Literacy In Context: Honoring the Strengths of Black and Brown Readers

About the Presenters

Dr. Brenda (Bren) Elliott, District Transformation Officer at The Innovation Project, has vast experience successfully leading districtwide transformation that leads to improved student outcomes. She has 30 years of experience as an educational leader serving in school districts in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Washington, DC. Dr. Elliott is an innovative systems thinker and has served in public education in various assignments including state turnaround superintendent, chief of school improvement & supports, chief equity officer, director for high priority schools advocacy, area director, high school and middle school principal, and high school teacher.

Dr. Elliott’s dissertation, District-Level Equity Leaders’ Approaches to Addressing the Racial Achievement Gap Between Black and White Students in Urban Public Schools, resulted in her receiving the James Surratt Outstanding Doctoral Student Award from High Point University. She has presented nationally at various conferences as well as spoken on Capitol Hill. Most recently, she co-authored the book The Antiracist Roadmap to Educational Equity: A Systemwide Approach for All Stakeholders and continues to support school districts in implementing practices that increase access and achievement for students furthest from opportunity.

Dr. Elliott is a veteran and served her country proudly for more than ten years as a military officer in the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. She cites as the major contributors to her success a strong belief that students can and want to succeed and purposefully working to build a team of educators, students, parents, and community members who believe the same.

Kerri Larkin brings more than 20 years of special education experience to her role as Senior Education Advisor. Kerri began her career teaching secondary language arts and special education at Anacostia High School in Washington, DC Public Schools (DCPS). She left the classroom to become the director of her teacher preparation program, which prepared and evaluated special education teachers in partnership with the George Washington University. Based on her leadership in teacher preparation, Kerri was hired back into DCPS by Michelle Rhee through the Master Educator program. From there, Kerri led special education as the Director for Academic Programs and then Senior Deputy Chief of Specialized Instruction until March 2021. Kerri leverages her experience in partnership with other district leaders to increase educational equity through meaningful inclusion, evidence-based practice, and sustained professional learning. She is a passionate anti-racism advocate with an emphasis on meaningful inclusion and systemic change.