ABOUT ME
Believe it or not, I’m a native of Madison, born at St. Mary’s Hospital. I grew up on the south side of Madison with my parents, Larry & Barbara and my twin brothers, Kent & Karl. I attended Longfellow Elementary, Cherokee Middle School and graduated from West High School, Class of 1987.
If you’re a Star Trek fan, you are likely very familiar with the name Nichelle Nichols. Clearly I’m not THE Nichelle Nichols famous for playing Lieutenant Uhura, but I love meeting people who instantly know the name and appreciate the pioneering role of Lt. Uhura on television. Did you know that when Nichelle Nichols was cast in the original Star Trek television series in 1966, she was the first Black woman on television? In some of her interviews, she said that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. encouraged her to stay in the role for as long as possible because he believed her presence changed the way the country saw African Americans during the height of the Civil Rights era.
MY EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY
I have a Bachelor in Science undergraduate degree in Family & Consumer Journalism from UW-Madison. I earned this degree after attending Morgan State University, a historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore, Maryland for three years immediately after high school, two years at San Francisco State University in California and then back home to finish as a badger at UW-Madison. That's when I finished my undergraduate degree at UW-Madison in 1998. In 2006 I earned a Master of Science graduate degree in Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. In 2014 I enrolled in the Edgewood College Doctoral Program for Educational Leadership where I am currently working toward completing my EdD.
MY PARENTING JOURNEY
From 1998 to 2020, I was a proud MMSD parent. My four sons, Elijah, Isaiah, Kahari and Jahlani all graduated from the Madison Metropolitan School District, Classes of 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2020). My sons attended Leopold and Van Hise Elementary Schools, J.C. Wright, Sennett and Hamilton Middle Schools, West and Capital High Schools and Operation Fresh Start. Wow, that’s 22 years of direct experience with MMSD!
My sons are now thriving young adults. Three of them have left the “nest.” It’s an odd experience to go from a loud, always busy home to a quiet one these days. But how can you be upset when you have sons to visit in Miami, Florida, Richmond, Virginia and Austin, Texas. As much as I enjoy seeing them on their own paths now, I remember what it was like being a divorced, single parent with four sons in MMSD. I had the experience of seeing my sons find classes and activities that brought them joy and sparked their curiosity, and I also saw them experience frustration and disengagement too.
I used to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders as a parent, wanting my sons to have every option that would make their future bright. I think every parent wants that. We made it through, even when there were times I didn’t think we would. I will bring that perspective to my role as a school board member.
MY PROFESSIONAL JOURNEY
After graduating from UW-Madison in 1998, I joined the staff at Family Enhancement and facilitated parent drop-in groups and parenting classes for eight years. One of my favorite parent groups I enjoyed working with regularly included MMSD's School Age Parents (SAPAR) group.
In 2005, I joined the staff of Big Brothers Big Sisters and found another way to support children and youth in our community. In 2007, I shifted my focus a bit and worked at the Community Action Coalition for South Central Wisconsin working on grants and programs for individuals and families experiencing poverty and low wages. In 2010, I joined the Urban League of Greater Madison to run the Education Department and worked with Madison, Sun Prairie, Verona and Middleton-Cross Plain School Districts on Schools of Hope, 21st Century Careers and other educational programming. In 2013, I was fortunate to lead the Education Department for the Boys & Girls Club of Dane County with a focus on the AVID/TOPS partnership with MMSD.
I joined MMSD in 2015 to lead family, youth & community engagement. It was an honor to bring Community Schools to MMSD and to lead the work on family partnership, youth voice, community engagement, equity and advancing Black Excellence.
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