Keynote Speakers

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Princess Sarah has an extraordinary journey that has been featured on CNN, GMA, BBC among numerous other publications worldwide which has trended #1 globally in over 60 countries. She is an internationally-known thought leader, TEDx speaker, artist and educator whose work addresses biracial and cultural identity and raises awareness of issues impacting Sierra Leone.

She shared the story of reuniting with her birth father in A Princess Found: An American Family, an African Chiefdom, and the Daughter Who Connected Them All, coauthored with Tracy Trivas and published by St. Martin’s Press. A Princess Found is now being adapted into a major motion picture for Disney Studios by award-winning filmmaker Stephanie Allain. Princess Sarah has also been honored with receiving the prestigious Trumpet Impact Award.

Princess Sarah and her brother Hindo Joseph Kposowa [pah-SOH-wah] founded the non-profit Sierra Leone Rising which provides clean drinking water, sanitary pads for girls, education, medical attention, resources to build schools and technology centers, and more throughout Sierra Leone. Her work in business and technology has led her to create upcoming projects including an animation show with Randy Jackson as well as a Roblox game to connect and educate children about cultures around the world.

Donyall D. Dickey, Ed. D. is a nationally recognized authority on curriculum, instruction, organizational development, and administration of schools. Unparalleled levels of student achievement and school improvement distinguish Dr. Dickey’s 17-year career as an educational leader. A native of Texas City, Texas – Dickey is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Loyola University – Maryland, and George Washington University – D.C., where he earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy and wrote a ground-breaking dissertation on resilience and African American males.

Dr. Dickey has led at just about every level in public education. After a decade of successful site-based leadership, Dr. Dickey served as Assistant Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer of the nation’s eighth largest school district and later as Chief Schools Officer and Chief Academic Officer of a prominent school district in the Southeast. In each case, his leadership resulted in record gains in student outcomes and state assessment scores, as well as significant improvements in organizational effectiveness.

Currently, as the Chief Executive Officer and Lead Consultant for Educational Epiphany, Dr. Dickey and his national consulting team is in partnership with urban, suburban, and rural school districts in 40+ states across the nation, Dr. Dickey and his team are a leading provider of standards-informed instructional materials for early and continuing literacy, the core content areas, as well as targeted professional development for teachers, school leaders, central office personnel, superintendents, state departments of education, and professional associations.

Dr. Tommie Mabry grew up in one of Jackson, MS, roughest neighborhoods. Trouble followed him everywhere before and after fifth grade when he was arrested for breaking into the state fairgrounds. After that arrest, he was suspended or expelled from several schools due to his behavior. A judge once prophesized that in five years his attitude would either get him killed or incarcerated. Tommie grinned at the judge who did not know that the “monster” lurking within him was fueled by the prophecy. 

Things started to change for Tommie when he joined an AAU basketball league that traveled around the world. He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school when he crossed the stage at Bailey Magnet in 2007. Although he was shot in the foot after skipping school during his senior year, Tommie healed and received a full basketball scholarship to Missouri State University-West Plains. He later received a B.A. cum laude in Education from Tougaloo College and his M.A. in Child Development in 2017. 

After his undergraduate studies, Tommie was hired as a teacher by the same Jackson Public School District that had suspended and expelled him many times during elementary and secondary education. He joined Tougaloo College as the Director of Enrollment in 2016.
 

Tommie received his Doctorate Degree – an Executive Ph. D. from Jackson State University in 2020 where he majored in Urban Higher Education. He has written and published four books that target all age groups. He travels the world sharing his story to motivate and inspire others – and he lives by the motto, “I cannot walk in my future with my foot in my past."

Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson represents Illinois' 1st Congressional District. Born to civil rights leaders Rev. Jessie Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson, the fight for underrepresented people runs in Congressman Jackson's blood. He has long been an advocate for marginalized communities using his platform to fight for equity and civil rights. 

Congressman Jackson's commitment to social justice and equality has been the driving force behind his activism. As the national spokesman for the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Congressman Jackson raised awareness about innocence and juvenile justice issues. He was heavily involved in the Chicago Police Department's false confessions cases, such as those of Darrell Cannon, Oscar Walden, and Johnnie Lee Savory. He played a role in several high-profile human rights and social justice cases, including negotiations with Syrian President Hafez-Al-Assad for the release of captured American Navy Lieutenant Robert Goodman and with Fidel Castro for the release of 22 Americans held in Cuba.

Congressman Jackson values public education and fervently supports expanding opportunities to families regardless of income. In Chicago, he fought against the closure of Chicago Public Schools where he led public hearings and provided civic education training to preserve community memory and prevent closures and turnarounds by private companies. His efforts helped Guggenheim Elementary School come off the closure list in 2010 and saved other schools from the same fate.

Congressman Jackson grew up in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood.  He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical University and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Business. Jackson has launched several telecom, distribution, and construction businesses. He has also taught finance and entrepreneurship at Chicago City Colleges and was a business professor at Chicago State University.

Congressman Jackson now brings his activism to Congress. He is committed to promoting policies that advance equality and justice, improving access to quality education and healthcare, and protecting the environment. He proudly serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and is dedicated to working with his colleagues to pass meaningful legislation that will benefit the people of IL-01 and the nation as a whole.

Kenneth C. Williams shares his experience and expertise as a nationally recognized trainer, speaker, coach, and consultant in leadership and school culture. A practitioner for nearly three decades, Ken led the improvement efforts at two schools by leveraging the Professional Learning Communities at Work process. Skilled in joining the why of the work to the how of the work, Ken is known for his powerful and engaging combinations of “heart, humor, and hammer.” He is an expert at helping schools build capacity in the collective commitments required of learning for all cultures. 

Ken is the former principal of The Learning Academy at E. J. Swint in Jonesboro, Georgia, and Damascus Elementary School in Damascus, Maryland. His firsthand experience with transforming challenged schools translates into action-oriented presentations that inspire hope, create a clear vision, and offer practical strategies to those overwhelmed by challenges.

Ken earned a Bachelor of Arts from Morehouse College, and a Master of Science from the University of Bridgeport. He is the co-author of the bestseller, Starting A Movement: Building Culture from the Inside-Out in Professional Learning Communities, Creating Physical and Emotional Safety In Schools, and a contributing author of Beyond Conversations About Race.

To learn more about Ken’s work, visit Unfold The Soul online at www.unfoldthesoul.com, and follow @unfoldthesoul on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIN.

While my style is engaging, full of humor, inspirational, and motivational,  you should know that I am a serial paradigm shifter, cage rattler, warm demander, and an unapologetic identifier of elephants in the room, with my lens is firmly fixed on what's best for kids. 

Let’s talk about how I can support you in cultivating the leadership and culture that results in taking all students to and through The BAR, So, if you’re ready to move your culture from "THATschool" to"THE(E)school, click the button below and set up a time for us to talk. 

Don’t settle any longer for the status-quo. Let’s talk and discuss how we can work together to take students to and through The BAR, and deliver on the promise of equity, excellence, and achievement for ALL students, regardless of background.

Jonathan Banks is motivated to see people thrive by challenging them to grow and inspiring them to rise. He actively serves his church and community and strives to help others reach their God-given potential in every area of life. Jonathan earned an undergraduate degree in engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Jonathan has enjoyed an amazing career path which has included Non-Profit Leadership, Youth Ministry, Food Ingredient & Flavor Research, Real Estate Finance and Business Development, Teaching and Tutoring K-12 & College level courses. He currently serves as the Director of Ministry at Apostolic Faith Church where Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. is the Pastor. His own academic and tutoring experiences helped him form an effective approach to success that he willingly shares with the next generation. Jonathan is a passionate educator who serves his church and community in Illinois where he resides with his wife, Jacinta, and their teenage sons.