Schedule
10:00 a.m. Devin Warmack and Dr. Sasha Crocker “Teaching with Equity in Mind"

10:15 a.m. Mysha McClain “Supporting Students with Disabilities during COVID 19”
10:30 a.m. Grace Tiffin “Writing Tips-The 6 Steps of Poetic Success”
10:45 a.m. Tonya Grant Ed.S. “Boys and Books” Teachers Across The World TOTY Presentation
11:15 a.m. Chrissaida Crawford “Literacy Building Classroom” 
11:30 a.m. Starr White Ed.S. “Starr Quality Coaching”
11:45 a.m. Malikah Thompkins M.ED. “Consulting in Education”
12:00 p.m. Kimberleon Crawford "Differentiation"

12:15 p.m.  Break and Announcments: Gretchen Jones Torbert, Ph.D., CHLC
12:30 p.m. Tiffany Blaassingame Ed.S. “Radical Tools to Reframe Productivity”
12:45 p.m. Angelique Tarazi “STEAM Classrooms”
1:00 p.m. Shannel Lee – Angry Ed.S. “4 Practical Strategies to Improve Reading Fluency in K-3”
1:15 p.m. Dr. Elondra Napper “Narrative Non-Fiction”
1:30 p.m. Coach K “Boys and Education”
1:45 p.m. Professor Rock Lherisson “Equity and Equality”

Free Vacation TOA2020CON

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Kimberleon Crawford has been a Special Education Teacher for the past four years. She attended Lincoln University of Pennsylvania for her Bachelor’s and graduated with a degree in History and a minor in Black Studies. After graduation she worked as an Associate Product Manager for three years. During this time, Kimberleon would tutor children in her neighborhood. This continued to foster her love for education. She joined the New York City Teaching Fellows in the Summer of 2016. She earned her Master’s degree in 7-12 adolescent education at Pace University.  


Currently, Kimberleon is servicing her hometown of the Bronx at a specialized school for students with moderate to serve disabilities. She is a Collaborative Coach under the NYC Teaching Academies Program where she assists pre-service teachers gain the necessary skills for running their own classroom. She also facilitates professional developments for her school organization on team building, structured teaching and using technology within the classroom.

“Being a teacher means you are a lifelong learner. There is always room to grow within your practice. As a Special Education Teacher I am constantly trying new things and figuring out ways to connect to my students. Teaching students with disabilities can be challenging but it is my duty and pleasure to create rigorous and engaging activities that facilitate their learning.”

Chrissaida Crawford has been a Special Education Teacher for the past two years with a niche for science content .  


She attended The University of Vermont in Burlington,VT for her bachelor’s and graduated with a degree in Communication Science and Chemistry  with a minor in ALANA Ethnic Studies.  After graduation she worked as a Chemist for seven years both in the private and public sector. She then transitioned to becoming a nurse in 2016 and in 2018 she joined the NYC Teaching Fellows for her masters in 7-12 adolescent education at CUNY Hunter College School of Education.  


Currently, she is servicing her hometown of the Bronx with her teacher skills at a local high school. She teaches ICT Living Environment, Regents Chemistry, and Health.


“Teaching has always been a passion for me that I found myself doing in many facets of my life.  Working with youth brings the most joy knowing that I am contributing and pouring life into our next leaders. I have a commitment to implementing strategies that allow access for all of our students of all abilities. I have a special place for STEM and contributing to a space where students of color can exceed their own expectations academically and holistically.”

Mysha McClain is an educator, advocate, and entrepreneur. Mysha has 14 years of experience in working with scholars in Pre-k to 12th grade. She earned a Masters of Education degree in administrative leadership and bachelors degrees in elementary education and special education. She has made many contributions to education by teaching scholars, advocating in the community, contributing to the development of state policies, leading teams, and training parents/teachers. She hopes to use her experience and education to ensure all students, regardless of their abilities have access to an appropriate education. She is currently working in collaboration with educators around the US to develop a book and resources for effective measures of teaching foundational reading skills. Mysha is more than a leader in education, she's an influencer for all.

Conference Speakers

Angelique Tarazi has been teaching science and health in the Bronx for the past 7 years.  She attended UC Davis in California for her Bachelor’s and graduated with a degree in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology Behaviors, and a minor in Chicana/o Studies.  After living in Oaxaca, Mexico studying bi-national health disparities and working in medical clinics, she moved to New York to obtain a Master’s Degree in Science Education from Teachers College Columbia University. 


After graduation, she became a founding teacher at a small 9-14 school designed in collaboration with a local Community College and Montefiore Medical Center.  She participated in fellowships to better provided her with the tools and strategies to support a range of learners by implementing a variety of teaching methods and strategies including Hollyhock Fellowship Program, City College TLQP Science Teacher Fellowship, and Math for America  


“I am committed to learning the best educational practices and implementing innovative, culturally responsive strategies into my science curriculum to foster an environment that positively influences students’ individual potentials and the perception of themselves as learners. As an educator, my goal is to provide students with a quality educational experience that both inspires and prepares them to be the next generation of scientific thinkers, innovators, and healthcare professionals.” 

Tonya Grant is an elementary school librarian and former classroom teacher with over twenty years of experience. She is currently a member of the Georgia Library Media Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She served on the Georgia Picture Book Committee sponsored by the College of Education at the University of Georgia from 2015 to 2018. That experience allowed her to showcase her passion for reading. As a writer, she uses her words to offer advice, inspire and encourage people of all ages. Her magazine credits include ParentLife, Clubhouse Jr., Atlanta Parent, and Highlights. She’s also published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Believe in Miracles. When she’s not reading or writing, she enjoys watching movies, working out, and game nights with her husband and two sons.

Conference Host

Tiffany Blassingame is the Assistant Head of School at Midtown International School.  In this position, she provides instructional coaching and professional development for elementary, middle, and high school principals and their teachers. Tiffany has varied teaching experiences in both private and public schools, and she supports cultural diversity and underrepresented gifted populations in both the public and independent school sectors. Tiffany is a graduate of Columbia College with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree from Clemson University in Education Administration. She holds endorsements in both reading and gifted education. Tiffany is also trained in Positive Psychology Coaching and Brain-Based Coaching. Additionally, Tiffany works as an organizing coach and productivity strategist through her company, Simple Organization, which helps busy adults (and their families) achieve wellness through organization and productivity. 

Dr. Elondra D. Napper is an award-winning best-selling author, STREAMA (Science Technology Reading Engineering Arts, Music, Math and Agriculture) Educator and consultant for Encouraging Champions Consulting Firm. Dr. Napper has served in schools across the country for the last for 23 years as a teacher assistant, teacher, instructional coach, assistant principal, principal, teaching assistant professor, researcher, and consultant. Dr.Napper is a children’s book author who uses science standards and inquiry to teach scholars about science concepts while building their self esteem while reading a book about science!  Her most recent books include My Name is Rona!  The Quarantine Chronicles, Every Child Needs a Champion and Chloe the Confident Caterpillar.

 Dr. Napper supports educators and educational leaders by teaching them how to incorporate science in guided reading instruction in  elementary schools and in middle school classrooms using her curriculum and pedagogical model for teaching and learning called Science is LiT: Science Looks Like Me.  Using evidence-based strategies and elements of instructional design, she supports educator’s development by using vocabulary, guided reading components and science inquiry into a lab environment to close the knowledge and culturally responsive gap while incorporating social and emotional strategies.

She has recently launched Champions STRREAMA Academy, an online school for students to learn STREAMA (Science Technology Reading Engineering Arts, Music, Math and Agriculture).  She is in the process of creating an online space to support teachers and administrators to receive professional development to support Professional Learning Communities specifically focused on instructional leadership, culturally responsive pedagogy and social- emotional learning. Dr. Napper believes that Every Child Needs a Champion and it is her mission to encouraging educators to exercise the champion in them so they can build the champion scholars in their classrooms and schools.  

A Vibrant, Transparent, Heartfelt, Young and Successful Author of over 80 books. Dr. Torbert is a Life Coach, Humanitarian, Educator, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Wife, Mother and Motivational Speaker who reaches the hearts of everyday people to give them inspiration through motivation.


Her story is real and will capture the hearts of many. Dr. Torbert is the Founder and CEO of Teachers Across the World, which houses over 100 chapters including the local chapter of Teachers of Atlanta that was developed to inspire and celebrate educators. Dr. Torbert uses the platform of Teachers Across the World to constantly seek great pioneers that have impacted the world of education including innovators, entrepreneurs, dreamers, visionaries and change agents. As she seeks out these individuals, she engages in personal development opportunities through literature, circumstances and positions.  She has creatively overcome several challenges by zoning into her dreams and walking in her purpose. Her intention is to inspire and help others find their purpose. As a humanitarian and philanthropist, she connects with her community to save lives in amazing ways.  This allows her to help others improve their lives in different capacities and to encourage them to live a life that is promising towards a future of hope and success.

8th Annual Teachers of Atlanta 2023

Teach Con

June 18, 2023

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Virtual Zoom/FB Live/ IG Live/ YouTube Live

​Coming Soon!