"ASE!" A Yoruban affirmation of power and perseverance meaning "let it be so" lends itself to the foundational apparatus upon which my professional and pedagogical aspirations have been built. The significance of "ase" as a concept within the field of education is its impetus toward persistence and proactive engagement. From curricula development, to mentoring, to creating innovative program initiatives - I have used this affirmation to inform and inspire not only my students, but also the whole of my professional objectives. It is with this in mind that I have devoted my life's work to the betterment of the public education system. I truly desire to be an effective agent of positive change within the field of education reform and to bring the philosophical aesthetic of "ase" to bear on the entirety of my pedagogical practice.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania, I worked to assist in the development and founding of a nonprofit enrichment program called Ase Saturday Academy. We are proud to be in our eighth year of operation as of 2008. Currently, I serve on the board of directors for this innovative program, where I evaluate and develop curricula as well as assist with the coordination of our ongoing plans for expanding the program into a charter school. As traditional public schools often neglect to incorporate cultural diversity within the curriculum, the academy strives to expose middle school students to rigorous and culturally responsive curricula as it concerns the African diaspora. As an African American female who attended an urban public school, the idea of incorporating the collective and individual cultures and histories of a child and his or her community inspires me as I reflect on the disparities of my own educational experiences.

My desire to further research the concept of culturally responsive curricula led me to the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University in 2005 where I earned my master's degree in education and studied teaching and curriculum in urban schools. Upon graduating from the program, I began my teaching career in the North Carolina public school system as an eighth grade language arts teacher. Within my three years at the school, I have created a highly functional parent committee, served on the middle and high school reform committees, and have been asked to serve on the superintendent's teacher advisory council.

Additionally, I am the co-founder of an educational organization called UPLIFT Now, which stands for: Uniting Pedagogies of Leaders Invested in Facilitating Transformation Now. Our mission is to unite education leaders who are committed to providing students with culturally relevant lessons that maintain a high degree of academic rigor while honoring students' prior knowledge and creating authentic learning experiences.

I live in Raleigh, N.C., with my husband of three years. We enjoy playing tennis and basketball on the weekends. In my spare time I love to do photography, write poetry, and create short stories.