Elena Ashburn
Dr. Elena Ashburn is the proud principal of Needham B. Broughton Magnet High School, an IBO World, Global Studies, and Magnet Schools of America (MSA) Demonstration School in the Wake County Public School System. Elena’s work is driven by the belief that strong magnet school programming founded on the MSA Magnet Schools Pillars ensures excellent and equitable educational access and learning for our students.
Elena previously served as principal of East Garner Magnet Middle School, an IBO World, and Creative Arts School, where her team led in moving the school out of the state-sanctioned low-performing status. Elena is a leadership coach with MSA, working with leaders throughout the country implementing magnet programs. In 2018, Elena earned a doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research examined the underrepresentation of women in the superintendency. In 2021, Elena was named the North Carolina Wells Fargo Principal of the Year and currently serves as an advisor to the North Carolina State Board of Education.
With six years of MSAP grant management experience with Wake County magnet schools, Dr. Beth Cochran has extensive knowledge regarding MSAP grants, winning MSA Merit Awards of Excellence and Distinction, receiving National Magnet Certification, and increasing and maintaining diversity and school integration goals of the magnet schools with which she works.
Dr. Mary Conage enjoyed a successful 33-year career with the Pinellas County School District in Florida. Her professional journey includes experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, curriculum supervisor, and director of federal programs. In every role, Mary’s primary goal was to facilitate conditions for learning that lead to student agency and high academic achievement. Her doctoral studies at the University of Florida focused on curriculum and instruction, emphasizing culturally responsive pedagogy. This led her to develop and present related professional development sessions for educators. 
Jennifer Furman-Born began her educational career in the Clark County School District (CCSD) in 2000 as an art specialist before accepting her first administrative position. Over the next 11 years, Jennifer served as an elementary school assistant principal. In this position, she worked to assist in the turn-around of an elementary at-risk school. 
Maria is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for World Savvy and has over 20 years of experience in K-16 education. She served as the founder and principal advisor for Global Education Advisors, Director of Education & Training for The Goldie Hawn Foundation, and regional program manager and development specialist for the International Baccalaureate. Maria has also worked in public education, focusing on magnet schools throughout Florida as an elementary school teacher, magnet coordinator, and assistant principal. 
Billie Knight Rayford currently serves as a NIMSL magnet expert, trainer, reviewer, and coach for schools participating in the magnet school certification process. She has worked with Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexica, North Carolina, and Tennessee schools. Recently, Billie worked with the Nevada Association of School Administrators as a training facilitator for Nevada administrators and teachers. 
Doreen Marvin has assisted many education service agencies, school districts, and community-based groups in design, strategic planning, long-range planning, goal setting, communication, program design, and operating standards. In addition, Doreen has worked with school districts to develop and test their teacher and administrator evaluations. She’s consulted with or coordinated the development and start-up of 12 magnet and public schools of choice, including serving as the educational consultant through the design and construction phases. 
Tamani Anderson Powell is an educator by training but a people person at heart. She enjoyed teaching in the middle school setting for nine years before serving as an assistant principal for two years. She has combined her passion for people with her desire to see all students succeed in her position as the Director of Marketing and Communication for Wake County Public Schools System’s (WCPSS) Office of Magnet and Curriculum Enhancement Programs. She assists families as they explore varied educational choices in WCPSS and models excellent customer service as one strategy to attract families to magnet schools. In addition, she works closely with the Office of Student Assignment on selection priorities that allow WCPSS’s magnet schools to achieve the goal of integrated student populations.
Veronica Raley, M. S., is a former science teacher, magnet coordinating teacher, instructional coach, grant manager, and program evaluator. She earned a master of science degree in biology teaching from the University of Washington and a graduate certificate in program evaluation from the University of South Florida. She spent 17 years working in public schools, and for the past ten years has worked on STEM/STEAM/NGSS initiatives across the country. 
Jayme Rawson is College Coordinator and Achievement Coach at East Career and Technical Academy in Las Vegas. Jayme started and runs East Tech’s Senior Capstone Project Experience for students. The event now attracts 500 visitors to East Tech’s community from industries statewide. In her life as a National Institute for Magnet School Leadership magnet expert, she has helped schools across the U.S. find their way to success using humor, ready-to-use strategies, examples, and tons of support.
Heidi Targee is an award-winning magnet school leader and educator who has worked for more than 25 years with schools and districts throughout the U.S. She has held K-14 teaching and leadership positions in Florida, New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. She is currently a magnet expert for the National Institute of Magnet School Leadership. 
Trish Taylor has been an educator in the Clark County School District for nearly 30 years. She currently serves as the principal of East Career and Technical Academy, a Magnet Schools of America Demonstration School, and the recipient of the 2017 Magnet School of the Year award. Trish began her administrative career at Southwest Career and Technical Academy. 
Dr. Ashlie Thompson began her career in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) in 1996. After ten years of teaching, she served as the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at Enloe Magnet High School for six years. This position was the start of her work in magnet schools. Ashlie worked in the WCPSS Magnet and Curriculum Enhancement Office for two years as the Director for Curriculum Enhancement Programs. In 2013, she was selected as the founding principal of an application school, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy. She was named Southwestern Area Superintendent in July 2017. 
Rosalind Wright, JD, ED.S, is a recruiter for magnet programs in East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Her lifetime commitment to children evidences her love for teaching and learning. Rosalind has presented at the National Girl Bullying and Relational Aggression Conference, the National School Safety Conference, and the Magnet Schools of America Conference. In addition, she has traveled extensively throughout Louisiana, training school resources and D.A.R.E officers in chemical dependency, bullying prevention, suicide intervention, and restorative practices. Her experience with school restorative practices allows her to make and sustain relationships with stakeholders.
Brianna Young holds a Masters’ in Curriculum and Instruction, emphasizing trauma and resilience in education settings, with an undergraduate degree in Middle School Interdisciplinary Teaching and ELL from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She was a founding teacher at a magnet middle school in the Midwest, wrote the curriculum, and served as magnet coordinator in subsequent roles. Now her work includes trauma-informed facilitation in schools, clinics, and nonprofits, coaching, curriculum, and school development, and teaching weekly as an adjunct professor with the Oxford Teachers’ College at Reach University.
