Dr. Steve Perry

Dr. Steve Perry has become a national icon in the education revolution, a change agent who is tireless in his fight for providing equal and competitive opportunities for children who otherwise would not have a voice. Dr. Perry is completely committed to closing the educational inequities that plague our youth and families in low income communities. He considers the current state of education as being in crisis and when he speaks it is a call to action to ignite an urgency to save the children.

Dr. Perry’s commitment to excellence started as former principal of what U.S. News and World Report has cited as one of the top schools in the country, Capital Preparatory Magnet School in Hartford, Connecticut. Capital Prep has sent 100% of its predominantly low-income, minority, first generation high school graduates to four-year colleges every year since its first class graduated in 2006. Subsequently this success led him to start Capital Preparatory Schools in 2012 with the objective to open schools that provide as many low income students/families with an educational experience that he considers a right not just an opportunity. As head of schools, Dr. Perry has been instrumental in advocating for, developing and opening the Capital Preparatory Harbor School in Bridgeport CT and Capital Preparatory Harlem School in Harlem NY.

His passion, advocacy and commitment to education can also be seen through his additional works; CNN’s Black in America series, Education Contributor for CNN and MSNBC, an Essence Magazine columnist, and host of the #1 docudrama for TVONE “Save My Son.” He shares his keys to success and calls to action in his latest best-selling book, “Push Has Come To Shove: Getting Our Kids The Education They Deserve – Even If It Means Picking A Fight.

Dr. Charlene Reid

Dr. Charlene Reid is the CEO of Excellence Community Schools, a charter management organization with schools in the Bronx, NY and Stamford, CT. Dr. Reid is entering her 20th year as an educator. After earning a BA in Political Science and an Ed.M. in Elementary Education from UCLA, she began her career as a teacher leader in South Los Angeles. Dr. Reid also earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Columbia University, Teachers College before serving as an assistant principal and principal in the Bronx and Harlem. In 2007, Dr. Reid became the Principal and Head of School at the Bronx Charter School for Excellence (BCSE), where she spearheaded the turnaround of a school on the brink of closure. BCSE was subsequently recognized as the highest performing K-8 non-magnet public school in New York State, and in 2012 was distinguished as a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Dr. Reid was awarded a Cahn Fellowship for outstanding New York City principals at Columbia University, Teachers College in 2011, and later earned a Doctorate in Education, Ed.D. in 2016 from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education.

Pastor William McCullough

Pastor William McCullough is an influential leader who has served with excellence and integrity throughout his 20 years of ministry. He is the Senior Pastor of Russell Temple CME Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut with more than 250 members and 10 outreach ministries. He is also the Chair of the Bridge-Building Committee of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, and the Scholarship Chair of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Bridgeport and Vicinity, an alliance of 86 black Christian Pastors. The founder and Senior Advisor for Faith ACTS for Education. The founder of U-Turn Ministries and Safe Street Kids, Pastor McCullough has touched the lives of thousands in Pennsylvania and Connecticut through relief efforts, community service initiatives, and humanitarian projects. His vision is to proactively bridge the gap between churches and schools, creating a safe community environment that promises, promotes, and provides educational enhancement for our children.

State Senator Douglas McCrory

For Doug McCrory, giving back has always been a top priority. He was elected with the continued promise of continued accountability and accessibility as the State Senator for the 2nd Senate district in a special election in February, 2017 to represent parts of Bloomfield, Hartford and Windsor. He was first elected to the General Assembly in 2004 to represent the 7th House district, which he served for six full terms. Even before his service as a legislator, Doug has been committed to strengthening neighborhoods through education, development and civic engagement.

A vice principal for the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC), Doug has been an educator for over 20 years. Beginning as a teacher at Sarah J. Rawson Elementary School, he has also taught at and served as vice principal at Lewis Fox Middle School. A scholarship basketball player at the University of Hartford, Doug has shared his love for the sport with young people by coaching for Hartford’s Northend Little League, the Hartford Hurricanes and the Boys & Girls Club. Doug graduated from the University of Hartford with a Master’s in Business Administration, after completing his Bachelor’s degree there. He also earned his Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration from Sacred Heart University and is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. He is a member of the Connecticut Black & Puerto Rican Caucus.

George Parker

George is an education consultant and former senior fellow at StudentsFirst Institute. He grew up in a rural farm community near Kinston, North Carolina where he learned at an early age the value of a great education. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from North Carolina Central University and earned a Master’s in School Administration from Trinity Washington University. George is a certified mathematics teacher with 30 years of experience teaching high school and middle school math in the Washington D.C. Public School system. Today, he considers the poor quality of education provided in our public schools to be the number one civil rights issue affecting our children.

George is the former president of the Washington, DC Teachers’ Union, elected to that post in 2005. During his tenure as president, George worked with Michelle Rhee to negotiate a groundbreaking collective bargaining agreement that featured innovations in teacher compensation, professional development and equity in classroom resources. The agreement was rooted in the shared belief that D.C. political and education leaders must significantly raise student achievement and increase teacher accountability, while respecting teachers as true professionals and providing them the technology and classroom resources needed to successfully teach all children.

George frequently serves as an expert witness in support of legislation aimed to improve teacher quality, elevate the teaching profession and promote school choice. He also engages community organizations and serves on panels across the country to discuss policies such as school choice, teacher and principal evaluations, seniority-based layoffs, community engagement and union reform.

George is proud to join Dr. Steve Perry and My Child My Choice in a unified effort to provide quality educational options and opportunities for parents and students.

Ruben Felipe

Ruben is the Connecticut Political Director for P.A.C.E. Strategies. Ruben previously spent 8 years as the deputy chief of staff to former Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch where he lead the mayor’s neighborhood revitalization initiatives, education reform agenda as well as running the mayor’s successful reelection campaign in 2011. Ruben has nearly two decades of campaign experience in Connecticut on the municipal, state and federal level. A father of four, Ruben’s passion for educational equity was originally sparked by his own experiences growing up in Brooklyn, New York and further fueled by his struggle to find a quality education for his children as a parent in Bridgeport, CT. Ruben currently resides in Stratford, CT.