A catalyst for today’s leaders
80+ Years of Combined
Education Experience
Game-Changing Strategies
for School Districts
MEET OUR TEAM
Dr. Jacob T. Michelman
Founder & President
Dr. Jacob T. Michelman has been in education for over 22 years. He started as a high school math teacher in New Jersey for five years. He was the youngest candidate accepted into the first cohort of the New York City Leadership Academy under the direction of Bob Knowling and Sandra Stein. He completed his Masters at Fordham University where he became a lifetime member of Phi Kappa Phi for academic achievement.
In 2006, Jacob Michelman became one of the youngest principals in New York City where he led a failing school to achieve a Well-Developed rating on the Quality Review, from an F to A on the School Report Card, and removed the school from the Persistently Dangerous School List and The Failing School List for the State of New York. He raised over $3 million dollars to improve the quality of the school including a state-of-the-art library and computers for all his students allowing for huge strides to be made in systemically implementing technology throughout his school. After 10 and a half years as a principal, Jacob stepped into the world of educational consultant where he shares his expertise in school leadership and systemic change with schools throughout the nation. Within this field, Jacob wrote several curriculums for leadership development and on a number of occasions has trained coaches to deliver the content. In addition, he has extensive experience in building up and training teams where he developed and monitored an evaluation plan to authentically measure participant learning and success. He has recently expanded his work into the corporate world by providing coaching to several executives. He earned his EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California.
Jann Coles, PhD
Dr. Jann Coles is a leadership development consultant and emotional intelligence coach for education, business, and non-profit organizations and facilitates Respect for All workshops for school personnel on all levels. She is an adjunct associate professor at Hunter College and Teachers College, Columbia University. She previously taught at Fordham University Graduate School of Education and Baruch College in New York City, where she developed courses in leadership, change and diversity.
Dr. Coles earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and a Masters Degree in Adult Education and Human Development from Fordham University. She received a Fine Arts Degree from New York University. She is a winner of the School and Business Alliance Corporate Partnership Award, the Conference Board Business and Education Council Best of Class Award, Middle Schools Association Annual Award, Black Achievers in Industry Award, and received Special Commendation by Barbara Bush for Outstanding Service to Learning Disabled Children.
Dr. Rosetta Wilson
Dr. Rosetta Wilson is the President and CEO of The Wilson Education Group. She has been an educator for more than 20 years. She has a passion for curriculum and instruction and says that her most rewarding job was that of a principal. As a result, she greatly respects the work of teachers and school leaders and feels honored to be able to support them whenever she can.
Dr. Wilson holds a BS from Drexel University, a MA from New York University, and an EdD from Fordham University. Dr. Wilson served in various positions from teacher to Assistant Superintendent. She has studied school change and transformation both domestically and international, focusing on the systems and structures that lead to successful sustainable changes in urban and suburban school districts.
Dr. Marshaé Newkirk
Dr. Marshaé Newkirk is a career educator with over 20 years of experience serving public school students and families in New York and New Jersey. Her work as a teacher in the South Bronx, NY served as a springboard for a career in educational leadership and advocacy for children in historically marginalized and under-appreciated communities. She is the lead founder of an independent charter school in Newark, NJ, where she served as the School/Executive Director for 8 years.
Marshaé currently serves as a leadership coach and trainer for new and aspiring school leaders. In addition, she is an independent consultant offering leadership coaching with a focus on reimagining “best-practices” in schools in order to disrupt the status quo. Marshaé has earned Masters Degrees in Elementary Education and Administration and Supervision from Lehman College and Fordham University respectively, and holds a doctorate in Educational and Organizational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
Jessica Martin
Jessica Martin has dedicated her career to combating educational inequities and closing the opportunity gap. Most recently, as Executive Director of Assessment, Reporting and Data, she leveraged her vast instructional experiences to ensure the team’s efforts were dedicated to improving outcomes for all students. Jessica’s work in Colorado includes founding and serving as the Co-Principal of Aurora Community School and serving as a Director of School Support with the Achievement Network; there, she pushed the boundaries of what is possible in education and empowered leaders and teachers to tear down systemic barriers and rethink approaches to instruction.
Prior to her work in Colorado, Jessica was a Director of Curriculum and Instruction, where she utilized her robust content knowledge, in-depth pedagogical awareness, and unparalleled passion for educational equity, to support teachers in creating authentic learning experiences for students. In her early career, Jessica worked as a teacher of traditionally underserved populations, and her eyes were opened to the transformative work, still needing to be done in our schools. It is because of this that she is excited to work alongside you in building a rigorous, culturally responsive system where every student has the opportunity to thrive.
Anwar Abdul-Rahman
Anwar Abdul-Rahman supports education organizations to develop and create the conditions for excellence and equity in their respective communities.
Anwar uses his wealth of experience in teaching and leading schools, experience as a marginalized student and educator, and a track record of student achievement results to support teachers and school leaders examine their mindset in order to interrogate practices and ensure equitable outcomes for all.
Anwar is entering his 17th year in education, and 9th year focused school leadership. During his career, he has taught 5th and 8th grade math, in addition to coaching math teachers and leaders at the middle school level. Currently Anwar is the CEO/Founder of Bridge Equity Education, an education organization that supports academic excellence and equity. Prior to founding Bridge Equity Education, Anwar was the principal of Explore Charter School (Grades 6 – 8) in Brooklyn, NY where he turned around a school which had five principals during the previous five years. During his tenure, the school increased proficiency on the New York State ELA and Math exams by 20% and 30%, respectively, decreased suspensions and time out of class and increased enrollment and student retention. In 2018-2019, the school’s SUNY authorized charter was renewed for a full five years and became a New York State Recognition School. Anwar began his career teaching in the Bronx, NY, as a New York City Teaching Fellow and has worked as an educator throughout New York City and in Oakland, CA. Anwar holds a BA in Political Science from Columbia University, a MS in Urban Education from Mercy College and a MS in Educational Leadership from Brooklyn College. He enjoys cycling and spending time with his family
