GUEST LECTURERS
EVE L EWING
Eve L. Ewing is a writer and sociologist from Chicago. Her books include Electric Arches (2017) and Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side (2018), 1919 (2019), she also writes for Marvel Comics. Her first book for middle grade readers, Maya and the Robot, is forthcoming in 2020 via Kokila.
CLINT SMITH
Clint Smith is a writer, teacher, and Emerson Fellow at New America. He is the author of the poetry collection, Counting Descent, and the forthcoming nonfiction book How the Word Is Passed. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review and elsewhere. He received his B.A. from Davidson College and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
LETISHA LAWS
Letisha has served as a principal at Grover Cleveland Mastery Charter for the last five years and is committed to providing a joyful place of learning for the students that she serves. Cleveland is located in the Tioga neighborhood and serves over 700 students. The school has seen three straight years of improvement in the school district’s School Progress Report and is focused on providing a world class experience to the students and families in their community
DR. WILL HAYES
Dr. William Hayes is the founding principal of Mastery High School of Camden, a Renaissance partner school in Camden, New Jersey. Prior to his current position, he was a turnaround principal at Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy Pre-K-8 in Cleveland, OH. His work and advocacy has focused on closing the access and opportunity gap for low-income children of color particularly in urban areas. As the founding principal of Mastery High School Dr. Hayes successfully launched a dual enrollment and automotive certification program while simultaneously building a community hub for families in the area through the monthly food-bank.
BERTRAM L. LAWSON
Bertram L. Lawson II currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Mastery Charter Schools Network (PA/NJ) a $250M organization; in this role he oversees all aspects of school operations, school financials and enrollment. Prior to this role he was the Senior Vice President, Operations at the Y in Central Maryland providing senior operational leadership for multiple health/wellness centers, (20) Camp locations, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentoring Services, (15) Community Schools sites, and Achievement Gap programming.
RAYMOND ROY PRICE
Raymond Roy-Pace is a career educator who is dedicated to developing lifelong learners that are equipped to confront injustices with solutions that make for a better tomorrow. Currently he serves as an Assistant Principal at Lamberton Elementary with the School District of Philadelphia. He believes that all students can learn when presented with rigorous instruction that is differentiated to meet their needs.
CHRISTOPHER MCFADDEN
Christopher McFadden was born and raised in Philadelphia. He holds an undergraduate degree in Philosophy and a Masters' degree in Criminal Justice. He grew an undying love and passion for working with urban youth. Because of that passion, he started a youth organization in 2012, The Philadelphia Youth Project. The organization's mission is to engage, encourage and educate youth in Philadelphia through community events, ‘life-skills’ workshops and educational events. His life's journey has led him to become a passionate educator and youth development professional.