Avery BrewtonAvery Brewton (she/her), LCSW is a licensed social worker with over 15 years of experience working at the intersections of education and community development in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was responsible for training and coaching staff in trauma-informed teaching practices and facilitating evidence-based group interventions with students at public K-8 charter schools. She has previously worked with College Track New Orleans as the Director of Counseling and Wellness Services and became a certified trainer and facilitator with the Center for Restorative Approaches. Avery received her undergraduate degree in Political Science with a specialization in Urban Studies and Economic Development in Tallahassee, Florida from Florida A&M University and her master’s degree in Social Work from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Director of Trauma-Informed Schools Project
Cia BlackstockCia Blackstock (they/them) joins the NOYA team as the Trauma-Informed Youth Programs Coordinator, a position funded by a three-year grant from the Coalition for Compassionate Schools (CCS) and the New Orleans Youth Alliance. Cia co-leads the Core Trauma Informed Schools Implementation Team, advancing equitable, healing-centered, and trauma-informed practices in K-8 schools. With 14 years of youth development experience, Cia has worked as an educator, community organizer, and facilitator, focusing on anti-racism, collective liberation, and healing justice. Cia founded Collective Liberation Climbing, a BIPOC community rock climbing group, and is a part-owner and former CEO of the New Orleans Boulder Lounge. They are passionate about empowering young people through authentic relationships and trauma-informed methods, believing that healing justice in education and rock climbing can save lives and liberate communities. Trauma-Informed Youth Programs Coordinator New Orleans Youth Alliance
Dr. Jesse ChaninDr. Jesse Chanin is a researcher based in New Orleans. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Tulane University and a Master’s in Education from Fordham University. Her first book, a history of the United Teachers of New Orleans, will be released by UNC Press in Spring 2024. Jesse conducts research that centers community voices and social justice. She has collaborated on research projects with various organizations including Ubuntu Village, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Louisiana Bureau of Family Health, and the city of New Orleans. At the Coalition for Compassionate schools, she is working with middle school students on participatory action research projects to improve their schools. Youth Engagement Post Doctoral Fellow
Dr. Monique HandyDr. Monique Handy, a native New Orleanian, returned to the community in 2007 to start a teaching career. She has served as a classroom teacher and assistant principal at both the elementary and secondary levels. She has a strong background in special education, including experiences as a teacher and Special Education Administrator, and Director of Student Support Services. Dr. Handy is the owner and CEO of Aegis Access Network, a case management agency that provides supports and resources to persons with disabilities. In her free time Monique enjoys reading, crafting, binge watching rom-com shows, and being a mom of two girls and a wife. Implementation, Practice and Development Post Doctoral Fellow
Lila HochronLila Hochron is an educator and leader with a background in special education and a mission to help schools become places that support and embrace all of our kids. She has worked as a teacher, school leader and coach in New Orleans schools since 2002. Lila joins the Coalition for Compassionate Schools as a Program Evaluation Specialist. In this role she will engage with alumni of the Train the Trainer program to help us learn more about their experiences and how the Coalition can provide continued support. Program Evaluation Specialist
Maggie LanphereMaggie Lanphere joins the Coalition for Compassionate Schools after earning her MSW from Southern University at New Orleans in May 2024. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Literature and Art History, which remain two of her biggest passions. Maggie has over fifteen years of experience working in education. She has been a para-educator supporting middle school students with exceptionalities in the Iowa City Public School District; a reading interventionist working with bilingual elementary students and an after-school Art teacher, both in the Chicago Public School District; an English teacher to hardworking, Spanish-speaking adult immigrants living in Chicago; an English professor to Spanish- speaking college students in the rural community of Miahuatlán in Oaxaca, Mexico; a high school Spanish teacher to youth in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood; and a Bilingual Communications Director and Chief of Staff at a public charter school in New Orleans. Tier Support CoordinatorInstitute of Women and Ethnic Studies
Angela LockleyAngela L. Lockley’s educational experiences span over 20 years. After her daughter was diagnosed with Autism she entered the schools in an effort to discover ways in which she could support and advocate for students who learn differently. She has taught in the classroom in numerous roles from second grade to sixth grade teacher. Angela served as Dean of Culture and Families over 10 years serving to connect families and schools. In this role she embedded trauma-informed practices into the school culture in an effort to develop social emotional awareness, care and wellness. She went on to serve as the Director of Culture for a network of four schools in New Orleans. Her passion for recognizing and developing holistic systems of support for children who have been exposed to trauma has led her to further her research on the impact of trauma on the brain and overall health of a child. Sr. Program Manager of Community Engagement Institute of Women and Ethnic Studies
Anthony MarinoAnthony Marino has worked in education in New Orleans since 2014. He started his career as a teacher in roles including music, intervention and special education. His school leadership experience includes serving as a Special Education Coordinator and a Coordinator of Individualized Learning, Documentation and Accountability. Anthony received his undergraduate degree in Music Education from the University of Rhode Island and a Master’s in Educational Studies from Johns Hopkins University. He is currently pursuing an Ed.D in Diversity & Equity in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois with a dissertation focus on the school-to-prison pipeline. In his free time, Anthony enjoys spending time with his dog, Saint. Dissemination Coordinator
Dr. Stacy OverstreetDr. Stacy Overstreet is a Professor of Psychology at Tulane University. Over the course of her career her research has focused on how sociological, cultural, familial, psychological, developmental, and biological processes influence and interact with one another over time to shape child adaptation to trauma. Over the past ten years, she has translated that research to inform the implementation and evaluation of trauma-informed schools. She has published several empirical and conceptual papers related to these areas and she was co-editor of a 2016 special issue on trauma-informed schools in the journal, School Mental Health. Dr. Overstreet is a founding member of the New Orleans Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative. Her work through the Collaborative includes a grant from the National Institute of Justice to determine whether a multi-component implementation strategy for trauma-informed schools improves school safety as well as a grant from the Department of Justice to develop and evaluate a Train the Trainer model for the implementation of trauma-informed schools. Senior Advisor
Dr. Allisyn SwiftDr. Allisyn L. Swift is the Executive Director of the Coalition for Compassionate Schools. Dr. Swift was a Project Director with Beloved Community and represented Beloved with the Coalition prior to becoming Executive Director. She brings with her over 20 years of experience working with children and families. Dr. Swift is a former: Early Childhood Educator and Administrator, Independent Educational Professional Development facilitator, Zero-to-Three National Center for Infants Toddlers and Families Leaders of the 21st Century Fellow, Past Chair of The New York City Association for the Education of Young Children Policy Circle, Past Chair of the East New York Early Education Policy Committee, Supervisor at the The Harlem Children’s Zone’s The Baby College program, Recipient of the School Psychology Trauma Focused Training Grant at Tulane University, Lead Network Psychologist and Race & Equity Coordinator for FirstLine Schools Charter Management Organization and, Guardian Award recipient for her service and advocacy for children and organizational change. Dr. Swift is a licensed psychologist in the native land of Bulbancha, also known as New Orleans where she lives with her husband, daughter, and puppy dog. Executive Director
Interns
Clara BeeryClara is a 3rd year school psychology doctoral student at Tulane. Clara’s research interests revolve around mental health in early childhood settings, with a focus on leveraging implementation science to improve early intervention. She is particularly interested in how to improve care for children and families with complex needs who interact with multiple systems. Psychology Doctoral Student Intern
Lara FarinaLara Farina is a third-year PhD student in school psychology at Tulane University. Currently, she is completing an externship with Project Fleur-de-Lis, in partnership with the Coalition for Compassionate Schools. As an extern, Lara provides mental health and educational support in the New Orleans middle school setting. This year, her role involves supporting students in building resilience and healing through co-facilitating trauma-focused therapeutic groups and offering individual multidimensional grief therapy (MGT) and trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) in schools. Through her work, Lara aims to improve the accessibility of therapeutic services in the school setting and promote trauma-informed and inclusive learning spaces that value the collective wellbeing of students within their larger school community. As a student researcher with the International Teacher Wellbeing Lab at Tulane University, Lara’s research interests focus on the intersections between psychology, culture, gender, and sexual health, aiming to promote equitable health access and improve holistic and culturally-responsive therapeutic approaches. She is currently conducting mixed-methods research on international teacher wellbeing since COVID-19 with the goal of developing a deeper understanding of and methods for better supporting educator wellbeing nationally and globally. Psychology Doctoral Student Intern
Allison PequetAllison is a 4th year doctoral student in the school psychology program at Tulane University. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents experiencing chronic stress and trauma and utilizing evidence-based practices in assessment, consultation and intervention. Allison is currently a clinical extern at the Children’s Bureau of New Orleans and is partnered with the Coalition for Compassionate Schools to work with students at Kipp Leadership Academy.
Psychology Doctoral Student Intern
Avery BrewtonAvery Brewton (she/her), LCSW is a licensed social worker with over 15 years of experience working at the intersections of education and community development in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was responsible for training and coaching staff in trauma-informed teaching practices and facilitating evidence-based group interventions with students at public K-8 charter schools. She has previously worked with College Track New Orleans as the Director of Counseling and Wellness Services and became a certified trainer and facilitator with the Center for Restorative Approaches. Avery received her undergraduate degree in Political Science with a specialization in Urban Studies and Economic Development in Tallahassee, Florida from Florida A&M University and her master’s degree in Social Work from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Dr. Jesse ChaninDr. Jesse Chanin is a researcher based in New Orleans. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from Tulane University and a Master’s in Education from Fordham University. Her first book, a history of the United Teachers of New Orleans, will be released by UNC Press in Spring 2024. Jesse conducts research that centers community voices and social justice. She has collaborated on research projects with various organizations including Ubuntu Village, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Louisiana Bureau of Family Health, and the city of New Orleans. At the Coalition for Compassionate schools, she is working with middle school students on participatory action research projects to improve their schools.
Dr. Monique HandyDr. Monique Handy, a native New Orleanian, returned to the community in 2007 to start a teaching career. She has served as a classroom teacher and assistant principal at both the elementary and secondary levels. She has a strong background in special education, including experiences as a teacher and Special Education Administrator, and Director of Student Support Services. Dr. Handy is the owner and CEO of Aegis Access Network, a case management agency that provides supports and resources to persons with disabilities. In her free time Monique enjoys reading, crafting, binge watching rom-com shows, and being a mom of two girls and a wife.
Lila HochronLila Hochron is an educator and leader with a background in special education and a mission to help schools become places that support and embrace all of our kids. She has worked as a teacher, school leader and coach in New Orleans schools since 2002. Lila joins the Coalition for Compassionate Schools as a Program Evaluation Specialist. In this role she will engage with alumni of the Train the Trainer program to help us learn more about their experiences and how the Coalition can provide continued support.
Maggie LanphereMaggie Lanphere joins the Coalition for Compassionate Schools after earning her MSW from Southern University at New Orleans in May 2024. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Literature and Art History, which remain two of her biggest passions. Maggie has over fifteen years of experience working in education. She has been a para-educator supporting middle school students with exceptionalities in the Iowa City Public School District; a reading interventionist working with bilingual elementary students and an after-school Art teacher, both in the Chicago Public School District; an English teacher to hardworking, Spanish-speaking adult immigrants living in Chicago; an English professor to Spanish- speaking college students in the rural community of Miahuatlán in Oaxaca, Mexico; a high school Spanish teacher to youth in New Orleans’ Central City neighborhood; and a Bilingual Communications Director and Chief of Staff at a public charter school in New Orleans.
