Who We Are

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 Massie, Ph.D. – Education Enterprise Consultant

Dr. Massie 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. She is a facilitator with the National Institute for School Leadership and a coach/facilitator with Performance Fact. She has directed comprehensive human resources and talent development programs and managed complex labor negotiations. She is adept at coaching and counseling those going through life transitions and those entering leadership positions in public education and corporate communities.

Dr. Massie has a Ph.D. in Policy, Planning and Administration from the University of Maryland, and a Master’s Degree in Counseling from John Hopkins University. She has held senior leadership positions at Blackboard, Harcourt, Global Partnership Schools, and Knowledge Delivery Systems. Elfreda 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.

Dr. Massie 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.