40 Duval educators complete JPEF Summer Residency to help drive equitable outcomes in their schools
Principals, assistant principals, and teacher leaders worked together for three days to learn best practices to improve student outcomes.
7/12/2021
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 12, 2021 — Last week, 40 leading public school educators came together to learn about best practices to drive education equity in their schools through the Jacksonville Public Education Fund’s Summer Residency.
The Residency brought world-class professional learning to public school educators, including those from traditional public schools and public charter schools. Residents heard inspirational talks from national experts on education equity, including Gloria Ladson-Billings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, David Kirkland of New York University, and April Warren-Grice, founder of Liberated Genius.
In addition, residents learned practical skills, developed relationships with one another, and took time to plan for the next school year. Expert sessions over three days allowed residents to take a deep dive into building collective leadership teams, developing restorative justice practices to improve student behavior, and implementing trauma-informed care. The goal of the residency was to promote best practices in educational equity and to retain Duval’s highest-performing teachers.
“It’s a testament to the commitment of Duval County’s public school educators that they took time after this stressful year to do even more in service of students,” said JPEF President Rachael Tutwiler Fortune. “I’m incredibly grateful to our residents for their work, and I look forward to seeing the impact of the learning on student outcomes this year.”
Participants included about 30 principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches at Title I elementary schools, including 12 School Leadership Fellows, whom JPEF supports over three years with additional coaching and grant funding. Eight teacher leaders also participated in the training to prepare them as peer coaches for the 48 fellows in JPEF’s Teacher Leadership Initiative this year.
This work would not be possible without the generous support of JPEF partners, including the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations, Florida state representatives and their support for the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program, Delores Barr Weaver, Deutsche Bank, Equitable Advisors, and Mayo Clinic.
JPEF congratulates all the educators who were selected to participate in JPEF’s strategic initiatives this year. A full list of participants is below.
School Leader Residents
Claire St. Amand, Bayview Elementary
Tracey Kendrick, Brookview Elementary
Marianne Lee, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary
Jessica Sales, Normandy Village Elementary
Lawanda Polydore, Northwestern Legends Academy
Torra Talbot, S. P. Livingston
Jasmin Esparza Gomez, San Jose Elementary
Teresa Dowdell-Brown, Southside Estates Elementary
Franklin Graham, Long Branch Elementary
Kristi Kincaid, RL Brown Gifted and Talented Academy
Faith Roberts-Graham, Ruth Upson Elementary
Laquitrice Johnson, Martin L. King Elementary
Andrea Williams-Scott, Jacksonville Heights
Natasha Clark, Merrill Road Elementary
Angela Jordan, Whitehouse Elementary
Paula Findlay, Arlington Elementary
Marla Almon, Wayman Academy
Erica Little-Bartley, Hyde Grove Elementary
Sanaa McBride, Biscayne Elementary
Violet Stovall, Fort Caroline Elementary
Michelle Walsh, Lake Lucina Elementary
Helen Dunbar, Sadie T. Tillis Elementary
Jacqueline Jones, Westside K-8
Charles McWhite, Tiger Academy
Tiffany Green, Annie R. Morgan Elementary
Shawn Platts, Arlington Middle
Jamey Hough, River City Science Academy
Latrece Brown Sudduth, Lake Lucina Elementary
Kendall Parris, Annie R. Morgan Elementary
Gladys Barrington, Biscayne Elementary
Keshayla Wooten, Biscayne Elementary
Teacher Leader Coaches
Laura Ache - Atlantic Coast High
Raine Araya – Beauclerc - Elementary
Nadine Ebri - Southside Middle
Madison Kellenberger - Northwestern Legends
Caran Mullins - Seabreeze Elementary
Jamie Puckett - Beauclerc Elementary
Leslie White - DCPS Science Coach
Teacher Leader Fellows
Avery Vaughn, Highlands Elementary
Gisell Bacerra, San Jose Elementary
Staci Pendry, John E Ford Prek-8 Montessori School
Kimberly Parker, Lake Lucina Elementary
Ashlie Wilson, Beauclerc Elementary
Jesica Pearce, Lake Lucina Elementary
Katie Kiefaber, Matthew Gilbert Middle
Melissa Trocchio, Atlantic Coast High
Emma Marquis, Paxon School for Advanced Studies
Collette Piper, Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary
Cathy McCray-Abbi, Greenfield Elementary
Asheia Miller, Annie R Morgan Elementary
Barbara Wright, Long Branch Elementary
Mfon Akpatae, Northwestern Legends Elementary
Marilyn Brissett, Sadie Tillis Elementary
Maryjane Cassette, Sabal Palm Elementary
Stephanie Brookshire, Normandy Village Elementary
Christine Bell, Chets Creek Elementary
Stephanie Scannapieco, Seabreeze Elementary
Adrienne Lodico, San Jose Elementary
Sandra Waymer, Lake Lucina Elementary
Jenifer Straley, Lake Lucina Elementary
Leslie Jones, Duval Virtual Instruction Academy
Samantha Kimmel, Florida Cyber Charter Academy
Rhianna Scyster, Bridge to Success Academy
Georgette Cooper, Enterprise Learning Academy
Vickey Walker, Highland Elementary
Amneris Rodriguez Lugo, Biltmore Elementary
Regina Haywood, Mandarin High
Christine Klein, Northwestern Legends Elementary
Latanya Dewberry, Annie R Morgan Elementary
April McRae, Jacksonville Heights Elementary
April Hinson, Sadie Tillis Elementary
Jacqueline Lewis, Sadie Tillis Elementary
Crystal Jefferson, Jacksonville Heights Elementary
Shyrell Brown, River City Science Academy Innovation K-8
Lori Cheanvechai, Jacksonville Beach Elementary
Leslie Wilkinson, Garden City Elementary
Kashia Cannon, Normandy Village Elementary
Tess Nettles, George W. Carver Elementary
Media Contact: Stephanie Garry Garfunkel, Director of Marketing & Communications, at (352) 359-2393 or stephanie@jaxpef.org for more information.
For questions about JPEF's Strategic Initiatives: Warren Buck, Director of Strategic Initiatives, warren@jaxpef.org.
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About the Jacksonville Public Education Fund
The Jacksonville Public Education Fund is an independent think-and-do tank that believes in the potential of all students. We work tirelessly to close the opportunity gap for low-income students and students of color. We convene educators, school system leaders and the community to pilot and help scale evidence-based solutions that advance school quality in Duval County. For more information: www.jaxpef.org.