Meet Our Team

About Us

Ebonnie Clark

Program Facilitator
Jennifer Felton

Program Facilitator
Ashlee Freeman

Program Facilitator
Jeremy Fuller

Program Facilitator
Patrick Harris

Program Facilitator
Amber Lawson

Program Facilitator
Tamra Simpson

Program Facilitator

Ebonnie Clark

Program Facilitator

Ebonnie Clark is a former classroom teacher turned educational consultant. She is a graduate of Howard University and native of Brooklyn. She collaborates with educator to drive growth, ignite innovation, and navigate the constant change in special education. She is approaching her 25 th anniversary as an educator with 23 years as a teacher and school leader, with two additional years as a consultant. Ebonnie uses her expertise to positively impact student achievement and help teachers develop without fear. She also uses her experience to coach and mentor special educators on behavior management, classroom management, the special education process, data mining, and differentiation.

Ebonnie is most passionate about the future of special education and how do we prepare students for an everchanging world.

Why Nylinka – Nylinka is at the forefront of uncovering and identifying the root of school’s issues while providing trusted guidance and accountability. Nylinka is about transformational education.

Fun Fact – Ebonnie studied custom shoe design at the London College of Fashion. She owns over 50 pairs of shoes.

Jennifer Felton

Program Facilitator

Jennifer Felton is a career educator and self-professed teacher nerd. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science from Florida Memorial University and received her Master’s of Science in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University. She spent __ years as a classroom teacher at the middle and high school level. She also spent nine years as an instructional coach and teacher evaluator for Broward County Public Schools in Florida. Beyond that, Jennifer served as a science curriculum coach at the high school level. She has been an author and educational consultant for over 10 years working with schools and school districts across the country. She also spent time with Curriculum Associates as a professional development expert for teachers. Mrs. Felton is the author of Teaching in the Now: Classroom Momentum Begins with You, which focuses on helping teachers improve their classroom practices and pedagogy. Her subject expertise included culturally relevant teaching and pedagogy, restorative practices, bias reduction, and DEI. In her DEI work, Jennifer helps schools focus on the hidden barriers to inclusion and helps school districts look at all practices through an equity lens.

Passion Statement: I am passionate about all things professional development. I love helping teachers move from good to great.

Why Nylinka: Nylinka and I are mission aligned, and Desmond is a good guy!

Fun fact: I love shows like X Files and Indiana Jones.

Ashlee Freeman

Program Facilitator

Ashlee Freeman is a native of Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management from Capitol University in Bexley, Ohio. She earned her Master’s of Arts in Human Service Counseling with a concentration in Executive Leadership from Liberty University. Ashlee has supported several non-profits and higher education institutions targeting historically marginalized groups with the aim of providing equitable solutions. Her skill set includes strategic implementation, group therapy, social emotional learning, educator training and facilitation. Ashlee is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Liberty University. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. One of her career goals is to provide holistic solutions to students that target their physical, emotional, psychological, and social needs.

Passion Statement: Ashlee is passionate about serving disenfranchised communities; she is committed to equity.

Why Nylinka: Nylinka allows Ashlee to serve students and the schools that support them.

Fun Fact: Ashlee was a college tennis player.

Jeremy Fuller

Program Facilitator

Jeremy earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in English Literature from Georgia State University and continued there for graduate studies in Literary Criticism. He has 11 years of teaching experience at both the middle and high school levels. Jeremey has primarily worked with students with severe behavioral challenges and other children with special needs. Jeremy leverages this experience to consult and lead workshops on classroom management, building meaningful and lasting relationships, and tips for working with our most disenfranchised student groups. Jeremy’s areas of expertise include relationship building, classroom management, special education, restorative practices and literacy development in grades 6-12.

Passion Statement: Jeremy is most passionate about literacy because when children can read, write and speak effectively they are at their most powerful. They can give vision, script and breath to their dreams.

Why Nylinka: Jeremy is drawn to Nylinka’s vision of empowerment through education because of its direct correlation to improving the outcomes for young men of color.

Fun fact: The one and only Dolly Parton gave him homemade fudge; it was delicious!!

Patrick Harris

Program Facilitator

Patrick Harris earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education from Michigan State University and his Master’s in Strategic Communication and Digital Strategy from the University of Oklahoma. He is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He began his teaching career in Washington, DC after being a distinguished TFA corp member. He has been a classroom teacher for seven years, including serving with Nylinka CEO, Desmond Williams at the Bishop Walker School for Boys. Patrick is the author of The First Five: A Love Letter to Teachers, a memoir of his first five years of teaching with a call to action. Patrick is a Black, queer writer, storyteller, and middle school humanities teacher and Dean of Students. He has also served as an elementary teacher, and elementary ELA teacher. Patrick has won multiple national teaching awards for his leadership and innovation in the classroom, including recognition from GQ magazine, NCTE, ASCD, and ILA. His areas of expertise include restorative practices, culturally relevant pedagogy and content and instructional coaching.

Passion Statement: Patrick believes that the most impactful changes in education happen from the ground up and from the inside out. I am passionate about helping teachers see themselves as humans doing human work and how they can fuse their passions in the classroom.

Why Nylinka: Patrick is excited about working with Nylinka because they know that we can offer support while also knowing that the answers are in the room. Nylilnka and I both share the values of community-driven, asset based solutions.

Fun Fact: Patrick has been obsessed with horror films and literature since he was a kid. He has even taught the art of the scare to his students.

Amber Lawson

Program Facilitator

Amber earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education with a double minor in Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Spanish from Michigan State University. She taught kindergarten and first grade in Metro Detroit for six years. While teaching, Amber earned a Master’s of Arts in Education with a literacy concentration. Currently, she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University. Her research interests include making foundational literacy culturally responsive for children of color in K-2 and supporting preservice and in-service teachers with implementing culturally responsive pedagogies in the classroom. Amber has worked with educators across the country. Recently, Amber was a leader in the roll out of the University of Michigan’ Great 8 curriculum which focuses on asset-based learning for children from birth through eight years old.

Passion statement: Amber is passionate about building relationships and watching young people discover things they never thought they could.

Why Nylinka: Working for this company provides the opportunity to support children of color in the classroom and ultimately provide them with more equitable opportunities.

Fun fact: Amber named her dog after one of her kindergarten students!

Tamra Simpson

Program Facilitator

Tamra earned her Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies from The University of California at Riverside. Later in her education journey, she earned a Master’s in English Language Learning from Western Governors University. Tamra holds an additional Masters of Arts in Education Administration and an administrative credential from Cal State-San Bernardino. She has five years of elementary education experience, including serving as a school-based vice principal. She has extensive experience in elementary and has served K-12 as a literacy specialist. Tamra has also served as district administrator, supporting alternative discipline structures and restorative practices. Tamra has led district-wide literacy initiatives and professional development focused on the science of reading and the implementation of effective instructional practices including being a national trainer for LETRs. Her expertise includes K-8 literacy, restorative practices, DEI, culturally relevant practices, and social emotional learning (SEL).

Passion statement: Tamra is passionate about equity-centered and data driven leadership. She is passionate about the success of all students. To that end, she is intensely passionate about being a change agent while supporting success in historically marginalized communities.

Why Nylinka: Nylinka has a great mission, and a great team!

Fun fact: Tamra is a children’s book author and poet. She lives in Southern California and loves exploring the cultural and natural riches of her home state.