About Us
Our team brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, enabling us to tackle complex challenges confidently and creatively. With diverse backgrounds and specialized skills, we offer comprehensive solutions tailored to our clients’ needs.
Dr. Rasheed Hakim Meadows
Founder and CEO
Dr. Meadows leads strategy and organizational improvement for non-profits, businesses, and education systems. He boasts over 25 years of dedicated service and has earned national recognition for innovative approaches. He has reshaped institutions to champion inclusive practices, prioritizing equity and positive cultural change. As VP at TNTP, he led school turnaround services and diversity initiatives and championed the esteemed Bridge Fellowship, targeting support for Black and Latinx youth. His leadership at the High Tech High Charter network ensured equitable technology access and promoted an inclusive learning environment. He raised graduation rates in the Boston Public Schools system and eliminated achievement disparities. A Yale alumnus with advanced Harvard degrees, including a doctorate in education leadership, Rasheed believes in the power of transformational leadership to drive positive outcomes for marginalized youth.
Dr. Brian C.B. Barnes
Senior Advisor
Dr. Brian Barnes, with a distinguished background in fostering leadership and community empowerment, is pivotal in advancing educational and social reform. As the Founder and CEO of Reclamation Advisors LLC and a Co-Founder of TandemEd LLC, Dr. Barnes has led efforts to support youth, adults, and communities in reclaiming their leadership potential. An adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Barnes contributes richly to academic discussions on community power and education’s role in societal transformation. His work has earned him national recognition as a Presidential Leadership Scholar, reflecting his innovative approach to leadership. Holding advanced degrees from Morehouse College, Andover Newton Theological School, and Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Barnes’ distinguished career and commitment to social justice and education reform underscore his capacity to lead transformative projects.
Ms. Melodie Miranda West
Operations Manager
Melodie Miranda West, a Boston-born Cape Verdean American, is a vanguard in DEIB-focused education. Recognized for her expert teaching and facilitation, she began her career as a Boston Public Schools Humanities and Special Education teacher. Her dedication led her to leadership roles, first as Assistant Principal at Green Dot Public Schools in Los Angeles, CA, and later in pivotal positions within the Washington, D.C. public school system. Most recently, as the Assistant Director of Partnerships for City Teaching Alliance, Melodie skillfully shaped a new teacher pipeline in D.C. schools. Melodie is now the Secondary ELA Manager for DCPS, focusing on equity and literacy, particularly for first-generation students of color. Her academic foundation includes degrees from Boston College and a leadership Master’s from the University of San Diego. In her downtime, she cherishes moments with family in D.C.
Dr. Nicole Gittens
Consultant
Dr. Nicole Gittens is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools in the Cambridge Public School District. Nicole has worked in education for over twenty years, starting as a teacher in 1996. In 2004, she became the Assistant Headmaster of Urban Science Academy, and in 2010, she was promoted to Headmaster of Boston Public Schools. In 2016 she moved to Brookline Public Schools as Deputy Superintendent and returned to Cambridge in 2020 in her current role. Nicole Gittens has a Doctor of Education from Boston College in District Leadership, a CAGS from the University of Massachusetts Boston in Educational Administration, a MAT from Simmons University in Secondary Math Education, and a BB from Temple University in Finance, General.
Mr. Jeffrey Cook
Consultant
Jeff Cook, current Principal of Governers’ Village STEM Academy in North Carolina, brings over 28 years of educational expertise. Starting as a Teach for America member, he’s impacted various roles, notably improving Wilson STEM Academy as its founding principal. His tenure in Boston Public Schools, including as Headmaster at Urban Science Academy, led to prestigious commendations. Jeff’s commitment to equity in education extends to teaching courses on responsive and inclusive teaching methods at Lasell College. Holding a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. from Harvard, he is furthering his leadership skills through a doctoral program at UNC Charlotte. Away from education, Jeff cherishes mentoring, playing golf, hiking with his family in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is a fervent Boston sports fan.