Equity in Literacy Fellowship
Unlock Brilliance
Our West Michigan students–diverse in background, language, and identity–reflect our future. Our schools should give them daily opportunities to build on their strengths and grow into their fullest selves. Right now, we have room to grow. True change doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen alone.
We as educators can give all our students a fair chance by growing ourselves. That’s where the Equity in Literacy Fellowship can help.
About the Fellowship
Equity shows up in the details of teaching and learning. So, we must develop our lenses around rigorous academics, well-being, anti-racism, and culture. We can do that together.
The Equity in Literacy Fellowship from Leading Educators is a community of practice that supports teams of educators from grades 3-12 to harness their passion for educational opportunity, strengthen their practice, and create empowering learning spaces for all students.
What We Offer
As the West Michigan community recovers from years of crisis, we’re determined to offer teams of Kent ISD educators best-in-class professional learning designed to further true opportunity and real results.
We’re working to build a network of school and district-based teams who are ready to take their practice to the next level. We designed the Fellowship with a diverse group of local leaders to ensure it responds to what West Michigan students need most. Teams of Equity Fellows take part in a range of dynamic learning structures to support ongoing learning, collaborative practice, and contextualization.
Whole Group Learning & Practice Sharing:
Three days of summer learning (two in June and one in August) focusing on both equity and content plus four Weekend Workshops; classroom visits, planning support, and feedback
School Team Coaching:
Opportunities to receive on-site support around the shared goals in the building
Communities of Practice:
Collaboration with educators across Kent County as well as purposeful, targeted collaboration within school teams
School & District Leader Support:
Learning sessions designed to effectively bolster the knowledge and practice of teacher teams aligned to school priorities
Meet the Team
Mary Kay Murphy
Dr. Keli Swearingen
Tina De La Fe
About Mary Kay Murphy
Mary Kay is an experienced leader, educator, influencer, and equity practitioner with 20+ years in the field of education. She serves as the Managing Director for the Midwest Region of Leading Educators, districts to improve their professional learning systems. In addition, she supports a local team in designing the Equity in Literacy Fellowship offered to Kent Country educators. This fellowship supports teachers in creating engaging literacy classrooms where diversity is valued.
Before joining Leading Educators, Mary Kay held the roles of teacher, principal, instructional coach, and district consultant. Mary Kay also gained experience working at two other national non-profits, Partners in School Innovation and The Education Trust-Midwest.
Mary Kay holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Aquinas College and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University.
Fun facts: One of her favorite simple joys in life is a good cup of coffee in the morning, and after dinner, She thinks out loud and talks with her hands, and sends Snapchats of the dogs to her three kids every day.
Before joining Leading Educators, Mary Kay held the roles of teacher, principal, instructional coach, and district consultant. Mary Kay also gained experience working at two other national non-profits, Partners in School Innovation and The Education Trust-Midwest.
Mary Kay holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Aquinas College and an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University.
Fun facts: One of her favorite simple joys in life is a good cup of coffee in the morning, and after dinner, She thinks out loud and talks with her hands, and sends Snapchats of the dogs to her three kids every day.
“I watch what I do to see what I believe.” Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ.
Mary Kay Murphy in the news
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About Dr. Keli Swearingen
Dr. Keli Swearingen is the Senior Director for Michigan partnerships.
For the past 12 years, Keli has directly supported charter schools and regions with two fervent beliefs: master educators are made through years of deliberate coaching and support; and educational equality requires teachers, coaches, and leaders to pivot our practices, adapt, and maintain the resilience needed to persevere through the work required to alter-reality and provide equitable opportunity. Throughout her work with KIPP Public Schools and Democracy Prep Public Schools, Keli supported K-12 alignment, assessment, teacher and instructional leader development and coaching. Keli has a background in assessment and measurement, which she used to lead the development of next generation assessments for ELA and math, as well as aligned data-driven instructional protocols that support implementation of standards aligned curriculum and strategic interventions.
Keli founded Ascend’s second elementary school in Brownsville (serving as school director) and later coached data and analytics for all schools in the Ascend Learning network. Keli was a research fellow at the Florida Center for Reading Research and an Ed Psych and Classroom Assessment instructor for FSU’s College of Education. She has a master’s in library science and a doctorate in educational psychology. Keli started this journey as a Teach For America corps member teaching high school ELA in New Orleans (CM ’02).
Keli is from Panama City, Florida and currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When not nerding out on instruction and assessment, Keli enjoys spending time with her wife, Norah. She also enjoys working on Jeeps, playing music (bass and kit), watching Florida State football (Go Noles!), and watching Saints football (Who Dat!).
For the past 12 years, Keli has directly supported charter schools and regions with two fervent beliefs: master educators are made through years of deliberate coaching and support; and educational equality requires teachers, coaches, and leaders to pivot our practices, adapt, and maintain the resilience needed to persevere through the work required to alter-reality and provide equitable opportunity. Throughout her work with KIPP Public Schools and Democracy Prep Public Schools, Keli supported K-12 alignment, assessment, teacher and instructional leader development and coaching. Keli has a background in assessment and measurement, which she used to lead the development of next generation assessments for ELA and math, as well as aligned data-driven instructional protocols that support implementation of standards aligned curriculum and strategic interventions.
Keli founded Ascend’s second elementary school in Brownsville (serving as school director) and later coached data and analytics for all schools in the Ascend Learning network. Keli was a research fellow at the Florida Center for Reading Research and an Ed Psych and Classroom Assessment instructor for FSU’s College of Education. She has a master’s in library science and a doctorate in educational psychology. Keli started this journey as a Teach For America corps member teaching high school ELA in New Orleans (CM ’02).
Keli is from Panama City, Florida and currently resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. When not nerding out on instruction and assessment, Keli enjoys spending time with her wife, Norah. She also enjoys working on Jeeps, playing music (bass and kit), watching Florida State football (Go Noles!), and watching Saints football (Who Dat!).
About Tina De La Fe
Tina collaborates with school and district partners to promote standards-based instruction, equity awareness and robust adult learning communities. She enjoys facilitating workshops, designing content, leading observations and coaching with educators in Greater Grands Rapids.
Previously, Tina was an instructional coach and ELA teacher in South Florida, including two years as a Teach for America corps member. She also taught Math and Verbal post-secondary exam courses at Florida Atlantic University. While in the U.S. Peace Corps in the West Indies, Tina worked on projects including after-school learning centers, libraries and adult education classes.
Tina holds a Masters of Education from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in English-Journalism/Communications from Averett College. She holds certifications in English, Reading and School Guidance Counseling, and was proud to be a finalist for the 2016 GLSEN Educator of the Year Award.
Previously, Tina was an instructional coach and ELA teacher in South Florida, including two years as a Teach for America corps member. She also taught Math and Verbal post-secondary exam courses at Florida Atlantic University. While in the U.S. Peace Corps in the West Indies, Tina worked on projects including after-school learning centers, libraries and adult education classes.
Tina holds a Masters of Education from Florida Atlantic University and a B.A. in English-Journalism/Communications from Averett College. She holds certifications in English, Reading and School Guidance Counseling, and was proud to be a finalist for the 2016 GLSEN Educator of the Year Award.
“Equity requires educators to dismantle oppressive systems from the inside out. No one else is as qualified to do the work."
Tina De La Fe in the news
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“One of my biggest concerns is holding a deficit mindset and assuming that certain students are not ready for challenging content. I have learned how to recognize brilliance in my students and allow for different entry points into the content.”
2021-22 Fellow
