PDK’s 2025 Emerging Leader and Distinguished Educator Fellows
PDK International is proud to announce the first cohort of our relaunched Emerging Leaders Program for innovators, thought leaders, and problem solvers under 40 and our first class of the Distinguished Educators Fellow program for those over 40.
In the upcoming year, these groups will collaborate on two problems of practice which will significantly impact the field of education while developing skills to help them as future and present leaders in education.
2025 Emerging Leader Fellows
Regina Digilormo is a Pre-Educator Instructor at the Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning (BPSTIL). She pioneered the Educators Rising initiative parish-wide, equipping the next generation of educators with hands-on classroom and field experiences. Regina continuously seeks innovative ways to inspire, support, and shape the teaching profession for future generations.
Karina Lee – Racine, Wisconsin
Karina is currently in her 5th year of teaching and pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Leadership in Innovation and Continuous Improvement through Concordia University. Her future goals include providing professional development opportunities on culturally relevant teaching in urban schools.
Dr. Ryan Tauriainen is currently the Executive Director of Teach For America D.C. and Virginia. Earlier in his career, Ryan was named the youngest ever principal in Washington, D.C., at the age of 26. Ryan has won several national awards, including ones from Leading For Children, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the National Council of Teachers of English.
2025 Distinguished Educator Fellows
Ms. Tatum T. Boothe is a passionate educator, instructional coach, and scholar with nearly 22 years of experience in K-12 education. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Higher Education Leadership at Clark Atlanta University. Her research focuses on preservice teacher education, examining how teacher preparation programs cultivate culturally responsive practitioners.
Dr. Michael Conner – Webster, New York
Dr. Michael Conner is the CEO/Founder of the Agile Evolutionary Group and an international award recipient. His career spans from Superintendent of Schools to Teacher, with pivotal roles as Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent. Dr. Conner’s expertise in educational transformation is encapsulated in his innovative Disruptive Effect Model, redefining traditional pedagogical approaches.
Dr. Luana Y. Ferreira began her career in New York City public schools as a teacher, staff developer, and data specialist. Dr. Ferreira has also worked for the I Have a Dream Foundation, Teaching Matters, and Alianza Dominicana’s Summer Youth Employment program—non-profits that support student success. She has taught at CUNY and Teachers College.
Dr. Simone Griffin – Chicago, Illinois
Dr. Simone Griffin is an educational leader with over 15 years of experience in curriculum development, assessment, and instructional leadership. With multiple advanced degrees in education, Dr. Griffin has dedicated her career to transforming educational outcomes for all students, particularly those facing behavioral health challenges.
Dr. Scott McLeod is a Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver. He is the Founding Director of the UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education (CASTLE), the only university center in the U.S. dedicated to the technology needs of school administrators, and is the co-creator of the video series, Did You Know? (Shift Happens).
2024 Emerging Leader Fellows
Vanessa Buttler is an Education & Training Program instructor at Cleburne High School in Texas. Buttler’s advocacy, dedication, collaborative spirit, and leadership in supporting Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) show her belief in the transformative power of education and in driving impactful initiatives within schools to benefit students and the wider community.
Sophia James – New York, New York
Sophia James is the Director of Education and Social Work Pathways for New York City Public Schools. James’s dedication to community engagement, collaboration, and a cohesive vision prioritizing education quality and inclusivity has led to impactful K-12 academic policies that support implementing citywide career-connected pathway strategies for all New York City high school students that align with current labor market trends.
Jorden Melton – Lafayette, Louisiana
Jorden Melton is an Academic Success Coach and Assistant Director in the Louisiana Educate Program at the University of Louisiana. Melton’s commitment to leading by example and employing creative tactics to deal with attrition gives students the skills to negotiate systemic obstacles. He actively mentors the next generation of leaders and encourages lifelong learning, hoping those he interacts with will share the values he instills in others.
Amanda Ramoutar – College Place, Washington
Amanda Ramotaur is an Assistant Professor of Education and Psychology at Walla Walla University. Ramoutar’s commitment to influencing her community is not just a statement but a tangible reality. Through the partnerships she has formed with local schools, she provides her student teachers with the invaluable opportunity to gain real-world experience in classrooms with students with disabilities. This hands-on approach to education is a testament to her dedication and the practical impact of her work.
2024 Distinguished Educator Fellows
Michael Odell – Tyler, Texas
Michael Odell is a Professor of STEM at the University of Texas at Tyler. His innovative initiatives have doubled the number of STEM teachers produced by the university and significantly impacted the local community. Odell joins the cohort with achievements such as holding several administrative positions at the university and co-founding the UT Tyler University Academy charter school.
Starr Sackstein – Seminole, Florida
Starr Sackstein is the Chief Operating Officer and partner of Mastery Portfolio, LLC. Her transformative work in developing alternative assessments and non-traditional grading practices has created more authentic learning environments, directly benefiting students. Sackstein joins the cohort with achievements such as publishing multiple books on alternate assessments and other innovative practices, such as blogging for educators and homework strategies for teachers.
Samantha Salnave – New York, New York
Samantha Salnave is the Senior Director of Tiered Interventions and Supports at the Office of Safety and Youth Development of New York City Public Schools. Her creation of systems has supported students’ sense of belonging by addressing their social-emotional, behavioral, and academic needs. Her roles have included being a classroom educator and a peer evaluator, showcasing her diverse and impactful contributions to the field.
Violet Jiménez Sims – Hartford, Connecticut
Violet Jimenez Sims is the Managing Director of Academic Programming at the Connecticut Teacher Residency Program. Her work in recruiting, retaining, training, and retaining teachers of color has been exceptional. Jimenez Sims joins the cohort with achievements such as numerous awards and fellowships, including being named a Women in Leadership Sesquicentennial Honoree by the YWCA of New Britain in 2022.
2023 Emerging Leader Fellows
Laura Gokey is the Education and Training teacher at Livingston High School in Livingston, TX, and is currently working towards her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction at Regent University. Mrs. Gokey has worked in five different school districts over her 17 years as an educator. In addition, Mrs. Gokey has spoken at several conferences, helping high school students with career goals, leadership skills, and mental health.
Tamir Harper is excited to return home this year after graduating from American University to teach 8th-grade students in West Philadelphia. His desire to teach comes from his passion for creating sustainable change for generations. In addition, as a Brother and Immediate past national organization board member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, the first intercollegiate African-American fraternity created, he genuinely desires to serve.
Elisa Mascorro is a bilingual high school educator and advisor with 15 years of experience. She has served as a member of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Chicago Chapter board. She won the 2017 AATSP Chicago Award for Professional Distinction and is a member of Alpha Sigma Nu.
Dr. Kristen Mcloughlin is a dedicated educator who holds the position of Primary School Principal. With a doctorate in educational leadership and innovation, Dr. Mcloughlin is committed to finding innovative, unique and effective ways to meet the individualized needs of each student. Their leadership is characterized by a strong belief in empowering teachers and students to explore their full potential. Their work has been recognized by their participation in the NAESP Mastermind group and their presentations on initiative fatigue and improvement science, highlighting their commitment to finding effective and sustainable strategies for educational success.
Dr. DerNecia Phillips – Omaha, Nebraska
DerNecia Phillips is a professional educator, activist, strategist, poet, administrator, and consultant who advocates for support-focused schools, relationship-centered practice, equity, and amplification of BIPOC voices. She has 18 years of experience as a public and non-public school educator. She leveraged her expertise to found DAL Education & Care Solutions, an educational consulting company.
Chafony Pool has owned Fail Me Not Tutoring Service LLC since October 2020 and has worked in education since September 2000. She is the Educator Preparation Teacher at the Newton County Career and Technology Center in Decatur, Mississippi. A member of Zeta Phi Beta INC., Delta Nu Zeta Chapter, she wants to continue advocating for education and showing students a positive way to live life.
Alexander Uryga works in education and holds a Master of Education in teaching and curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. During his career, Alexander has earned numerous prestigious fellowships, including from the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, and has been recognized for his teaching — in 2019 for making the Michiana Forty Under 40 list for teaching at his alma mater.
Dr. Angello Villarreal is a Spanish teacher at Freehold Township High School and an Adjunct Professor at Monmouth University. He has utilized his experiences working with different demographics and educational needs to serve students better. Advocacy is a center of Dr. Villarreal’s philosophy as all his research, work, community service, mentorship, and leadership are towards serving the students and their family’s needs.
Dr. Kathryn E. Wiley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the School of Education at Howard University. She is an expert in school discipline, climate, and safety, focusing on race and educational opportunity. In addition, she has worked with youth and community organizers to promote the use of research as part of larger education justice campaigns to end school-to-prison.
2023 Distinguished Educator Fellows
Cecilia Gray teaches concurrent credit Teacher Residency program courses for Virtual Arkansas to high school students across the state. She is passionate about teaching future educators and is excited about the new Arkansas program to recruit and retain teachers. Previously, she taught Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) at Pottsville High School, her alma mater. She has been teaching for 28 years.
Dr. Maquila Mills is a wife, mother, leader, trainer, and special education teacher. Her passion is to train others to help students with disabilities reach their full potential effectively. Dr. Mills has an extensive background in differentiation, learning styles, individualized learning, special needs, and behavior support. Her recent accolades include earning the Tennessee Education Association Distinguished Educator Classroom Award in 2022.
Dr. JoAnne Negrin is the Supervisor of English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, World Languages, and Performing Arts for the Vineland Public School District in New Jersey. She developed a collaboration with Rowan University on the first dual enrollment bilingual teacher education program in the state. As a result of her efforts, Vineland’s ESL/bilingual programs have been recognized since 2015 as Model Programs by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Susannah Remillard is a teacher at Cape Cod Lighthouse Public Charter School in Harwich, Massachusetts. She teaches 6th-grade language arts and seminar classes on restorative agriculture. She is currently engaged as a consultant to the National Museum of the American Indian to revise lessons around the first Thanksgiving. Her work has been featured at national conferences and instructional videos with The 1619 Project, First Book, and others.
Dr. Krista Scott is the Director of Teacher Development at Andrews Independent School District in Andrews, Texas. Dr. Scott is passionate about working with and growing educators at all levels, especially those in rural districts. Dr. Scott most recently created the Andrews ISD Teacher Academy and developed Dual Credit pathways that allow students to graduate high school with an Associate’s Degree or career certification.
Sandra Davenport Street holds the Teacher Trainer Programs Director position in the Office of Teacher Recruitment and Quality with the New York City Department of Education. During her eighteen-year tenure with NYC DOE, she has initiated opportunities to engage colleagues, administrators, and Central office staff, with the intention of empowerment through challenging dialogue and critical self-reflection around racial identity, implicit bias, and structural inequities.
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