Family Advisory Board Alumni

Amber Rhodes has spent the past five years in K-12 education, working as a family liaison and district registrar in Georgia. Through her role, she has gained invaluable insight into the importance of parent involvement, which she applies to raising her 8-year-old daughter.

Bethsua Martinez is a dedicated advocate for equity and opportunity, with over 15 years of experience creating systems of support and striving to build a community where every child is inspired and empowered to reach their fullest potential. As a former teen mother, she faced significant challenges, including housing and food insecurity, while navigating college as a first-generation student.

Brittany Harris is a proud mother, lifelong Baltimorean, and University of Baltimore graduate with over a decade of experience in community engagement, youth development, and social change. Majoring in Community Studies and Civic Engagement, she brings a deep understanding of social issues affecting underserved communities.

Catherine Gordon is a wife and mother, actively supporting her children in their learning journeys. Currently, she works as a human resources professional, focusing on technology, compliance, and operational efficiency in Maryland.

Chantey Andrews is a people and culture professional, author, and anti-bullying advocate. She currently leads human resources and DEI for a global nonprofit and is the co-founder of Back Down Bully, a nonprofit dedicated to ending bullying in schools.

Claudia Celedonio-Penaflor was born in Mexico and moved to Alexandria, Virginia, at the age of 13, where she completed high school and began building the foundation for her future. After graduation, she returned to Mexico to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Business Tourism and later came back to Alexandria to work as an administrator at the Mission of Mexico to the Organization of American States (OAS).

Elaine Yoon, whose Korean name, Yewon, means “talent” and “best,” has spent much of her life exploring her unique strengths. She believes her greatest talent lies in her compassion, a quality she strives to nurture and use to make meaningful contributions to her community.

Jerrica Omoware is a devoted wife and proud mother of two young children, a 7-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter, living in Illinois. With 12 years of experience as a special education teacher, she is passionate about supporting and empowering students with diverse learning needs.

Kimya Baxter is a proud Washingtonian, born and raised in the DMV area. As a single mother to three vibrant children and a loyal cat named Princess, Kim’s life is a testament to resilience, love, and determination.

Raimele Reese is a minister, seasoned consultant, and content creator with a passion for empowering others. As the CEO of RSR Consulting Partners, Raimele has over ten years of leadership and ministry experience to help businesses and individuals thrive.

Araceli Contreras, originally from Los Angeles, proudly embraces her Mexican roots as a first-generation college graduate. She moved to Virginia in 2011 and has dedicated 25 years to public service, initially in social services and currently in public schools.

Ariel Ventura-Lazo is a first-generation American and a nationally recognized student parent leader. Being a former teen-father, Ariel navigated a unique journey with his children through postsecondary education.

Elvira McCullough is a mother of three wonderful kids, who loves cooking, gardening, playing tennis, music and traveling. Elvira speaks 4 languages and has lived in Venezuela, Spain, England and Italy.

Kimberly Salazar, a parent and UC Berkeley student, collaborated with Dr. Yu-Ling Chang, Assistant Professor at the School of Social Welfare, on a research study examining racial equity and CalWORK’s reforms during the pandemic.

Maurice Webb, an entrepreneur, husband, father, and elder, persevered through challenges in Detroit, attending nine schools from K-12 and entering foster care at 15. He credits caregivers, mentors, and his grandmother for inspiring greatness.

Melissa Gladney, a loving mother to four beautiful daughters, actively supports their academic journeys through elementary and middle school.

Myra Foley is a devoted grandmother and legal guardian to two early teenagers, having embraced the role of parenting since they were 3 and 4 years old.

Sonya Morris, a mother of two and a New Orleans native, earned her Bachelor’s degree from Tulane University and a Master of Science from LSU Shreveport. In addition to being a writer, speaker, and spoken word artist, she is a small business owner and contributor to BlackPast.org.

Stacy Huh grew up in the United States and South Korea and, upon returning to the US as an adult, went to divinity school to become better equipped to serve the immigrant community as a pastor.

Tiffany Rogers has passionately championed public education for 18 years through her work with Texas and Arizona PTA. She brings a diverse skill set to the tasks she undertakes, blending expertise with altruism.

Hanoi Paula is a seasoned professional with a background in education and community services, and has served as a parent advocate for children with special needs for the Columbia University Head Start Program.

Janis Price is the Coordinator for Family and Community Engagement at Orange County Department of Education.

Kristina Trujillo Stephens has worked in early childhood development, early intervention/special education, and family engagement for over 20 years, focused on creating systems changes, advocating for parent empowerment and engagement, and the importance of early, easily accessible, and equitable family supports.

Lizeth LoCicero has advocated for children with disabilities throughout her tenure as a volunteer with National PTA and Texas PTA.

Lysa Satterwhite has always known she would be enthusiastically involved in her child’s education.

Marisela Murray is a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador. She is a wife and mother who started her career in public schools by volunteering when her oldest son was in kindergarten. 

Robert L. Doore (“Rides at the door”), is a BIPOC (Black Indigenous Person of Color) business executive, private business developer, and business owner.

Ruben Watson is a native of Michigan who moved to North Carolina in 2016 and has called it home ever since.

Ruth Horry is a community advocate, owner of The Coco Pauline Company, and former Family Advisory Board Fellow for United for Brownsville.

Staci Griffin joined Fulton Bank in July 2021 as an Associate Community Outreach Officer for Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington D.C.