Meet the Team

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
What I like the most about Rollins is our impact on Cox Campus, where anyone can access our courses. All these courses have been created and developed to support parents, caregivers, teachers, or directors.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Coming from a different country with a foreign language and culture, plus having two dual language learners at home, helps me understand the importance of providing the right supports to every single child based on their needs. Now, I have the opportunity to advocate for them.

Christina has 20 years of experience in social justice programming and nonprofit management. After graduating from John Jay College of Criminal Justice she started her career as a program facilitator for Girls Inc. of NYC. Most recently, Christina was the director of programs and administration for the Latino Community Fund of Georgia. When not thinking about program logistics she is raising her two daughters or likely dancing somewhere.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
One of my favorite things about working for the Rollins Center and the Cox Campus is being able to contribute to resources that help educators and parents support our children.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Educational equity is crucial to economic advancement and independence. I believe access to quality education can open the doors for children to create their own paths to success and equip them to to fight against systemic inequalities.

Laura Bollman is an education leader focused on equity, access and opportunity. She has served as a nonprofit executive, lead project designer and director, social sector consultant and classroom teacher. Bollman is skilled in developing and implementing strategy, evaluating and achieving complex goals, and leading broad and diverse stakeholders toward a shared vision. Prior to her role at the Rollins Center, Bollman served as the President and CEO of the State Charter School Foundation of Georgia (SCSF), where she built and launched the statewide foundation, recruited and supported its Board of Directors and created the strategic plan to guide the future of the organization. Previously, Bollman served as the Director of Program Design and Implementation for the CF Foundation in Atlanta, where she led ducators, architects, students and families to design, construct and open a state-of-the-art high school to complete the cradle-to-college education pipeline in Atlanta’s East Lake neighborhood. Bollman worked to replicate this model as a Community Development Advisor for Purpose Built Communities, and provided coaching and consulting to civic, business and neighborhood leaders across the country. Bollman began her education career as a 6th grade social studies teacher at Charles R. Drew Charter School as a Teach For America corps member. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Wellesley College and her master’s degree in education from Harvard University with a focus on policy and management.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The brilliant team at Rollins and Cox Campus make our shared work of literacy and justice for all not only possible, but also joyful. The Cox Campus, powered by the experience and expertise of our team, is the most scalable and sustainable antidote to our literacy crisis. I love that when science leads the way, children everywhere can be on a path to a life of self-determination.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Simply put, I believe that access to excellent educational opportunities is a fundamental right and equitable access should be afforded right now, if not sooner. Every person is born with unlimited human potential; excellent education and equitable opportunities help ensure we can each become who we are meant to be.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love that my job is creative and meaningful at the same time! My colleagues are outstanding, knowledgeable, and supportive.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Every child deserves an equal opportunity to the best education. When all children are given the chance to thrive, there are more lightbulb moments which brightens the world.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love the people that I work with, such great and positive energy. I also love that fact that daily we are transforming peoples lives!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I believe that each person should have the opportunity to receive a quality education no matter race or demographic background….we should all have access to the same world that we all live in! Education is freedom and we should all have that obtainable goal.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus because the mission is one of great importance for creating equity. Cox Campus is a tool that can be used to break the paywall that has kept educators from the knowledge and skills needed to provide a high-quality education for ALL children.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about education equity because it aligns with my belief that ALL children possess gifts and qualities that can make the world a better place. Inequity has stifled our growth as a society because we are limiting opportunity which in turn places limitations on everyone’s potential.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I enjoy being able to do all the things I love to do in my professional career, including empowering teachers, making research-based practices practical and instilling the love of reading in all children. Not to mention, I get to work alongside talented and passionate colleagues.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
The quality of education children receive directly correlates to their quality of life years down the road, especially their early education. Therefore, it’s critical that all educators understand and address barriers students face by creating inclusive and equitable classrooms. We hold the power to shape children’s’ futures.

Dr. Kim Day has rejoined the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus as the Director of Content Development having been one of the original co-Directors of the Center. In those beginning years, Rollins, under the leadership of Kim and Dr. Deborah Knight, began its Read Right from the Start early language and literacy program that was the precursor to the Cox Campus. Prior to returning to the Rollins Center, Kim was the Director of Research & Academic Development at The Schenck School in Atlanta, GA. In her role, Kim facilitated connections with the research community to help strengthen the research to practice focus at The Schenck School. She also supported a partnership with Purpose Built Schools Atlanta. Through this partnership, reading remediation specialists, using a structured literacy approach, work with students in grades K-8 to improve students’ reading outcomes. Kim, who has been an educator for over 40 years, has a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Georgia with an emphasis in language-based learning disabilities, assessment, and educational leadership. Her professional interests include teacher training in literacy and language development as well as teacher development through mentoring and coaching practices. Kim currently serves as the Vice President of the International Dyslexia Association, Georgia Branch.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Since its inception, the Rollins Center has been focused on translating literacy-related research to educational practice through teacher training and coaching. Over the years Rollins has established key partnerships across Georgia and beyond with the aim of supporting teachers' development to positively impact literacy outcomes for children. It’s very exciting to work with individuals committed to staying informed on current research in order to improve teacher practices and, in turn, student literacy outcomes.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
From my perspective, educational equity is about giving each and every child the skills needed to read and write within a safe space for her/him to think critically and to question what is and what can be. Educational equity levels the playing field for everyone allowing us to live freely. As bell hooks wrote, “....education [is] about the practice of freedom” (Teaching to Transgress, 1994).

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love the opportunity to learn every day from and alongside a team of passionate people. I am grateful to have the opportunity to advocate for young dual language learners every day. We want to send a strong message that first language and culture are gifts and must be seen as assets. My absolute favorite part of the work are the moments I get to be with young children having meaningful conversations, sharing stories, and tuning-in to their world.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
My passion for educational equity builds from my experience as a classroom teacher, teaching in classrooms that included dual language learners from all over the world (Somalia, Ethiopia, Mexico, Burma, Afghanistan and many other places). I am inspired by the relationships with the children I taught and the many I’ve had the joy of meeting in my work with Rollins. When I read heartbreaking statistics about illiteracy in our country, I think about the real children I know and how much better they deserve. I dream for them and with them of choice-filled lives where they are empowered to think critically, freely express themselves, and advocate for themselves and others.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Working with a team who bring vast knowledge and experience is invigorating. Sharing the same drive and passion for eradicating illiteracy allows us to be a powerful when working collaboratively with instructional leaders to transform instructional practices and build knowledge around how individuals learn to read.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Educational equality is crucial because it serves as the cornerstone for building a fair and just society. I am passionate about educational equality because it has the power to transform lives and communities by breaking down barriers and providing opportunities for all individuals to fulfill their potential.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love being able to provide high-quality instruction and resources to educators across the nation. I also appreciate collaborating with like-minded colleagues who share similar passions regarding language and literacy.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because it provides access for ALL!

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love everything Rollins/the Cox Campus stands for. I have seen, firsthand, the impact this work has in the lives of children. Working and learning alongside educators who are as passionate as I am about Literacy and Justice for All is a dream come true.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Every child deserves to live a life full of opportunities that allow them to reach their full potential. Literacy is the key that opens the door to that choice-filled life. For far too long, children have been denied those opportunities. A single teacher has the power to change the trajectory of countless children’s lives, so it is critical that we equip teachers with the knowledge and understanding of how to do just that.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working with so many inspired and inspiring educators who are committed to providing equitable education and address the opportunity gap for all learners. I am particularly committed to our mission of supporting all child-facing adults through research-based, reponsive, and justice-oriented resources widely and freely available on Cox, democratizing access and evidenced-based curriculum.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Truth-telling education that positions children as the change-makers that they are is our collective hope. Every opportunity taken to foster teacher and child agency, voice, autonomy, and criticality is a substantive move toward healing and creating a more just world.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working for Rollins and the Cox Campus because I enjoy being a part of creating an ecosystem where teachers, families, caregivers, healthcare workers, and leaders can come together and create the healthy and nurturing environment needed in order to support children’s language and literacy development.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because I believe all children have the right to an excellent education that allows them to reach their full potential and we as adults must work together to create the systems and environments needed for this to be true.

My name is Korrye Gaskins and I am thrilled to be joining the Rollins Center team as a Science of Reading Coach. I desire to positively impact student learning and literacy outcomes through collaborative partnerships, knowledge-building and strategic goal setting. My experience includes time as a K, 1st and 2nd grade teacher, instructional coach, and most recently, a District Literacy Specialist. I have a Master of Science in Literacy Education, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a Reading Specialist Endorsement. I live in Virginia with my husband and two children, ages 6 and 3 and enjoy playing volleyball and listening to audiobooks in my free time.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Working to help make literacy readily available and obtainable for all students is my passion. Working with like-minded and talented colleagues is my privilege. I am proud to work for the Rollins Center to merry the two to ensure Literacy and Justice for All becomes a reality.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
When students are not equitably afforded the opportunity to a high-quality education, they feel the results long-term. These results are then dispersed throughout communities as the “rich get richer, and the poor get poorer”. Educational equity helps to rectify this imbalance and sets all children up for success in school and beyond!

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I truly enjoy collaborating with the passionate experts in Rollins. I also enjoy empowering families with our practical, research-based Cox Campus strategies.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Educational equity allows every child an opportunity to succeed regardless of social location and circumstance.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love being a catalyst for change in eradicating illiteracy in our communities and all over the world. It gives me great joy to encourage and provide the tools of the science of language and literacy in every adult involved in a child’s ecosystem, ensuring all children will be afforded the opportunity to choose their own path in life. I am also grateful to work collaboratively, alongside a group of individuals, with varied strengths, backgrounds, perspectives, and talents that are all committed to the same vision.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am extremely passionate about all children being able to access the same educational rigor and resources regardless of their race, ethnicity, income, or language. It is unjust for children to be disproportionately impacted by the lack of exposure and language rich environment because of the zip code in which they reside. I am committed to building a child’s deep reading brain. Challenging children to think critically, develop comprehension skills, and become comfortable with verbal expression equips them with the essential tools to be successful in our society.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love knowing I’m working every day to construct accessible pathways to equitable education for growing minds. It is deeply rewarding to engage in work that aligns with your mission.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Harnessing the power of education has the ability for any person regardless of where they start in life to open doors to the future like nothing else. We should all want to put that power, in it’s fullest magnitude, in the hands of the next generation.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The enthusiasm, determination, and heart for service that my colleagues bring to their work makes me proud to be a member of this team!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Education truly does have the power to change the world and in the words of Dr. Anthony Muhammad, “Equity can never become a reality in education if it’s viewed as charity instead of professional obligation.”

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
What I love most about working for the Rollins Center is the diverse work culture and how we honor and celebrate everyone’s uniqueness. I love how Cox Campus has a variety of free resources and tools accessible and available for me to be productive and successful in my work.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I’m passionate about educational equity because education is the one thing that once it’s earned and it can never be taken. Therefore, when education is offered and provided to all, we all win. It becomes a common ground we all can stand on to live productive lives, address critical matters, and bring about impactful change for all.

My teaching experience has spanned from preschool to eighth grade. Through my work with this broad range of students, I was able to see firsthand the importance of quality literacy instruction. I have a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and a Dyslexia Endorsement. I am a fierce advocate for children in and out of the classroom, which has sparked my desire to be a part of the Rollins Center. I also serve on the board of a nonprofit organization that supports vulnerable youth. I am excited to partner with professionals to ensure ALL children receive access to quality education.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The Rollins Center gives me the opportunity to work alongside fellow educators to promote transformative pedagogical practices that are rooted in research and science. Too many teachers have long been denied access to the science of reading, and I am thrilled to be a part of spreading that important knowledge to the people who teach our country’s children. We need partnerships like this to create systematic change because everyone has the right to read.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Across the United States, there’s an alarming number of students of diverse ages and backgrounds who are not receiving instruction to ensure they become and are readers. This is one of the main factors that drives my push for equitable change. ALL students should have the tools they need to be productive citizens and to be able to thrive as well-educated adults. As a former classroom teacher, I recognize the impact of dedicated and invested educators. There is a critical need to close the gap between knowledge and practice, and our future generations are inevitably directly impacted by this work.

Dr. Lee-James is an ASHA certified speech-language pathologist and published author with expertise in language development, language disorders, and literacy in the context of linguistic differences and socioeconomic disadvantage. In her current role as the Director of the Rollins Center for Language and Literacy at the Atlanta Speech School, Lee-James is responsible for working collaboratively with community-based organizations and key stakeholders to impact language and literacy achievement for our most vulnerable children. Before joining the team at the Atlanta Speech School, Lee-James had the privilege of training and mentoring graduate level speech-language pathologists as a member of the Communication Sciences and Disorders faculty at Adelphi University in New York. Lee-James holds a B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Michigan State University and a M.S. in Speech Pathology from West Virginia University. She explored language differences and disorders at Louisiana State University for post-graduate work, and received her Ph.D. from Georgia State University.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
What I love most is the mission – it’s lofty, radical, and rooted firmly in equity and social justice.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I’m passionate about educational equity because it is a basic human right. For far too long, children have been robbed of their right and access to a prosperus life and therefore society at-large continues to be disadvantaged – it’s time to change this reality and ensure that every child is on path to living lives of self-determination.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Everyday I look forward to the opportunity to connect, collaborate and serve coaches, directors and educators working in early childhood education. I love hearing anecdotes about the growth children have made and cherish the opportunities to engage with children in class! Lastly, I love being a part of a team that is so dedicated to supporting our smallest learners, educators, families and beyond!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I believe every child deserves the opportunity to become their best and full selves, no matter where they’re from. Together we can help create change and ensure that children have access to high quality and equitable education.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Through the Rollins Center, I have the privilege to serve and collaborate with educators, instructional coaches, district-level leaders, and my fellow colleagues to develop sustainable systematic change in literacy instruction. It lights up my day when educators feel empowered through knowledge, and they incorporate what they have learned in order to empower their students. I am so proud that the Cox Campus breaks down the paywall and propels this mission to the ends of the Earth so all children can access their dreams.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because ALL children have a right to access their full potential. Evidence-based language and literacy practices give students the power to lead self-determined lives regardless of socioeconomic background or learning difference.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Working at the Rollins Center and its LMS Cox Campus is a truly rewarding experience for me. What I love most about it is their unwavering commitment to promoting literacy and justice for all individuals. The vision they uphold, of a world where every person has access to education and the opportunity to thrive, resonates deeply with me. The mission of the Rollins Center, to cultivate expertise among educators, system leaders, families, and advocates across various disciplines, is inspiring. By focusing on healthy brain development, language, and literacy, they are equipping individuals with the tools they need to think critically and act boldly. This approach empowers children to reshape their world and become active participants in creating positive change. Being part of an organization that is dedicated to such a noble cause fills me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to their efforts in ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have the resources and support they need to succeed. Together, we can make a difference and build a more equitable and just society for generations to come

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because I believe that every individual, regardless of their background or circumstances, deserves equal access to quality education. Education is not only a fundamental human right but also a powerful tool for social mobility and personal development. Unfortunately, systemic inequalities often deprive certain groups of the opportunities they need to succeed academically. By advocating for educational equity, I hope to contribute to dismantling these barriers and creating a more just society where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. Ensuring that all students have access to resources, support, and opportunities levels the playing field and fosters a more inclusive and diverse learning environment. Ultimately, investing in educational equity not only benefits individuals but also strengthens communities and societies as a whole by unlocking the talents and contributions of all members.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working together with my colleagues to bring each Cox Campus course to life. I’ve always been a very independent worker, but I wouldn’t be able to do any of this on my own. It takes a collaborative effort, and finding my place on the Rollins/Cox Campus team has been a joy.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I think it has to do with growing up in the deep south, a region where educational equity is oftentimes difficult to find. Although I have been fortunate in my own educational opportunities, I know that many others have not been. If my work can make any sort of difference in improving this problem, I will be forever proud.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working for Rollins because I get to do meaningful work that makes a difference.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Education equity is the foundation for every person to succeed.

Dr. Jacinta McCants is a life-long learner with over 30 years of experience in the field of education. She is a legacy of educators; her grandfather was a college educator; her parents were college and high school educators; and her sister is a special needs educator. Being a committed educator is Dr. McCants’s passion, which is what led her to The University of Tennessee, Knoxville where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a Specialty in Language Arts. She continued her education by obtaining her Master of Science degree in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Dr. McCants worked to receive her Educational Specialty Degree in Reading from Clark Atlanta University. She also worked to receive her Educational Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University. Being drawn to working with at risks students and schools, Dr. McCants participated in the University of Virginia’s Turnaround Leadership Academy and the University of Georgia’s Coaching Pathway. Dr. McCants’s literacy focus led her to attend the D.E.A. L. Center workshops, out of state workshops, and to become a trainer for LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling). In addition to her lifelong desire to be educated, she is driven to pass her knowledge, experience, and expertise on to younger generations. She has been a dedicated educator for over 30 years in various roles: teacher, teacher-mentor, EIP teacher, instructional coach, school leader, college professor, state agent, district level coordinator, and now Science of Reading Coach at the Rollins Center, Cox Campus.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working collaboratively with my teammates. I love the direction of the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus; they are leading the way for educators to become equipped with the Science of Reading and best practices with the goal of opening doors of the youth through literacy. With a great team and strong mission, I am armed with all the resources needed to be proficient in my role at the Rollings Center and its Cox Campus.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Every child deserves an equitable educational experience. As a dedicated educator, I have an obligation to ensure that students have access to that quality instruction in literacy. With that being said, I am excited to educate school leaders and equip teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to provide a strong foundation for students with regards to literacy.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Witnessing the dedicated effort and enthusiasm poured into collaborative work to ensure that children, families, and educators have access to valuable literacy resources and opportunities is genuinely inspiring. I'm in awe of the incredible programs the Rollins and Cox Campus team created that empower children through literacy, equip families with valuable resources, and provide educators with opportunities to expand their knowledge and grow. Their passion is truly contagious!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Access to high-quality and transformative educational experiences is crucial in unlocking the full potential of children and adolescents. It is essential to provide equal educational opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds, to ensure no one is left behind. Every child can become the best version of themselves and achieve their dreams. Educational equity ensures that each child has access to the resources and support they need to turn their dreams into goals and those goals into actionable steps for future success.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love that the practices found on Cox Campus make such a huge impact on children, and that they can be implemented with any curriculum, in any setting. Watching teachers and coaches feel empowered to make change, as well as getting excited about their children’s language and engagement with books is my favorite part of this work!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
All children deserve the chance to develop to their full potential, and to have every opportunity to succeed. Working with our youngest students, at a time when the brain is making so many new connections daily, is a powerful way to impact lives and give children those opportunities as they grow.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working for Rollins because every day I can make a positive impact on educators as we work collaboratively to build language-rich ecosystems, in which, ALL children can thrive and have quality learning opportunities.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because ALL children deserve to have the same access to resources and quality education to develop their knowledge and skills so that they are successful and prepared to thrive in our society.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I enjoy doing work that has an immediate, positive impact on children and makes a difference in their lives.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I realize educational equity for our children is an essential component of repairing generations of systemic injustice across our country.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
As a granddaughter of an illiterate grandfather and a first-generation degree earner, I understand firsthand the impact and importance of language and literacy development. So, being part of the Rollins team allows me the opportunity to do necessary and meaningful work, helping to eradicate illiteracy. This work adds to my joy, and promoting teaching strategies that benefit our earliest learners on their journey to becoming lifelong readers is why I love working for Rollins and its Cox Campus!

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Grounding my passion for educational equity is my belief that representation matters, and every child deserves the very best learning environments and conditions. One in which they are confident in knowing their teacher and other trusted adults will see them and their specific needs uniquely and value them nonetheless so that our communities are places that respect and accept diversity.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
The language and literacy work that we embark on and our commitment to ensuring we eradicate illiteracy for all children.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
All children deserve to have the same opportunities independent of where they live, their family socio-economic status, race or ethnicity.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love the participatory learning culture that the Cox campus offers while providing professional development to support teachers’ understanding and instructional practices to foster children’s language and literacy development.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity to ensure that each student has given the resources, and opportunities to achieve their fullest potential in 21st century.

Stephanie Payne is passionate about literacy and has almost 25 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. She taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade prior to becoming a K-3 Instructional Coach for 10 years. In addition to her degree in Early Childhood Education, she is LETRS-trained and has Reading, Coaching, and Teacher Support Endorsements. Stephanie lives in south Georgia with her husband and dog and her twins live in the Atlanta area. In her free time, she loves to read and listen to podcasts.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
There is something unique and exceptional about the team here at Rollins. It is a great privilege to work alongside so many like-minded people whose common goal is student literacy by ensuring schools and organizations have access to free resources that provide rich, meaningful, science-aligned practices for all children learning to read.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Having experience working in a small, rural, high-poverty school district, I’m incredibly passionate about educational equity. Every single child deserves a high-quality educational experience regardless of race, ethnicity, income levels, or school district. Literacy is the key to becoming a successful, productive citizen of society and we must do whatever it takes for all children to succeed.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love that our work is research based, empowering and available to all for free! Being a part of something that is changing lives is very rewarding.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Equitable education creates learning environments where every child receives the support and resources that they need in order to be successful in school and in life.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love knowing that the work we are doing is equipping teachers and leaders on a global scale with the necessary tools to help all students unlock the code of text and become lifelong readers and learners.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Every child has the right to learn to read. Access to high-quality education enables us to engage as members of a global society where we learn, grow, empathize, reflect, communicate and advocate for ourselves and others.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working with such an amazing team that truly cares about advancing and progressing child outcomes. I really enjoy being a part of the learning and transformational process as I work alongside Coaches, teachers, children, and others within the ecosystem.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Equality is a foundational core value for me. I believe that every child should be offered the same access and opportunity when it comes to education. I also believe that I have as much to learn and gain from those that I work with and teach as they do from me.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I love working for Rollins because I consider myself a lifelong learner and at Rollins, we stay abreast with current data and research, which allows us to implement best practices for educators, families, and children! Additionally, I enjoy collaborating with partners in order to provide a strong language and literacy foundation for all children in environments that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I am passionate about educational equity because I truly believe that all children, everywhere, deserve the same access to high quality and science-backed classroom instruction.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Everyone here truly understands that the best way to achieve our common goal is through collaboration and teamwork. Just as there is a community outside that we service, there is also a community within the Rollins Center working hard to revolutionize the availability of tools and methodologies designed to provide equity in education.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
Education is the foundation of every idea that turned into something that changed the world. Every child should have the opportunity to learn to communicate effectively and confidently in order to potentially effect change based on their unique life experiences.

Dr. Wallen is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and former clinical associate professor of communication sciences and disorders at Georgia State University. She has over 20 years in the field and has clinical areas of expertise in pediatrics; parent/caregiver education; and sociolinguistics. Dr. Wallen earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakwood University. She holds a Master of Arts in Speech Language Pathology and a Doctor of Philosophy in Speech and Language Science from The Ohio State University. As an academic, Dr. Wallen has taught courses related to clinical practice, language development, and fluency disorders. She also served as the Director of Admissions and Director of Satellite Clinical Programs, which provided community-based learning and service opportunities for students through partnering with organizations in the Atlanta community and beyond, including the Atlanta Children’s Shelter, the Global Village Project, Refugee Family Literacy, Thomasville Heights Elementary School, and the LENA Organization. Dr. Wallen’s research interests include language development/disorders in culturally- and linguistically-diverse populations (including second language/dialect acquisition) and acoustic phonetics.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
Working at Rollins allows me to do the collaborative work that is necessary to make systemic change and bring language and literacy research to the people.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
My ancestors were systematically denied access to education because of the color of their skin. The fact that there are still so many people in this country that continue to be denied equity in education is a testament to the need to do something different. I believe that I owe it to my ancestors to be part of the movement that rethinks and redesigns the system so that educational equity is a reality for all.

Malenka Warner is a dedicated communications professional committed to achieving strong outcomes for communities and organizations. She has devoted her skills and passion for effective communication to empower and uplift children. Fueled by the belief in the inherent worth and potential of every child, Malenka’s personal mission is to contribute to their growth by creating and supporting initiatives that provide access to quality education, nurture critical thinking skills, and foster a positive, inclusive learning environment.

As the former Director of Communications at the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Malenka crafted communication strategies that fostered increased statewide involvement by educators in programs benefiting all Georgia educators and their students. In her role as Managing Director for Atlanta Daybook and What’s Up Interactive, Malenka successfully led clients to attain promotional and communication goals for initiatives nationwide by creating compelling narratives and holistic communication strategies that served the greater good of society.

What do you love most about working for the Rollins Center and its Cox Campus?
I find great honor in working for the nation’s most comprehensive center for language and literacy, the Rollins Center. The Speech School and Rollins teams are doing remarkable work, creating science-backed online modules designed for all adults to support children in developing critical literacy skills. Cox Campus (the online platform) empowers all adults to build a better future for the children in their care, and access to the entire platform is completely free.

Why are you passionate about educational equity?
I was raised to believe in the inherent value and potential of every individual and the necessity for every adult to contribute to positive change in the world by helping children develop critical thinking skills. Since we know that every child (and every adult, for that matter) is different in terms of where they are and what they need to fully develop their powers of empathy and critical thinking, I believe that the responsibility lies with each and every one of us to ensure that our children receive what they need to develop to their full academic and social potential. Every adult has the potential to give children the tools to understand the world around them better. For me, this is an ongoing commitment to encouraging children (and ourselves) to ask questions, think critically, and learn as we grow.