Meet Some of the
BelievED Team
Kimberly Neal-Brannum
Kimberly Neal-Brannum is the founder of BELIEVE Schools in Indianapolis, Indiana. Before founding BELIEVE Schools, she has served as a Managing Director of Secondary Education for KIPP: DC, principal, and school social worker. Under her leadership, she successfully turned around KIPP: DC’s largest middle school, and founded Muchin College Prep, which remains the highest performing school in Noble Network of Charter Schools and one of Chicago’s best schools. She holds an M.S.W. from Washington University, St. Louis, an M.Ed. from Teachers College-Columbia University, and is a graduate of Relay Graduate School of Education’s National Principal Supervisors Academy Fellowship. Email Kim at kneal@believeschools.org.
Tiara Jordan
Tiara is an experienced educator and current founder and CEO of a community powerbuilding organization in St.Louis. In her role, she builds capacity and empowers St.Louis’ most marginalized families and students to design and drive change as part of a broad coalition. She has previous experience as a founding principal across both middle and high school students. Prior to her founding work, she worked as a Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Dean of Culture, and Director of Specialized Services. She holds a Bachelors in Special Education from Ohio University and a Masters in Educational Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. Email Tiara at tiara.jordan21@gmail.com.
Theodore Brannum
Theodore has served in education for over 15 years. Theodore currently executes the operations and manages the finances of URBAN ACT Academy. Theodore began his career as Director of Programming for The Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, a non-profit that helped mentor, prepare, and send over 1000 DC students to college where he once was a top scholarship recipient. Theodore then transitioned to KIPP DC where he has served in numerous positions such as College Counselor, Business Manager, World History Teacher, Assistant Director of Operations for the network and 9th grade Dean. Theodore holds his B.A. in Economics from Rutgers University and an M.Ed from Teachers College-Columbia University. Email Theo at theodore.brannum@gmail.com.
Shaniqua Wrotten
Shaniqua currently serves as a Regional Literacy and Humanities coach with KIPP DC where she creates and supports instructional leaders with implementation of a culturally-responsive literacy curriculum. Prior to this role, she served as an Assistant Principal at KIPP DC, working to turnaround the region’s largest middle school through reimagining culture systems and dramatically improving reading instruction. Prior to her work at KIPP DC, Shanqiua served as a teacher and Dean of Culture at the Muchin College Prep. She holds a B.A from CUNY York College, a MAT from Dominican College, and is a graduate of Relay Graduate School of Education’s National Principal Academy Fellowship. Email Shaniqua at swrotten0587@gmail.com.
Shamiea Green-Hassan
Shamiea is a lifelong learner, educator, and lawyer. She served in one of the highest-performing high schools in the city of Chicago for nine years in instructional, Dean, and Assistant Principal roles. Since then, she has served as a Restorative Coach with Noble Network. She provides coaching to Assistant Principals and Deans of Culture surrounding equitable school culture practices and Restorative Practice implementation. She also partners with Hassan Law to provide legal consultation in various areas of the law. Shamiea holds a B.A and Master’s Degree in Instructional Leadership – Policy Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. Email Shamiea at greenshamiea@gmail.com.
Saybah-Katrina Russ
Saybah-Katrina is an education data-strategist who leverages data to improve campus-wide outcomes. She develops data visualizations to assist with stakeholder’s strategic planning, performance management and monitoring student achievement. Her experience includes 10 years of teaching, instructional leadership and curriculum development. Saybah-Katrina holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Mills College, a Data Analytics certification from Springboard, and is an alumnus of the 2021 Harvard SDP Leadership Analytics Institute cohort. Email Saybah-Katrina at sruss@believedconsulting.com
Malia Burns
Malia Burns is the chief program officer at Summit Public Schools, where she leads a team focused on improving the way in which schools educate students with disabilities and students who are learning English. Malia has worked at Summit since 2014, when she joined to launch Summit’s expansion to Washington State. Prior to joining Summit, Malia worked as a Dean of Students in Chicago and teacher in the Bronx, NY. Malia was born on Kauai and connects her deep belief in the power of diversity to growing up in a culturally rich and diverse place. Malia is an alum of Seattle University and Columbia University. Email Malia at maliaburns@gmail.com.
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