Our Team
Members
Maria F. Vazquez
As a teacher, principal, and district administrator, Dr. Vazquez has dedicated her career to ensuring every student has a pathway to success. Dr. Vazquez has served at every level of the education system and has extensive expertise in curriculum and... Learn more
Keon Catchings-Shelby
Dr. Keon Catchings-Shelby serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Jackson State University. Her career began with impactful roles as an elementary school teacher and reading interventionist in both urban and rural... Learn more
Anthony Goins
Anthony Goins currently serves as the Deputy Director of the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents (MASS), a role he assumed after retiring from a distinguished 27-year career in Mississippi’s public education system. In this position, he focuses on professional development... Learn more
Wendy Clemons
Wendy Clemons joined the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) in July 2015 and currently serves as Chief Academic Officer and a member of the Department’s executive leadership team. In this role, she provides statewide leadership for Early Childhood, Elementary, and... Learn more
Melissa Shields
Dr. Melissa Shields serves as the Assistant State Superintendent of Student Learning for the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). Prior to this role, she led the ALSDE Office of School Improvement for a number of years. In addition to... Learn more
Carlos Nelson
Carlos Nelson, Ed.D., is currently the Superintendent of Sheffield City Schools. Dr. Nelson has been in the education field for over 27 years, serving in the capacity of teacher, football/baseball coach, assistant principal, turnaround principal, federal programs coordinator, curriculum director, career and... Learn more
Teresha Jones
Teresha Jones, Ed.D., serves as the Principal of Central High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Over her 19 years of experience in education, she has served as a basketball coach, a middle and high school English teacher, a college English instructor,... Learn more
Nicole Patton-Terry
Nicole Patton-Terry, Ph.D., is the Olive & Manuel Bordas Professor of Education in the School of Teacher Education, Director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR), and Director of the Regional Education Lab—Southeast at Florida State University. Prior to... Learn more
Patrick Wnek
Patrick Wnek, Ed.D., is the Executive Director of the North East Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC), a collaborative organization dedicated to advancing educational excellence across 13 rural school districts, as well as P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School at the University of... Learn more
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