Opportunity Culture Fellows

Opportunity Culture Fellows are multi-classroom leaders, principals, and others in Opportunity Culture roles who have achieved strong results and been leaders in their schools and districts. They provide support to their cohort, take one another’s ideas back to their schools, write columns about their experiences, and speak locally and nationally about their Opportunity Culture roles. Their feedback and leadership help improve the Opportunity Culture initiative, and all materials related to it.

2021-22 Fellows

Matt Cowan, School Leader, Compass-Midtown, Memphis, Tennessee

Victoria Groomer, Principal, Gentry Primary, Gentry, Arkansas

Susan Hendricks, Principal, Ross Elementary, Odessa, Texas

Ginger Hiltz, Principal, Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy, Chicago, Illinois

Angela Jones, School Director, Caldwell-Guthrie Elementary, Memphis, Tennessee

Christin Reeves, Principal, Emerson Elementary, Midland, Texas

Amanda Rice, Principal, Hazelwood Elementary Middle, Baltimore, Maryland

Julie Shields, Principal, Bearfield Primary, Ahoskie (Hertford County), North Carolina. Listen to our interview with Julie Shields about her communications strategy, Comprehensive Communications Strengthen Opportunity Culture School.

2020-21 Fellows

Lindsay Bounds, Multi-Classroom Leader, Lincoln Middle School, Lincoln Consolidated School District, Arkansas. Read our column about Ms. Bounds, In Lincoln, Arkansas, Multi-Classroom Leaders Guide the Way on At-Home Learning

Yolande Dixon, Multi-Classroom Leader, Pinkston Street Elementary School, Vance County Schools, North Carolina. Watch a webinar featuring Ms. Dixon, North Carolina Opportunity Culture Information Session.

Patti Newsom, Multi-Classroom Leader, Travis Elementary School, Mineral Wells Independent School District, Texas

Cherelle Sanders, Multi-Classroom Leader, Martin Millennium Academy, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. Watch a webinar featuring Ms. Sanders, Coaching Teachers Remotely During Covid: Keys to Providing Great Teacher Support Amid Crises, and watch her presentation at a panel discussion on retaining North Carolina’s best teachers.

Vergenia Shegog, Multi-Classroom Leader, Avalon Park Elementary School, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois

Sidney Thomas, Multi-Classroom Leader, Holabird Academy #229, Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland. Read Ms. Thomas’ column, The Support Baltimore Teachers Deserve—Now and Post-Pandemic, first published by The Baltimore Times.

Suzette Bloodman, Principal, Forrest City Sixth Grade Academy and Forrest City Junior High School, Forrest City School District, Arkansas

Matthew How, Principal, Ridge Road Elementary School, North Little Rock School District, Arkansas. Watch Mr. How’s webinar, Diagnosis: Principal Failure. Rx: Listen, Act, Cure

Denise Makowski, Principal, Cyrus H. McCormick School, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois

Stephanie Novak Pappas, Principal, Holabird Academy #229, Baltimore City Public Schools, Maryland

Paul Travers, Principal, Washington Montessori Elementary School, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina. Watch a webinar featuring Mr. Travers, North Carolina Opportunity Culture Information Session.

David Wells, Principal, Travis Elementary School, Mineral Wells Independent School District, Texas. Read about Mr. Wells in this series of columns: In Mineral Wells, Texas, Opportunity Culture Brings Academic Gains, Discipline Reductions; “In Love With Opportunity Culture”: How Mineral Wells, Texas, School Found an Answer; Why Would Teachers Drive Past a Higher-Paying District for a Job That Pays Less? This Texas District Knows

2019–20 Fellows

James Cerasani, Multi-Classroom Leader, Randolph Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois

Casandra Cherry, Multi-Classroom Leader, Phillips Middle, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. This column was written in memory of Ms. Cherry.

Cherie Dixon, Multi-Classroom Leader, L.B. Yancey Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina

Frederick Hoffmann, Multi-Classroom Leader, Fairview Elementary, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina. Read our column about Mr. Hoffmann, For This MCL, A Week of Team Planning and Parenting., and a webinar featuring him, Coaching Teachers Remotely During Covid: Keys to Providing Great Teacher Support Amid Crises

Casey Jackson, Multi-Classroom Leader, Aycock Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina. Read our column about Ms. Jackson, Spreading Support in Vance County During At-Home Learning

Steven Kennedy, Multi-Classroom Leader, Wilson Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Kennedy’s column, Can I Really Keep At This? What Kept One Great Teacher in the Classroom.

Amy Pearce, Multi-Classroom Leader, North Edgecombe High, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. Read our column about Ms. Pearce, Consistency and Care: Confronting COVID-19 in a Rural School Community

Angela Porter, Multi-Classroom Leader, Hairston Middle, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina

Christina Ross, Multi-Classroom Leader, Desert Oasis Elementary, Nadaburg Unified School District No. 81, Arizona. Read our column about Ms. Ross, In Arizona, Turning Vulnerabilities Into Strengths as Teaching Goes Home

Keisha Wheat, Multi-Classroom Leader, Randolph Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois. Watch a webinar featuring Ms. Wheat, Coaching Teachers Remotely During Covid: Keys to Providing Great Teacher Support Amid Crises

Kristen Boyd, Principal, Aycock Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina. Read our column about Ms. Boyd, Spreading Support in Vance County During At-Home Learning

Elizabeth Meyers, Principal, Randolph Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois

Jenny O’Meara, Principal, Phillips Middle, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. Listen to our interview with Jenny O’Meara, An Opportunity Culture Principal Reflects.

Merrie Conaway, Principal, Foust Elementary, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina

Eric Ward, Principal, Harding University High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. This column was written in memory of Mr. Ward.

2018–19 Fellows

Lara B. Harris, Multi-Classroom Leader, Druid Hills Academy, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Amber Hines, Multi-Classroom Leader, Zeb Vance Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Hines’ column, The Best Tool—Sometimes: Using Tech in Elementary School.

Faith Jones, Multi-Classroom Leader, North Little Rock Middle, North Little Rock School District, Arkansas.

Mollie Lyman, Multi-Classroom Leader II, Whitewater Middle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Okema Owens Simpson, Multi-Classroom Leader, Ranson IB Middle, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Learn more about Ms. Simpson in our video and vignette profile, Days in the Life: The Work of a Successful Multi-Classroom Leader.

Jacqueline Smith, Multi-Classroom Leader II, Nations Ford Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Juan Pablo SuarezOrtiz, Multi-Classroom Leader, Spring Branch Elementary, Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas.

Brandon A. Warren, Multi-Classroom Leader III, William Penn Elementary, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana. Read Mr. Warren’s column, Be the Bridge: How Multi-Classroom Leaders Smooth Teacher-Administrator Communication.

Jeremy Baugh, Principal, Lew Wallace Elementary (School 107), Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana. Read Mr. Baugh’s column, No More “Zoo Wallace”: Becoming a Welcoming, Successful School, and our column about Mr. Baugh, High-Touch At-Home Learning? That’s the Plan in Indianapolis School

Donnell Cannon, Principal, North Edgecombe High, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. Read about our interview with Mr. Cannon.

Kelly Gwaltney, Principal, Garinger High, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Janet Moss, Principal, Coulwood STEM Academy, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Sarah Reeves, Principal, Shamrock Gardens Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Philip A. Steffes, Principal, Albemarle Road Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Steffes’s column, Suspending Student Suspensions: How Teaching Teams Created Calm Classrooms.

Chris Winstead, Principal, Pine Shadows Elementary, Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas.

2017–18 Fellows

Annette Bartlett, Blended-Learning Teacher, Harris Road Middle, Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Bartlett’s column, The Risks and Rewards of Using Blended Learning to Reach More Students.

Latrelle McFarlane, Expanded-Impact Teacher, Banneker High, Fulton County Schools, Georgia.

Hadley Moore, Assistant Principal, Washington Irving Elementary, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana. Read Ms. Moore’s column, Learning to Lead as a Multi-Classroom Leader.

Tonya Reaves, Multi-Classroom Leader, Lake Wylie Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.

Jessica Smith, Multi-Classroom Leader, Lew Wallace Elementary, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana. Read Ms. Smith’s column, To Support Teachers and Students, Pass House Bill 1008.

Russ Stanton, Multi-Classroom Leader, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Syracuse City School District, New York.

Stan Whalen, Multi-Classroom Leader, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Syracuse City School District, New York.

Jimmel T. Williams, Expanded-Impact Teacher, Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read our column about Mr. Williams, In Charlotte, Keeping Connected to 212 At-Home Students

Babatu “Tu” Willingham, Expanded-Impact Teacher, Banneker High School, Fulton County Schools, Georgia. Read Mr. Willingham’s column, Fostering Teaching Efficiency Through Teacher Leadership. Learn more about Mr. Willingham in our column, In Georgia, Leading a Team on Distance Teaching and Caring

2016–17 Fellows

Cyndal Brenneman, Multi-Classroom Leader, Rocky River Elementary, Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Brenneman’s column, Getting the Recipe Right for Teacher Leadership.

Stacie Bunn, Multi-Classroom Leader II, Thomasboro Academy, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Bunn’s column, From Action Plan to Teacher of the Year–In One Year.

Candace Butler, Multi-Classroom Leader, Bruns Academy, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Butler’s column, Finding Inspiration Again Through Teacher Leadership. Learn more about Ms. Butler in our column, From Start to Finish, A Focus on Relationships During At-Home Learning

Maina Cisneros, Multi-Classroom Leader, Washington Elementary, Big Spring Independent School District, Texas. Read Ms. Cisneros’s column, How My West Texas School Elevated Struggling Young Readers (and Their Teachers).

Kristen Duffy, Multi-Classroom Leader, Meachem Elementary, Syracuse City School District, New York. Read Ms. Duffy’s column, My Unexpected Journey to Teacher Leadership.

Gregory Lawson, Multi-Classroom Leader, Grant Middle School, Syracuse City School District, New York. Read Mr. Lawson’s column, A Teacher’s Smart Advice for Serving Students’ Emotional Needs.

Lori Treiber, Blended-Learning Teacher, Central Cabarrus High School, Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Treiber’s column, For Truly Personalized Learning, I Had to Try, Try Again.

Molly Whelan, Multi-Classroom Leader, Ranson IB Middle School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Whelan’s column, When Teachers Leave Midyear, Instructional Teacher-Leadership Keeps Classes Strong.

Melissa Wilbert, Multi-Classroom Leader, Moss Elementary, Big Spring Independent School District, Texas. Read Ms. Wilbert’s column, Teacher Collaboration Time That Students (Yes, Students) Love.

Erin K. Williams, Multi-Classroom Leader II, James Martin Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Williams’column, When Students Own Their Academic Results, They Transform Their Schools.

Frank Zaremba, Multi-Classroom Leader, Barnette Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Zaremba’s column, Scheduled for Success.

2015–16 Fellows

Sharon Archer, Multi-Classroom Leader, Grant Middle, Syracuse City School District, New York. Read Ms. Archer’s column, Want Veteran Teachers to Learn New Things? Show Them Some Love

Danielle Bellar, Multi-Classroom Leader, Winget Park Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Bellar’s column, A Win-Win Model for Students and Teachers

Romain Bertrand, Multi-Classroom Leader, Ranson IB Middle School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Bertrand’s column, Teachers, It’s Time for Us to Say, ‘Show Me the Money’

Kristin Cubbage, Multi-Classroom Leader, Ashley Park PreK-8 School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Cubbage’s column that opened the Opportunity Culture series, An Opportunity for Change, and the post that closed the first year of the series, “What Is My Job, Anyway?” Teacher Hindsight from a Multi-Classroom Leader

Erin Burns Mehigan, Multi-Classroom Leader, West Charlotte High School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Mehigan’s columns, More Powerful Than a Department Chair and How to Extend the Reach of Great Teachers in Turnaround (or Any) Schools. Learn more about Ms. Mehigan in our column, Keep Doing What Worked: Advice for At-Home Learning

Bobby Miles, Multi-Classroom Leader, Ranson IB Middle School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Miles’ column, 1 Teacher, 400 Scholars—and Loving It

Scott Nolt, Blended-Learning Teacher, Jay M. Robinson High School, Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Nolt’s column, Blending the Best: Better Learning for More Kids

Amy Sparks, Multi-Classroom Leader, Francis Bradley Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Sparks’ column, When Top Students Drop: Why Even Good Schools Need to Grow

Maggie Vadala, Multi-Classroom Leader, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Syracuse City School District, New York. Read Ms. Vadala’s column, Keep on Keeping on: Using Data to Keep Students Moving Forward

Karen Von Klahr, Multi-Classroom Leader, Winecoff Elementary School, Cabarrus County Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. von Klahr’s column, Riding the Roller Coaster Together: Real Support for New Teachers

Karen Wolfson, Multi-Classroom Leader, Bailey STEM Magnet Middle Prep, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Tennessee. Read Ms. Wolfson’s column, Raising My Teacher Voice to Save My Job–and My Students’ Success

Note: Fellows are listed in the school roles they held during their fellowship year.