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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.
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, LB Yancey Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina
Frederick Hoffmann, Multi-Classroom Leader, Fairview Elementary, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina
Casey Jackson, Multi-Classroom Leader, Aycock Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina
Steven Kennedy, Multi-Classroom Leader, Wilson Middle School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina
Amy Pearce, Multi-Classroom Leader, North Edgecombe High, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina
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
Keisha Wheat, Multi-Classroom Leader, Randolph Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois
Kristen Boyd, Principal, Aycock Elementary, Vance County Schools, North Carolina
Elizabeth Meyers, Principal, Randolph Elementary, Chicago Public Schools, Illinois
Jenny O’Meara, Principal, Phillips Middle, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina
Merrie Conaway, Principal, Foust Elementary, Guilford County Schools, North Carolina
Eric Ward, Principal, Harding University High School, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina
2018–19 Fellows
Lara B. Harris, K–2 Multi-Classroom Leader, Druid Hills Academy, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Amber Hines, 3–5 English Language Arts and Science 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, 6th-grade English Language Arts Multi-Classroom Leader, North Little Rock Middle, North Little Rock School District, Arkansas.
Mollie Lyman, 6–8 English Language Arts Multi-Classroom Leader II, Whitewater Middle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Okema Owens Simpson, 6th-grade English Language Arts Multi-Classroom Leader, Ranson IB Middle, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Jacqueline Smith, 3–5 Math and Science Multi-Classroom Leader II, Nations Ford Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Juan Pablo SuarezOrtiz, K–5 Multi-Classroom Leader, Spring Branch Elementary, Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas.
Brandon A. Warren, Grades 3, 7, 8 Multi-Classroom Leader III, William Penn Elementary, Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana.
Jeremy Baugh, Principal, Lew Wallace Elementary (School 107), Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana.
Donnell Cannon, Principal, North Edgecombe High, Edgecombe County Public Schools, North Carolina. Read an 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.
Chris Winstead, Principal, Pine Shadows Elementary, Spring Branch Independent School District, Texas.
2017–18 Fellows
Annette Bartlett, 7–8 Blended-Learning Science 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 Science 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, 3–5 Multi-Classroom Leader, Lake Wylie Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Jessica Smith, 3–4 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, 2–5 Multi-Classroom Leader, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Syracuse City School District, New York.
Stan Whalen, 2–3 Multi-Classroom Leader, Seymour Dual Language Academy, Syracuse City School District, New York.
Jimmel T. Williams, 8–9 Expanded-Impact Math Teacher, Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina.
Babatu “Tu” Willingham, Expanded-Impact History Teacher, Banneker High School, Fulton County Schools, Georgia. Read Mr. Willingham’s column, Fostering Teaching Efficiency Through Teacher Leadership.
2016–17 Fellows
Cyndal Brenneman, K–1 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, Science K–8 and Social Studies 6-8 Multi-Classroom Leader 2, 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, 6–8 English Language Arts 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.
Maina Cisneros, 2nd-grade 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, 2nd-grade Reading Multi-Classroom Leader, Meachem Elementary, Syracuse City School District, New York. Read Ms. Duffy’s column, My Unexpected Journey to Teacher Leadership.
Gregory Lawson, Social, Emotional, and Behavioral 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, 10th-grade Biology I 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, 7th-grade Math 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, 1st–3rd Reading 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, 6–8 English Language Arts Multi-Classroom Leader 2, 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, K and 4–5 Multi-Classroom Leader, Barnette Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Mr. Zaremba’s column, Scheduled for Success.
2015–16 Fellows
Sharon Archer, Math 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, Literacy, Math, and Science 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, Math 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’
Erin Burns, Biology Multi-Classroom Leader, West Charlotte High School, Project L.I.F.T. zone, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina. Read Ms. Burns’ column, More Powerful Than a Department Chair
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
Bobby Miles, Science 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, Social Studies 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, Language Arts 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, Social Studies and Science 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, Literacy 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, Math 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
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