Young Education Professionals-Birmingham
Home
|
Leadership Team
YEP-Birmingham was founded by a group of K-12 teachers who are devoted to developing a professional network of educators in Birmingham, Alabama. The leadership team works to provide forums for education professionals to engage in the Birmingham young professionals community.
We are always looking for new ideas, great speakers, and more members. If you would like to contact our team, please email us at birmingham@youngedprofessionals.org President - Luke Chamberlin Director of Marketing and Communications - Nora Samayoa Director of Member Relations and Retention - Jasmine Merlette Director of Program Outreach - Anjelica Harlow Director of Operations - Elizabeth (Liz) Bieri 
Luke Chamberlin originally moved from Georgia to Birmingham in 2018 to pursue a career in education. Passionate about STEM opportunities for youth, Luke is currently a 6th grade science teacher at Booker T. Washington K-8 and served as a 2018 corps member of Teach for America - Alabama. He received his undergraduate degree in Public Relations from the University of Georgia, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as Vice President of YouthServe Young Professional Advisory Council and is a member of Birmingham Education Foundation's Community Action Fellowship for Fall 2020. As the chapter's President, Luke is excited to lead YEP - Birmingham into the future, connect passionate educators to each other, and continue to push for education equity for all.
Nora Samayoa has been a dedicated educator and coach since arriving in Birmingham as a 2018 Teach for America - Alabama corps member. She is currently a Spanish teacher at Huffman High School and the Head Varsity Women’s soccer coach. She received her undergraduate degree in English & Spanish from The University of Alabama. While there, she also founded the university's first Hispanic/Latino Association and the English Major and Minor Association. Nora wants to use her voice to further education equity and provide the best education to our students. She is excited to connect with like-minded educators in Birmingham!
Jasmine Merlette brings energy and enthusiasm every day to Legacy Prep Birmingham where she currently teaches 3rd grade. In 2018, she moved to Birmingham as a 2018 Teach for America - Alabama corps member to begin teaching elementary. A passionate and innovative educator, Jasmine received the Creativity and Innovation Award at the Teacher of the Year Gala in her first year teaching. She graduated from Xavier University of Louisiana with a degree in Psychology, and is currently pursuing a degree in Education Leadership from Teachers College of Columbia University. Jasmine looks forward to connecting with educators to continue to innovate classrooms across the city.
Anjelica Harlow graduated with honors from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Design in Interaction Design, as well as a minor in American Sign Language in 2015 and is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Education from Johns Hopkins University.
Anjelica has utilized her design thinking and problem solving mindset in many creative ways since graduating. She has completed her two years of service with Teach for America (TFA) in May 2020 and was voted by her peers to receive the Learn Continuously Award for being the individual to most exemplify that core value within the 2018 Alabama Corps. During the summer of 2019, Anjelica was a Policy and Advocacy Summer Fellow for Leadership for Educational Equity where she worked alongside Montgomery Education Foundation's summer learning academy, Brain Forest. Starting in January 2020, Anjelica joined Birmingham Ed's Community Action Fellowship to help develop policy changes in regards to student mental health within Birmingham City Schools. During the summer of 2020 she became an Urban Leader Fellow, working alongside the Indianapolis mayoral office to determine areas of opportunity for improving local procurement practices, and with The Mind Trust non-profit organization to help implement better testing practices. Over the next few years, Anjelica will continue to stay in the classroom and use her creativity and passion for education as a middle school mathematics teacher, and to look for ways to actively engage in her community and affect positive policy changes.
Liz Bieri is originally from the St. Louis area and received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Wheaton College near Chicago. She moved to Birmingham as a 2018 Teach for America - Alabama corps member where she taught 7th grade science at Wilkerson Middle School. Currently, Liz teaches high school chemistry, STEM research methods, and SAT prep at Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School in Titusville. She is pursuing her Masters of Science in Education at Johns Hopkins University and is a part of the 2020-2021 Society for Science and the Public Advocate Fellowship cohort. Professionally, Liz is passionate about pursuing education equity through inquiry-based science learning, encouraging students to pursue scientific research, and cross-curriculum project-based learning. Personally, Liz is passionate about Crossfit, her puppy, Daisy, the enneagram, and travelling.
|