ed.D. degree in educational and organization leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Batiste comes from a military family, having lived in Japan, Hawaii, Washington, D.C., and San Antonio, Texas. He and his partner, Scott Honeychurch, a nursing administrator at George Washington University Hospital, live in Washington, D.C. with their Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier named “Toby”.
Warren Reid
Founder and CEO, NEMNET
Warren Reid is the Founder and CEO of nemnet.com Minority Recruitment & Consulting Group. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Warren is a graduate of Middlebury College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to starting nemnet, he served as a teacher, three sport coach, advisor, dormitory parent, and Director of Multicultural Affairs at the Pomfret School [Pomfret, CT]. He is a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Chair of the Ohio Social Action Committee, mentor and coaches middle school basketball as a volunteer. In his capacity as CEO, he has presented at [8] NAIS POCC and Annual Conferences, served as a consultant to Harvard College, the NAACP and hundreds of independent schools in an effort to promote staff diversity. Warren is married to Najoh Tita, a native of Framingham, MA, graduate of Spelman College and the Duke Fuqua School of Business. They have two children; Langston and Naima.
Founder and CEO, NEMNET
Warren Reid is the Founder and CEO of nemnet.com Minority Recruitment & Consulting Group. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Warren is a graduate of Middlebury College and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to starting nemnet, he served as a teacher, three sport coach, advisor, dormitory parent, and Director of Multicultural Affairs at the Pomfret School [Pomfret, CT]. He is a Life Member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Chair of the Ohio Social Action Committee, mentor and coaches middle school basketball as a volunteer. In his capacity as CEO, he has presented at [8] NAIS POCC and Annual Conferences, served as a consultant to Harvard College, the NAACP and hundreds of independent schools in an effort to promote staff diversity. Warren is married to Najoh Tita, a native of Framingham, MA, graduate of Spelman College and the Duke Fuqua School of Business. They have two children; Langston and Naima.
Dr. Sherry Coleman
Educational Consultant
Sherry began her career in public education then moved to independent schools where she served as teacher, advisor and associate director of admissions. Sherry was the founding director of the Independent School Consortium (ISC) of Greater Philadelphia, an organizational resource which focused on the recruitment and retention of faculty and administrators of color. What began as a three year DeWitt Wallace Readers’ Digest grant with five schools grew to include over 20 schools, and was a trusted source of support for faculty of color. ISC became a sustaining and vital link to many successful educators of color in independent schools.
Sherry is a graduate of Cheyney University, one of the oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the country. She earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Organization from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011. Her research examined how faculty, in particular faculty of color, experienced a sense of membership in their school communities, and the connection and relationship to school mission and vision. She has published articles on race, diversity and inclusion. Her work was recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and was awarded their Diversity Leadership Award in 2013.
Currently, she is a Senior Search Consultant with Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a national and international search and placement firm. She has worked with both independent and charter schools. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and is the principal consultant for Coleman Strategic Consulting.
Sherry has been mentor, coach, friend, and confidant to numerous faculty and administrators in schools and organizations across the country. She has been actively involved in several national and community organizations, and has served a school trustee.
Educational Consultant
Sherry began her career in public education then moved to independent schools where she served as teacher, advisor and associate director of admissions. Sherry was the founding director of the Independent School Consortium (ISC) of Greater Philadelphia, an organizational resource which focused on the recruitment and retention of faculty and administrators of color. What began as a three year DeWitt Wallace Readers’ Digest grant with five schools grew to include over 20 schools, and was a trusted source of support for faculty of color. ISC became a sustaining and vital link to many successful educators of color in independent schools.
Sherry is a graduate of Cheyney University, one of the oldest Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in the country. She earned a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and Organization from the University of Pennsylvania in 2011. Her research examined how faculty, in particular faculty of color, experienced a sense of membership in their school communities, and the connection and relationship to school mission and vision. She has published articles on race, diversity and inclusion. Her work was recognized by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and was awarded their Diversity Leadership Award in 2013.
Currently, she is a Senior Search Consultant with Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a national and international search and placement firm. She has worked with both independent and charter schools. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and is the principal consultant for Coleman Strategic Consulting.
Sherry has been mentor, coach, friend, and confidant to numerous faculty and administrators in schools and organizations across the country. She has been actively involved in several national and community organizations, and has served a school trustee.
Kevin B. Jennings
Executive Director, Arcus Foundation
Kevin has made a long and distinguished career as an educator, social justice activist, teacher, and author. He served as Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration, heading the department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools where he led the Administration’s anti-bullying initiative. Kevin began his career as a high school history teacher and coach in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During this time he served as faculty advisor to the nation’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, leading him in 1990 to found the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national education organization tackling anti-LGBT bias in U.S. schools, which he led for 18 years. Kevin earned a BA (magna cum laude) from Harvard College, a Master of Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, from which he received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012, and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He has been honored for his leadership in education and civil rights by the National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Independent Schools, and numerous other organizations. He is co-chair of the board of the National LGBT Museum, and chairman of the boards of The Ubunye Challenge and First Generation Harvard Alumni. He also serves on the board of Marjorie’s Fund and the Council on Foundations. His seventh book, One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium, was published in 2015. Along with his partner of 20 years, Jeff Davis, he is the proud dad of a Bernese Mountain Dog, Jackson, and a Golden Retriever, Sloane.
Check out Kevin's new book: One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium
Executive Director, Arcus Foundation
Kevin has made a long and distinguished career as an educator, social justice activist, teacher, and author. He served as Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education in the Obama Administration, heading the department’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools where he led the Administration’s anti-bullying initiative. Kevin began his career as a high school history teacher and coach in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. During this time he served as faculty advisor to the nation’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, leading him in 1990 to found the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), a national education organization tackling anti-LGBT bias in U.S. schools, which he led for 18 years. Kevin earned a BA (magna cum laude) from Harvard College, a Master of Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, from which he received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2012, and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. He has been honored for his leadership in education and civil rights by the National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of Independent Schools, and numerous other organizations. He is co-chair of the board of the National LGBT Museum, and chairman of the boards of The Ubunye Challenge and First Generation Harvard Alumni. He also serves on the board of Marjorie’s Fund and the Council on Foundations. His seventh book, One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium, was published in 2015. Along with his partner of 20 years, Jeff Davis, he is the proud dad of a Bernese Mountain Dog, Jackson, and a Golden Retriever, Sloane.
Check out Kevin's new book: One Teacher in Ten in the New Millennium
André Robert Lee
Director and Producer of The Prep School Negro
www.theprepschoolnegro.org
André has taken a unique path from teaching in the NYC public School system, to Graduate school and then the Ford Foundation before finding his way to the entertainment business. André had his first taste of feature film while working on the set of The Best Man. After The Best Man, André took every freelance job possible in the entertainment world until landing at Miramax Films in the Academy-driven Marketing Department. André then held the post of Director of Marketing for Urbanworld. Following Urbanworld, André joined Film Movement where he produced two short films: Friday Night Fever, which was created in a partnership with Donna Karan, and The Ecology of Love (Sundance 2004), starring Pharrell Williams, which was produced in partnership with Visa. André’s work as a freelance producer has included a music video for The Churchills and numerous segments for German television.
In the Summer of 2005 André worked with Effie T. Brown (Real Women Have Curves; Producer) and Jeffrey Blitz (Academy Award Nominee Spellbound; Director) on their feature Rocket Science. André was in charge of all clearances and product placement for this film. André then produced Rupaul’s latest feature film project entitled Starrbooty Reloaded. In the Spring of 2006 André produced Dirty Laundry, which stars Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Divine, Terry Vaughn, Jenifer Lewis and Sommore.
André currently serves on the Connecticut College Alumni Board of Directors, is on the Advisory Board of the Topsoil Film Festival (Rotterdam), is a Jury/Selection Committee Member of the Rap-It-Up/Black Aids Short Subject Film Competition as well as serves on the Executive Committee of Film In the City. André lives and works in New York City.
Dr. Ali Michael
Director of K-12 Consulting Services and Professional Development
Center for the Study of Race & Equity in Education, University of Pennsylvania
Ali Michael oversees the Center’s K-12 portfolio, which includes workshops and other professional learning experiences for teachers and administrators, assessments of school environments and cultural competence among teachers, commissioned studies related to race and equity in K-12 schools/districts, and partnerships with education professionals and families in Philadelphia and elsewhere.
Dr. Michael is an experienced teacher, teacher educator, and filmmaker. She is co-founder and director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators. Her research focuses on whiteness and teacher education, specifically examining common questions, dilemmas, and successes of White teachers who are trying to address racial inequities in their classrooms and schools. Teachers College Press has published her book, Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education. Ali’s current research focuses on supporting white teachers to mitigate the unintentional, pervasive effects of institutional and individual racism. She also studies how White families socialize their children around race. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Michael consulted with schools, districts, and professional organizations on topics pertaining to race, equity, and critical consciousness.
Ali earned her Ph.D. in Teacher Education from Penn GSE and master’s degree in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her bachelor’s degree is from Williams College. Dr. Michael teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Penn GSE and Arcadia University. She has made two films, both of which feature students discussing their experiences with race. She also is author of “My Scar, My Road,” the biography of South African feminist activist Gertrude Nonzwakazi Sgwentu, which demonstrates the long-term effects of racism and White supremacy on one woman growing up under Apartheid.
Director of K-12 Consulting Services and Professional Development
Center for the Study of Race & Equity in Education, University of Pennsylvania
Ali Michael oversees the Center’s K-12 portfolio, which includes workshops and other professional learning experiences for teachers and administrators, assessments of school environments and cultural competence among teachers, commissioned studies related to race and equity in K-12 schools/districts, and partnerships with education professionals and families in Philadelphia and elsewhere.
Dr. Michael is an experienced teacher, teacher educator, and filmmaker. She is co-founder and director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators. Her research focuses on whiteness and teacher education, specifically examining common questions, dilemmas, and successes of White teachers who are trying to address racial inequities in their classrooms and schools. Teachers College Press has published her book, Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education. Ali’s current research focuses on supporting white teachers to mitigate the unintentional, pervasive effects of institutional and individual racism. She also studies how White families socialize their children around race. Prior to joining the Center, Dr. Michael consulted with schools, districts, and professional organizations on topics pertaining to race, equity, and critical consciousness.
Ali earned her Ph.D. in Teacher Education from Penn GSE and master’s degree in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Her bachelor’s degree is from Williams College. Dr. Michael teaches as an adjunct faculty member at Penn GSE and Arcadia University. She has made two films, both of which feature students discussing their experiences with race. She also is author of “My Scar, My Road,” the biography of South African feminist activist Gertrude Nonzwakazi Sgwentu, which demonstrates the long-term effects of racism and White supremacy on one woman growing up under Apartheid.