NOEMI PAVON, CEO
Skilled as an educator, professional development guru, and leadership coach, Noemi Pavon has eleven years of experience in fiercely fighting and advocating for educational equity for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. The first Latina principal in the state of South Carolina, former Lower School Principal at KIPP and alumna of Teach for America, Pavon leverages her expertise through cultivating leaders and teams in multiple sectors, including education, non-profit, small businesses and governmental agencies.
As founder of The Pavon Firm, LLC, she has coached and consulted nationwide, including leaders in Georgia, South Carolina, California, Washington, D.C. and the Caribbean, impacting a network of 10,000+ students. Her work focuses on enabling world-class leadership, professional development, and strategic organizational management.
Aligned with her passion for empowering youth, women, and underserved communities, she has a track record of forging partnerships and coalitions with business and community partners. Pavon has collaborated with and served multiple organizations, including the South Carolina State Charter School Districts Advisory Board, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) Advisory Board, and Mentors for Women in Leadership. She is a proud member of the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
Born and raised in New York, Pavon earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Georgia and a Masters of Education from Columbia University. When not working towards closing educational opportunity gaps, Pavon enjoys spending time with loved ones, reading, traveling, and practicing yoga.
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MEET OUR ADVISORS
DR. BRIAN PERKINS
SENIOR ADVISOR
I fight for educational equity because I have a moral obligation to insure that the least among us have access to life and liberty opportunity.
Claudine Miles Bio
Claudine Miles earned an English Degree from Hampton University in 2008. She joined TFA, and moved to Atlanta to teach 6th Grade Science at KIPP WAYS Academy. She served in several roles including: 6th Grade Level Chair, Gifted Coordinator, and Upper School Dean. Her final role was Dean of Restorative-Practices, focusing on the social-emotional health/discipline of students 5-8th grade. She’s won Teacher of the Year and led her school to winning Charter School of The Year Award. In 2018, Claudine launched Restore More, an educational consulting company works with districts, schools, and parents to increase the social-emotional well-being of students through Restorative-Practices.
CLAUDINE MILES
I fight for educational equity because kids need to be restored.
JENNIFER BARD BIO
Students with diverse needs deserve compassionate and creative solutions. Known for her skill in
systemic building, creative problem solving, and instructional coaching Jenny has served as a special
educator and administrator for over a decade. She has taught in Arizona and Washington, becoming a
National Board Certified Teacher with a strong track record of student achievement.
In addition to classroom experience, Jenny has a track record of results in the realm of leadership,
coaching and managing others. She has been asked to lead a variety of projects from creating a district-
wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports implementation plan to implementing a school-
wide mentorship program that decreased student disciplinary incidents by a quarter. She founded the
Eastern Washington expansion of Teach For America – Washington and led the region to have teacher
satisfaction and retention numbers that were far above the national organization. She also was awarded
the Rural Principal Fellowship as an alumna of Teach For America, one of only four candidates to do so
nationally.
Jenny has served as an administrator for the past three years in Central Valley, California. Recognizing
the unique impact that well-resource schools can make in rural communities, Jenny earned a half a
million-dollar grant that secured funding for a school-based health clinic at Wonderful College Prep
Academy in Delano, California.
Her professional interests and area of expertise include rural education, grant writing and management,
Special Education, PBIS, and developmental disabilities. She currently serves as Director of Special
Education for Lamont Elementary School District, just outside of Bakersfield, California.
Hailing from Vashon Island, Washington, Jenny is a proud first-generation college graduate, earning her
Bachelor of Arts degree from Lewis & Clark College, a Master of Education degree from Arizona State
University in Special Education and a second Master of Education degree from Columbia University in
Educational Leadership.
JENNIFER BARD
I fight for educational equity because every kid deserves to realize their potential.
HERNESHIA DUKES BIO
As the Executive Director of School Leadership for New Schools for New Orleans, Herneshia strategically develops aspiring CEO’s for charter organizations across the city of New Orleans. Before joining NSNO, Herneshia served as a founder and school leader of a KIPP school in New Orleans. Under her leadership, the school received a letter grade of an “A” for growth four years in a row and was publicly recognized by the district in 2018. Herneshia also worked for the national KIPP Foundation developing leaders across the country. Herneshia specializes in novice leadership development, school turnarounds, character education, and school culture.
HERNESHIA DUKES
I fight for educational equity because all students deserve a quality, empowering, and holistic educational experience.
DEION BROWN BIO
Deion is a native of Houston, Texas and graduate of Morehouse College and Tulane University. In his 10+ years in educational leadership, Deion has served as a turn-around principal, school founder, and Head of Schools for some of the nation’s most renown Charter Management Organizations. As a leadership coach, Deion strives to ensure that those he supports become servant leaders capable of creating a vision and effectively managing others to outcomes. Deion enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and being actively engaged in his community.
DEION BROWN
I fight for educational equity because a quality education is a necessary prerequisite for success for students from underserved communities.
AHMED H. AHMED BIO
Hailing from Washington, DC, Ahmed began his career in education teaching middle school mathematics, science, and reading in Atlanta, GA. Ahmed has experience coaching and developing K-12 teachers across multiple contents as a Real-Time Teacher Coach (RTTC) trained by the Center for Transformative Teacher Training (CT3), Dean of Students, Dean of Instruction, and Resident School Director.
Ahmed presently serves as the Director, Partnership & Professional Learning at Overcoming Racism, LLC where he facilitates race and equity professional development and provides coaching and support for partner organizations committed to developing equitable anti-racist institutions.
AHMED H. AHMED
I fight for educational equity because inequity in this country did not happen on accident and the fight for justice and equity must be equally as intentional as the systems that perpetuate the inverse. We have an obligation and responsibility to dismantle the systems in this country that predetermine who gets a life of freedom and who does not.