2018 Cohort

Theodore Brannum is a native Washingtonian. Theodore received his undergraduate degree in Economics at Rutgers University. After Rutgers, he served as a Director of Programming for The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, a non profit that helped mentor, prepare, and send over 1000 students to college. He started as a top high school scholarship recipient to directing the mentoring/scholarship aspect of the organization . He is currently at KIPP DC where he has served in a myriad of roles: such as College Counselor, Business Manager, World History Teacher, Assistant Director of Operations for the network, and currently 9th grade Dean at KIPP DC: College Preparatory Academy. He finally followed his heart to make an impact on students. Theodore is excited to be a part of the 2018 SPA/NOLA Cohort

Myeshia Y. Bryant is a native of Goldsboro, North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she graduated with a B.A. in Public Policy Analysis and Education. She is also a graduate of Johns Hopkins University (MS.Ed). Myeshia is an alumna of Teach for America (2014) and continues to teach 7th and 8th grade Language Arts and Intensive Reading in Miami Dade County Public Schools at her placement school. As a school and community leader, Myeshia is the Middle School Team Leader and EESAC secretary, advises the Student Government Association, is a K-5 teacher with the Miami Children’s Initiative, and is an active member of the Miami Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Myeshia is a life-long learner and is passionate about developing capacity in those around her as a teacher-leader. As a future school-building leader, she seeks to research and craft sustainable models of building teacher-leadership in urban environments. She is excited to be a part of the 2018 SPA NOLA Cohort!

Vanessa Chen is a graduate of New York University with a B.A. in Sports Management. After graduation, Vanessa joined the Las Vegas Valley Teach For America Corps of 2013 where she taught 4th grade at Hickey Elementary School and received her master’s degree from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada in Curriculum and Instruction. After three years in the classroom, Vanessa transitioned into a Learning Strategist role, where she worked on a K-5 literacy initiative to promote school wide reading culture. This year, she has moved on with her former students and is a Learning Strategist at Bailey Middle School providing reading intervention as well as working to improve school wide literacy achievement. Through the SPA NOLA program, Vanessa hopes to develop her skills as a leader and hopes to create meaningful relationships with her classmates.