As National Women’s History Month comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the amazing group of women who make up Future Ready Five’s team. These passionate individuals each bring a tremendous amount of care and expertise to their roles, and we are so grateful for their dedication and commitment to not only our organization’s success, but to the children in Franklin County in which they serve.
Dr. Vanisa Turney
As our Chief Operating Officer, Vanisa oversees our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative, designing and implementing organizational strategies, plans, and procedures that aid the organization in meeting its kindergarten readiness goals. Having witnessed the effects of early exposure and education during her 20+ years of experience in education as a teacher and administrator in P-12 settings, Dr. Turney is committed to eliminating poverty through education.
Maureen L. Thomas
As our Chief Financial Officer, Maureen oversees our budget, ensuring our financial goals are met, and, perhaps most importantly, that everyone on our staff and in our cohort are receiving their well-earned dollars! Having spent the last 30 years in the nonprofit sector, Maureen is passionate about the work FR5 is doing with early childhood educators and children and believes that education should be equitable and accessible to all.
Brittany Jackson
As the RISE Director of Early Childhood Scholarships and Incentives, Brittany is responsible for overseeing the distribution of the RISE scholarships and incentives, as well as managing our team of dedicated RISE program managers. Having spent 17 years in education, Brittany is passionate about empowering the early educators and caregivers in Columbus because she has witnessed the lasting impact they can have on the lives of young learners.
Paula Neal
As one of our RISE Program Managers, Paula provides coaching and support to early childcare professionals. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, equity has always been at the forefront of Paula’s mission to ensure that high-quality education and services are provided in the early learning years to set the foundation for her students’ present and long-term success.
Leslie Miller
Rounding out our RISE team, Leslie serves as one of our RISE Program Managers, working closely with early childcare professionals to ensure their children are receiving the best care possible. With 24 years of experience in early childhood education, Leslie leverages her extensive background and passion to inspire others and create positive change within the field of education.
Megan Hamilton
As our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative (KRC) Senior Project Manager, Megan oversees the day-to-day needs of our KRC program, providing support and resources to our childcare program directors and providers. With 14 years of experience in education, Megan pursued this role to better advocate for our most vulnerable youth, and to ensure all children in Franklin County have a fair and just opportunity to succeed.
Stephanie Davis
As our Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative (KRC) Coordinator, Stephanie administers state-approved literacy screenings as well as provides essential literacy interventions and support to the children and families in our cohort. She brings over 20 years of early learning experience to our team and has dedicated her professional life to leveling the playing field in closing the achievement gap.
Bianca Rylee
As our Marketing & Social Media Coordinator, Bianca manages our content strategy across our website and social media platforms, enhances our organization’s communication with partners and cohort participants, and provides creative solutions to the day-to-day challenges that arise. With over 10 years of experience as a designer and content creator for vaious organizations, and a mother to two young children at home, Bianca is extremely passionate about FR5’s mission and early childhood advocacy.
Melissa Johnson
As our Executive Assistant, Melissa provides much-needed support and organizational management to our entire team. With over 20 years as an administrative professional, Melissa brings her passion for helping others to her work – she thrives off helping the FR5 team achieve their goals.
To read our team’s full Bio statements, click here.