We are all experts in equity and schools. We are all former school teachers, administrators, online Equity Audit designers, and education researchers who are deeply involved in research in the field of educational leadership and school equity. Our teams are also well-represented in the type of districts in which we have served: rural, suburban, and urban.
Muhammad Khalifa, PhD
President and CEO
Darlinda Anderson
Senior Vice President
Maggie Smith-Peterson, PhD
Director of Instructional Design
Jessica Schrody
Marketing Administrative Specialist
Maria Roberts
Senior Facilitator
Maria Roberts has worked in public K-12 educational systems for over 20 years. She began her career as a middle school special education teacher and has worked in federal settings I, II and III. She has experience in serving at all three school levels (elementary, middle and high school) and has served in both urban and suburban school districts. She has held leadership positions at both the district and school level including AVID District Director, Equity Director, and Associate Principal. She is the current principal of Wilshire Park Elementary School in the St. Anthony-New Brighton School District. Each experience has provided her the opportunity to successfully evaluate and implement equitable policy and practices resulting in changes in curriculum and instruction, grading and discipline practices. In addition to her work in school systems, she actively supports learning and leadership among colleagues and values partnership between practitioners and academics. For the past five years, she has served as the Senior Facilitator for the Culturally Responsive School Leadership Institute and is a facilitator for the MN Principals Academy where, in partnership, she designed the culturally responsive leadership strand.
Tyrone Brookins, PhD
Dr. Brookins currently serves as an Assistant Superintendent in South Washington County Schools. He is a former principal of 21 years at the Elementary and Middle School levels. Dr. Brookins has a passion for education and a love of dialogue with current educators on educational opportunities with specific emphasis on leadership, equity and learning (andragogy and pedagogy). Emancipating change carries a deep meaning for Dr. Brookins as he serves adults and children. As a servant-leader he realizes the importance of staying involved in the lives of his students through-out their entire educational journey. Dr. Brookins mentor's children directly and indirectly as they simply need words of encouragement and motivation or, as they need guidance to make life-changing decisions. Sharing his experiences and perspectives often provides insight and options they may not have otherwise considered. He is a firm believer in education and the belief that education has the ability to change and even save the lives of young people.
Alison Gillespie, PhD
Dr. Alison Gillespie currently serves as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning within the White Bear Lake Area Schools. Alison Gillespie has held a variety of school leadership roles in Minnesota including: High School Principal and District Level Principal on Special Assignment for White Bear Lake Area Schools, Associate Principal at Wayzata High School and Alternative High School Supervisor for various schools supporting students in Richfield and Minneapolis Public Schools. Alison started as a middle school and high school educator for English Learners in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chandler, Arizona and Richfield, Minnesota prior to entering school leadership in 2004. Dr. Gillespie is a courageous equity-centered leader. She is passionate about transforming schools and aligning district systems to ensure high achievement and humanizing, culturally affirming experiences are realized consistently for each student. Alison is committed to organizational health and building a truly collaborative culture between district and building leaders. She is knowledgeable in leadership team development, strategic planning and continuous improvement. She serves as an adjunct professor in K-12 principal licensure programs and coaches principal interns. Dr. Gillespie holds national certifications in principal mentorship through the National Association of Elementary School Principals and instructional leadership from AVID and AASA. Alison holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle/Secondary Education and Spanish from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, and Master’s and Ed.D in Organizational Leadership from Teacher’s College- Columbia University.
Eskender Yousef, PhD
Dr. Eskender Yousuf's research interests are guided by the hope of establishing just schools for all students, especially those minoritized. His overarching research questions investigate how race and racism impact the lives of African immigrant/refugee students, their families, and communities in relation to schooling. His current line of research examines the racial and ethnic identity construction of an East African immigrant/refugee subgroup (Oromo) in relation to their k-12 schooling experiences. Broadly, the implications of his research speak to ways that educators and educational leaders can honor, acknowledge, and humanize the identities of minoritized students.
Victor (Coy) Carter
Coy Carter, Jr. is a PhD candidate in Educational Policy and Leadership at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. His research explores the connection between race, space (school closure, gentrification, dispossession, white flight), and education to understand how historic and current policies are creating inequitable opportunities for minoritized students. His dissertation examines education policies contributions to racializing space in education and their impacts on minoritized student access to culturally responsive space, curriculum, and pedagogy. Additionally, he contributes to research on police violence, school leadership accountability, and the need to diversify the educator workforce.