Advisory Board

The Regional 7 Comprehensive Center Advisory Board ensures that our projects are aligned with and supportive of select key initiatives of each state and are focused on building state capacity to support our local education agencies and schools in improving student outcomes.

Our Team

Members

Advisory board member photo

Melissa Shields

Melissa Shields (Ed.D.) currently serves as the assistant state superintendent of student learning for the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE). Prior to this role, she led the ALSDE Office of School Improvement. She coordinates with community and industry organizations... Learn more
Advisory Board photo for webpage

Alissa Hobart

Alissa Hobart is an esteemed educator that has worked in several capacities. She has served as an elementary teacher, special education teacher, and as a founding team member for the first rural charter school in Mississippi. Originally from Wisconsin, Alissa... Learn more
Self Portrait of Advisory Board member

Carlos Nelson

Dr. Carlos Nelson has been in the education field for more than 25 years, serving in the capacity of a classroom teacher, coach, interim principal, assistant principal, principal, federal programs coordinator, curriculum director, career technical education coordinator, textbook coordinator, and district drug testing coordinator. He is currently the... Learn more
AVB member portrait

Kim S. Benton

Dr. Kim S. Benton is Mississippi’s State Superintendent of Education, interim. Dr. Benton served as Chief Academic Officer/Deputy State Superintendent with the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) from 2012 to 2018, leading the implementation of hallmark initiatives including the Early... Learn more
Advisory Board Member Photo

Teresha Jones

Teresha Jones, Ed.D, serves as the principal of Central High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Throughout her 17 years of experience in education, she has served as a basketball coach, a middle and high school English teacher, a college English instructor,... Learn more
Advisory Board Member

Maria Longa

Maria Longa, Ed.D., is the Director of the East Coast Technical Assistance Center (ECTAC). ECTAC provides technical assistance to Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) program administrators in member districts throughout Florida. She has 20 years of experience at both... Learn more

Ivan W. Banks

Over the past 30 years, Ivan W. Banks, Ph.D., has served in administrative positions in a variety of institutions, with diverse missions and located in diverse settings (i.e., urban, suburban, and rural). He has held positions as program coordinator, department... Learn more

Tammy Dunn

Tammy Dunn serves as the vice president of academic affairs for A+ College Ready, an education nonprofit devoted to supporting Alabama secondary schools as they raise academic expectations for their students. Ms. Dunn has spent 30 years as a career... Learn more

Jenn Faber

Jenn Faber is the director of the Florida Grade Level Reading Campaign (FGLRC) at the Florida Children’s Council. She provides technical assistance to the members of the FGLRC ensuring access to resources needed to set outcomes for children, implement aligned... Learn more

Jacob Oliva

Jacob Oliva began his career as a special education teacher. Over the past 19 years, he has served in a variety of positions, including principal and assistant superintendent. Prior to joining the Florida Department of Education in 2017, he served... Learn more

Nicole Patton Terry

Nicole Patton Terry, Ph.D., is the Olive & Manuel Bordas professor of education in the School of Teacher Education, associate director of the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR), and deputy director of the Regional Educational Laboratory Southeast at Florida... Learn more

Patrick Wnek

Patrick Wnek, Ed.D., is the executive director of the North East Florida Educational Consortium. The Consortium serves 13 rural school districts, the PK Yonge Developmental Research School at the University of Florida, and the Florida School for the Deaf and... Learn more

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