LEFLORE LEGACY ACADEMY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Governing Board Member

Cassandria Baxter Hansbrough is a native of Leflore County. She was born in Itta Bena and received her education in the former Leflore County School district. She received her bachelor's in English from Mississippi Valley State University and her master's in Secondary Education/English from Mississippi State University. She devoted her career to education for 40 years. In retirement, she still finds ways to work with students and adults through various volunteer opportunities. She considers herself a lifelong learner and a servant-leader, and she is always eager to become involved with any task that is related to education, youth, and service.

Job Titles:

• Executive Director
• Head of School

Tamala is an education advocate who believes teacher effectiveness is the great equalizer to providing students the basic civil right of a quality public school education. Currently, Tamala focuses on reimagining learning for students in rural areas to improve the number of college-going and college-graduating students as the Founder and Executive Director of MS Delta Academies, a non-profit education organization that has launched Leflore Legacy Academy, a tuition-free public charter school that opened Fall 2020 in Greenwood, MS. She was born and reared in Greenwood and considers this her dream opportunity to go back and give back to the place she calls home. Her career in education began in Jackson, MS, teaching English at Provine High School, and now includes 25 years of experience in a variety of roles. Tamala is an experienced educator, administrator, and leader with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry. She is skilled in educational technology, recruiting, training, education policy, business development, and teacher development. Tamala earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Touglaoo College, a Master of Teaching degree from Jackson State University, and a Doctor of Education degree from The University of Memphis. Her leadership training for urban education is attributed to her participation in The Memphis Leadership Fellows Program (2005-2006). Additionally, she is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Memphis, a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Development Intensive class with New Memphis Institute, a graduate of the 2019 Leadership Greenwood and a member of the 2020-2021 Leadership Mississippi Cohort. A strong believer in community service, Tamala enjoys contributing through civic associations. She is a Life Member (and Silver Star) of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she currently serves as President of her chapter; she is an active member of the Mississippi Roses (MS) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She serves as President of the North MS Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., and she is a recently inducted member of the Greenwood Rotary Club. Tamala is married to Eric J. Shaw and is the mother of Eric Shaw II (EJay) and a bonus daughter, Emyah.

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Governing Board Chair

Emily holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Memphis. She has more than five years experience in teacher recruitment and retention strategies, grant writing, strategic communications, partnership cultivation, and team leadership. As a native of the MS Delta (Tunica, MS), Emily understands how very much the lack of educational options for families limits the potential of students. She is an effective and passionate change agent. As a board member, Emily is responsible for advocating on behalf of the school, keeping accurate records of board business, and developing the communications and recruitment plans.

Job Titles:

• Founder and CEO of MedHaul
• Governing Board Member

Erica Plybeah Hemphill is the founder and CEO of MedHaul. Deeply rooted in a community that is drastically affected by chronic illness, Erica continuously strives to improve patient outcomes in poor and rural communities. After working within multiple health systems and noticing the various social barriers that exist, Erica founded MedHaul, an end-to-end platform for finding and scheduling transportation for vulnerable patient populations. Erica is a proud native of Greenwood, MS and a graduate of Amanda Elzy High School. She is also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she earned a BS in Biology with a Pre-Med concentration. In her down time, she likes to travel, spend time outdoors with her son, and take naps.

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Director of Programs at ArtPlace Mississippi
• Governing Board Member

Erin Mulligan is the Director of Programs at ArtPlace Mississippi in Greenwood. She is a teaching artist with the Mississippi Arts Commission, leading arts-integrated programs for schools and professional development for educators. Erin is a yoga teacher, dance educator and choreographer, and leads classes and workshops throughout the state. She's been a core artist with ArtPlace since 2011 teaching in schools, in/outpatient programs, and summer arts intensives. She is passionate about connecting movement and mindfulness - whether in a studio, on a stage, in a classroom, or in recovery.

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Governing Board Member
• President - Elect of the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing

Jacquelyn Brownlow, DNP, RN has served as a faculty member in the associate degree nursing program at Coahoma Community College since 2011. She has been a nursing educator since 2009, initially working at Delta State University as an adjunct clinical instructor. During that time she discovered her love of teaching, working as a graduate assistant helping prepare undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students for which she received the departmental award for outstanding nurse educator students. Jacquelyn completed her Master's Degree in Nursing Education in 2011 and was hired as an adjunct faculty at Coahoma Community College Associate Degree Nursing and Delta State University School of Nursing. In 2013, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree at The University of Southern Mississippi with an emphasis on System Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice. While at USM, she received the Outstanding DNP Award. She continues her academic work at Coahoma Community College. Jacquelyn's past experiences include charge nurse of ICCU at Greenwood Leflore Hospital and floor nurses on med-surgical units, emergency rooms, mental health, home health, telemetry and, pediatrics. She currently works part-time as a House Supervisor at Greenwood Leflore Hospital. Jacquelyn currently serves as president-elect of the Mississippi Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (MOADN), a peer evaluator for the Accreditation Commission for Nursing Education (ACEN), National League of Nurses (NLN) Ambassador. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Mississippi Coroner's Association, Kappa Alpha Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Mississippi Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and Organization for Associate Degree Nursing.

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Governing Board Vice Chair

McKinley's qualifications include a Master's of Banking Law Studies, a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Finance, and a Juris Doctorate. Currently, he serves as Senior Attorney at Federal Express in Memphis, TN. He has non-profit board experience and legal expertise. McKinley has a heart for the MS Delta as he's a native of Clarksdale where he was born, reared and educated. As a founding board member, McKinley is responsible for learning details of the organization's proposal to operate a school in the state of Mississippi and advocating on behalf of the school. He will offer advisement on legal matters and facility attainment for the school.

Job Titles:

• Member of the GOVERNING BOARD of DIRECTORS
• Governing Board Member

Brack is a native of Greenwood, MS and a graduate of Davis Elementary. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Morehouse College. Currently he serves as Vice President, Community Development Manager with Regions Bank utilizing the bank's resources to improve low-to-moderate income communities by leveraging community reinvestment act lending, investments, and services. Through his professional journey, he has managed middle market commercial banking relationships, advised high net worth individuals, and served on non-profit and quasi-governmental boards. As a board member, Brack will offer his financial expertise.