The ARE (Anti-Racist Educator’s) for Systems Change Fellowship is a 9 month experience that supports educators in expanding their knowledge, building anti-racist systems change skills, and strengthening leadership practice, to propel radical change with in the St. Louis Region education system.
Meet our 2021-2022 Fellows:
Dr. JaNae' Alfred, Ph.D
Interim Assistant Principal, City Garden Montessori School
LaToya Crockett
Barbara C. Jordan Elementary in University City, 3rd Grade Teacher
Morgan Hill
SouthSide Early Childhood Center, Program Director
Jen Patterson
Francis Howell School District, Director of Student Services
Dr. Erica Peyton-Nunnery
Faculty Fellowship, Xavier University
Kate Polokonis
STEM STL, Interim Executive Director
Mona Rajab
Parkway School District - Sorrento Springs, 1st Grade Learning Experience Designer
Marvin L Rice
Hazelwood School District, Twillman Elementary School, Assistant Principal
James Sykes
Forward Through Ferguson, Youth at the Center, Policy and Advocacy Fellow
Nakia Winston
St. Louis Language Immersion School, Social Worker
Past Fellows
Meet our past fellows, who we continue to engage as members of our Alumni Coalition. This a group of educators, administrators, and nonprofit leaders actively work towards education equity in STL.
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Laura Stern, Teacher at St. Louis Public Schools
Kelli Best-Oliver, Founder of Lit Shop STL
Curtis O’Dwyer, Founder of STEAMaster STL
Arsenia Tate, Former Diversity, Inclusion & Equity Coordinator at St. Margaret School
Dr. Shenita Mayes, An assistant principal at Parkway Northeast Middle School
Tavonda Palmer, Coach for the Game Changers at Ritenour High School
Michelle Franklin, Instructional Coach at St. Louis Public Schools Gateway STEM High School
Cynthia Chapple, Founder of Black Girls Do STEM
Dr. Terry Harris, Former Director of Student Services in the Rockwood School District
Dr. Anna Guzon, Co-founder of YourWords STL
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Charlie Cooksey, CEO and Founder of WEPOWER
Bijal Desai-Ramirez, Founder of The Peepul Tree
Dr. Chris McGee, Founder of ConnectED Learning & Executive Director of Academic and Student Services, Afton Schools
Eric Lewis, School Social Worker at the Special School District of St. Louis County
Jack Krewson, Chief Strategy Officer of Kairos Academies
Gavin Schiffres, Chief Executive Officer of Kairos Academies
Winnie and Sydney Caldwell, Co-Founders of Books N Bros
Abby Crawford, Director of Education at Center of Creative Arts (COCA)
Darion Robinson, School Navigator, Generalist at Navigate STL
What Our Fellows Have Said
"The ABAR training was a big changing point for me in my life. There was so much I was unaware of. Another high would be all of the spaces I was able to be a part of and the people I've been able to meet. The trip to New York opened my eyes to the different possibilities in education."
— Tavonda Palmer, Game Changers
“I love, love, love being a Fellow. The most valuable part of being a Fellow is the opportunity to be in community with other folks who are working towards equity for kids in St Louis. I love our cohort so much. It was so valuable to have a dedicated office space to support my LitShop work, but also to have a community to be a part of. Part of being an edupreneur can be really solitary, so having a place to connect, reflect, and act was invaluable to me. Our trip to New York was a true bonding experience.”
— Kelli Best-Oliver, LitShop
“I've learned to expand my goals for my non-profit in general. The fellowship inspired me to shoot for a much greater impact on my community through my work, with or without YourWords STL. ABAR brought about some "aha moments" for me.”