A native of Washington, DC, Mr. Ward began his teaching career in 2007 as a high school biology teacher in the same school district from which he graduated high school. During his three years at Battlefield High School, he increased the passage rate from 90% to 93% on the Virginia Standards of Learning End-of-Course Biology Exam, and created a new curriculum as the Professional Learning Community leader. He then taught middle and upper school science at Wakefield School, a small independent school in rural Virginia, before joining Teach For America in 2012 as a corps member where he taught high school science in Prince George’s County Public Schools. In his second year as a corps member, Mr. Ward had 100% of his biology students pass the High School Assessment exam for Biology, and earned the Edith Tatel Education Award for Excellence in Teaching. He spent his last year as a teacher at Cesar Chavez Public Charter Schools for Public Policy’s Capitol Hill campus. There, he was named one out of five middle and high school science teachers in North America who were national finalists for the Shell Science Lab Challenge, bringing nearly $10,000 in laboratory resources to the school.
Prior to joining Journey Community Schools, Mr. Ward was the Director of School Culture at what is now City Arts and Prep Public Charter School in Washington, DC. There he focused on behavior management and clearly-defined school-wide procedures which lead to a 20% reduction in the number of behavior incidents and an 8% reduction in the total number of incidents and consequences for the highest stake student populations. Most recently, Mr. Ward was the principal of another JCS school, Hanley Middle School, where he and his team lead the school from a TVAAS Level 1 to a TVAAS Level 5 in one school year.
Mr. Ward is a proud graduate of Virginia State University, where he was a Presidential Scholar. He has completed additional coursework at Georgetown University and earned his Master’s degree in School Administration from Trinity Washington University in 2016. In his free time, Mr. Ward enjoys working out, attending live performances and concerts, traveling, community service through his fraternity, dining out, and spending time with his family.

For over 15 years Mrs. Roberts has been a devoted public servant whose passion for investing in children inspires others. Jameka is originally from Oklahoma but has made Memphis her home. Education runs in her family and her passion for education is contagious. Jameka brings experience as both a General Education Pre-K thru 5 and Special Education teacher. No stranger to leadership - Jameka has served as Grade Level Chair, Special Population Chairperson, RTI A/B Coordinator and Pre-School Coordinator. Jameka’s impact on student achievement has been evident.

Mrs. Roberts received a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. She received a Masters Degree from The University of Memphis in Instruction Curriculum and Leadership, and is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Education in Instructional Leadership from Freed Hardeman University.

Avis Robinson is the Assistant Principal of K-2 Instruction at Coleman School. She has worked as a professional educator, coach and education director. Avis holds an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where she earned the honor of class valedictorian. She also holds a graduate degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy from Walden University.
Avis’s most treasured personal values are integrity, creativity, and excellence. These values guide Avis’s decision making, relationships, and products, and are visible in how she expresses her full self in the work environment. Outside of work, Avis enjoys crafting, watching crime dramas, reading fiction, and most of all, sharing quality time with her tribe.

Natasha Medford, is a Georgia native and an educator of 11 years. She has previously served in the following roles: Science teacher, Optional Schools Coordinator, Professional Learning Coach, and Development Coach of Instruction.
Mrs. Medford received her Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from the Unsinkable Albany State University. She received her Master’s degree in Middle Grades Math and Science from Valdosta State University, and her Administrative Licensure from Christian Brothers University
Mrs. Medford began her teaching career in Hinesville, Georgia where she served as a 7th Grade Life Science teacher. For three consecutive years, she achieved 95% of her students scoring Meets/Exceeds on the Georgia Criterion Reference Competency Test. Upon relocating to the Memphis area, she began teaching for Shelby County Schools. She went on to continue best practices to become a TVAAS Level 5 teacher. She was named the SCS District Teacher of the Year for 5-8 in 2018.
In her free time, Mrs. Medford enjoys reading, working out, community service through her sorority, and spending time with her husband and children.