Highly Effective Education, Literacy, Strategic Planner, and Equity Driven Systems Thinking Thought Leader with the ability to translate educational research into practice in a clear, cogent, and concise manner. I am an effective systems-thinking educational consultant, project director, researcher, and practitioner with an extensive background in K-12 leadership, teacher education, and language and literacy development. I support schools, districts, and county offices in preparing leaders to successfully implement Common Core State Standards; create and develop a culture of excellence in schools; and support the capacity building of educational leaders. With respect to academic research, I critically examine effective secondary English teachers who implement culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogical and instructional practices in their classrooms to close literacy gaps and address the academic, social, and emotional needs of their students. I am particularly interested in how Advanced Placement English teachers facilitate high levels of engagement for their high achieving boys of color (and especially African American males) by ensuring that they have access and exposure to language and literacies of power.