Meet the Readers
Charmaine Bell
Summer Time by Ella Fitzgerald
Family Liaison at Eisenhower/Xin Xing Chinese/Spanish Immersion School/Hopkins Public Schools
Nicole R. Fernandez
The Dragon Takes a Wife by Walter Dean Myers
Nicole has worked in Minneapolis Public Schools and Boston Public Schools, as a Substitute Teacher, Administrative Coordinator, and Family and Community Liaison.
In the fall of 2020, Nicole joined West Junior High School of Hopkins Public Schools as the Restorative Practices Coordinator and Master Scheduler.
BS, MC and MS and is currently enrolled in St. Cloud State University in the Administrative Educational Leadership Master's program.
Ugbad M. Dek
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Hopkins High School/Hopkins Public Schools
Jessica Winnie
Black Boy, Black Boy by Crown Shepherd
published author of Everything I Am
6th grade teacher/Hopkins Public Schools
Owner of Minnesota Black Box; www.mnblackbox.com
Tristan Ray-Taylor
The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis
6th Grade Tanglen Elementary/ Hopkins Public Schools
Imani Kerre-Mongi
This is Not a Small Voice by Sonia Sanchez
Hopkins High School/Hopkins Public Schools
Mae Gruss
My Man Blue by Nikki Grimes
4th Grade Teacher at Eisenhower/Xin Xing Chinese/Spanish Immersion/ Hopkins Public Schools
Devin Robinson
Crossover by Kwame Alexander
6th Grade/Tanglen Elementary/Hopkins Public Schools
Shella Sozouhoin
Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
6th Grade/Tanglen Elementary/Hopkins Public Schools
Kelis Williams
A Class Act by Jerry Craft
6th Grade/Tanglen Elementary/Hopkins Public Schools
Valerie McWilliams-Jones
Hey Black Child by Useni Eugene Perkins
9-12 Special Education Teacher at Park Center High School/Osseo Public Schools
Over 20 years of public school experience
Tangular Irby
Pearl and her Gee Bends Quilt by Tangular Irby
A 27-year veteran in the field of education, Tangular A. Irby is also the granddaughter of Gee's Bend quilters, Pearlie Kennedy Pettway and Jensie Lee Irby. Tangular Irby grew up admiring the beauty of the quilts gifted to her by family. Quilting became a way to honor the legacy of her maternal and paternal grandmothers, who passed away long before their creations were recognized as more than just a means to keep their families warm. I am the owner of Learning Advantage Network Diversified. She is also the author of Pearl and her Gee's Bend Quilt: Coloring and Activity Book as well as 2 journals for educators. Tangular is on a mission to bridge generations through storytelling.