Meet Our Team
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La Toya Wilson, Founder and Executive Director
La Toya Wilson is a teacher and advocate of educational empowerment for the underachieved and underrepresented student population. Beginning her career in university diversity recruiting for IBM, Mrs. Wilson saw the disparity among diverse racial groups as it pertains to educational achievement and attainment of employment in technical fields such as engineering and computer science. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Wilson pursued a career in education as she sensed a calling to serve an underserved student population by working in Title 1 schools.
She first began her teaching career in Durham, North Carolina as an 8th Grade Language arts teacher. It was here that she founded a girls' mentoring program called J.U.M.P., which stands for Just Understanding My Potential, where advisors help girls build positive self-images and personal relationships while realizing their full potential. During her time in education, she implemented other programs for boys that promoted academic achievement after seeing a serious need for intervention. S.M.A.R.T BUS was a vision given to Mrs. Wilson several years ago as she encountered countless numbers of students who have fallen through the cracks without getting the assistance that they need due to socioeconomic factors. It is her belief that S.M.A.R.T BUS will change the lives of many students.
Kim Batten, Board Chair
Kimberly Batten began her career as a grassroots organizer, lobbyist, training facilitator, and advocate for women and people of color after completing her undergraduate degree in Political Science at James Madison University. During this time, she learned how economic empowerment improved the overall lives of historically disenfranchised people. As a result, she worked in human resources in employment training, counseling, and placement. Kimberly’s career path segued into education as it is a remedy to un- and underemployment. In addition, it allowed her to advocate for the overall economic empowerment of those traditionally underrepresented in sustainable employment and career opportunities.
Kimberly earned her teaching certification and has worked as a special education teacher in Virginia and North Carolina for 19 years. Her frustration with the number of her high school students who read as low as the first-grade level catapulted her decision to complete her Master of Reading Education degree at The University of Virginia. After becoming a certified reading specialist, Kimberly transitioned to middle school, where she believed she could make the most lasting impact on the educational, financial, and employment futures of her students.
Kimberly began working with S.M.A.R.T. BUS because of its emphasis on bridging the educational gap for students of color and girls. Those who struggle to achieve due to their economic, racial, gender, or ability status are offered additional access to meaningful learning opportunities. However, equally important is the need for students who are neither identified as struggling learners nor academically gifted who need enrichment, coaching, and/or exposure to content in order to reach their fullest potential. The S.M.A.R.T. BUS team meets those needs.
Ryan Wilson, community-based services
Ryan Wilson is a dedicated mental health professional with extensive experience in both hospital and community settings. Known for his exceptional work in aiding individuals experiencing homelessness and transitioning from mental hospitals to independent living, Ryan has made a significant impact on the community.
With a medical background in mental health, Ryan has also worked extensively with youth, ensuring they receive the mental health support they need and educating their parents about available services. His expertise and compassion have helped many young people and their families navigate the complexities of mental health care.
At S.M.A.R.T BUS, Ryan provides community-based services to individuals with children who are homeless, struggling with substance abuse, or experiencing mental health crises. He specializes in emergency mental health interventions, offering crucial support to those in urgent need.
Ryan Wilson's commitment to helping vulnerable populations and his ability to connect people with essential resources make him an invaluable asset to S.M.A.R.T BUS and the wider community.
Judge Fred Gore, Board MEMBER
Judge Fred Gore grew up in Supply, NC. After high school he joined the North Carolina National Guard as an infantry soldier. Judge Gore attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he majored in Business with a concentration in Marketing and obtained his B.S.B.A. in 1998. Judge Gore worked in the business world for several years with companies like Nike before going back to law school. He was admitted to Appalachian School of Law in Grundy VA., and graduated with his Juris Doctorate. In Law School Judge Gore excelled as a well-rounded student and member of his community while completing over 300 hours of community service and he was also selected to Who’s Who of American Law Students in 2003 and 2004. In 2014, while serving as a prosecutor, Judge Gore filed and ran for the District Court Bench and in November of 2014, he was elected to serve Bladen, Brunswick, and Columbus Counties as District Court Judge. He obtained his Certification as Juvenile Court Judge and served as the primary juvenile judge for the district until 2020. Judge Gore was elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2020 and started his eight-year term in 2021. Judge Gore remains active in the community and participates in many programs for children as he is the father of twin boys, 12 years of age.
John Tharp, Advisory Board Member
Dr. John Tharp has 28 years of experience in education, having worked in both K-12 and higher education. He has served as a Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Professor, Principal, and Teacher. He began his career as a high school social studies teacher and coach. He is currently an administrator in Hamilton County School, Tennessee, leading elementary, middle, and high schools. Additionally, Dr. John Tharp provides diversity and equity training to school administration and staff.
James Hopkins, Board Member
Principal James Hopkins graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a masters in school administration and was offered a job at Jordan High School. It was here that Hopkins started a bowtie club as a way to continue to connect with students and engage in rich conversations around social and academic etiquette as a means of providing support for future graduates enrolling in college, enlisting in the military, or seeking employment. It was during his time at Jordan High School where he began to see himself as a building level principal. He first began his career as a school administrator in Carrboro High School in Chapel Hill, NC. It was later in 2017 where he was offered a position as a principal for Lakewood Elementary. Hopkins has been recognized in the media for leading his school into monumental gains on End of Year Testing.
Learn More About Principal Hopkins
DR. TAWYNA DANIELS, Board Member
Dr.Tawyna Daniels is a veteran educator who's served in different capacities in education; she is licensed in the areas of district superintendent, principal, and teacher. Most recently, she served as administrator over virtual academies in Wake County Schools. Dr. Daniels' love and passion for education stretches beyond our school buildings, as known in her civic leadership. She has broad exposure to numerous counseling issues working with diverse students and adults, extensive experience and training in educational leadership, program development and evaluation, strategic leadership, and resource and fiscal management. She has a doctorate in educational leadership where her dissertation focused on the importance of developing educational leaders through experiential learning. She created and published research-based recommendations to help universities, school districts, and organizations improve the morale in their environments.
John Williams, Board Member
John A. Williams was born and raised in North Carolina. After graduating high school, Mr. Williams left the state immediately to join the United States Air Force. After 20 years in military service, he retired and worked as a Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida. In 2003, he returned to North Carolina and entered the North Carolina School system in Greene County. Shortly after entering the school system, he became a school administrator, attended East Carolina University and received his Masters of School Administration. Mr. Williams moved to Durham as an assistant principal and onto Chapel Hill for a principalship. Since 2012, he has been the principal of Phoenix Academy High School.
Learn more about Principal Williams
winifred marecheau, Orchestra teacher
Winifred Marecheau has twenty-six years of experience as a music educator. He has taught in Charlotte, NC; Hattiesburg, MS and Las Vegas, NV. He holds both a
Bachelors’ and a Masters’ Degree in Music Education. Mr. Marecheau believes that, “It is the responsibility of an educator to unlock the door of understanding which enables a student to learn.” He has worked with the All State and All County Orchestral programs for over nineteen years. Mr. Marecheau is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the North Carolina Music Educators Association. He was also the 2007 recipient of the Community
Recognition Award for Cultural Arts from the Raleigh-Wake National Pan-Hellenic Council.
Shavonia Jones, Program Lead curriculum and film
Film Credit Bio coming soon
Cantrailia Blount, Founder of Cantrailia's Movement & Collaborative Partner
S.M.A.R.T BUS has collaborated with Cantrailia’s Movement. A reputable dance company that operates in Wake County. The dance instructor, Cantrailia Blount, has almost 20 years of experience as a dance instructor and has been recognized with prestigious awards from various organizations.
Cantrailia’s Movement is a vibrant and empowering program that celebrates both traditional and modern dance forms, providing students with a rich cultural experience while nurturing their artistic talents. This program instills confidence, promotes cultural pride, and fosters a love for dance in a supportive and inclusive environment. Students can express themselves creatively and develop skills at their own pace.