KIPP: Profiles of Fisher Fellows 2008-09

KIPP Fisher Fellows 2008-09

The Fisher Fellowship offers candidates a year-long program which prepares them to found a new KIPP school. The Fisher Fellowship includes intensive summer coursework in an academic setting, residencies at KIPP schools, and individualized coaching from experienced KIPP staff. In the 2008-09 school year, there are 18 Fisher Fellows.

Richard Barrett
Richard Barrett most recently served as the School Leader at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy (Denver, CO) which he founded in 2002. Barrett previously taught history at KIPP Academy Middle School in Houston. Before joining KIPP, he served as a Teach For America corps member in Houston. Barrett received his BA from the University of Connecticut. Barrett plans to open the first KIPP high school in Denver.
Joanna Belcher
Joanna Belcher most recently taught fourth grade at Ralph Bunche Elementary School (Compton, CA), where she also served as the GATE Lead Teacher, on her school’s leadership team, and as the chairperson of the school’s writing committee. Prior to teaching at Bunche, Belcher was a Teach For America corps member in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her BA from Georgetown University, and is currently pursuing an M.Ed & Principal Licensure at Harvard University. Belcher plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Newark.
Stephen Buckner
Stephen Buckner was most recently the Principal of Elm City College Preparatory School (New Haven, CT), an Achievement First middle school. Prior to working with Achievement First for four years, Buckner taught second grade in Northeast Washington DC for three years. He received his BS in Business Management from Morehouse College and his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Howard University. Buckner plans to open a KIPP elementary school as a dual-leader with Carolyn Leuner in New York City.
Edwin Chang
Edwin Chang most recently served as the Director of Strategic Initiatives at KIPP WAYS Academy (Atlanta, GA). Prior to this position, Chang was a Teach For America corps member in Atlanta, going on to serve as a founding sixth grade teacher at Atlanta Charter Middle School in 2004. He then became a Building Excellent Schools Fellow in Atlanta. Chang received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis and his M.Ed with a focus on Secondary Science from Mercer University. Chang plans to open a KIPP middle school in Atlanta.
Frank Cush
Frank Cush was most recently a Miles Family Fellow and taught second grade at KIPP SHINE Prep (Houston, TX), where he served as a Lead Teacher and Curriculum Coordinator. Prior to teaching at KIPP SHINE Prep, Cush taught second and third grade for three years at Garcia Elementary School in Houston as a Teach For America corps member. He received his BA from George Washington University. Cush plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Houston.
Rosalind Davis
Rosalind Davis most recently served as an Assistant Principal and Principal in Residence through the New Leaders for New Schools program in Memphis, Tennessee. Prior to that, Davis was a teacher and instructional facilitator for fourteen years. She received her BA from LeMoyne-Owen College and her MA in English and Technical Writing from the University of Memphis. She has also taken coursework at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business through New Leaders for New Schools. Davis plans to open a KIPP middle school in St. Louis.
Lindsay Fry
Lindsay Fry most recently served as the Dean of Elementary Students at KIPP SHINE Prep (Houston, TX), where she has also served as the school’s Curriculum Coordinator. Fry began teaching at KIPP SHINE Prep as a founding kindergarten teacher in 2005. Prior to joining KIPP, Fry taught kindergarten and first grade as a Teach For America corps member in Greensville, Mississippi. She received her BA from the University of Arizona and has taken coursework at Columbia University Teachers College through the New Teacher Academy. Fry plans to open a KIPP elementary school as a dual-leader with Stephanie Scott in New York City.
Tiffany George
Tiffany George was most recently a Miles Family Fellow and taught second grade at KIPP SHINE Prep (Houston, TX), where she also served as the Values Coordinator. Prior to joining KIPP SHINE Prep, George taught third, fourth and fifth grade in Houston. She received her BA from Lamar University. George plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Houston.
Tasha Ginn
Tasha Ginn most recently served as the Director of Recruitment at New York City Center for Charter School Excellence. Prior to holding this position, Ginn taught for nine years, starting as a Teach for America corps member in Houston in 1998. She received her BA from Texas A&M University and her M.Ed from the University of Houston. Ginn expects to receive her MBA and doctorate in Educational Leadership from Texas Christian University in 2008. Ginn plans to open a KIPP middle school in Houston.
Joel Harris
Joel Harris most recently served as a Graduation Coach at Kingsbury High School (Memphis, TN). Prior to holding this position, Harris worked as a middle and high school teacher and spent a year in Germany under a Fulbright Scholarship. He received his BA from Rhodes College in Memphis and his MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi. Harris plans to open a KIPP high school in San Antonio.
Amanda Johnson
Amanda Johnson was most recently a Miles Family Fellow and taught sixth grade at KIPP Delta College Preparatory School (Helena, AR), where she also served as a grade-level chair. Prior to working at KIPP Delta College Preparatory School, Johnson taught second grade in Marianna, Arkansas as a Teach For America corps member. She received her BA from Rhodes College in Memphis. Johnson plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Helena.
Philonda Johnson
Philonda Johnson most recently taught pre-kindergarten at KIPP DC: LEAP Academy (Washington, DC), where she also served as a Saturday School Coordinator, a member of the Report Card Committee, and a co-teacher mentor. Johnson was a founding teacher at KIPP DC: LEAP Academy in 2007. Prior to joining KIPP, Johnson taught in Houston as a Teach For America corps member. She received her BA from Trinity College. Johnson plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Washington, DC.
Carolyn Leuner
Carolyn Leuner most recently taught science at KIPP STAR College Prep Charter School (New York, NY) for four years, where she has also served as a Grade Level Team Leader, the Saturday Program Coordinator, and helped start the girls’ basketball team. Prior to joining KIPP, Leuner taught kindergarten in the Bronx as a Teach For America corps member. She received her BA from Cornell University and her MA from Pace University. Leuner plans to open a KIPP elementary school as a dual-leader with Stephen Buckner in New York City.
Kevin Newman
Kevin Newman most recently taught sixth grade at KIPP Austin College Prep (Austin, TX), where he also served as a Grade Level Chair. Prior to working at KIPP Austin College Prep, Newman taught eleventh grade at the High School of Art and Design, as well as early childhood classes at the Little Red School House in New York City. He received his BA from the University of Dallas and his Master’s in Educational Theater with English Education from New York University. Newman plans to open a KIPP middle school in Austin.
Hannah Powell
Hannah Powell most recently served as the Director of Education Services at “Keys to Improving Dayton Schools”, an Ohio-based CMO. Prior to this position, Powell worked as a selector and guest lecturer for Teach For America in New York City. She taught sixth grade at Shaw Middle School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as a Teach For America corps member. She received her BA from Wittenburg University and her MS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Saint Joseph’s University. Powell plans to open a KIPP middle school in Columbus.
Cindy Saulsberry
Cindy Saulsberry most recently served as the Principal of Lester School (Memphis, TN). Prior to this position, Saulsberry was a resident principal at Craigmont Middle School in Memphis, Tennessee through the New Leaders for New Schools program. She has fourteen years of teaching experience. Saulsberry received her BA from Clark Atlanta University, and her MA in Teaching as well as her Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Saulsberry plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Houston.
Stephanie Scott
Stephanie Scott most recently taught at KIPP SHINE Prep (Houston, TX) where she served as an Instructional Coach and Lead Teacher. Scott was a founding first grade teacher at KIPP SHINE Prep in 2006. Prior to joining KIPP, Scott taught third grade in southern Louisiana as a Teach For America corps member. She received her BA from the University of North Carolina and her M.Ed from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Scott plans to open a KIPP elementary school as a dual-leader with Lindsay Fry in New York City.
Natalia Walter
Natalia Walter most recently served as the Director of Instruction and District Strategy for the Teach For America Philadelphia Institute. Prior to this position, Walter worked as a Corps Member Advisor, a Curriculum Specialist, and a Program Director following her own two year commitment as a corps member in Baltimore, Maryland. She received her BA from George Washington University. Walter plans to open a KIPP elementary school in Baltimore.

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