From Awareness to Action:

Minnesota Education Commissioner

As Minnesota's Education Commissioner, Willie Jett heads an agency of more than 420 employees, charged with the mission of improving educational achievement for children from pre-K through grade 12, adult education and library services. Willie Jett understands the challenges and strengths of all communities, and his career is characterized by a commitment to raising student achievement and closing opportunity gaps. He is committed to preparing our future citizens, growing Minnesota’s workforce and supporting professional educators. Prior to his appointment as commissioner, Jett served as an instructor in the Education Administration Licensure program in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota. He has also taught and led in urban, suburban and greater Minnesota School districts for more than three decades. He earned his master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Assistant Commissioner of Children and Family Services

Tikki serves as the assistant commissioner for Children and Family Services for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. She is responsible for services and policies that promote adoption, foster care, child protection, child support, child care, refugee services, and cash and food support. Brown is a graduate of the University of Minnesota; Senior Leadership Institute at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Enterprise Learning & Development; and fellow of the Equity Leaders in Action Network, BUILD Initiative.

2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

Tracy Byrd is a ninth-grade English language arts teacher at Washburn High School in the Minneapolis school district and is the 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Tracy came to the field of education later in life. After not having success in college, Tracy worked many jobs, in numerous fields. Leasing apartments, retail clothing sales, and landscaping were a few. However, the financial industry was one career that really resonated with him. Tracy thought his role with Piper Jaffray (now Piper Sandler) might be his final job, but this was not the case. In 2007, the educational field called to him and there hasn't been one regret since. Upon receiving his teaching credentials from Metropolitan State University in 2017, Tracy chose to return to his alma mater to teach. Providing fair access to education for all students, something Byrd found lacking in his own experience, is his teaching goal. As Tracy enters his 8th year in education he looks forward to teaching and learning from his next group of students.

Policy Directory at EdAllies

Matt is a public school teacher and policy director. Matt coordinates EdAllies’ advocacy efforts, serving as a point person for policymakers, partners, and the community. He is passionate about developing diverse coalitions of stakeholders to put traditionally underserved students at the center of policy decisions. Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Concordia College; a certificate in education finance from Georgetown University; and has a master’s degree in urban education from Metro State University.

Executive Director at Minnesota Alliance with Youth

Jim brings 22 years of experience serving his community in the Minnesota House of Representatives and 17 years teaching middle school social studies. In the legislature he chaired the K-12 Education Finance committee while also serving on the Jobs and Economic Development, Taxes, Commerce, and Ways and Means committees at different times. Previously, Jim served as the Executive Director of SciMathMN, a nonprofit Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math advocacy group. A high school dropout himself, Jim wishes there had been a Minnesota Alliance With Youth Promise Fellow in his school growing up.

Equal Justice Works Fellow with
the Institute to Transform Child Protection 

As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, Hannah’s work is focused on providing pre-petition legal services to families in the early stages of the child protection process to help prevent unnecessary separation and trauma. Hannah also works on various policy reform efforts aimed at improving Minnesota’s child protection laws to help keep families healthy and together whenever possible.

PACE and EA Program Manager, Olmsted County

Dr. Ndumbe is the Program Manager for the PACE (Parents & Children Excel) and EA (Educational Advocates) programs at Olmsted County. These programs address educational concerns by preventing families from experiencing more profound endings in child protection services and juvenile court systems.

Child and Family Program Manager (Child Protection/Child Welfare), Olmsted County

After various roles in social work, Jessie has spent the past 22 years working in the area of child welfare and child protection in Olmsted County and supporting BSW social work students as an adjunct instructor. As a Program Manager of both child protection and child welfare responses, working to address the disproportionate reporting, undue harm caused by government intervention, and working to serve and support families outside of a mandated response have been areas of focus. One opportunity to demonstrate alternatives to traditional responses has been in addressing reported worries of educational concerns.

Founder of Temple Within

Marjorie is the founder of Temple Within. She is a spiritual wellness consultant helping others realize their own liberation, healing, and joy. She has over 20 years of experience as a youth worker, crisis worker, and nonprofit social services professional. She has earned graduate degrees from Springfield College in Human Services-Community Counseling and Psychology, and from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She uses her spiritual education along with her 40+ years of yoga practice, multiple yoga teacher certifications, and social services career experience to help others learn to cultivate wellness from within.

Executive Director at Connections to Independence (C2i)

Connections to Independence (C2i) is a unique organization that provides services to connect permanent placement providers, community-based organizations, and counties in a formalized partnership to provide support for youth in foster care. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to hear directly from a panel of youth with lived experience as they discuss their academic experiences.