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.