Michelle Watts is a native Houstonian who recently returned to the greater Houston area. She received her Bachelors from Mount Holyoke College and Masters and Doctorate from Rice University Dr. Watts has taught at Rice University, Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and the University of Cincinnati. While at Miami, she was recognized as an Honored Professor for her ‘remarkable commitment to students.” She has extensive experience in the public sector where she has worked to advance educational equity and social justice causes in youth-serving organizations.

Dr. Watts continues to actively research African American life and culture and received the 1905 Alumnae Fellowship from Mount Holyoke to research Black girlhood and civic engagement. She recently published an article on children’s literature of the Harlem Renaissance. She currently works for Houston ISD as a Senior Manager and AVID District Director in the College Readiness Department. 

LaFredrick Smith, born and raised in College Station, Texas, is an educational leader who is committed to leading and teaching in the name of love. He has demonstrated this passion throughout his career by serving in the positions of 4th-grade self-contained teacher, instructional specialist, assistant principal, principal resident, and principal of both elementary and secondary schools.

Mr. Smith has had the honor to be awarded and recognized as the Rookie Teacher of the Year (2015), Parents Choice Teacher of the Year (2016), Who’s Who in Black Houston – Educators – Real Time Media (2016), Prairie View A&M University 40 under Forty Alumni (2017), the Apple Educators Appreciation Award (2017), Houston’s Top Teachers – Local Houston Magazine (2018) and Local Spotlight – Vogue Magazine (2019). Mr. Smith is a member of the Brazos Valley Alliance of Black School Educators, the Texas Alliance of Black School Educators, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Teacher & Quality Retention Program. He is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., the Eta Rho Sigma Chapter, where he served on the executive leadership board as Director of Education. 

Mr. Smith received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Prairie View A&M University, his master’s degree in curriculum & instruction from Houston Baptist University, and his principal certification from Lamar University. He is currently pursuing his Ed.D in Executive Educational Leadership and Superintendent Certification from Houston Baptist University. His dissertation topic is “Lead in the Name of Love: Principal Preparation in Leading Effective Schools through Positive School Culture.”  

Gillian Nelson

Jasmine Booker is a native Houstonian and first-generation college student. She received her bachelor’s degree from University of North Texas and a Master of Education from the University Texas at Tyler. Jasmine spent the first half of her educational career serving students and families in Fort Worth ISD and Dallas ISD before transitioning to Houston to be a Dean of Instruction for Yes Prep Public Schools.

In 2019, Jasmine was accepted into the rigorous Principal Residency Program with IDEA Public Schools. She managed a team of teachers to reach ambitious goals throughout the school year. In just one school year, the campus attained significant gains in both Reading and Advanced Placement courses under her leadership. In August 2020, Jasmine launched IDEA Spears College Prep as interim Principal, and was later named Principal in October 2020.

Jasmine’s achievements as a principal led her to expand her influence to reach more communities and students. She is now the Chief Executive Office of Beyond the Books Consulting. She continues to use her leadership knowledge and skills to coach other leaders to achieve optimal success in their districts and campuses.

Derrick Bass Jr. was born in Chicago, IL, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University. He was a collegiate athlete in baseball and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc fraternity. He has over 11 years of educational leadership and school development experience. Derrick Bass Jr. is currently the Principal at New Vision Middle School located in Highland, CA. 

Derrick began his professional career in the Financial Services industry as a personal banker. He earned his MBA from Roosevelt University. That is where he developed his passion for building relationships. He decided he wanted to make more of an impact in the community that influenced him, so he transitioned to the education field. He worked as a Dean of Students, Assistant Principal and an Instructional Support Specialist while in Chicago and that is where he learned how to develop systems and interventions that impact student achievement. Derrick believes that academic achievement is possible when a safe learning environment is paired with high quality instruction and strong relationships. 

In 2013, he moved from Chicago to Houston, Texas in search of a fresh perspective in the educational landscape. He was hired as the Dean of Students at YES Prep, one the country’s premier charter school systems. While there he developed and led male empowerment summits for black youth, participated in the organization’s Elementary school focus group, and completed both tracks of their leadership development program Leading Excellence. During this time, he was inspired to start his clothing brand The Opulent Brand which was created to provide opportunities to youth from underserved communities through urban fashion. He is also the co-founder of Dream II Inspire which is a non-profit that provides mentoring and educational opportunities for at-risk youth. 

Since moving to Houston, Derrick has continued his pursuit of educational excellence for underserved children. He has facilitated numerous professional development training on building relationships, restorative practices, and how to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for students experiencing trauma. He is also a member of numerous organizations that promote excellence in the urban community like the 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston, New Leaders Council, Houston Black Leadership Institute Class VII and most recently joined American Leadership Forum. 

Derrick continues to add to his leadership toolkit through attending professional development training throughout the country. He attended the Ron Clark Experience; he is a graduate of the University of Houston’s S.U.R.E. program and most recently he attended the Harvard National Institute for Urban School Leaders.

Fallon Presley-Armstrong is an experienced teacher, and mentor in Parent & Family Engagement. She has several years of experience including operating and working with STEM programs, parents/communities, and educators in multiple school districts across the Greater Houston/Surrounding areas. Fallon has a passion for using free educational resources within the community and around the home to better serve families from multi-cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Her best qualities include collaborating, implementing, and organizing events with families on how to better support at-home learning and school connections between families, educators, schools, and the community.

Kellie Thompson is a passionate school leader, curriculum writer, and secondary English educator. She was born in Missouri City, Texas, and a graduate from Texas State University. With over a decade of experience working in underserved communities, infusing social justice and culturally responsive practices into her work with students and faculty alike. Inspired by the impact she could have in her own Rhetoric and Composition classroom, Kellie began writing curriculum for teachers across the district. Over the years, her lesson plans have reached thousands of students across Houston. Today, she coaches and develops teachers and teacher coaches in pursuit of academic excellence as a Director of Academics at YES Prep Public Schools.

In addition to her work on campus, she is active in the local and national chapters of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Conference of English Leaders (CEL). Through these organizations, she has written and facilitated professional development to English educators in the areas of Race & Culturally Responsive Teaching. Similarly, Kellie has served as a Diversity Ambassador at YES Prep, leading campus-wide training sessions.

Motivated by the opportunity to grow alongside phenomenal, equity-minded educators, she loves her work as a Facilitator and School Leader. In her free time, Kellie enjoys trying new recipes and restaurants, binge watching ALL the shows and playing board games.