Dawn Owens

Dawn Owens is from Mobile, AL, and is an accomplished early childhood educator, instructional coach, policy advocate, and thought leader. As a career Early Childhood Educator, she understands the need to start on day one working to ensure all children are ready for kindergarten and ultimately reading proficiently by third grade. As the Director of the Montgomery Education Foundation’s Bold Goals initiative, Dawn spearheads community engagement and coalition building to achieve the Bold Goal.

 

Crystal Aryitey, ph.d

Crystal Russell Aryitey is from Montgomery, AL, and is an accomplished educator, curriculum developer, and researcher dedicated to fostering educational equity. As a first-generation college graduate, she understands the power of opportunity and strives to amplify pathways to success for underserved youth. In 2019, she founded Destiny Driven Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that utilizes public speaking and debate as transformative tools to help youth develop effective communication skills, critical thinking, and conflict resolution. In 2024, Crystal earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Law from Alabama State University, where her research focused on juvenile reentry. As the Community Engagement Specialist for the Montgomery Education Foundation’s Bold Goals initiative, Crystal works to bridge community resources with educational initiatives, aiming to create equitable opportunities for all students.