Author Biographies

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Luvelle Brown is an experienced educator who has held positions as teacher, assistant principal, principal, school CIO, and superintendent of schools. Dr. Brown is currently serving as Superintendent of the Ithaca City School District (ICSD) in Ithaca, NY. During his tenure there, the ICSD has experienced unprecedented levels of success. 

Dr. Brown has facilitated conversations in multiple communities resulting in transformative shifts in culture and achievement. Using systems thinking in schools, Dr. Brown’s leadership has led to innovative programs, redesigned learning spaces, and numerous technological initiatives.  

He has received various awards and recognitions including: The 2017 New York State Superintendent of the Year as one of the nation's top educators and thought leaders (TrustED). Dr. Brown has also been recognized by the National School Boards’ Association as a “20-to-Watch" and "Difference Maker", receiving the Center for Digital Education Top 30 Award, and the 2014 eSchool News Tech-Savvy Superintendent Award. 

He was selected by the US Department of Education as one of the nation's top 100 Innovative Superintendents and was invited to be a featured speaker at President Barack Obama’s 1st National Superintendent Summit at the White House. Additionally, Dr. Brown has served on the New York State Council of School Superintendents’ (NYSCOSS) Executive Committee, The School Superintendents’ Association (AASA) Digital Consortium, The Center for Digital Education Advisory Council, and CoSN’s Empowered Superintendent Advisory Panel.

  Since 1996, Dr. Khalid N. Mumin has served in various capacities; as a teacher, dean of students, principal, and central administrator.  In 2021 he was selected as the PA Superintendent of the Year.

Dr. Mumin earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Education in Teaching & Curriculum from Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary English Education from Shippensburg University, and an Associates of Arts in English from Northeastern Christian Junior College. He also graduated from the Leadership Maryland Program, as a member of the Class of 2012, and is a member of several national and local organizations. 

The strength in his leadership revolves around being a student-centered educator, who has a vision of success for all students. He believes that building positive relationships through cultural competencies is paramount in promoting student success. 

Dr. Mumin is a change agent committed to promoting and sustaining student achievement, equity and access to educational programming for all students, as well as creating plans that are fiscally responsible. He maintains a keen focus on fostering collaboration with stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, community, public officials, business partners, and institutions of higher education.  

Dr. Khalid N. Mumin has a documented history of success of possessing excellent leadership skills and has been recognized nationally as a “School Board Savvy Superintendent.” He has also received several awards: Superintendent to Watch (National School Public Relations Association, 2016), Champion for 

Youth (Mentors for Berks, 2017), Excellence in 

Educational Leadership (Boscov’s, 2016), Courageous 

Institution Award (Mid-Atlantic Equity Consortium, 

2017), Amigo Award (Daniel Torres Centro Hispano, 

2017), Innovative School Leader (Pennsylvania School 

Boards Association, 2018), and the Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumni Award (Shippensburg University, 2019). 

Rochester City School District Superintendent Dr. Lesli C. Myers has dedicated her life to the pursuit of high quality education. She was the first African-American woman to become Superintendent of Schools in Monroe County where she served the Brockport Central School District in that role between 2012-2020.

Dr. Myers received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development from the University of Rochester. She also earned a master’s degree in Urban Educational Administration and her Doctorate of Education in Executive Leadership from Saint John Fisher College. 

Throughout her career, Dr. Myers has had a tremendous impact on the field of education. She is the first African-American president of the New York State School Counselor Association. She appeared before the United States Congress and her testimony, in part, resulted in a spending bill that included the largest increase (77.5 percent) ever to the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program. 

Dr. Myers has received many prestigious honors that reflect her dedication to education and community, including the BreakThru Magazine Empowering Award, NYS Women of Distinction Award, Rochester Business Journal 40 Under 40, Saint John Fisher Distinguished Alumni Award, Urban League of Rochester Educator Award, and Western New York School Counselors Consortium Lifetime Achievement Award. Additionally, she was named a 2016 Athena Award finalist. 

Dr. Myers has designed and conducted workshops and presentations for elementary and secondary students, undergraduate and graduate students, varied educators, and many others at the local, regional, and national level. 

She presented, Racism: A Mere Pigment of the Imagination, at the 2017 TEDx ROCHESTER event. Her style is humorous, straightforward, and sincere, and she encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to creatively use their abilities and talents to serve others.

Following his release from prison, Terrell Brady attended Bryant & Stratton College where he earned a dual major in Business and Accounting. He was placed on the Dean’s list for five consecutive semesters and held a G.P.A. ranging between 3.50 to 4.0. In 2007, Brady received an A.O.S degree in both fields. At Bryant & Stratton College, Brady received the Accounting Award of Excellence, as well as the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges recognition. 

Terrell completed two significant internships and began several businesses including Brady Management, a Lawn Care & Property Management Company and the Charleston House restaurant. 

He also attended the Urban League of Rochester’s Minority & Women Business Development Division Business Planning Workshop Series, in 2008. Upon completion he attended RIT’s Saunders College of Business and received a certificate in Strategic Marketing in the Virtual World and later that same year attended the Enhancing Financial Performance workshop. 

Terrell Brady volunteered at the Board of Cooperative Education Services (BOCES) GED Classes, where he assisted in tutoring young and older adult males in mathematics. 

Terrell continued his educational pursuits at Roberts Wesleyan where for three consecutive semesters he received Dean’s List recognition for academic performance of a 3.50 or higher. In May 2013, Brady graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Roberts Wesleyan College. 

Briana M. Williams provides us with a candid, look at life through the eyes of a young girl, on to womanhood, and beyond. Her willingness to share her very personal trials, shortcomings, failures, and triumphs opens the gates of wisdom and instruction for young women currently navigating the complexities of life. 

Growing up in Rochester, NY Ms. Williams experienced education both in urban and suburban environments. This provided her with invaluable insight that she openly shares with young women in hopes of inspiriting them to take control of their destiny at an early age. 

A graduate of Canisius College, Briana Williams is impacting her community through her work and in her role as co-founder of the Courtney Tenea Foundation. 

Briana has a passion for educational reform. Her firsthand knowledge of the inequity between the urban and suburban academic experience, inspired her to create this valuable resource for young women. Carefully crafted lessons in etiquette, networking, money management, resilience, and grit are sure to establish The Come Up for Girls as an inspirational guide in navigating life in today’s world.

I began my career as a driving instructor in the summer of 1997. I’ve completed on-the-road instruction with more than 30,000 students and regularly conduct five-hour pre-licensing and six-hour defensive driving classes three or more times a week. My experiences as a driving instructor are precisely what led me to write this book. My expertise has made me a resource for driving law and technique which has resulted in frequent consultant appearances on local television. My hope and prayer is that the contents of this book will help new drivers pass their road test and inspire all drivers to stay focused behind the wheel so that we all may be safer and Drive Alive.

Obtaining a driver’s license is a privilege that is difficult to come by these days, particularly for urban youth. They do not always have the necessary resources nor do they have access to driving lessons. Though some schools are gradually reinstating Driver’s Ed, many urban families don’t own a car in which they can practice driving. This results in many not obtaining driver’s licenses until much later in life thus preventing people from qualifying for well-paying jobs that require travel to and from. Therefore, for some, having a driver’s license is paramount to earning a living wage. The goal of this book therefore is to provide clear, and helpful instruction to those hoping to obtain a driver’s license, thus increasing the probability of success.