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My mom [Bobbie Watkins] is from a small town that doesn't even exist anymore. It's called Swift. She is one of 10 children, and she actually had 10 children. She lost two, so there were seven of us by the time I came around. So she had eight that she raised. She was a teenage mom, and she married fairly young and moved to St. Louis. Then her mom passed when she was 25, so she ended up taking five of her younger siblings and bringing them to St. Louis to raise them. Through all of that, my mom eventually became a single mom. When I think about women who inspire me, she is just like the forefront of everything because I talk to her a lot, and I know about her struggles as a child and coming up in what is beyond poverty with so many siblings. Her mom was eventually a single mom as well, and understanding the hardships, even through all of that, she just always put family first. She had her own children and she still raised five of her younger siblings because she refused to have them split up […] but she did all of that, and she got her GED when she was in her late thirties, early forties, and always just pushed to do everything that she could do for her family. [My uncles and aunts] are just genuinely living full lives, happy people. And I think it was because of her and what she did. It grounded all of us into placing the importance on that which is important, which is the people in our lives and not things that may or may not be of value in the long run. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/4ebce273-cfc9-4703-aa54-8f8d963b98af/Rachel+Starks.+2024.jpg News - Celebrating Women’s History Month - Rachel Starks, Public Policy Analyst My mentor in grad school was Dr. Ruthbeth Finerman, and she was phenomenal. She was a mentor for me in the anthropology department at [the University of Memphis] as I was kind of transitioning out of [...] majoring in biology and was struggling with wanting to find something that was a little more human-centered work. I was still interested in science, kind of an overlap with health, but really was starting to explore other social science classes. At the time, her expertise was in medical anthropology, which I had never heard of before, and it's very much human-centered and understanding from a qualitative perspective or interview or storytelling lens of how different perceptions, culture, experiences affect someone's health beyond just social determinants of health or beyond Western medicine and influence. So that alone was just a very fascinating focus area and field that I had not been exposed to before. That wasn't the path I ended up pursuing, but she also was very influential as far as what to do with my life and navigating grad school, navigating finances, understanding how to find my place in Memphis beyond just academia. I knew I wanted to work in Memphis, and she was a big proponent of that. Aside from just the mentorship of things, she was just a delightful person. She brought so much joy and passion to everything she did and every interaction she had with people. That really is also something I carry with me, especially these days. It’s easy to carry a lot of the burden in this work and field we do, but she chose joy in everything she did. Some days, it feels like the more radical thing to do is to actively choose to find joy in your life, so I try to carry that. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/meet-the-fellows-erica-daily monthly 0.5 2025-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/daac14e1-b6b1-4889-944a-4aa2bb64dc2a/Erica+Daily-1.jpg News - Meet the Fellows: Erica Daily - Make it stand out Photo courtesy of Erica Daily https://www.seeding-success.org/news/returning-neighbors-grant monthly 0.5 2024-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/cf205382-e279-41d6-aec5-c7610832f554/Office+of+Reentry.jpg News - Returning Neighbors: Healing Memphis Through Better Re-entry - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2af02c7b-e022-4529-ae41-64c0a6228a03/SCOR+Quotes.png News - Returning Neighbors: Healing Memphis Through Better Re-entry - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/seeding-success-unveils-new-leadership-structure-to-amplify-impact-across-memphis-and-tennessee monthly 0.5 2024-11-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a4ef2a0e-c332-4fc0-90bc-4f3cd23316c2/Jamilica+Burke+2020_smaller.png News - Seeding Success Unveils New Leadership Structure - Make it stand out Jamilica Burke, President of Seeding Success https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3771949c-dc8f-4876-b00d-4d2cab121aa5/CDC70.jpg News - Seeding Success Unveils New Leadership Structure - By fostering collaboration and aligning policies, practices, and resources, we can ensure that all residents have the opportunity to thrive and achieve better outcomes. Jamilica Burke speaks at Collage Dance Collective in May 2024. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/memphis-recognized-for-getting-better-results-for-youth monthly 0.5 2024-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708446898689-CZIP5E8D5SQOTF18K3H4/IMG_3849_small.png News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708446899157-RHVBESSFLIELGBOT3DI8/IMG_4699.jpeg News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708446897873-ERVJLG4EVAML1IKA71JS/sanfran2.png News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708447051483-NPYN5IEVT39Y2629EAH2/IMG_2335.png News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708447058043-JYXRS1P4JUJJY4V34AKK/IMG_2575.JPG News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708447126107-EMF2X6D7NYN4AZUOYXP7/20230415_163215%281%29.jpg News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1708447063431-WB8V778011PWR1PNBNB7/IMG_2084.JPG News - MEMPHIS RECOGNIZED FOR GETTING BETTER RESULTS FOR YOUTH https://www.seeding-success.org/news/making-new-connections-in-the-more-for-memphis-partnership monthly 0.5 2023-02-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d90220c3-c579-4752-88ef-72d08060f6ba/Feb+15+10-2.jpg News - Making New Connections in the More For Memphis Partnership - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2fe754f2-037a-4df6-9074-c46cc2befc33/MFM+Feb+5+5.jpg News - Making New Connections in the More For Memphis Partnership - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/e6a6b7a9-184c-4b1f-9acf-cbcc5050196e/MFM+Feb+15+9.jpg News - Making New Connections in the More For Memphis Partnership - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/0ce0e913-88f8-4cce-90a6-390049b9f7ca/MFM+Feb+15+15.jpg News - Making New Connections in the More For Memphis Partnership - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/shelby-county-deserves-more-community-schools monthly 0.5 2026-02-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2b78ea64-04b9-4696-af57-c370aeef31ec/Community+Schools+Blog.png News - Shelby County Deserves More Community Schools; Here’s How We’re Making That Happen - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/seeding-success-collaboration-wins-15-million-grant-from-the-us-department-of-education monthly 0.5 2023-01-19 https://www.seeding-success.org/news/a-message-from-courtney-w-robertson monthly 0.5 2022-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1666893391927-0N3YNOUQQU7G7OFUKUB6/2.png News - A Message from Courtney W. Robertson, Director of Operations - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.seeding-success.org/news/piloting-a-four-day-work-week monthly 0.5 2022-09-07 https://www.seeding-success.org/news/s2-welcomes-a-wave-of-new-talent monthly 0.5 2022-09-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1654715213645-AJMLLYSV66FHGMJAPTIB/Arnika+Carter.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Arnika Carter - Graphic Designer Arnika is originally from Jackson, TN. After graduating with a bachelor’s in Graphic Design from Austin Peay State University, she came to Memphis, TN where she started her career in education. She earned a master’s in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education and taught for four years. Arnika specialized in teaching English and Art to middle school and high school students. She has a passion for the arts and gained a passion for education during her teaching experience. Her favorite part about teaching was building relationships with students and helping students realize their own potential. Arnika joins Seeding Success with the passion for art/design, education, and our youth. She’s excited to be a part of a team that is working on continuous change and improvement for our community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1654715275816-TT98V6QU7CTH91SO7O8R/Tara+D.+Fredenburg.png News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Tara D. Fredenburg - Communications Specialist Tara has lived in Memphis for almost fourteen years. As a student at White Station High School, they developed passions for writing, editing, layout, and social media. Additionally, their experiences in both the traditional and honors tracks at White Station inspired them to create a senior capstone project that would jumpstart their dedication to studying education equity and youth empowerment in college. Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Rhodes College. Thanks to the Bonner Scholarship program at Rhodes, they had the opportunity to join Bridge Builders CHANGE as a college advisor for the Gender and Sexuality (GAS) cohort from the Fall 2018 through Spring 2021. There, Tara helped the youth fellows develop and implement the Brave, Safe, & Educated Campaign, which changed the policies of over 20 Memphis businesses and organizations to protect and uplift LGBTQ+ youth, staff, and clientele. Prior to joining Seeding Success, they worked as the Communications & Marketing Specialist at Baneberry Meadows Events in Donegal, PA and provided freelance copyediting and proofreading for New Degree Press. Tara currently lives in Memphis, TN with their cat Misty and spends their free time geeking out over books and sci-fi television with friends. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7fd0fdb6-28bb-43c4-9d84-303c9b5633b3/Daniel+Lee.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Daniel Lee - Early Childhood Education Data Analyst Daniel is a lifelong learner who enjoys sociology/ psychology books and challenges himself to learn a new sport or skill each year. He graduated from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville with a B.S. in Retail and Consumer Science. After six years as a retail manager, Daniel commenced a career change and found his passion for serving the community and a desire to make an impact in the lives of tomorrow’s leaders. Upon returning to Memphis in 2021, Daniel worked as a Research and Development Coordinator at an elementary school with Memphis Shelby County Schools. Working at that elementary school, he truly saw the effects that data made on an individual school’s academic success which sparked a desire to help and multiply those effects to all schools in Memphis. After finding S2, Daniel immediately jumped at the opportunity to join the team and contribute to the amazing work that had already been taking place. Daniel is thrilled to join the S2 team and use his analytical skills to help impact and improve education for all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1662051005861-GFR50QD36Z4SYW6GLMZV/Arielle+Williams.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Arielle Williams - Special Policy Assistant Born and raised in the “M-town”, Arielle developed a devout passion for social justice at an early age by being a very shy, yet very observant, student in and out of the classroom. She discovered an affinity for understanding diverse opinions through debate and socratic seminars, learning to grow out of her shell and developing a voice, not just for herself but also for her quieter peers. Though Arielle’s shyness eventually went away, her passion persevered through her high school career at White Station High School. She used her keen interest in subjects such as English and History to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies from Tennessee State University.In 2021, she graduated from the College of Public Service as valedictorian—and as a first generation student! After navigating her first year post-graduation through numerous roles in the service industry, she got her big break with Seeding Success in summer 2022 as the Special Policy Assistant. When not joking around with her big brothers, Morris and Elijah, she enjoys going out to eat with her aunts, falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes, and using research to enrich her fiction writing projects. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c4185eb7-38c9-454d-86ba-409420fcc990/Clark_NAIS+pic.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Constance Clark - Youth & Education Policy Analyst Constance has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in research and policy through her work at various education organizations in Texas, North Carolina, New York, and Washington, D.C. As a doctoral candidate in politics and education at Teachers College, Columbia University, Constance contributed to furthering the academic knowledge base around race, access, and inclusion and elevated the needs of racially minoritized children through projects on topics including collective impact, school segregation, diverse schools, and public-private school partnerships. Her dissertation focuses on the politics of access to advanced coursework. She received her B.A. in public policy from The College of William and Mary and an M.A. in government from the University of Texas-Austin. Constance is looking forward to exploring Memphis with her dog, Bella, and is a passionate teacher and practitioner of hot yoga. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b13e186b-7750-4907-b43f-e30675b66b98/Erica+Coleman.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Erica Coleman - Justice & Safety Policy Analyst Erica is a passionate proponent of children’s lifelong success and advocates for the policies and systems that are necessary to ensure success for children, especially children of color. Erica has a versatile background which includes experience in the education and legal field. With the knowledge driven by her experience and education, she wants to impact the lives of children, their families, and their communities by dismantling the systems working against them and reimagining a world where prosperity is possible for all. Erica holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Memphis and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She is a West Tennessee native and enjoys spending time with her husband (Kendrick), four daughters (Kendall, Kameryn, Kealyn, and Karri), and their dog (Kaylee). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a7c4485c-7052-4856-aed7-b578e6d3585c/Felicia+Hernandez.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Felicia Hernandez - Public Health & Well-being Policy Analyst Felicia Hernandez has over ten years of public health experience with a specialty in HIV and Hepatitis C prevention, diabetes case management, and evidence-based counseling, such as harm-reduction and risk reduction methods. Felicia’s passion and skills lie in advocacy work for the LGBTQ+ and undocumented populations in community health. Felicia holds a Bachelors of Arts in health and society with a history minor from Beloit College in Wisconsin. In May of 2019, Felicia published a motivational book called Gordita’s Way to empower young women in self-acceptance and served as a facilitator and motivational speaker on this topic at conferences, including the Latina Expo Conference of Chicago. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/9ff7e28e-4fbe-427c-9639-022aa9d0c329/Marshall+Ogier.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Marshall Ogier - Economic Development Policy Analyst Marshall’s experience spans multiple careers in various fields, including Coordinator of Youth Programs at The University of California, Accounting Manager for a multinational investment firm, and teacher in both public and private schools in Memphis. Marshall also serves as a member of the Binghampton TIF Advisory Committee. He received his Bachelor of Arts in both Economics and Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Marshall is also an avid outdoorsman and bike commuter. He lives in Binghampton with his partner (Christa), son (Scott), two dogs (Jobe and Cassiopeia), and two cats (Katara and Sakka). As an Economic Data Analyst, Marshall hopes to put policies into place that will create an economy that works for all Memphians. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c8f30512-0969-4626-863b-891cf022ff2a/Amy+Ruggaber.png News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Amy Ruggaber - Arts & Culture Policy Analyst Amy has worked as a performer, teaching artist, nonprofit administrator, arts advocate, and consultant, assisting artists and others from all disciplines and backgrounds tell their stories effectively and efficiently. An Arts Integration and Community Engagement specialist, she has written and directed over 60 short plays with youth and disabled individuals and developed and designed the exhibit “Uplift the Vote” on the Tent City Civil Rights Movement for the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change at the University of Memphis. Previously, she was the Manager of the award-winning Fellows Program for ArtsMemphis and has worked locally with Tennesseans for the Arts, Cazateatro Bilingual Theatre Company, Hattiloo Theatre, and more. Deeply committed to shining a light on the vital role of the arts in communities, she is an experienced arts advocate and has led advocacy efforts and training across the state of Tennessee and nation-wide. Prior to her move to Memphis in 2013, she served as the Director of the award-winning Education and Community Outreach Programs at Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Memphis pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/6e6eda8c-9cff-4659-8c14-2ff4bdfcbdf7/Rachel+Starks.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Rachel Starks - Community Development Policy Analyst Rachel Starks is a native Memphian who has worked with local advocacy groups and Memphis nonprofits for over eight years. As the Community Development Social Policy Consultant for Seeding Success, she is passionate for environmental justice, healthy housing, and strong neighborhoods. In 2019, she received her MA in Applied Anthropology from the University of Memphis with research on energy burden and energy policy. She currently lives in Memphis, TN with her cat (Hobbes). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1662473690793-O67RCXCOC9K2H6HLRIWY/Melody%2BFreeman.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Melody Freeman - Director of Collaborative Action Melody, a Memphis native, always knew she would be supporting agencies on the front lines of social inequality and upward mobility among communities of color. She is a passionate, results-oriented servant with over 10 years of experience challenging social injustice, moving policy into action, and creating cross-sector collaborations that benefit the most vulnerable. She earned the Helen Hardin Honors Bachelor's degree in Sociology from the University of Memphis and went on to obtain her M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Portland Concordia University. She began her impact journey as an AmeriCorps VISTA by serving a year in Frayser with the Achievement School District. Over the last seven years, she has managed multiple community-based initiatives with the City of Memphis and Shelby County Government. On any given day, you might find Melody writing, arranging, or singing a song she enjoys. She loves to travel with her husband and their three girls. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1662481117710-LQUA2EHQQEYAMIN6NPDJ/Taylor%2BDeMagistris%2BHeadshot%2B2022.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Taylor DeMagistris - Director of Continuous Improvement Having worked in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years, Taylor joins Seeding Success with a background in public affairs, advocacy, program development, and project management. She has served on several nonprofit boards and has experience working in the education and philanthropic sectors. Taylor brings a passion for identifying systemic issues and building systems of equitable opportunity and access through community-wide collaboration. Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Taylor graduated from East Carolina University with a BS in Family and Community Services, specializing in Family Studies. She earned an Executive Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, where she also served as an elected member of the Student Government Association. Taylor currently lives in Memphis with her dog, Bingo. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her nieces, working out, and cheering on the Tarheels. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/0da72bde-5989-4ff4-bd98-1803ff2de59d/DeVonte+Payton+2022.jpg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - DeVonté Payton - Deputy Director of Strategy & Impact DeVonté Payton is a native Memphian and a proud ambassador of the city. He is a passionate community leader who is an advocate for engagement and development in the community involving schools, families, nonprofits, and the private sector. Prior to joining the Seeding Success team, DeVonté served as the Community Schools Manager for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, where he led the District’s Community Schools expansion through a coordinated “whole child, whole community” approach. He also previously led the charter authorization, interim, and renewal evaluation processes for the District’s portfolio of charter schools. DeVonté earned his B.B.A. from the University of Memphis, has over 10 years of experience working in education, and has served on several youth-involved boards and non-profits in the Memphis community. As an education advocate, he has worked closely with schools to develop and implement strategic plans for community engagement, recruitment & retention of talent and students, and high school/college placement. Of all of his accomplishments, DeVonté is most proud to be the husband to his wife, Alyssa, who is also an educator, and dad to Dylan, Alyson, Alaina, and Dorian. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1662489908920-CAX12J0ULS41HP8VFS2D/Carlotta+Woods.jpeg News - S2 Welcomes a Wave of New Talent to Support Growing Bodies of Work - Carlotta Woods - Administrative Assistant Carlotta was raised here in Memphis, TN and joins Seeding Success as an Administrative Assistant. Carlotta has always had a passion for working with children and families. For years she has done volunteer work with community organizations such as Court Appointed Special Advocates. When she’s not supporting her S2 family she enjoys making beaded jewelry. 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As a leader of systems-level change, the Seeding Success partnership encourages collaboration among diverse partners, by building their capacity to make data-informed decisions that put children at the center; advocates for equity-based policies and funding to remove barriers and sustain improvements; and helps design systems to address disparities. Seeding Success is a member of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network. Read more about our work to transform the systems that support Memphis youth and families in Strive Together’s Case Study Thinking Bigger in Memphis. https://www.seeding-success.org/beyond-the-classroom daily 0.75 2025-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b68c283c-3809-41e4-b566-6cf74d23fb92/Spring+League11.jpg https://www.seeding-success.org/first-8-memphis daily 0.75 2020-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1591913346057-DCVY1VEMHQRTLP46CICY/First8Graphic.png Early Childhood: First 8 Memphis The supportive backbone, comprised of Seeding Success, Porter-Leath, and SCS Division of Early Learning and Head Start will guide and evaluate the system to ensure effectiveness, quality, and efficiency. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1591986928175-QR11TCRCI3JTHFFKHNIS/First8AccomplishmentGraphics_1.png Early Childhood: First 8 Memphis 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/e6c73edf-454d-46d3-9441-5fb36b62d0a5/Tony+Pellicciotti+-+LRK.jpg Board of Directors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d0565271-b289-4d7a-b067-8952c9db63df/-1556464608784435469.jpg Board of Directors https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7f2406ff-57ab-47cb-b123-22d6d2273572/Austin+Baker.jpg Board of Directors https://www.seeding-success.org/get-involved daily 0.75 2021-10-11 https://www.seeding-success.org/theory-of-transformation daily 0.75 2025-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336263247-0UUOB6OR32PDOQH3HHUJ/growth-01.png Theory of Transformation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336280306-G14BRZWVEW1PI272MB5D/growth-02.png Theory of Transformation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336298781-2UOOW6BGKNR2OFN72ZMP/growth-03.png Theory of Transformation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336317648-5IG2TORWELXUXO8V1FRR/growth-04.png Theory of Transformation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336057840-Q3F4O326ZBJQYVY3EUUA/K_icon.png Theory of Transformation Children enter school kindergarten-ready. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336081958-YV1HKRN1V8T3R80CTZEC/Book3_icon.png Theory of Transformation Children are reading on grade level by third grade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336180938-NR0VUYJQNE5VS5JC36JG/Cap_icon.png Theory of Transformation Students graduate on time, ready for college and career. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336211127-UMPZTKIWR7K9T2BXLLSD/Hands_icon.png Theory of Transformation Young adults are reconnected to opportunities for jobs and continuing education. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336229742-FZ77QREGK85XTF7FJRIH/temp-icon.png Theory of Transformation Adults have access to post-secondary opportunities to earn degrees and certifications. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1591388468666-N1A28BJVYQ58LVEPXD2B/AdobeStock_67574685.jpg Theory of Transformation - What Does System Change Look Like? Over the past five years, Seeding Success has worked with local and national experts to create a system of support for children from prenatal to age eight. First 8 Memphis, previously referred to as Shelby County Early Childhood Education Plan (SCECEP), aligns and scales comprehensive programs that propel children toward kindergarten readiness and 3rd grade literacy in order to improve outcomes for our community’s most vulnerable families. https://www.seeding-success.org/paris-ducker daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a4c0b9fd-11df-4d08-904d-987031dc75e1/paris-web.jpg Paris Ducker - Paris Ducker CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Paris has over 25 years of experience in her career of administrative support. She is a Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) through the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP). She joined PeopleFirst Partnership and Seeding Success in 2015. She is a transplant to Memphis, TN from San Francisco, CA. She is the proud “Grandy” of two grandsons. She is active as an advocate in grassroots programs in the community. paris@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/jamilica-burke daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/721c5cf8-1ffc-4ade-ac45-f1f3a1f01a17/jamilica-web.jpg Jamilica Burke - Jamilica Burke PRESIDENT Jamilica, a Memphis native with a passion for education and youth, studied Political Science and Pre-Medicine at the University of Chicago and earned her Master in Education from Georgia State University. She began her teaching career through Teach For America with Atlanta Public Schools and went on to serve in school, district, and community leadership roles focused on supporting children and their families. She returned to Memphis to support the community that produced her. Currently, she works to create strategic opportunities for collective impact in order to drive systems-level change in the cradle to career continuum with Seeding Success. jamilica@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/lisa-williams daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7d9d3358-5928-452d-a46c-ff234be782b0/lisa-web.jpg Lisa Williams - Lisa Williams Vice President of CommunicationS Lisa is a native Memphian, and a graduate of Overton High School for the Creative and Performing Arts. It’s there where a lifelong appreciation for the arts was fostered and would begin to color her career choices. She attended the University of Missouri-Columbia where she studied communications and theatre. She earned a bachelor's in theatre performance from Mizzou and went on to work in the theatre industry in Minnesota and New Jersey. Lisa returned to Memphis to complete a master's in journalism with a concentration in public relations at the University of Memphis. Lisa has more than ten years of experience in marketing and public relations and has specialized in nonprofit communications. She has previously held posts at Playhouse on the Square and Hemline Tailored Brand Strategies and was the communications director for the nonprofit City Leadership, managing content for the Choose901 campaign. Her passion for Memphis's advancement and storytelling has led her to Seeding Success. When the stars align just right, Lisa gets the privilege of being in a local commercial or stage play. She lives in Midtown with her husband James, their daughter Nola, and their dog Dino. lisa@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/partners-resources daily 0.75 2026-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592334037815-TCETAFFA04S8NHQR73YF/Toolkit.jpg Partner Resources - Continuous Improvement Toolkit Need to test a theory, evaluate a strategy, or find out if a pilot program is worth scaling? The Continuous Improvement Toolkit is stocked with step-by-step guides and templates to help you get to the root of a problem and design a solution. https://www.seeding-success.org/surayyah-hasan daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/93011f57-3858-4890-a3fa-675bfcabf008/surayyah-web.jpg Surayyah Hasan - Surayyah Hasan Vice President of Performance Improvement & Analytics Surayyah Hasan is passionate about creating opportunities for social and economic advancement in underserved communities. She joined the Seeding Success team as the Performance Analytics Manager, and works to ensure quality data use, effective continuous improvement, and cross-system collaboration. Surayyah came to Memphis as part of Strong Cities, Strong Communities Program where she served in Mayor Wharton's Office of Talent and Human Capital. She has also supported efforts related to employment and post-secondary attainment in both the public and nonprofit space. Surayyah graduated from Wellesley College with a BA in Psychology. She earned a Master of Public Administration from the City University of New York - Baruch College as a National Urban Fellow. surayyah@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/mark-sturgis daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b8115288-c1fb-4335-8170-3d3f8f3ef371/mark-web.jpg Mark Sturgis - Mark Sturgis CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mark Sturgis is the founder and CEO of Seeding Success, a national exemplar of collective impact in Memphis, TN. Mark has successfully helped lead the transformation of the education system in Memphis over the last decade and pushed for innovation in the collective impact sector nationally. Mark is a community organizer, educator, researcher, and father. The work of Seeding Success and the national initiatives he is involved in are focused on structural solutions that create greater opportunity and equity for children and families. mark@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/collective-impact daily 0.75 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592340464314-W7NLSTEP3NGZZCWMGSAS/SharedVision.png Collective Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592340492155-V39O8PIMC2M0CILTTLQ3/EvidenceBased.png Collective Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592340509353-DU3AD7JI1RA57Z1W84LA/CollabAction.png Collective Impact https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592340530924-1VEJTA8MIR8R04SN4PO1/Investment.png Collective Impact https://www.seeding-success.org/continuous-improvement daily 0.75 2022-05-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1597700975732-CNS0Q0PMQIZ2TH3TX4XI/ContinuousQuality_icon.png Continuous Improvement https://www.seeding-success.org/anthony-hanna daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/be197870-5f37-439a-9b62-a94af22f60e3/tony-web.png Anthony Hanna - Anthony Hanna Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy Anthony (Tony) Hanna is a native Tennessean and education policy specialist. Prior to returning to Memphis to work at Seeding Success, Tony spent time in Washington, D.C., where he organized advocacy campaigns at the Center for American Progress and managed the education policy portfolio of a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. His current role as the Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy at Seeding Success involves authoring and advocating for public policy proposals to improve the lives of Memphis and Shelby County residents along the cradle-to-career continuum. Tony holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Studies from Rhodes College, as well as a Master's degree in International Education Policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He lives with his wife, son, and two dogs in Memphis. anthony@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/isaac-rodriguez daily 0.75 2026-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1591636868493-9ZUXAY7LSKUTPVBWJLQG/Isaac_Rodriguez.jpg Dr. Isaac Rodriguez - Dr. Isaac Rodriguez Co-founder & chief science officer, SweetBio, Inc. Dr. Isaac Rodriguez is the Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of SweetBio, Inc., a Memphis, Tennessee based, commercial-ready medical device company with FDA-cleared, honey-incorporated wound care products. Since 2015, SweetBio has raised $4 Million, graduated from ZeroTo510 and LaunchTN accelerator programs, was a finalist in Steve Case’s 2018 Rise of the Rest tour and recognized by Inside Memphis Business as a 2016 Innovation Award winner and by the American Cancer Society North Central Region as their 2019 Innovators of Hope. SweetBio was also highlighted on 60 Minutes and Forbes. Dr. Isaac Rodriguez is a Gates Millennium Scholar and earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering. After graduating with his doctorate, he moved to Memphis where he spent 2.5 years as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Memphis. While at the UofM, Dr. Rodriguez co-invented the honey biomaterial technology that has now become the basis for SweetBio’s product lines. Some of Dr. Rodriguez’s notable achievements include serving as the keynote speaker for NASA Langley’s 2017 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, an invited speaker in 2018 for The Empowerment Conference, being cited over 875 times in academic journals, being named as one of Memphis' Top 40 Under 40 in 2015 by The Memphis Business Journal, and being honored in 2017 by his alma mater (VCU) as a Top 10 Alumni (out of 80,000) to graduate in the last 10 years. Dr. Rodriguez currently serves as a board member of Seeding Success, New Memphis Institute, Setting the Standard (STS) Enterprises, the Collegiate School of Memphis, and formerly Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell's Young Professional Council and Mayor Jim Strickland Transitional team. https://www.seeding-success.org/john-daniel daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/4a260fca-d6c1-42ea-a1b4-4a17759e5976/John+Daniel.png John Daniel - John Daniel Co-founder and CEO, Bluff City Pickleball John Daniel is a retired executive with a 47-year career history in the banking industry. Most recently, John was Chief Human Resources Officer at First Horizon Bank. He is a frequent speaker on culture, leadership and well-being, and he is deeply involved in the community. He serves on the boards of New Memphis, Seeding Success, and River City Capital and on the advisory board of Facing History. He also serves on the advisory board of a health technology company, Green Circle Life. John was the recipient of the James House Williamson Award in 2020 as the most influential HR leader in Tennessee. He and his wife Leslie were honored with the Living Heart Award by the American Heart Association for their contributions to the AHA. John is a heart transplant recipient. In 2022, he spent a year as a Fellow at Harvard University studying social impact strategies as part of the Advanced Leadership Initiative. In 2023, he and Leslie co-founded Bluff City Pickleball. https://www.seeding-success.org/matthew-mccaffrey daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/55692828-e483-4c46-b0f8-75a4a5ff40da/matt-web.jpg Matthew McCaffrey - Matthew McCaffrey Vice President of Public Policy Matthew McCaffrey is passionate about strong communities, intercultural learning, and education systems that work for all. An array of background experiences inform Matthew’s work at Seeding Success; those include: two years’ service as a Community and Organizational Development Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps in Moldova, consulting with American Councils for International Education-Moldova, Coordinating pre-college programming and launching experiential learning curricula at Rutgers University-Camden, and Directing Advocacy and Engagement with BLDG Memphis. Matthew is currently a Doctoral Candidate of Public Affairs and Community Development at Rutgers University-Camden; his dissertation focuses on diversity in higher education and college persistence and attainment for students from historically underserved backgrounds. He lives with his wife in Memphis, Tennessee. matt@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/austin-baker daily 0.75 2026-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/66695545-3e79-408f-92b1-f4cb9e813bc8/Austin+Baker.jpg Austin Baker - Austin Baker President, HRO Partners Austin Baker is an entrepreneur, investor, speaker, Eagle Scout, and community leader focused on building organizations and leaders that create long-term, sustainable impact. He has a legacy as a founding partner of several healthcare, insurance, and technology companies with successful exits over the past 25+ years. During this tenure of leadership, he has helped develop innovative workforce and mentoring programs as well as pioneered employee benefits strategies that have collectively served more than twenty thousand organizations across the country. Austin is born out of hospitality. He served as a busboy and Chief Restroom Officer (CRO) at his family restaurant Owen Brennan’s, where so many families have come together for more than 35 years. Through his work advising founders and business owners, Austin is actively engaged in lower- and middle-market mergers and acquisitions, helping companies grow, transition ownership, create value multiples, control costs, and most of all, honor and preserve entrepreneurial legacies. Alongside his business work, Austin has made significant investments in mentorship programs, leadership development, and education. He co-founded the Memphis Institute for Leadership Education (MILE) and the Fogelman College of Business at the University of Memphis. MILE has supported the mentorship of thousands of emerging leaders. The University of Memphis named the program in his honor, and he is proud to continue to support the program. In his education transformation work, Austin has helped form and advise across many education systems comprising more than 150,000 students and 275 schools. Austin is passionate about infusing mentorship education in our community. The impact of these programs has helped to create, empower, equip, and inspire more than 10,000 mentors as the center of his life work—with the ultimate goal of one million mentors. Seeding Success, Goodwill Excel Center, and Cradle to Career TN are a few of the organizations for which he has proudly served on the founding boards, acting as an advisor and advocate for their teams’ incredible work in education. Austin’s work across education, entrepreneurship, and civic initiatives reflects a lifelong commitment to mentoring the next generation—equipping young leaders with the relationships, skills, and values needed to strengthen their communities and build enduring institutions. Austin is also the father of two boys who are eating him out of house and home as they advance through high school. https://www.seeding-success.org/dr-tequilla-brownie daily 0.75 2026-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7b3e3977-c6df-4055-a6ea-aeb97316e3d3/Dr.-Tequilla-Brownie-Headshot-2024-2025-Cropped.png Dr. Tequilla Brownie - Dr. Tequilla Brownie Chief Executive Officer, The New Teacher Project Dr. Tequilla Brownie is the Chief Executive Officer of TNTP where she leads all aspects of the organization’s strategy, operations, and business growth. With a mission focused on disrupting education inequities to provide students the viability and optionality that are engines of economic mobility, TNTP is the preeminent national education non-profit in the country. Its client portfolio includes more than 500 school systems across 43 states and territories serving more than 33 million students and families. A sought-after speaker for global conferences, a Pahara Fellow, and one the first names listed on Brightbeam's top 30 list of education influencers, Dr. Brownie is an innovative thought leader tapped for her insights on and beyond public education. Her own personal journey from a childhood spent in deep rural poverty to Yale to CEO of TNTP gives her a unique and timely perspective on the complexity of the public systems that undergird our economy. She is a leading voice on the need to revamp education institutions to focus on ensuring a path to prosperity for all students, including those most vulnerable. Prior to becoming CEO, Dr. Brownie spent a decade at TNTP developing the business and leadership acumen required to run a large organization. Her success in leveraging a broad base of relationships to elevate the national profile of the organization while increasing both the number and value of philanthropic supporters helped secure TNTP’s position among the vanguard of education non-profits. Before joining TNTP, Dr. Brownie led the design and execution of the district-wide effort to improve student outcomes in Memphis City Schools by increasing teacher effectiveness. In her role, she helped build community support for quality education and drove human capital reforms that led to significant policy changes. Dr. Brownie holds a BA in Psychology from Yale University, an MS in Social Work from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, and an Ed.D in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis. She lends her expertise as a board member for several local and national organizations including Stand for Children, ForwARd Arkansas, The MindTrust, and Memphis Seeding Success. In addition to serving as a Senior Fellow of FutureEd at Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy, she is also a founding Leadership Committee member and former Board Member of Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC). https://www.seeding-success.org/al-bright daily 0.75 2026-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/5703e080-db95-48ac-bd98-732089bbe8d7/al+bright.jpg Al Bright - Al Bright Partner, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC Al Bright, Jr. counsels public and private companies in a diverse range of corporate law matters, serving as a trusted business advisor and outside general counsel to support his clients’ legal and business objectives. Al works closely with clients to navigate strategic corporate transactions, including navigating mergers and acquisitions ranging from $5 million to $1.2 billion. He also advises clients through securities offerings and capital raising activities, as well as cross-border transactions. Al leads teams in complex negotiations related to licensing and development collaborations as well as supply, distribution and sales agreements. His clients include biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical device companies, as well as manufacturers, distributors and other emerging companies. Al is a Fellow with New Memphis Institute (formerly Memphis Leadership Academy) and an alumnus of Leadership Memphis’ Executive Class. Prior to joining Bass, Berry & Sims, Al was in-house counsel for medical technology company Medtronic Inc., and most recently, he was a partner in the Memphis office of Waller, Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP. Currently, Al serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County (“EDGE”), and he is a member of the Board of Directors for Evolve Bank & Trust. Al is married to Mary L. Bright, an attorney, and Al and Mary are proud parents of Madison Bright. https://www.seeding-success.org/keith-norman daily 0.75 2026-03-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c447af14-5eea-4f70-a8d1-d210ca97ddb0/rev+keith+norman.jpg Rev. Dr. Keith Norman - Rev. Dr. Keith Norman V.P. Governmental Affairs, Baptist Memorial Hospital In his role as vice president of government affairs for Baptist, Rev. Keith Norman’s primary responsibilities include establishing and maintaining relationships with government officials and strengthening Baptist’s community outreach partnerships. The pastor of First Baptist Church—Broad in Binghampton, he is leading the revitalization of that community through GREATER WORKS Inc., an organization he founded. He also sits on the board of directors of the Memphis-Shelby County Crime Commission, is a Board Trustee at Christian Brothers University, and is a Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Commissioner. He also is president of the NAACP’s Memphis chapter. A graduate of Morehouse College, Norman has studied community revitalization and church/corporate partnerships at Harvard Divinity School as well as the Invitation Strategies for Church and Community Partnership at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business. He is pursuing a doctorate in Ministry at Memphis Theological Seminary. https://www.seeding-success.org/melisa-moore daily 0.75 2020-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1591823932002-BT45UIDKGUTXD16PMC3R/Melisa_Moore_final_cropped-thumb450x660.png Melisa Moore - Melisa Moore Attorney, Burch, Porter & Johnson, PLLC Melisa Moore has extensive litigation experience representing municipalities, insureds, and corporations in complex matters involving commercial and business litigation, workers’ compensation, premises liability, toxic torts, personal injury, landlord tenant litigation, civil rights litigation, and subrogation and handling employment related investigations. Ms. Moore’s practice also includes providing advice and counsel to insurers on liability and exposure issues on a variety of general liability and commercial claims. Ms. Moore has experience in both state and federal court in all stages of litigation, including pre-suit investigations and mediation. Before joining the firm as an associate in 2011, Ms. Moore practiced law at a regional insurance defense firm in Memphis. She has successfully defended and resolved hundreds of cases for her clients. Ms. Moore is a native Memphian and serves on numerous non-profit boards, including serving as a Big Sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Mid-South. https://www.seeding-success.org/michael-fulton daily 0.75 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1593014119285-3QK1VPR8PJDL2HD07BH2/Michael+Fulton.jpg Michael Fulton - Michael Fulton Government Affairs Director, Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority Michael Fulton is the Director of Government Affairs for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. He has more than 10 years of experience in government and served as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. He was the primary advisor for a Member of Congress on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and provided strategic guidance on aviation, highway, transit, and rail policy. Fulton was selected as a Memphis Business Journal “40 Under 40” honoree in 2018, a 2022 graduate of Leadership Memphis Executive Class and member of the 2024-2025 Leadership Tennessee Signature Program (Class XI). Professional organizations include the American Association of Airport Executives and the Government Affairs Council with the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce. He currently serves as a board member for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, Hospitality Hub, Memphis & Shelby County Sports Authority and is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Fulton is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, where he received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree in Political Science. https://www.seeding-success.org/continuous-improvement-toolkit daily 0.75 2022-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1597700975732-CNS0Q0PMQIZ2TH3TX4XI/ContinuousQuality_icon.png Continuous Improvement Toolkit Seeding Success uses the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle as our framework for continuous improvement. This iterative approach is used to improve a process or carry out change. By using the PDSA cycle, you will walk through planning a test of change (Plan), implementing the plan (Do), evaluating the effectiveness of the change using qualitative and quantitative data (Study), and determining whether to adapt, adopt or abandon the plan (Act). *This is not an exhaustive list of tools but these are the ones we most frequently engage our partners with. https://www.seeding-success.org/network-for-school-improvement-insights daily 0.75 2022-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598558949711-HBPF0PW58SY2ME35W4A6/FHAO_HEX_3%2522_Tag.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983774211-ERO7RUMC2VMWNYLMDU8I/charts_for_website_nottransparent1.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/391435cb-d47b-4e40-b419-05876876b893/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation-Slide1.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472206026-UPTOOJJVXDLXLDTOUHF5/AvonLenox.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598558949667-CC68RUKR0Y31DLRAJKI9/SCS-FB.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983796315-BPG6UGENANWFEP2B7F43/charts_for_website_nottransparent2.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b000bafb-9952-4b31-967d-5b828f31e953/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide2.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472205035-T4I4H1UHY99L4VX7WBI6/bellevuems.png Network for School Improvement Insights Bellevue Middle School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983814840-8YUUN1FAICJG8UVFDLP9/charts_for_website_nottransparent3.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/5ae0c5f5-5319-427f-8223-72d72fc5f897/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide3.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472207715-4QP3RUQ4N9YXHQUSY0B4/bolton+high+school.png Network for School Improvement Insights Bolton High School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983845872-TM09JKZ9K624VQP951LN/charts_for_website_nottransparent4.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/5a2028bb-674c-4a56-a0f4-cdf99718d8da/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide4.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472205044-9QN6A3HPVAAMD6PYWO7O/CentralHS.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983862617-F92T0KHA2BEXGG9TH7MK/charts_for_website_nottransparent5.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/38561525-0afe-4b06-a502-2ae2f939747f/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide5.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472205161-XB6JUB57C8ZXQ2Y90PK8/CordovaHS.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983881498-LWDRB7K5WBG9ZMJUZEI4/charts_for_website_nottransparent6.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/ad1d17c3-4159-4d19-8d9c-5357188e7af2/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide6.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472204987-OMCNIR3HYEU2XK8MMKE4/GermantownHS.png Network for School Improvement Insights Germantown Middle School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/28edc91f-a05e-4b4c-96e0-4bdc6d292ceb/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide7.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472206196-45X6NYBI5XXQ7HOWM2O7/germatown+middle.png Network for School Improvement Insights Germantown High School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/e91af3b9-1b8c-45f4-81ea-12e271d08501/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide8.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472205561-Z8O56OB1EME9DPG0TAC2/HighlandOaksMS.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2424a9e5-565a-4016-be57-d504e078cc81/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide9.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472205792-1SZDU36XC6V6U3PTMNZY/KINGSBURYHS.png Network for School Improvement Insights Kingsbury High School https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/841397eb-c584-4fc9-97e4-60492b8a7610/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide10.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472206099-LR9H6E9KD6740N0QMJ92/KingsburyMiddle.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/223e58a3-4124-4e26-a7f8-82dda8808770/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+Slide11.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472206154-5PVI10EH3L58ZB7JCN6Y/OvertonHS.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472207812-WK8LRJSARYQ219SYEO63/Ridgeway-MS-2.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472207052-4QCV06JNUCYUY2CQQ2UB/RidgewayHigh.png Network for School Improvement Insights 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https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d873ad3d-a0bb-46fb-9f23-a70bb752d3ac/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+31.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/52cadc24-2804-4697-8c35-348556f51ce8/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+32.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/31aba433-a8b6-416d-8864-7c13982f791e/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+33.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/f110d926-45af-49f7-8ea4-e54f3d51659c/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+34.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/ffeb69ce-ce41-4e5e-9a89-2f3e70496b6c/Zone+6+%26+11+-+Attendance+Strategy+Summary+and+Recommendation+35.png Network for School Improvement Insights https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598472850570-561EEKR9FOLDP9E4X2ZI/IMG_0627.JPG Network for School Improvement Insights Through this partnership, school teams worked closely with Seeding Success Data & Research Analysts to determine key root causes, identify evidence-based interventions to address them, and test these interventions through rapid improvement cycles, with a long-term goal of helping more students remain on track toward college and career readiness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599589530509-HU4MO96J4N4I5DI4Y0F4/Large+Font+NSI+summary+results+-+Attendance.jpeg Network for School Improvement Insights * indicates that the school saw improvements in student attendance/behavior when implementing that strategy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599589582437-1FXHUPK3CANOY4538U6B/Large+Font+NSI+summary+results+-+Behavior.jpeg Network for School Improvement Insights * indicates that the school saw improvements in student attendance/behavior when implementing that strategy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598553534283-CL7SAVILE6WYHJVSQD57/IMG_3859.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights - Key Learnings Identify chronically absent students early Form a diverse team then set a fixed schedule of biweekly/monthly meetings https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1598983668605-WBGWIU8U2O1EI6E8AO01/Yr1_2_chartforwebsite.jpg Network for School Improvement Insights *Shelby County Schools implemented a new student information system in 2017-18 and adjusted attendance-taking protocols in response in 2018-19. These reporting changes may explain some fluctuation in absenteeism rates during these two school years. https://www.seeding-success.org/sipoc daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599234533381-QL2CONEGV35SHD1F1JJ6/SIPOC+example.jpg SIPOC - SIPOC Purpose A SIPOC (Supplier, Input, Process, Output, Customer) analysis is a high-level view of a process. Ordered from start to finish, a SIPOC identifies suppliers who provide inputs to a process, which results in an output that is delivered to customers. This tool helps identify all internal and external factors, and aligns the team with the inputs and outputs that impact the process. https://www.seeding-success.org/swot-analysis daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599234247377-X7TC131YK54DXR6G7BJP/SWOT.jpg SWOT Analysis - SWOT Analysis Purpose SWOT, which stands for Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threat, is an analysis to evaluate a project, a process, or an entire organization. It ensures that the project, process, or organization remains updated with external opportunities and risks. For instance, it helps the organization: Define the internal strengths to be further maintained or developed. Define the internal weaknesses to be adapted or addressed. Define the external opportunities that the organization can leverage. Define the external threats that the organization can be prepared for or find ways to minimize the risks. The SWOT analysis can be developed after deciding on the project/organization’s objectives or before finalizing a strategy. The SWOT analysis should be revisited whenever changes occur in the environment, such as changes in legislation, policies, and the organizations’ objectives. https://www.seeding-success.org/failure-mode-effects-analysis daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599235350320-KV68THRGLV4GNTF74HVB/FMEA+Example.jpg Failure Mode Effects Analysis - Failure Mode Effects Analysis Purpose A Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA) helps us look at each step of a process to identify what has gone wrong and what could prevent that from going wrong in the future. https://www.seeding-success.org/process-observation-form daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596222627474-OC0BMTFH0TKJU5TJP09V/Process+Observation+Form.png Process Observation Form - Process Observation Form Purpose A Process Observation Form is a tool that helps document the observations of a process. Seeing and documenting the process in action is particularly useful when trying to understand the difference between what was planned and what is actually happening. This form therefore helps organizations maintain standards and ensures that the current actions contribute to the expected outcomes. https://www.seeding-success.org/page5s daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1595865278491-W4799FYKZ4WWORQL3MAP/5s%2Bscreenshot.jpg 5S Process - 5S Process Purpose 5S is a systematic way to standardize the work environment, processes & materials to reduce waste, increase productivity, and provide a foundation for continuous improvement. Additional benefits of 5S include a clean work environment and an engaged and motivated team. The 5S process can be done within a physical space as well as digital spaces (e.g. spreadsheets or shared folders). https://www.seeding-success.org/waste-walk daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596222051481-QO862CLV59S1KBFNCNYB/Waste+Walk.png Waste Walk - Waste Walk Purpose A Waste Walk is a structured observation of a process to identify all the waste (e.g. activities that don’t add any value) involved in the process. By identifying waste and then brainstorming how each waste could be mitigated or eliminated, this tool helps to uncover continuous improvement opportunities and improve the efficiency of a process. The acronym D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E. is used to categorize wastes into 8 different waste types: Defect, Overproduction, Waiting, Non-utilized Talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion, Extra Processing. https://www.seeding-success.org/fishbone-diagram daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1595868241165-Y7XB7FKLQQRRGW1KO5UD/fishbone+screenshot.png Fishbone Diagram - Fishbone Diagram Purpose The Fishbone Diagram is used to identify all the factors potentially contributing to an identified problem. This tool also is a visual representation of all the factors grouped together by theme. Related Tools If the problem is related to a failed process, a Fishbone Diagram can be completed using factors identified in a Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA). The Fishbone Diagram often leads to a Root Cause Analysis. https://www.seeding-success.org/process-map daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596221082015-8A4I0ZF60JYX8K03XZHO/Results+Based+Meeting+Agenda.png Process Map - Process Map Purpose A process map is a tool that visually illustrates the flow of work. It is also called a flowchart or process chart. The process map helps the team gain a holistic view of all steps, and sometimes the people, involved in the process. It can also be used to identify bottlenecks, repetition, and delays in the process, and help increase process efficiency. https://www.seeding-success.org/project-milestone-chart daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599233287991-FZ6VYLQ7QPYE05ISYAIX/Project+Milestone+Chart+Example.jpg Project Milestone Chart - Project Milestone Chart Purpose A project milestone chart is used to show the steps in a process and when they are planned to happen. The timeline and steps are all customizable depending on the project length and number of tasks. Related Tools Often used in the Plan phase of an A3 or micro Plan Do Study Act (mPDSA) document. https://www.seeding-success.org/root-cause daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596221560794-MA2471UT2C20X134QOOA/Root+Cause+Analysis.png Root Cause - ROot Cause Purpose A Root Cause Analysis (also known as the “5 Whys”) helps identify the source of a problem. This template investigates what is really causing a problem by asking a series of why questions to move beyond symptoms to causes. When a root cause is removed or addressed, the undesirable effects, or symptoms will no longer be present. Related Tools A Root Cause Analysis may be performed after contributing factors to a problem are identified using a Fishbone Diagram or Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA). Once a root cause is identified with a Root Cause Analysis, a mPDSA should be used to test ways to remove or address the root cause. https://www.seeding-success.org/run-chart daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596222873514-M5WSYCZ5Z2NE6A26FVZ0/Run+Chart.png Run Chart - Run Chart Purpose A Run Chart is a diagram used to visualize changes in outcomes over a given time frame. It helps you determine what the previous situation was and if the outlined goal is being approached or met. Related Tools Use in conjunction with mPDSA and Data Collection Plan. mPDSAs will have SMART goals, and both the mPDSA and Data Collection Plan will outline the data needed to monitor/track progress toward the goal. https://www.seeding-success.org/communication-plan daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596223214452-78K6EPQ85P72D3G38QZ9/communication+plan.png Communication Plan - Communication Plan Purpose A communication plan is a tool that helps build a message and response plan for a project that has been tested. For example, a communication plan can be used for a successful mPDSA intervention that will be scaled. A good communication plan includes key target audiences, messengers, means of communication, and follow-up responses. Multiple plans can be used if there are multiple goals. https://www.seeding-success.org/prioritization-matrix daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596220612058-1ORT57FP17WQ7DADGN6U/prioritization+matrix.png Prioritization Matrix - Prioritization Matrix Purpose The Prioritization Matrix helps identify the projects, factors, or ideas that should be addressed first in order to maximize improvement and results, while minimizing resources. https://www.seeding-success.org/results-based-facilitation-agenda daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596221481372-SBAIGTRVFD2LW4KU28Q4/Results+Based+Meeting+Agenda.png Results Based Facilitation Agenda - Results Based Facilitation Agenda Purpose Results Based Facilitation has proven effective in getting people to work together toward a common result. Formatting a meeting agenda with results in mind helps groups hold more productive and engaging meetings, and ideally prevents boring meetings without purpose. This is adapted from Results Based Facilitation: Book One - Foundation Skills - 2nd Edition, by Jolie Bain Pillsbury, PhD. https://www.seeding-success.org/data-collection-plan daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596220140736-OVO0TT7ZCCZ3UNV882HT/data+collection+plan.png Data Collection Plan - DAta Collection Plan Purpose The data collection plan describes the types of data that need to be collected as well as the method, source, frequency and who is responsible for collecting the data. This document ensures that all relevant staff are clear on data collection expectations. https://www.seeding-success.org/micro-plan-do-study-act daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1599154222875-H6A7K2G9FBEEZK74QSJG/new+MPDSA+sample.jpg Micro Plan Do Study Act - micro Plan Do Study Act Purpose mPDSA (or “micro Plan Do Study Act”) is a template to record a test of change or improvement cycle. The test of change (or a PDSA cycle) has four key steps: developing a plan to test the change (Plan), carrying out the test (Do), observing and learning from the results (Study), and determining what modifications should be made to the test (Act). https://www.seeding-success.org/a3-project-charter daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1595864602409-387GXUMOYMPBQW5L1P3H/A3+screen+shot.png A3 Project Charter - A3 / Project charter Purpose A project charter (also known as an A3 because of the size of the paper used) is used to describe an entire project or problem and help guide your work. An A3 breaks the problem up into common categories and will help staff understand roles, prioritize work, and align tasks. How to Use This is a working document that can be used as a project management tool and should be revised and updated on an ongoing basis. As an A3 should fit within one page, aim to be succinct and use graphics (e.g. charts, pictures) wherever possible. https://www.seeding-success.org/raci daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596665373734-H8HCTPJZ3ZOWWZM0P95K/new+raci.png RACI - RACI Purpose The RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) tool is used to manage tasks in a process by identifying individuals’ roles for each task. How to Facilitate It is essential to complete the RACI as a team to validate who should be responsible, accountable, consulted, or informed for each task in the process. Creating a RACI as a team also increases ownership of the success of the process https://www.seeding-success.org/standard-operating-procedure-template daily 0.75 2020-09-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1596223106141-5JXPHRRM9PY539P22743/Standard+Operating+Procedure.png Standard Operating Procedure Template - Standard Operating Procedure Template Purpose A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a set of written instructions that document all steps of a process or activity. The SOP is crucial since it helps eliminate inconsistencies and errors, and helps ensure that standards are met. A SOP should be written in a clear and concise manner. https://www.seeding-success.org/dr-mario-brown daily 0.75 2021-10-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1611770808242-I0ODNX8VGZNV3XP0PXSV/Dr.+Mario+Brown.jpeg Dr. Mario Brown - Chief Talent Development Officer, First Horizon Dr. Mario Brown is a native Memphian, who, at an early age, caught an eye for social responsibility through the ministry at his church, St. Joseph’s in the Whitehaven community of Memphis. These early insights provided a foundation for a life of continuous learning. Brown earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering Technology and a Doctorate of Education with a concentration in Higher and Adult Education from The University of Memphis. He began his career as an educational professional at The University of Arkansas – Fayetteville and Little Rock, Fisk and Christian Brothers University and Rhodes College. In 2013, Brown switched careers to join First Horizon Bank and now serves as the Chief Talent Development Officer. Currently, he serves as a member of the National Alumni Board of Directors and Past-President of the Black Alumni Chapter. Brown has served as an International board member in the capacity of Coordinator of the Sigma Beta Clubs, International Standards and Awards Committee chair, Liaison for the March of Dimes and Liaison Chair for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. In recognition of service to his fraternity and community, he was honored with the highest recognition for his region, the Distinguished Service Chapter. He helped to start and serves as a Senior Facilitator for the Embark program at the New Memphis Institute. In 2017, Brown was selected as a speaker for TEDx where he shared his ideas on “The Possibility of People”. Today, he continues to lead from purpose in assisting with the development of talent throughout the organization. Brown is grounded with the assistance of many people, most importantly his wife, Bridget, and his three kids, Maya (11), Laila (8) and Zeke (6). https://www.seeding-success.org/clay-ellis daily 0.75 2022-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1611771133484-BFHKRWR70UXU1R214DCM/Clay+Ellis.jpg Clay Ellis - CLAY ELLIS Senior V.P., Enterprise Operational Excellence, International Paper Clay Ellis is International Paper’s senior vice president, Enterprise Operational Excellence. Under his leadership, this organization consists of Environmental Health & Safety, Information Technology, Global Fiber Supply, Global Sourcing, Global Supply Chain Center of Excellence and Global Technology. He is responsible for leading safety, engagement and reliable, world-class operations through the implementation of IP’s Global Manufacturing System across 41 mills. Clay joined International Paper in 1992 as a process engineer at the Natchez, Miss, Mill, and went on to hold numerous positions within the mill system. He became an officer of the company in 2012 when he was named vice president, manufacturing, North American Papers. He was vice president, manufacturing, Global Cellulose Fibers, prior to being named to his current role. He is a board member for Illim Pulp & Paper, a Russian company and joint venture with International Paper. Clay previously served on the board of directors for the National Paper Trade Association and AF&PA printing, writing and pulp sectors. Clay earned a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Louisiana State University, and completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Clay and his wife, Cheryl, have three sons and reside in Eads, Tenn. https://www.seeding-success.org/data-request-form daily 0.75 2024-06-04 https://www.seeding-success.org/careers daily 0.75 2025-07-07 https://www.seeding-success.org/more-for-memphis-about daily 0.75 2025-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b0ca14b4-c77a-4671-b3f4-34bf131c8442/MFM-header-1-access.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/43419307-5f3c-4d02-a640-e101f2b476c9/MFM-header-2-opportunity.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1c39a330-544f-4eae-b363-4616dadcc839/MFM-header-3-liberty.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/38f4f1cf-18ce-481d-aedc-2a4446badaf0/MFM-header-4-wellness.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/beff710d-c870-4389-89da-22b5f5931059/MFM-duotone-justice-1-web.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/27d82936-84e4-4f5c-bda4-7b2d9305b80c/MFM-header-6-art.jpg More for Memphis https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3f3ea254-d189-423d-bd30-b6fd2255898c/MFM_HORIZLOGO_BLACK%404x.png More for Memphis - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.seeding-success.org/data-use-literacy-training daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/9c7675dd-2ee5-44b4-86a1-e355282551a4/3.png Data Use & Literacy Training - DESCRIPTION In this training, participants will gain an understanding of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and learn how to maintain standards of ethical and effective use. This training is open to organizations that directly serve students and would like access to student-level data on the Memphis-Shelby County Schools students they serve. Staff who successfully complete this training will be authorized to access Seeding Success’ data dashboards. This training is, therefore, only provided to organizational staff who need to work directly with student-level data. This training involves four (4) online modules of training and a half-day virtual workshop where participants will build upon and apply learnings from the online modules using a continuous improvement framework. As part of the Master Data Sharing Agreement with MSCS, participants are expected to demonstrate an understanding and synthesis of data literacy principles, and their application in role during the workshop, in order to be authorized to access the data dashboards. Who should attend this training? Staff of organizations that provide direct service to students Staff of organizations that would benefit from access to student-level data* on the MSCS students they serve Staff of organizations that are currently Seeding Success partners or in the process of becoming Seeding Success partners * Please see our Data FAQ if you only need access to aggregate-level (summarized) student data. Please email any inquiries to training@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/training daily 0.75 2023-01-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/0c74919d-49aa-4037-ac6f-6c89f16feac9/3.png Training Introduction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/6781b5aa-817e-4383-830f-18c5f3627d13/1.png Training Introduction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/44a23e1d-3e04-431c-a1ff-a62f673f6b65/4.png Training Introduction https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/94cafd92-fbec-45d3-8111-a2e161f0e39e/5.png Training Introduction https://www.seeding-success.org/continuous-improvement-101 daily 0.75 2026-02-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/6781b5aa-817e-4383-830f-18c5f3627d13/1.png Continuous Improvement 101 - DESCRIPTION Seeding Success has partnered with International Paper to provide this introductory training on Continuous Improvement concepts and tools*. Participants will learn how to: identify waste to create more efficient processes use a variety of tools at each step of the continuous improvement process interpret charts & graphs to inform decisions sustain continuous improvement efforts Training consists of eight (8) self-paced online modules, a short pre-work activity, and a half day virtual workshop that will reinforce learnings and concepts from the online modules. This training is ideal for individuals who lead projects or programs and contribute to the development and/or implementation of strategies and interventions. Who should attend this training? This training is open to any staff of organizations that are currently Seeding Success partners or in the process of becoming Seeding Success partners The content covered in the training may be particularly useful for individuals who lead projects or programs and contribute to the development and/or implementation of strategies and interventions. * Note: for those who have taken the Data Use & Literacy training, this training will revisit the continuous improvement cycle framework but you will learn different tools and concepts to help drive continuous improvement efforts. Please email any inquiries to training@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/social-policy-research-assistant daily 0.75 2022-12-06 https://www.seeding-success.org/erica-coleman daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/29d41912-4b23-4284-8dce-0b22ebbf4526/erica-web.jpg Erica Coleman - Policy Advisor Erica is a passionate proponent of children’s lifelong success and advocates for the policies and systems that are necessary to ensure success for children, especially children of color. Erica has a versatile background which includes experience in the education and legal field. With the knowledge-driven by her experience and education, she wants to impact the lives of children, their families, and their communities by dismantling the systems working against them and reimagining a world where prosperity is possible for all. Erica holds a B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of Memphis and a J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She is a West Tennessee native and enjoys spending time with her husband (Kendrick), four daughters (Kendall, Kameryn, Kealyn, and Karri), and their dog (Kaylee). https://www.seeding-success.org/marshall-ogier daily 0.75 2026-04-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b5e42a70-f3a4-4332-9474-2fe7ffae0519/marshall-web.png Marshall Ogier - Economic Development and Workforce Systems Manager Marshall Ogier works at the intersection of economic development, workforce systems, and public policy. At Seeding Success, he helps align schools, postsecondary institutions, employers, and community partners around strategies that expand economic mobility in Memphis. He has contributed to the economic development work behind More for Memphis and has represented Seeding Success in broader conversations about how research, policy, and practice can better connect to improve outcomes for communities. His work focuses on translating evidence into action, building cross-sector partnerships, and advancing policies that create stronger education-to-career pathways for young people and adults. Before joining Seeding Success, Marshall served as a coordinator of youth programs at the University of California, an accounting manager for a multinational investment firm, and a teacher in Memphis. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Sociology from the University of California, Davis, and a Master of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors and getting around Memphis by bike. https://www.seeding-success.org/rachel-starks daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b2c98e9b-ec1d-4232-be43-c42897c4aaf1/rachel-web.jpg Rachel Starks - Policy Advisor Rachel Starks is a native Memphian who has worked with local advocacy groups and Memphis nonprofits for over eight years. As the Community Development Social Policy Consultant for Seeding Success, she is passionate for environmental justice, healthy housing, and strong neighborhoods. In 2019, she received her MA in Applied Anthropology from the University of Memphis with research on energy burden and energy policy. She currently lives in Memphis, TN with her cat (Hobbes). https://www.seeding-success.org/our-team daily 0.75 2026-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1655907912011-SXZ34P96Z7XPC7M5AIAS/Tatiana%252Bhernandez%252BUpdate.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3a670253-1b10-4940-ac00-a48307efe7fb/mark-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/f476f1aa-2ab6-4a4e-913f-5b1c1c911cc0/paris-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7b792c1c-b725-45a8-a72e-67becb19626a/jake-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a59e9880-eaf3-4830-89d3-14b8c43e422b/lisa-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/738e67d8-c70d-4386-8b11-e443d5ff5352/tara-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/b1ba8ce1-0d6a-4655-b839-9e312c7fa624/surayyah-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/9fe8f8cf-68b9-4245-aa09-3ad0351c3f84/willd-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7711ea92-1866-4c29-9f1f-5c85db8bbf2c/cam-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/96bec276-183c-4946-9b0b-b5282f8b9b4e/tony-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/04312779-bc3a-41b8-aeb4-1dd247587f74/erica-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/05836cab-5a64-42a1-a623-540692b9ed49/rachel-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/4ea83a84-92c5-4cb9-a1fd-8164def63027/arielle-square.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/efd28717-6b84-4d18-84d3-52e5a77db456/jamilica-square.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/0546da44-adef-467b-a9b9-425f8816ff1f/wilc-square.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/5a1cd08c-f9ed-4348-8e11-617d59de9095/matt-square.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/701cc011-3545-47ba-8885-f6cbda61e8d5/bailey-square.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/39f58ad7-7b58-4fb0-a51f-07badb2d513f/racquel-square.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/784d75f2-a95a-4dad-a7e6-e641aa390930/Liz-Headshot-Edit.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/97d8cbed-98b3-48d3-8b94-a955d7878e8a/DeMagistris_Headshot_10-2025%E2%80%94EDITS.jpg Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c5ad34bb-a79a-4724-b1d9-bbc43879f14e/Amber-Huett-Garcia-Thumbnail.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3f611532-8460-4660-8153-cb7767ae1f4c/Malika-Datta-Thumbnail.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7fde4652-4cdc-468c-8445-3cf5846bde42/Susan-Steffens-Thumbnail.png Our Team https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/6387cea6-eac0-460a-bef0-f905dccfa60f/marshall-square.png Our Team https://www.seeding-success.org/continuous-improvement-manager daily 0.75 2022-06-08 https://www.seeding-success.org/administrative-assistant daily 0.75 2022-06-08 https://www.seeding-success.org/director-of-collaborative-action daily 0.75 2022-06-08 https://www.seeding-success.org/tara-fredenburg daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3fd9221b-8fe6-4c37-b745-73086258a64d/tara-web.jpg Tara Fredenburg - TARA FREDENBURG COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Tara has lived in Memphis for almost fourteen years. As a student at White Station High School, they developed passions for writing, editing, layout, and social media. Additionally, their experiences in both the traditional and honors tracks at White Station inspired them to create a senior capstone project that would jumpstart their dedication to studying education equity and youth empowerment in college. Tara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from Rhodes College. Thanks to the Bonner Scholarship program at Rhodes, they had the opportunity to join Bridge Builders CHANGE as a college advisor for the Gender and Sexuality (GAS) cohort from the Fall 2018 through Spring 2021. There, Tara helped the youth fellows develop and implement the Brave, Safe, & Educated Campaign, which changed the policies of over 20 Memphis businesses and organizations to protect and uplift LGBTQ+ youth, staff, and clientele. Prior to joining Seeding Success, they worked as the Communications & Marketing Specialist at Baneberry Meadows Events in Donegal, PA and provided freelance copyediting and proofreading for New Degree Press. Tara currently lives in Memphis, TN with their cats Misty and Claudia. tara@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/arielle-williams daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d495ddee-4c46-4b18-903b-1c8401314027/arielle-web.jpg Arielle Williams - POLICY Advisor Born and raised in the “M-town”, Arielle developed a devout passion for social justice at an early age by being a very shy, yet very observant, student in and out of the classroom. She discovered an affinity for understanding diverse opinions through debate and socratic seminars, learning to grow out of her shell and developing a voice, not just for herself but also for her quieter peers. Though Arielle’s shyness eventually went away, her passion persevered through her high school career at White Station High School. She used her keen interest in subjects such as English and History to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies from Tennessee State University.In 2021, she graduated from the College of Public Service as valedictorian—and as a first generation student! After navigating her first year post-graduation through numerous roles in the service industry, she got her big break with Seeding Success in the summer of 2022 as the Special Policy Assistant. When not joking around with her big brothers, Morris and Elijah, she enjoys going out to eat with her aunts, falling down Wikipedia rabbit holes, and using research to enrich her fiction writing projects. https://www.seeding-success.org/taylor-demagistris daily 0.75 2025-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/97d8cbed-98b3-48d3-8b94-a955d7878e8a/DeMagistris_Headshot_10-2025%E2%80%94EDITS.jpg Taylor DeMagistris - Vice President of Strategy & Impact Having worked in the nonprofit sector for over 10 years, Taylor joins Seeding Success with a background in public affairs, advocacy, program development, and project management. She has served on several nonprofit boards and has experience working in the education and philanthropic sectors. Taylor brings a passion for identifying systemic issues and building systems of equitable opportunity and access through community-wide collaboration. Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Taylor graduated from East Carolina University with a BS in Family and Community Services, specializing in Family Studies. She earned an Executive Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service, where she also served as an elected member of the Student Government Association. Taylor currently lives in Memphis with her dog, Bingo. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her nieces, working out, and cheering on the Tarheels. https://www.seeding-success.org/register daily 0.75 2026-03-25 https://www.seeding-success.org/faqs daily 0.75 2025-02-18 https://www.seeding-success.org/2022-end-of-year-report daily 0.75 2023-10-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d649815a-fa96-4988-8135-b56cc72e771d/S2_EOY_Report_2022_page1_Page_1.png https://www.seeding-success.org/partnership-overview daily 0.75 2024-06-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336263247-0UUOB6OR32PDOQH3HHUJ/growth-01.png Partnership Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336280306-G14BRZWVEW1PI272MB5D/growth-02.png Partnership Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336298781-2UOOW6BGKNR2OFN72ZMP/growth-03.png Partnership Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1592336317648-5IG2TORWELXUXO8V1FRR/growth-04.png Partnership Overview https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/aa7aa806-3c09-41f5-bf72-ec4428fe9bda/SeedingSuccess-logo-hori-FCR.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1659386029025-V3YLUY9BV7JUUXHPRP5Z/SS003_Refresh-Icons-Convener.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/af9aebce-4fd6-46ca-a2ba-ed1ac150b686/SS003_Refresh-Icons-Developer.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d614e903-a17b-48c0-80d0-6359bd695b8e/SS003_Refresh-Icons-Advocate.png https://www.seeding-success.org/elizabeth-mitchell daily 0.75 2025-07-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/566eb58d-e5a5-45cb-895e-25462526ba5d/Liz-Headshot-Edit.jpg Elizabeth Mitchell - Elizabeth (Liz) Mitchell Executive Administrative Assistant Liz is a true Memphian. As an Executive Administrative Assistant, Liz has obtained over 10 years of dedicated experience supporting high-level executives in diverse industries. In 2015, Liz moved to Atlanta, then to Jacksonville for an executive administrative assistant job. Later on, she moved back to Memphis to work at Youth Villages. She has extended her helping hand to various community organizations and businesses, such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Salvation Army, Victims to Victory, Life Blood, Revitalize Memphis, 4Sweet Sakes, LLC-Doula, Youth Villages, and many more. In the church world, Liz has served as an Assistant Youth Pastor, First Impressions Leader, Administrator, Finance Team member, and Executive Admin Assistant for nine years. In addition to her passion for administrative work, she also is very passionate about photography and event coordinating. After practicing photography for six years, Liz decided to start her own photography company, “The Visual Collective”, in 2020 and loves all of the clients she has been able to service. Liz is married to Michael (AD of Youth Villages’ Bill's Place), and they have two wonderful children that they enjoy traveling with. elizabeth@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/mfm-in-your-community daily 0.75 2024-05-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7465d005-596b-4cec-96e0-a0bb7725ba1b/1.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3c81932f-e315-44fc-8269-8ca8828910bf/2.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3929f8ef-8470-484d-93f6-54c54597665f/3.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/f1f66af3-1856-4519-95f2-f6ae99e635e8/4.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/ebd2c0e8-6000-4790-93bc-9001d23d5aaa/5.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/463770c2-ee12-4507-a165-7fe4ec3d6e17/6.png More for Memphis in Your Community https://www.seeding-success.org/erica-daily daily 0.75 2024-10-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/daac14e1-b6b1-4889-944a-4aa2bb64dc2a/Erica+Daily-1.jpg Erica Daily - ERICA DAILY National Urban Fellow Erica is an Atlanta native who is passionate about making informed, impactful decisions in educational policy to address the nuanced needs of diverse student populations. She joined the Seeding Success team as a National Urban Fellow and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Policy Management at Georgetown University. As a former Teach for America teacher, Erica gained firsthand experience in understanding the challenges and inequities facing students and educators, fueling her commitment to advocating for transformative solutions in education. In her role at Seeding Success, she leverages her experience to drive collaborative initiatives that support youth, families, and communities across Memphis. ericad@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/will-derting daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/aff85823-0a20-4de4-97ae-b752cdfd145d/willd-web.jpg Will Derting - Will Derting Early Childhood Education Data Analyst Will, a Tennessee resident of over ten years, is a graduate of East Tennessee State University. He previously worked in the medical equipment industry as a Sales Analyst in Nashville, where he developed strong skills in data analysis and reporting. Hailing from Abingdon, Virginia in the heart of rural Appalachia, Will experienced many of the systemic challenges that underserved communities face firsthand. This inspired a commitment to addressing disparities that children may face during their educational growth and development, and he is filled with gratitude to be able to channel that commitment into impactful change with Seeding Success. Will currently resides in Chattanooga with his partner Katie and their two dogs, Whoopi and Lola. wderting@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/racquel-harris daily 0.75 2025-07-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/ec07d737-9be1-49b2-a022-cb316dbd3fde/racquel-web.jpg Racquel Harris - Racquel Harris Director of Continuous Improvement Committed to advocacy and educational equity, Racquel has served the Memphis community as a court-appointed special advocate, family services counselor, educator, instructional coach, adjunct instructor, and educational researcher. She holds a BA in Mass Communication and an MS in Human Services Administration from Southeast Missouri State University, as well as a MAT and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Memphis. Racquel brings with her a deep commitment to systems-level change and extensive experience managing educational programs, advancing student achievement, and strengthening supports for students and families. This includes her previous work supporting evaluation of the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grant through mixed-methods data collection. She lives in Memphis, TN, with her husband of 18 years and their 14-year-old son. racquel@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/public-policy daily 0.75 2026-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/d2eabe12-f895-4039-9555-0208a221bb3f/ANG08072.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/9a9a4aff-983f-47b8-be97-537a059392ec/pre-k+circles+of+success https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c30a2489-2f4f-45f4-bb67-49fa7adcaefd/SCCSP+December+2025 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/49ce7564-fd7b-4e45-93ae-aa71c929addb/Office+of+Reentry.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/7d72cc24-c910-4870-b732-f0a804fb7cde/IMG_0074+%281%29.jpg https://www.seeding-success.org/camron-braden daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/c18066eb-e04d-4199-aafa-597018158976/cam-web.png Camron Braden - CAMRON BRADEN DATA ANALYST Camron, a Memphis native, is always eager to engage in work to improve his underserved community by leveraging data to drive impactful change. His commitment to social advancement is evident through his work in the Memphis nonprofit space. With years in the nonprofit world as a data professional, his most recent experience was with World Relief Memphis as a Data/CRM Analyst, where he managed Dynamics CRM/Salesforce instances, created reporting systems using PowerBI, and facilitated data-related communications. Camron holds multiple technical certifications from Tech901, including CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. He also studied Computer Science at the University of Memphis, gaining a strong foundation in programming and data structures. camron@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/tatiana-hernandez daily 0.75 2025-04-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1607704941266-5WGZ19JORG0RBFFO4QWN/Tatiana%2BHernandez.jpg Tatiana Hernandez - Tatiana Hernandez Senior Data Analyst Tatiana began working with educational equity during her undergraduate career at The Ohio State University, where she was involved with the Latin community on her campus. After graduating with a master’s degree in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago, she decided to pursue a career in education data. As a data analyst at Seeding Success, Tatiana works with a wide variety of data, including kindergarten readiness, attendance, behavior, graduation, TCAP, and more. She typically works on queries for special data requests or on dashboard development. She has also worked on extensive data documentation projects and co-facilitates Seeding Success trainings. tatiana@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/donate daily 0.75 2025-05-08 https://www.seeding-success.org/bailey-myers daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3ab642ca-10fe-4ea2-b53a-6de11ab93eb4/bailey-web.png Bailey Myers - Bailey Myers Continuous Improvement Specialist A lifelong Memphian, Bailey is driven by her passion for racial and economic equity through the betterment of systems, programs, and policies. Having served a variety of local non-profits, she recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities for Memphis organizations, finding fulfillment in her ability to propose and implement data-informed solutions. In her role as Continuous Improvement Specialist, she utilizes her skills of facilitation, data analysis, and project management to support Seeding Success’ partners in the implementation of Continuous Improvement systems in their own work. Outside of work, Bailey is also a skater with the Memphis Roller Derby League. When she’s not working or skating, she enjoys playing games with her husband, Bill, and their dogs, Sable and Noodle. bailey@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/jakob-wiig daily 0.75 2025-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/886376d9-454e-4fb3-a57c-5fb065da8cf2/jake-web.jpg Jakob Wiig - Jake Wiig Chief Financial Officer As the Chief Financial Officer of Seeding Success, Jake builds clear accounting systems, strengthens internal controls, and translates numbers into plain language so staff and partners can act on them. As a first‑generation college graduate with a BA from the University of Missouri and an MBA in progress at the University of Illinois, he sees sound financial stewardship as a path to wider opportunity. Originally from the Midwest, Jake now lives in Midtown Memphis with his wife and two young children, spending weekends baking sourdough, making pizzas, and restoring their historic home. jakob@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/will-cook daily 0.75 2025-08-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/dba5886a-f779-42c7-a357-45de1d6cd2ad/willc-web.png Will Cook - Will Cook Director of Marketing and Design william@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/data-faqs daily 0.75 2025-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/28d4cb9e-38d6-48ac-87de-bc4381ce464a/partner+data+access+process+update.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a0968f81-1130-49c7-922d-b58a0ec672ce/DPM-Chart.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/41fbb207-3ac8-44fe-bc06-37406eba5f5f/Power-School-Consent-screenshot-1.png https://www.seeding-success.org/communityschools daily 0.75 2025-09-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/3771aee8-7145-49a8-93b4-b76a795b6de1/nh16.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/afd621a2-8ae5-468e-9921-5a4c874f49c9/nh17.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/fdd79668-4b19-4ef0-be42-2f0445a44470/nh8.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/24796651-8af2-40d7-aa66-602b5965bfdb/SCCSP+Logos_Web.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a23ef91c-ac7e-4af0-b8fc-1661c4cdfc24/IMG_8888.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/e89f8dad-56c8-41cc-864a-15d42b9c185d/IMG_8858.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/1756923980812-PB4WPHARK3I3UDXNODNU/unsplash-image-O5EMzfdxedg.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/746e51b8-dc89-4f14-a23a-6b99985e739d/pexels-rdne-8499606.jpg https://www.seeding-success.org/malika-datta daily 0.75 2025-12-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/27633c60-2601-4575-9f5a-9999af717e81/Malika-Datta-Click-Through.png Malika Datta - Malika Datta Strategic Initiative Associate Malika Datta serves as the Strategic Initiative Associate at Seeding Success, leveraging more than six years of experience in community engagement, partnership development, program and project management, communications, and public relations. A native Memphian and graduate of Fairley High School, she holds a B.S. in Africana Studies with a minor in Anthropology from Middle Tennessee State University and an M.A. in Public Relations from Webster University. Passionate about empowering youth and strengthening her community, Malika has been a dedicated mentor with TEAM Mentor through the Memphis Grizzlies Foundation for four years. She continues to use her skills in collaboration and relationship building to cultivate impactful partnerships and drive meaningful initiatives across the Memphis area. In her free time, Malika enjoys exploring the outdoors, reading, spending time with family, and embarking on side quest adventures. malika@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/susan-steffens daily 0.75 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/e4274a9c-9dd5-493e-9ab3-82df1b4ca3a2/Susan-Steffens-Click-Through.png Susan Steffens - Susan Steffens Administrative Director Susan is a proud Memphian with more than 30 years of experience supporting teams and keeping offices running smoothly. Her career has spanned public administration and intergovernmental legislative relations within city government, small business management, bookkeeping, financial oversight, and paralegal work in the private sector. Now, she’s excited to bring her skills and heart for service to the nonprofit world, where she hopes to make a meaningful difference from cradle to career. Susan has served on the Aging Commission of the Mid-South and has been a volunteer and supporter of WKNO Public Radio and Television for many years. Outside of work, she enjoys life in Memphis with her husband, two cats, and one very large (and lovable) dog. susan@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/amber-huett-garcia daily 0.75 2025-12-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/a021d9d5-819b-4801-af66-6a1bea76bbd5/Amber-Huett-Garcia-Click-Through.png Amber Huett-Garcia - Amber huett-Garcia Vice President of Operations Amber Huett-Garcia's early career focused on state health, policy, and budget roles, managing over $13 billion in K-12 funds for former Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. After moving to Memphis in 2011, she began her teaching career in Memphis as a third-grade teacher at Ross Elementary. After teaching, she spent more than seven years at Teach For America, where she held responsibilities ranging from overseeing large-scale operations for a teacher training program to managing corporate and foundation fundraising. From there, she served as a policy advisor in Shelby County’s Office of Education before working as a senior director of non-academic support strategy for one million K-12 students at the Tennessee Department of Education. In 2022, Amber was elected to serve on the Memphis-Shelby County School Board, representing District 8, which includes northern Shelby County and East Memphis. Amber is a global leader in obesity care, serving as a member of the World Obesity Federation’s Board of Trustees and representing the lived experience perspective. She is a founding director of the Global Obesity Patient Alliance (GOPA), where she represents the United States in building capacity for obesity-related patient advocacy organizations worldwide. When she's not working or volunteering, Amber enjoys spending time with her daughter, traveling, cooking, listening to live music, and exercising. amberhg@seeding-success.org https://www.seeding-success.org/lionel-davis-ii daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2ae6d3bd-4a5a-49b2-b997-001fa9a8d230/Lionel+Davis.jpeg Lionel Davis II - Lionel Davis II Vice President of Business Development, SitelogIQ Lional Davis is the Vice President of Business Development at SitelogIQ, which recently acquired the firm Path Company. In his role, he is responsible for helping expand their business footprint throughout the Southeast. He has been in the mechanical engineering, construction, and HVAC field for nearly a decade and often says Memphis chose him in 2017. In that time, Lionel has served or become a member of several organizations, including the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), National Society of Black Engineers, Memphis Chamber Young Professional Council, University of Arkansas Engineering Advisory Council, and earned a host of various accolades. Lionel earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Arkansas and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at his alma mater. Although there is much to learn, he credits his faith and servant leadership as the catalyst to his growth professionally and personally. Lionel currently serves as the Chairman for the Young Professional Council at the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce and is a proud dog father and husband to the incredibly talented London Porchia Davis. https://www.seeding-success.org/adele-landers daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/2af1850a-053e-4a59-8e20-55bf66dd9706/Adele+Landers.png Adele Landers - Adele Landers Retired Executive Adele Landers has recently retired from her role as a Wealth Advisor. Throughout her tenure in the Private Wealth Division of Truist, Adele oversaw all aspects of the client experience across the Greater Memphis area. She offered business owners, executives, and high-net-worth families over 31 years of specialized experience in financial services. Adele's professional focus was advising on the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies tailored to her clients' current and future goals. This included expert consulting on risk management, retirement planning, estate planning, and a wide array of financial strategies relating to wealth management. In addition to her professional achievements, Adele remains deeply active in her community. She serves as the Past President and current member of the Midtown Memphis Rotary Club, and has previously served as a Board Member and Finance Chair for Playhouse on the Square, as well as Past Chair for CrimeStoppers of Memphis & Shelby County. Currently, she serves on the Grants & Initiatives Committee for the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis and continues to be involved in various other civic organizations. https://www.seeding-success.org/tony-pellicciotti daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/099b380e-4262-4696-979a-92a65f8ad2b0/Tony+Pellicciotti+-+LRK.jpg Tony Pellicciotti - Tony Pellicciotti Managing Principal, Looney Ricks Kiss Tony brings more than 30 years of leadership, collaboration, and design experience. With a broad, diverse portfolio, Tony has focused his professional practice to prove that good design transcends budget and program. He believes that intentional, thoughtful design inspires and motivates people to be, and to achieve, more than they thought possible. This thoughtfulness has led to the social, economic, and critical success of internationally acclaimed Crosstown Concourse, the world’s largest historic, adaptive reuse, LEED Platinum certified project. Tony maintains that architects have a unique responsibility to learn from the rich tapestry of contributions and tailor an individualized response to each project. He is passionate about historic/adaptive reuse work and weaves practical, proven sustainability strategies throughout to bring the greatest value to his clients. His projects have been recognized with numerous industry awards and featured in publications, including ARCHITECT, Architectural Digest, Architectural Record, Architectural Review, Building Design + Construction, Contract, and Metropolis. https://www.seeding-success.org/alex-smith daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/33d1330b-32c5-4648-8ddf-91c9bc4118b3/Alex1+%28002%29.jpg Alex Smith - Alex Smith Executive Director, Oracle Alex Smith is HCM Industry Executive Director, Government and Education at Oracle. In this role, she is responsible for driving HCM Cloud growth by working with customers throughout all stages of their lifecycle as well as working with internal public sector teams to develop and execute Oracle’s GTM strategy. Previous to Oracle, Alex worked as Chief Human Resources Officer, reporting directly to Mayor Jim Strickland from January 2016 to June 2023. Alex is the architect of the City's 21st Century talent management, total rewards, HRIS, and diversity practices which helped move the city from a Glassdoor overall rating of 2.5 out of 5 in 2015 to 3.5 out of 5 in 2019. Additionally, in 2018, the city was one of the first large municipal governments to move to Oracle HCM cloud, receiving recognition in Workforce Magazine for this achievement. A firm believer in community service, Alex serves on the advisory council for 3SixtyInsights and the advisory board for Government Executive Media Group's RouteFifty. She also serves on the board of directors for the Soulsville Foundation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Duke University and a Master's degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota. Alex currently lives in Memphis with her two daughters. https://www.seeding-success.org/joel-smith daily 0.75 2026-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/be975ca2-6002-4a6d-8116-aa6400982a19/Joel+Smith Joel Smith - Joel Smith President, ServisFirst Bank Joel E. Smith is the Memphis Market President for ServisFirst Bank. Joel was hired in December 2023 to open and grow the Memphis Market. With a focus on commercial and private client banking, ServisFirst Memphis now has 16 employees and works with numerous businesses and their owners and executives. Joel has 22 years of experience as a banker in Memphis and started his professional career in public accounting working for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). He has served on several boards over the years, including those for the Overton Park Shell and Golden Cross Senior Ministries as well as the Youth Villages Advisory Board. Joel graduated from Rhodes College with an MA in Business Administration and from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Accounting. https://www.seeding-success.org/michael-mcghee daily 0.75 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e66aa268e1e4e634cd86dd6/8d9ef84c-bb8c-4a18-85b4-aebd0dca36e8/-1556464608784435469.jpg Michael McGhee - Michael McGhee President and Founder, MDM Investments of Memphis Michael McGhee is president and owner of MDM Investments of Memphis LLC, a company he founded in 2003. With more than 30 years of experience as a mortgage lender and real estate investor, he has built a career focused on strategic investment, housing development, and community revitalization. Throughout his career, McGhee has been involved in many facets of the real estate industry, with a particular emphasis on neighborhood revitalization. His work centers on expanding access to quality housing and investing in communities to support long-term neighborhood stability and growth. McGhee holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Memphis and is a licensed contractor. He is also a graduate of Leadership Memphis and has supported a number of community initiatives and organizations working to improve outcomes for families in Memphis. McGhee is interested in supporting the mission of Seeding Success by bringing his expertise in housing, finance, and community development to the board. He is particularly committed to strengthening the connection between housing stability and educational outcomes for families across Memphis and Shelby County.