Department Leadership
Tessa R. Sutton, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Accountable for oversight of all processes related to student services to ensure all students access and engage in core instruction, assuring equity, inclusion, and social-emotional development through a system of inclusionary and targeted supports, developed and supported by highly effective staff members and vibrant family and community partnerships.
Shapes SBCSC's equity, diversity, and inclusion strategic efforts, providing alignment and accountability in these endeavors.
Directs equity and inclusion-focused professional learning, supporting staff, students, and community members.
Tessa serves as a board member of Sister Cities International and is a member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR).
Stephanie Steward-Bridges
Director of African American Services
Accountable in the following areas of social-emotional support services:
- Director of district-wide collaboration to support academic success among African American students in SBCSC K-12
- Director of the School Climate Transformation Grant: CARE (Climate Achievement Resilience Equity!)
- Supervisor of nurses and mental health coach.
- Supervisor of homeless and foster care programming specialists
- Coordinator of the Lead Social Worker Rapid Response Team
- Collaborator in designing and implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) for all schools
Angel Ash
Director of System Supports
- Oversees the tiered framework of positive behavior intervention throughout all schools.
- Establishes and leads teams dedicated to finding resources and designing plans that make it possible for students with the greatest needs to succeed
- Collaborates with the Director of African American Services to expand tiered services targeted through the CARE Grant.
- Provides training and technical assistance to school teams in order to develop, maintain, evaluate, and continuously improve school-wide PBIS systems.
Taylor Williams
Family Community Engagement and Mentor Coordinator
- Responsible for coordinating family community engagement systems and activities.
- Supervisor of Family and Community Engagement Services (FaCE) and other Brown Community Learning Center engagement initiatives
- District Liaison for S.A.V.E. community outreach project and South Bend Parks community center partnerships
- Coordinator of community school integration and model development
- Coordinator of Brown Community Learning Center activities
- Manager of community extra-curricular supports and opportunities for families
- Coordinator of the Student Mentor program
- Supervisor of 21st Century Scholars recruiters
DEPARTMENT Administrative Support Staff
Ana Brand
Office Administrative Assistant
Accountable for composing routine correspondence, coordinating schedules, appointments, meeting spaces, agendas and other duties as needed. Reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Drake Shrader
Administrative Assistant and Project Coordinator
Accountable for scheduling calendar appointments, assists in the coordination of multicultural projects, assists the Mentor Coordinator with duties related to the Mentor Program, community outreach for department projects, creates content and updates the department web page, assists the department in record keeping, executes general office and other duties as needed. Reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion..
Cynthia Harris
Student Records Secretary
Accountable for confidential student record-keeping and scanning and maintain student withdrawal or graduation records from SBCSC. Reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
Laagahon Abby
Volunteer Administrative Assistant and Project Coordinator
Accountable for scheduling calendar appointments, assists in coordination of multicultural projects, assists the department in record keeping, and compiling data, processes purchase order requisitions, perform general office duties and other duties as needed. Reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
