ABOUT US

I started Excelsior School of Excellence after earning my Ph.D. in Urban Education because I knew Black children deserved more. I grew up loving to learn, surrounded by teachers who looked like me and believed in my brilliance. But I also saw and experienced how inequitable policies and government funding decisions systematically underfunded urban public schools, leaving teachers overworked and students uninspired, bored, tired, and forced to learn just to pass a test instead of being challenged to think critically and dream big.

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My research took me deep into the history of Black schools before integration, where, despite having fewer resources, they produced brilliant scholars through high expectations, community support, and culturally relevant teaching. I also traveled the world, teaching high school math and physics in China and training teachers and administrators in South Africa. In China, I saw firsthand how a collectivist culture encourages students to work together toward a common goal, something I knew could be transformative for Black students when paired with a curriculum that affirms who they are.

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I built this school because I believe education should do more than prepare students for a test—it should prepare them for life. I wanted to create a place where Black students see their brilliance reflected, where learning is exciting and relevant, and where every child is nurtured to become a leader, innovator, and changemaker. ​Excelsior is more than a school—it’s a movement.