Summer as a Launchpad to Build Teacher Capacity and Strengthen Student Readiness

About the Presenters

Blake Obi is the Associate Director of Summer Learning Programs and an Instructional Consultant at Lavinia Group, where he partners with K–12 organizations to strengthen instructional management systems that drive teacher development and improve student outcomes. He brings expertise in middle school literacy grounded in years of experience as an ELA teacher and school instructional leader. In both teaching and leadership roles, he has prioritized strong relationships, authentic classroom culture, and inquiry-driven collaboration. Blake holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of Florida. 

Charlynn Bowers is the Director of Summer Learning Programs and an Instructional Consultant at Lavinia Group, where she leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of summer learning programming through curriculum implementation support, leader and teacher training, and assessment-informed program strategy across all types of summer school settings. In her consulting work, Charlynn supports K–12 math and literacy educators and leaders in improving academic outcomes and strengthening instructional management systems through instructional coaching, strategic planning, and implementation-focused problem solving. Previously, Charlynn served as a middle school principal in Houston, Texas, where her campus earned an A rating from the Texas Education Agency. She holds a master’s degree from Relay Graduate School of Education and a bachelor’s degree from University of Michigan.