About Us

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Co-Founder

Dr. Millicent Borishade began her teaching career as a kindergarten teacher in Blue Island, Illinois, and has since taught at every educational level, including graduate courses and college programs for incarcerated individuals. Currently, she serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Saint Louis Public Schools, where she excels in developing adult practitioners to improve student outcomes while enhancing district-wide strategies. Dr. Borishade is deeply committed to building on the strengths of instructional staff to elevate student learning. As a passionate advocate for equity, she relentlessly drives change, acting as an internal catalyst to empower educators and ensure that all students are nurtured from a growth mindset. Her leadership embraces the complexities of guiding adults in their journeys toward understanding race and privilege. Dr. Borishade firmly believes that every student can succeed and that parents, as their children's first teachers, co-author their success alongside classroom educators. She also believes that when parents are equipped with resources and support, the potential for cultivating genius is limitless.

Before joining Saint Louis Public Schools, Dr. Borishade served as the Chief Academic Officer in Tukwila Public Schools, Principal in Highline Public Schools, and School Improvement Officer for 14 elementary schools in Kent School District. During her tenure in Kent, approximately seven of the schools she supervised received Washington State Awards for improving student achievement in areas such as ELL, Math, ELA, and innovation.

Dr. Borishade holds a Bachelor of Arts in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Illinois at Urbana, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from National Louis University in Chicago. Her expertise lies in addressing the challenges of leadership, both theoretical and relational, positioning her as a powerful agent of change.

Among her many professional accomplishments, Dr. Borishade is particularly proud of two. First, as a Principal in Illinois, her school was recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as a Spotlight School for significant improvements in student achievement. Second, during her time in the Kent School District, she expanded the Parent Academy for Student Achievement (PASA) program, which helped families new to the country and district navigate the educational system, dramatically improving outcomes for those she served. Additionally, she led a delegation from Kent, including parents, principals, and community organizations, to Harvard University for a Family and Community Engagement Institute.

Outside of her professional life, Dr. Borishade is a proud mother to Alexis Francine AdeShola, who earned her Master’s in Journalism from Michigan State University. For recreation, she enjoys parasailing, rowing, and playing softball and volleyball. Committed to continuous growth, Dr. Borishade seeks to share her knowledge through ongoing partnerships with parents, offering workshops through Children Ready To Learn, in an ever-evolving world.

Co-Founder and Executive Director 

Dr. Shajaira López began her teaching career in 2006 as a middle school bilingual teacher in the Chicago Public Schools--where she was able to develop many of her students’ love for reading and develop a commitment to high expectations for herself, her students, and the people she collaborates with. She has also served as an assistant principal, principal, and Chair, and Assistant Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education. Currently, she serves as the Director of Teaching & Learning in Puyallup Public Schools. As a director, she centers her decision on the needs of all students and the adults who support them; especially racially and linguistically diverse students who are oftentimes the most marginalized by education systems.

Dr. López believes that every student can and will learn, and is committed to educational practices that ensure that students of all backgrounds have the same opportunities to learn, develop their knowledge, and experience success. She believes in the transformational power of learning, which allows students to see how their lives and the lives of those around them can change when they use the knowledge and skills acquired. 

Dr. López earned an Associates in Arts Degree in Miami Dade College, a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Masters of Science in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from National Louis University. She looks forward to collaborating with the team at Children Ready to Learn and families in order to live out the organization’s vision of nurturing childrens’ learning and development, ensuring that they reach their potential in school and in life.  

Board President

Dr. Allison Deno has spent the last two decades leading instructional teams and improving outcomes for students from pre-kindergarten through high school. She’s deeply driven and motivated by advocacy for – and provision of – high-quality, student-focused learning experiences with equity at the core. She’s passionate about the work Children Ready to Learn is doing to empower families and enhance learning. 

Dr. Deno has worked in a variety of Washington and Missouri School Districts, serving as Chief of Schools, Executive Director, Principal, School Improvement Officer, and Supervisor of ELL/Title I/LAP Programs. She’s a collaborative leader with experience organizing, implementing, and promoting inclusive learning environments for students, staff, and families. Analytical by nature, she’s adept at analyzing complex data and implementing systems and feedback loops for continuous improvement.

Dr. Deno has a Doctorate in Education from the University of Washington and a Masters in Teaching from Seattle University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Minnesota and still cheers for the Gophers. 

Ask her about water polo or the book in her hand; she has spent years cheering her children on in the pool and is a great source of reading recommendations.

Board Vice-President

Yolanda Heidelberg is a very proud third-generation educator adopting the maternal and paternal legacy of her family while currently navigating thirty-four years of continued services in education. Highly noted and regarded as a native Memphian, she and her brother, Dexter Henson were named after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s children.

Yolanda’s career began in 1989 as a third-grade teacher at Kingsbury Elementary in Memphis, Tennessee.  She retired in Memphis, Tennessee in 2018 with a transition to Washington state after a seventeen-year veteran principalship at Jackson Elementary. While at Jackson Elementary, the school received notable accolades. In the state of Tennessee, schools and their leaders were evaluated on their performances on statewide assessments.  Jackson Elementary maintained a TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) assessment of level 5, the highest-ranking from 2005 until 2018, which measures yearly student growth. Great Cities and Great Schools, Education Quality Index Study, recognized Jackson Elementary as one of 10 schools in Tennessee in closing the achievement gap in 2016. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan under the leadership of then-President Barack Obama recognized Jackson Elementary as a 2012 TN Reward School. Furthermore in 2016, Jackson Elementary earned the distinction as a 2016 National Blue-Ribbon School for Exemplary Performance in Closing the Achievement Gap.

In the summer of 2018, Yolanda transitioned to Washington state and began her work in the Federal Way Public Schools as principal of Lake Grove Elementary and earned the distinction of Setting the Pace Award in Language Arts and Math. In 2020, she decided to take on fewer leadership responsibilities to be a more active parent with her only daughter. She and her husband, Ronald are the proud parents of her daughter, Sydney Heidelberg, a middle school scholar in the Issaquah School District.

Yolanda received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Memphis and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee.  Additionally, Yolanda has a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with a concentration in Health Care Management from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Often you may hear Yolanda quote one of her favorite poems:

One hundred years from now it won’t matter What kind of car I drove, What kind of house I lived in. How much money I had in the bank Nor what my clothes look like But the world may be a little better Because I was important in the life of a child. 

Board Treasurer

Athena Jiménez-Manalo is driven by the belief that all students can succeed when provided the proper tools, access, and opportunities. Athena believes that multilingualism and cultural diversity are assets to build upon and aspires to increase the quantity of and access to high-quality multilingual education programs that are rooted in culturally responsive teaching practices. 

Athena’s career spans Chicago, Minneapolis, and Seattle where she has served as a bilingual family liaison, after-school program coordinator, soccer coach, dual language teacher, curriculum developer, and Spanish immersion teacher. In addition to her official role as educator, Athena facilitated community learning and professional development for families and professionals in schools, early learning centers, and conferences. Notable topics include: Navigating the K-12 System (for Parents); Unconscious Bias; Courageous Conversations; White Fragility: Confronting Racism; Strategies for Increasing Academic Language Development; Best Practices for Teaching Language Online, and more. 

Athena is proud to have earned her B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Northeastern Illinois University, a Hispanic-Serving Institution. She went on to earn her M.Ed in Bilingual Education and an Ed.D in Leadership from the American College. In her spare time, Athena enjoys hiking, exploring new places, reading, networking with others who are interested in uplifting their communities, and of course, relaxing and spending quality time with her husband and fur family. 

Board Secretary

Ms. Andrea Tee began her educational career in serving students in early childhood dual-language programs, specifically targeting historically marginalized youth. Ms. Tee has taught high school mathematics, both remedial and advanced, as well as all middle school subjects. She has served as an assistant principal at a PreK – 8th Grade STEM Academy, an assistant principal at a traditional middle school, and a principal at a traditional elementary and high school. Currently, Ms. Tee serves as the Director of English Language Learning of a public school district in Nevada.

Ms. Tee believes that every student deserves an environment that will foster their individual talents and skills and set them on a rigorous pathway to achieve their dreams. Alternative options for public educational models and meeting all students’ needs within those options are a passion for Ms. Tee. Family engagement, education, and involvement are critical to meeting those needs and ensuring the success of our youth.

Ms. Tee has a Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from American College of Education, with a specific focus in Instructional Leadership. She believes that the equity-focused and inclusive practices of our educators are critical in the development of exceptional outcomes for each of our children.

Board Director

James is an outcomes-driven, passionate, effective leader with a proven ability to drive company growth. He brings an innovative management style that drives collaboration and focuses on achieving results. James is a champion of leadership development and succession planning. He is adept at brand development and brand expansion. 

James began his career as a summer camp counselor for at-risk youth in the city of Chicago. After 5+ years of successful direct service, James moved on to managing youth programs as the Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin and then as Senior Operations Manager and Area Specialist for Junior Achievement of Chicago. Since 2006, James has held Executive positions with non-profit organizations at the forefront of their industry. As the Executive Director of Jumpstart for Young Children’s Midwest Region, James played an instrumental role in leading the programmatic and fiscal expansion. He was responsible for developing and leading a board of directors filled with passionate and caring professionals. 

James moved on to serve as the CEO of the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT), the world’s leading trade association focus on challenge courses, zip lines and canopy tours. As ACCT’s CEO, James lead ACCT to astronomical growth in membership, revenue and conference attendance. His leadership helped propel the industry forward. According to Xola.com, “There are over 400 commercial zip lines listed on Zip Line Rider located in the United States. 15 years ago, there were only 10."

James now serves as the CEO of Circle Urban Ministries where in less than one year the afterschool enrollment increased by more than 25% and the teen program’s enrollment quadrupled. James is passionate about improving the lives of young adults. In his spare time, he can be found motivating young adults to pursue their passion and overcome obstacles. He has frequently served as keynote speaker and workshop presenter for various conferences and meetings focused on developing young adults. 

James holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Northern Illinois University where he now serves on the Board of Advisors for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. James is a devoted family man and the proud father of 3 children.