Meet the Mentors
First Cohort's Full Report
Read the First Cohort's Full Report
First Cohort
Meet the innovators and mentors from our second cohort and explore their projects.
Meet the Mentors
Amy A. Wiley, M.S. Ed.
Mrs. Amy Wiley has served as the Physical Education Instructional Supervisor for Prince George’s County Public Schools since 2007. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Adult Education, as well as a certificate in supervision and administration from Coppin State University. Mrs. Wiley began her career in PGCPS in 1999. She taught elementary physical education for four years and high school health and physical education for an additional four years before becoming the Instructional Supervisor.
Amy is passionate about educating the whole child. Physically active and healthy students who feel a sense of belonging are successful in school. Social emotional learning is the magic that brings it all together. Amy lives by the quote: "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Andrea Bedenbaugh
Mrs. Andrea Bedenbaugh has over 30 years of experience in grants development, management, and program development. She worked as a consultant for prominent national and local non-profit organizations and acted as a Reviewer for Health Services and Resource Administration (HRSA). She also served as a Program Officer with a federal agency providing compliance oversight to tribal and nontribal grantees. Andrea is currently a Supervisor of Strategic Grants Development and Management for Prince George’s County Public Schools. Ms. Bedenbaugh has an MBA from the University of Maryland and holds a Grants Professional Certification (G.P.C.).
Colin Welch
Mr. Colin Welch is a data enthusiast with nearly 20 years of experience serving students in the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County.
Before joining Prince George’s County Public Schools as a Strategic Planning Specialist, he led and supported school operations, data analysis, and planning at DC Public Schools and several DC charter schools. He began his career as a social studies teacher in New York City - an experience that continues to ground his approach to data and strategy. Whether managing the logistics of a school building or developing tools to track student growth, Colin focuses on making systems work better for educators and students. He holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Pace University, and The George Washington University. He currently lives in Washington, DC with his wife and school-aged daughter.
Jean Snell, Ph.D.
Dr. Jean Snell is the Associate Director and Senior Faculty Specialist for the Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement at the University of Maryland. She co-facilitates improvement NICs for the Center, leads trainings and workshops on continuous improvement and school improvement planning, and she teaches and advises in the doctoral program in School Systems Leadership. Additionally, she is a Co-PI for the federally grant-funded School Improvement Leadership Academy as well as the Racial and Social Justice Collaborative initiative.
She has also served as a facilitator in the UMD “Words of Engagement Intergroup Dialogue” (WEIDP) program and the ADVANCE Early Career Professional Track Faculty Network. Previously, she launched the Leading Educators teacher leadership Fellowship program in Washington, DC as the Regional Executive Director, directed the Maryland Master’s Certification program at University of Maryland, and served as one of the founding Program Directors for the Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Washington. Jean began her career in education as a secondary English teacher.
Michelle Blakey-Tuggle
Mrs. Blakey-Tuggle is a proud native of Chicago. She began her teaching career in Chicago, Illinois, and has dedicated the past 22 years to the field of education. Since joining Prince George’s County Public Schools' Department of Special Education in 2018, she has served as a district leader in both PGCPS and the District of Columbia for over a decade.
Her journey has been fueled by a deep passion for special education and a steadfast commitment to being a servant and a transformational leader. She strives to empower others to realize their full potential while cultivating a collaborative and supportive professional environment. Education was never just a career choice; it is her calling, and she is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders and giving back the same opportunities that once helped shape her path.
Negasti McCurdie-Wright, Ed. D
Dr. Negasti McCurdie-Wright is an accomplished education leader with over two decades of expertise in leadership, special education, and strategic development. As a Grants Development Specialist, she drives initiatives that expand access, equity, and excellence across educational systems. She holds certifications in Administration I and II, Special Education Supervision, English, and Special Education (Birth–Adult).
Dr. Wright earned her Bachelor of Science from the prestigious Lincoln University of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a Master of Arts in Special Education from The George Washington University, and a Doctor of Education from the University of the Cumberlands. She also holds a Certificate of School Management and Leadership from Harvard University and a Certificate of School Superintendency from Howard University. She is the author of Equity and Excellence: A Comprehensive Guide to Special Education Funding and Advocacy and is known for her enduring commitment to building inclusive, high-performing learning communities that empower every student to succeed.
Randolph Barnes
Mr. Randolph Barnes, Jr. serves as a Professional Development Specialist, where he supports professional learning for district employees. His work spans from engaging employees in onboarding training and continuing professional development opportunities to strengthening collaborations with School University Partnerships.
As a strategic learner, Mr. Barnes believes that education is a vehicle through which individuals may achieve their highest pursuits. The opportunity to foster new ideas and innovations for our evolving workforce is a testament to this belief. When not building the capacity of others, Mr. Barnes enjoys spending time landscaping and enjoying the outdoors. He is a devoted husband and father of two children.
Tiffanie Horsley
Mrs. Horsley joined Prince George’s County Public Schools in 2021 and has been delighted to support such a great school system. She currently serves PGCPS as a Strategic Transformation Partner. She holds a B.A. in Journalism and Communications with a minor in Business Management from Hampton University and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Marymount University. She is excited to apply her professional background in operating and capital budgeting, as well as strategic planning, to help the cohort move their ideas forward.
Mrs. Horsley lives in Prince George’s County with her husband and three children, who attend PGCPS. “It is such an honor to support the school district my children attend. PGCPS staff are dedicated and brilliant professionals. I am happy to have the opportunity to lend my support to the Innovation Incubator as a co-mentor.”
Tisa M. Holley, Ed.D.
Dr. Tisa Holley has been a dedicated educator in K–12 settings for 21 years, bringing a wealth of experience from public, private, charter, and home schools. Throughout her career—as a teacher, coach, professional school counselor, assistant principal, educational consultant, district case manager for students experiencing homelessness, instructional specialist, and director of Student Services—she has remained steadfast in her commitment to serving children’s best interests. Dr. Holley believes that every person is born with a purpose, and she passionately helps students discover theirs.
Meet the Innovators
Dr. Abiola Macaulay
As an accomplished visionary leader in the academic sector with 21 years of operational, planning, program development experience, and data analysis, I am well prepared to significantly contribute to the goals of the specific roles in the education field. I have led the ESOL Department for a total of 10 combined years. I am currently the PDLT leader at my current school. Graduating from Capella University’s School of Education accredited program in Educational Leadership and Management, I have a strong educational background that incorporates national standards and models that emphasize intervention, individual and group instructional practices and collaboration. Through my action research, I had the privilege of working within a middle school setting, where I was able to demonstrate modified instructional approaches to include small group and whole group classroom instruction for language learners.
Adriene Marshall
I have over 30 years of experience in education, including 17 years as a classroom teacher, the role I find the most rewarding. I returned to the classroom in 2023 after seven years in educational technology and earned a National Board Certification in December 2024. I have a long-standing passion for math instruction and have supported schools and districts nationwide through coaching, training, and consulting. I'm excited to bring my idea to the forefront through this pilot Innovation Incubator opportunity.
Dr. Amy R. Warren
Amy R. Warren, Ed.D. (She/Her) is a first year Resource Teacher at ISAA’s Interventions and Assessments Office. She was a Resource Teacher at Baden Elementary for 5 years, and is in her 19th year of working in public schools in 3 states. She spent 12 years in Elementary schools in total. After taking 14 years "off" to raise her three children, she spent 7 years as a Resource Teacher and a Compliance Facilitator at a middle school in a different Maryland District before transferring to PG. Moving to PG, where the special education professional development is the best she's seen, she observed that the newly-developed practices and procedures shared at the Department Chair level in this District also didn't always get adopted or applied fully at the schools. This is what drives the project: easily understood and accessible ways to disseminate information to all stakeholders in the educational process so that they are informed, can know the Whats, Whos, and Whens, but most importantly can articulate the Why of each topic, and the How in terms of implementation in their sphere of influence in PGCPS.
Betsy White
Betsy White is a dedicated education leader with over 21 years of experience in teaching, leadership, and diversity strategy. She began her career in 2003 as a teacher at Berwyn Heights Elementary School before serving as a teacher and chairperson at Benjamin Tasker Middle School. She later became the World Language Chairperson at Bowie High School, where she also held the role of Assistant Principal.
Her leadership journey continued as the Principal of Overlook Full Spanish Immersion, where she championed multilingual education for five years. Currently, as the Diversity Strategy Officer for the Office of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, she leads initiatives that foster inclusive practices and equitable outcomes for all students and staff in Prince George's County Public Schools.
Charmelia Smith-Baxter
I’m Charmelia “Charms” Smith-Baxter, a passionate, innovative, and creative Administrative Professional with over 30 years of experience in executive administrative management. Throughout my career with Prince George’s County Public Schools, I’ve supported educational institutions at the elementary, middle, and high school levels and now serve in the Department of Capital Programs at the Central Office.
I hold a Master’s degree in Higher Education Learning from Walden University, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. Beyond my administrative career, I am an entrepreneur at heart, serving as the CEO of CDS Enterprises, LLC. My life mission is to serve God and His people, offering love, support, and encouragement to my family and loved ones. In my free time, I enjoy reading, arts and crafts, camping, sailing, and traveling.
Jessica Knox
Jessica Knox is an educator dedicated to fostering student engagement, social-emotional learning (SEL), and closing academic gaps through innovative strategies. With a commitment to creating supportive and empowering learning environments, Ms. Knox proposal focuses on SEL, mental health, tutoring, wellness, equity, resilience. As a cohort member, Ms. Knox aims to develop impactful solutions that empower students, nurture well-being, and create equitable pathways for academic success.
Nemahun Aminata Songu-Mbriwa
My name is Nemahun (Ne-ma-hoon), and I am a 7th Grade Special Education Teacher, co-teaching Science and Social Studies, and I also teach 6th Grade Reading/Writing Enrichment. I started my career in 2002 in PGCPS, worked in other counties, and returned in February 2020. My expertise is in interventions, and I run a tutoring company for students with special needs, as well as a consulting non-profit that trains teachers in West Africa on research-based strategies for working with students with special needs.
I enjoy cooking, reading, and gardening. My professional goal is to improve how Special Education services are monitored, and my personal goal is to stay healthy and happy. I believe in the power of God and that kindness is more important than niceness.
Rowland Dent
I've served PGCPS for 36 years as a substitute, para-educator, classroom teacher, crisis intervention resource teacher, program coordinator and Special Education Central Office Itinerant.
My investment as collaborator, facilitator, consultant, supportive resource, interventionist, responder and educational ecologist have allowed me to support initiatives across the district in a variety of ways, primarily in the areas of Social-Emotional Learning and Behavior Support/Management.