Barbara Dezmon, Ph.D. – CEO

Dr. Dezmon completed her doctorate in Education Policy, Planning, and Administration at the University of Maryland at College Park. During her studies, she focused on the academic achievement of minority students. Dr. Dezmon’s work experience includes classroom teacher, administration, professional development, as well as parent, community, and business relations. Dr. Dezmon served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Superintendent as well as Assistant to the Superintendent for Equity and Assurance in Baltimore County Public Schools, one of the largest districts in the nation. In those roles, she provided leadership and support to central offices and schools in many areas and on a range of subjects ranging from administration to curriculum and instruction. She also advised and presented on a broad array of topics, including strategic planning, diversity, differentiation, student achievement, discipline, and cultural responsive education, to assist school districts and other organizations at local, state, and national levels.

In addition to her work on committees and task forces in various arenas, she served as Chair of the Maryland State Education That Is Multicultural (ETM) Advisory Council and Chair of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Achievement Initiative for Maryland’s Minority Students (AIMMS) Steering Committee, which provided recommendations on policies and practices to improve the education of minorities as well as oversight and monitoring of minority issues to assist MSDE and local school systems throughout Maryland. She has directed the production of a number of publications in Maryland, including the state’s initial landmark report on minority achievement and a succinct guide to school district planning. During her work with the MSDE, Maryland attained #1 status for education among states from Education Week. Dr. Dezmon was recognized for contributing substantially to this honor. Dr. Dezmon served as Education Chair for the Maryland State Conference NAACP and has provided assistance to the organization locally and nationally.

Over the years, Dr. Dezmon has been acknowledged for her outstanding service to education as well as to social and civic organizations and activities. Throughout her career, she has worked to reform practices and to bring many positive changes in education for addressing the needs of students from varied racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. She has worked tirelessly and undeterred to eradicate barriers and establish positive bonds between peoples. In both her personal and professional life, she has proven profound commitment to equity, civil rights, and the welfare of children.

Elfreda  W. Massie, Ph.D. – Chief Academic Consultant

Dr. Massie  has been widely recognized  for her services in education and her promotion of educational leadership and her knowledge of education from a national as well as international perspective. Dr. Massie has a Ph.D. in Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland. She has over 40 years of experience driving positive change and initiating reform in high-performing and challenging environments in diverse education communities. She specializes in coaching and empowering leaders to reach their full potential. She has held key leadership positions in public education including Superintendent, Chief of Staff, Deputy Superintendent, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, and Director of Professional Development in some of the largest school districts. She has also held senior leadership positions nationally at several major corporations that feature education related services. She is committed to improving the education of all children and was appointed to serve on the Education Committee of the African American Women’s Advisory Council to the President of Liberia.

Dr. Massie has served on the boards of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, See Forever Foundation, and Boys Town of Washington, DC. She serves on the Executive Council of New York University Metropolitan Center for Urban Education. She has directed comprehensive human resources and talent development programs and managed complex labor negotiations. She has proven adept at coaching and counseling those going through life transitions and those entering leadership positions in public education and corporate communities.

Included among her other professional experiences, Dr. Massie has served in the following roles: Advisory Board, Johns Hopkins University Division of Education; Adjunct Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Education; Adjunct Professor, The Union Institute Graduate School; Chair, Public School Superintendent of Association of Maryland (PSSAM) Conference on Leadership for Improving Student Achievement; Advisor and reviewer for Maryland State Minority Achievement Report; and member of a task force to devise administrative recommendations and strategies to improve District of Columbia Public Schools. In addition, she has designed and instructed graduate courses related to educational administration as well as seminars and workshops for clients that include Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; United States Air Force; Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE); Delaware Department of Public Instruction; Towson  University; Morgan University; Coppin State University; Allegany County Public Schools; Dorchester County Public Schools; Bethlehem Steel Corporation; International Personnel Management Association; Urban League of Baltimore; and the  National Association of Negro Business Women.