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OUR TEAM

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  • Troy Kemp

    TENNESSEE Troy Kemp is a native of Riverhead, NY. He grew up as one of six children in a single parent, migrant working household. …

  • Vermelle D. Greene, PhD

    Vermelle D. Greene, PhD is a Gurian Master Trainer and has been working with the Gurian Institute since 2010. She has degrees from Dickinson …

  • Marion Hill

    Phoenix Man’s greatness consists in his ability to do and the proper application of his powers to things needed to be done. – Frederick …

  • Dr. Glynetta DeShon Fletcher

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Dr. Fletcher ( preferably called Fletch), has 20 years of experience in education  from middle school level to the university level. …

  • Dr. Tremaine Canteen

    FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA Dr. Tremaine Canteen is the Principal of The Capitol Encore Academy in Fayetteville, North Carolina. With over 16 years of experience …

  • Dakota Hoyt

    Castle Rock, Colorado Gurian Institute Managing Director Dakota Hoyt has been in education for 30 years as a teacher, math/science specialist, assistant principal, …

  • Robert Kodama

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Mr Kodama has been a Certified Gurian Trainer since 2007 and is a member of the Boys Initiative Board of Advisors. …

  • Lakeva Barnes, Ed.D.

    MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE Dr. Lakeva Barnes is an educator who specializes in K-8 literacy. Over her 12 year career, she has taught 7th & 8th …

  • Dr. Adonica A. Jones-Parks

    Dr. Adonica A. Jones-Parks is a passionate educator, an advocate for youth, and is committed to social justice and ensuring that education is a …

  • Eva Dwight

    Eva Dwight earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Bethany College. After teaching language arts for 12 years, she earned her Master’s Degree in …

  • Hicxell Wester

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Hicxell Wester is a Los Angeles native and first generation college graduate from the California State University of Los Angeles.  Graduating …

  • Joseph Moody

    Atlanta, Georgia Joseph Moody, Middle School Dean of Student Life for the Boys, The Lovett School, Atlanta, Georgia. Joseph has been an educator since …

  • Theresa Moore

    SAN ANTONIO,TEXAS ​Theresa Moore has been a psychotherapist in the San Antonio community for over 35 years. She divides her time between her private practice, Worth …

  • Marlene Ordaz

  • Shandeen Gomez

  • Tim Coble

    Dr. Timothy Coble is a veteran educator and an internationally recognized expert on learning differences between boys and girls. Presently on the faculty at …

  • Sally Maskill

    Bend, Oregon Sally Maskill is a teacher and the mother of four children: three sons and a daughter.  She grew up in Alaska, graduated …

  • Bonnie Kowaliuk

    ALBERTA, CANADA Bonnie Kowaluk is a creative educational consultant/facilitator employing a holistic, integrative approach in helping individuals, family systems, athletic and organizational teams to …

  • Phyllis Aro-Trejo

    Phoenix I have 36 years of experience in social work. My experience includes working in the areas of: substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence, …

  • Dr. Ariana Lopez

    Phoenix Ariana has been in the early childhood field for more than 20 years. She has spent time as a Head Start teacher, supervisor, …

  • Jenn Kirksey

    Phoenix Jennifer Kirksey didn’t choose early childhood education; early childhood education chose her. Jennifer began her college years pursuing a degree in criminal justice …

  • Dr. Lisa Basista

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Dr. Lisa Basista is a lifelong California educator with over 29 years in the K-12 classroom. She has served as an …

  • Martina Andrews

    Phoenix My name is Martina Andrews, born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. I have been working with children in a variety of sectors for …

  • Jim Weber

    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS INDIANA Jim Weber was born in Chicago, Illinois.  He received his B.A. Degree in English and Education from Augustana College in Rock …

  • Steve Hadaway

    GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA Steve Hadaway has over 20 years of experience as an educator, serving as a high school math teacher, including Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1 …

  • Adie Goldberg

    Adie Goldberg, M.Ed., DSW, is a board certified social worker who has worked in many clinical and university settings for more than thirty years, …

  • Abigail Wald

    Abigail Wald is the co-host of the popular “Hand in Hand: A Podcast for Parents,” and also the founder of RealTimeParenting.com, where she works …

  • Latrisha Centers, MA

    Latrisha Centers is an Early Childhood Consultant where her professional expertise and background includes obtaining a Bachler of Science Degree in Child Development and …

  • BJ Crane

    ATLANTA, GEORGIA Benny “BJ” Crane is a dynamic and enthusiastic leader of students, parents, colleagues, and future educators alike.  In his 12 years of …

  • Kimberly Dunn

    Kimberly Dunn joined the San Antonio Academy (SAA) team as its new Associate Head of School in June 2019.  Kimberly is a highly qualified …

  • Tracé Copeland

    COLUMBUS, GEORGIA Tracé Copeland is currently the Brookstone School Intermediate Division Head.  Prior to this role, she taught Middle and Upper School as well …

  • Susan Jentzsch

    With a 20-year career in high tech, Susan is a proven strategist, project manager and trainer. She successfully managed multiple, complex construction projects simultaneously …

  • Beth Black

    SOUTH CAROLINA Life is an amazing journey!  I always thought I would be a teacher and went to college to study elementary education.  But, …

  • Greg Ferguson

    Greg Ferguson has over 40 years of experience in the teaching profession. His educational background includes a B.S. in special/elementary K-9 from the University …

  • Angela Brown

    FT. LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA Angela Brown is the Principal of Dillard Elementary School, located in Northwest Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Angela’s professional experience ranges from counseling, …

  • Patrick Atkerson

    SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS When teachers and parents become frustrated with children it is often due to a lack of understanding.   By combining qualitative and …

  • Gloria Sherman

    LAPEER, MICHIGAN Gloria’s passion is to equip parents, educators and service providers with tools to assist them with what she believe is their most …

  • Shericka Smith

    KENTUCKY ​ Shericka Smith was born and raised in Lexington, KY and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Transylvania University with a …

  • PR Mac McStravick

    A native Texan, with a few formative years spent growing up in Australia, Mac has worked as a teacher and coach for almost thirty …

  • Miranda Scully

    FAYETTE COUNTY, KENTUCKY Miranda Scully is the District Coordinator of Family and Community Engagement with Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS).  She joined FCPS after …

  • Leon Buford-Kelly

    LEXINGTON, KY I attended Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY were I received my bachelor’s degree in Education. After graduation, I moved to …

  • Erica Beatty

    LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY Erica Beatty is a Student/Family Transitional Support and Dropout Prevention Specialist for Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS). She has been employed with …

  • Christian Adair

    LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY Christian Adair has over 20 years of experience as a Special Education Teacher, Coach, and Mentor. Currently, he leads the Educating Boys …

  • Jolene Boyle

    EATTLE, WASHINGTON ​ Jolene Boyle is a licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in adult, adolescent and parenting/teens counseling, and maintains a private practice in …

  • Richard Jack III

    LAS VEGAS, NEVADA Richard Jack III is a school counselor with five years of experience. He is originally from Bayonne, New Jersey and relocated …

  • Kathy Bentley

    KANEOHE, HAWAII ​ Kathy Bentley is a nationally recognized Parent Educator and the owner of Kathy’s Parenting Solutions. She has her Bachelor’s degree in …

  • David Glover

    Parkville, Md I attended Niagara University where I received my Bachelor of Arts and Social Science and my Master of Science in Counseling Education. …

  • Betsy Hoke

    EVERGREEN, COLORADO Betsy Hoke is a Master Trainer for the Gurian Institute and an Education Consultant working with private, public and charter schools across …

  • Kathy DeNiro, PhD

    PUEBLO, COLORADO ​Dr. DeNiro is a native Coloradoan and currently serves as the Vice President of Pueblo City Schools Board of Education in Pueblo, …

  • Paige Bray

    CONNECTICUT Paige M. Bray, EdD is an Associate Professor of Early Childhood at the University of Hartford. She is a teacher educator with primary …

  • Ethan Segovia

    SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA ​ Mr. Ethan Segovia is the Dean of Academics at the Army and Navy Academy in San Diego, California. He also …

  • Stephen Parmelee

    LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Steve Parmelee has taught at all levels of education.  Growing up in Ohio, attending college in Florida, obtaining his Master’s Degree …

  • Lisa Macias-Flavin

    WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA CALIFORNIA In 2005, Lisa Flavin didn’t know how to get her then pre-school-aged son to stop karate kicking his friends.  Someone …

  • Deborah Beck Engilman

    STUDIO CITY, CALIFORNIA ​Debra has been working with children for over 33 years. She has been a classroom teacher for every grade level, pre-school …

  • Amy Coe

    CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA ​ Ms. Amy Coe is the Assistant Dean of Academics at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California. Ms. Coe taught Chemistry …

  • Morgan Rutherford

    Morgan Rutherford, 7th Grade Social Studies, The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Morgan earned her Bachelor’s in both Secondary Social Science …

  • Stacia McFadden

  • Mary Olszewski

    Mary Olszewski, Executive Function Coach, The Lovett School, Atlanta, GA   Originally from Warren, Ohio, Mary earned her Bachelor’s in Middle-Level Education from Duquesne …

  • Fatima Coy

    Fatima Coy is a Kindergarten Master Teacher at Friendship Public Charter School in DC. She has taught kindergarten for going on 11 years. This …

  • Shawn Hardnett

    WASHINGTON, D.C. Above all, Shawn Hardnett is a teacher.  A product of the community that he serves, he knows their challenges well.  Of the …

  • Dodie Blomberg

  • Gary Ross

    GEORGIA Gary Ross has over 40 years of experience as an educator, serving as a special education teacher (K-12), as an elementary and middle school teacher (public and private), which included three …

  • Kimo Steenaart

    AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS Kimo Steenaart – 1967, has been a high school English teacher since 1996 and got her second degree in Pedagogy in 2005. …

  • Tamika Parran

    Lanham, Maryland Mrs. Tamika Parran is the Assistant Principal of Catherine T. Reed Elementary school in Lanham, Md. She graduated from Bowie State University …

  • Diane Roberts

    Diane Roberts began her journey in education 25 years ago as a teacher in an alternative school in Chicago, Illinois, where she discovered that …

  • Yon Berezin, LCSW-C

    Howard County Maryland Yon has over 25 years of experience working in both the private and public sectors providing assistance to a wide range …

  • Donna Powell-Murphy

    Baltimore County, Maryland Donna Powell-Murphy’s journey in education started in Jamaica teaching at an all -boys high school as a young teacher’s college graduate. …

  • Joe Sampson III, Ed.D.

    Maryland Husband. Father. Educator. I am a native of Charleston, SC and a former product of Charleston County School District, and was blessed to …

  • Helen Webster

    Silver Spring, Maryland Helen Webster was born and raised in Laurel, Maryland. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Master …

  • Diedra Barnett

    Maryland Ms. Diedra Barnett was named the Vice Principal at J.P. Ryon Elementary School in 2018. Prior to J.P. Ryon, she was the Reading …

  • Markesa Thomas-Oliver

    Maryland Mrs. Thomas Oliver is from Baltimore, Maryland. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in African …

  • Marianne Lescher

  • Lauren Paiva

  • Andrea Borum

  • Dr. Toyin Atolagbe

    Dr. Toyin Atolagbe is currently the Headmaster of Archway Lincoln Classical Academy – Great Hearts Academy (GHA). She joined GHA in June 2011 as …

  • Megan R. Hujik, LPSC

    mhujik@sjjtitans.org Toledo, OH Megan Hujik received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio Northern University in Mathematics and Education. She started her career in …

  • Kim Ealy-Lambert

    Ms. Ealy-Lambert grew up in Harlem located in New York City but currently resides in Ellicott City, Maryland.  She attended Hampton University in Hampton, …

  • CJ Kruska

    Mr. CJ Kruska is a teacher and mentor at Crespi Carmelite High School, a Gurian Institute Center For Educational Excellence. With a Bachelor of …

  • Thurston M. Smith

    Thurston M. Smith is a distinguished development coach, captivating speaker, accomplished author, seasoned facilitator, and trusted consultant. His forte is demystifying intricate concepts, transforming …

About Us - Team - GURIAN INSTITUTE