Jerel Bryant is CEO of Collegiate Academies and longtime principal of G.W. Carver High School, where he has led transformative change rooted in community partnership since 2012. Under his leadership, Carver became a model of resilience and excellence in New Orleans' Desire neighborhood and Upper Ninth Ward. A Yale graduate and former Teach For America corps member, Jerel joined Collegiate Academies in 2009, where he advanced from humanities teacher to network leader. He is the inaugural recipient of TFA’s National School Leader Honor and was named Louisiana High School Principal of the Year for his lasting impact on students, schools, and the broader education landscape.

Tanya Bryant serves as the Chief Executive Officer of ReNEW Schools in New Orleans. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and is an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Louisiana. After a year as an accountant at a Fortune 500 company left her unfulfilled, Tanya joined Teach for America in 2003 and taught in New Orleans Public Schools until 2007. In 2007, she transitioned from the classroom to public accounting, working as an auditor specializing in governmental and nonprofit clients, including the City of New Orleans and Louis Armstrong International Airport. During her tenure as an auditor, Tanya was assigned to a new charter school client due to her educational background. What began as a standard financial audit evolved into a forensic audit after evidence of theft was uncovered—an experience that reignited her commitment to supporting schools through strong financial stewardship. She soon returned to education in a new capacity, joining Sojourner Truth Academy as Director of Finance before becoming Financial Controller at ReNEW Schools in 2011. With renewed faith in the New Orleans education system, Tanya dedicated herself to protecting the financial integrity of charter schools and the students they serve. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in New Orleans education and more than a decade of experience in accounting and finance across both the public and private sectors. Over her 15 years at ReNEW, Tanya has served as Financial Controller, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and, since March 2018, Chief Executive Officer. As CEO, Tanya oversees all aspects of the organization with a focus on organizational health and ensuring that all students are educated, empowered, and enabled to build and shape their own futures. Under her leadership, ReNEW students have demonstrated double-digit growth in reading and math on the LEAP 2025 assessments. Tanya is deeply proud of the remarkable progress taking place at ReNEW and across the city of New Orleans.

Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore is the superintendent of NOLA Public Schools. She’s an accomplished and visionary PK-12 school district leader with more than two decades of experience serving across urban, suburban, and rural school districts – in the Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions of the United States. Dr. Fulmore is known for her ability to transform school systems and improve student outcomes by fostering collaboration towards the fulfillment of a shared vision for educational excellence, for every child. Dr. Fulmore is a strategic and student-centered leader guided by her core values of children first, leadership by example, excellence, collective impact, and educational opportunities for all. A captivating speaker who inspires and motivates. Dr. Fulmore leverages her story, expertise, and passion to positively impact children, families, educators, leaders, and the community. Dr. Fulmore has a proven track record of success as an educator and is an unwavering champion for children. Her career in education began as a middle school career and technical education (CTE) teacher for business and technology in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She’s also served as a high school CTE teacher, middle and high school assistant principal, and high school principal in North Carolina. Dr. Fulmore previously led as an executive director of high schools and assistant superintendent fellow in the School District of Philadelphia, the nation’s eighth largest school district serving over 197,000 students in district operated and charter schools. As the executive director of high schools, Dr. Fulmore directed and oversaw programming for college, career, and life readiness for over 38,000 students across 54 high schools. As an Assistant Superintendent Fellow, she provided crucial support in the supervision of schools and principals across three learning networks, serving more than 20,000 PK-12 students across 34 schools. Most recently, she served as a principal supervisor for elementary and secondary schools with oversight of 32 schools, and chief of strategy for schools, accountability, and school improvement for Omaha Public Schools, Nebraska’s largest school district serving more than 52,000 students across 95 schools and programs. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Fulmore grew up in poverty, had a childhood filled with trauma, and was engulfed in communities of crime, violence, and despair. School was her refuge, the place where she had caring adults who kept her safe, where she discovered her joy of learning, and where her fascination with being a teacher and principal was nurtured at an early age. Dr. Fulmore is a proud product of Head Start programs, New York City Public Schools and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte, N.C., where she graduated high school. She attributes great leaders, dedicated teachers, and the power of an education to saving and changing the trajectory of her life. Dr. Fulmore is the children she serves, and has committed her career to being the educator and leader they deserve. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Fulmore earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Appalachian State University, a master’s degree in School Administration from Gardner-Webb University, an educational specialist degree in educational leadership from Grand Canyon University, and a Doctorate of Education degree in Leadership of PK-12 Schools and School Districts from Gwynedd Mercy University. Dr. Fulmore is licensed as a superintendent by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Nebraska Department of Education, with prior licenses as a school administrator and teacher by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Dr. Fulmore has executive learning as one of 40 participants selected for Cohort 3 of the Forum for Educational Leadership. She was recently recognized for the 2023 Excellence in Authorizing Fellowship with the Louisiana Department of Education, was previously part of Emerging Superintendents with the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, and successfully completed the Harvard University Institute for Turnaround Leaders. Dr. Fulmore is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is a mentor to school and district leaders and believes her superpower in leadership is bringing out the best in others. As an avid reader, learning is her absolute favorite thing to do; but she also enjoys writing, music, traveling, the arts, sports, and living life to the fullest with friends and family.

Dana Peterson is the CEO of New Schools for New Orleans, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that every child in the city has access to an excellent public school. In this role, he leads efforts to strengthen the conditions that allow great schools, educators, and communities to thrive - working across the ecosystem to support school leaders, advance policies that expand opportunity, and invest in initiatives that help make New Orleans one of the best places in the country to teach and learn. With nearly two decades of experience in education leadership and policy, Peterson has played a key role in efforts to improve schools and expand opportunity for students across Louisiana. He writes and speaks about education reform, civic leadership, and the lessons New Orleans offers communities across the country seeking to expand opportunity for students. Previously, Peterson served as Assistant State Superintendent at the Louisiana Department of Education and as CEO of the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone. Earlier in his career, he served as Deputy Superintendent of External Affairs of the Recovery School District. Peterson is the founding board chair of the New Orleans Career Center and founder and chair of alignED New Orleans. He currently serves on the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Houston and an MBA from Tulane University. He is a Pahara-Aspen Education Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Dana lives in New Orleans with his wife, Karen, and is a member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church.