Director of Trauma-Informed Schools Project
Director of Youth Research
Implementation, Practice and Development Post Doctoral Fellow
Sr. Program Manager of Community Engagement
Dissemination Coordinator
Senior Advisor
Climate & Community Coordinator
Executive Director
Dr. Courtney N. Baker is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Tulane University. Dr. Baker is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in child clinical psychology. She received her doctorate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2010 and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2012. Dr. Baker’s research program, Project DIRECT, aims to diminish disparities in mental health and academic achievement by improving the delivery of high-quality evidence-based prevention and intervention programs. In addition to her active research program, Dr. Baker also directs the APA-Accredited School Psychology doctoral program, co-directs the Tulane University Psychology Clinic for Children and Adolescents, directs the Project DIRECT Early Childhood Consultation Service, and serves as the Faculty in Residence in Greenbaum Residence Hall.
Avery 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. Averu 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 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 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.
Angela 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.
Anthony 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 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.
Dr. 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.
Leslie Scott is an Education Program Director with over three decades of experience working within and partnering with school systems nationally. For the past ten years, Leslie has been a leader within College Track New Orleans, leading teams of more than 20 educators and providing transformative programming and opportunities for over 200 students annually. Her work has spanned instructional design, adult learning and development, talent acquisition, culture-building, partnership management, and student support.
Leslie is deeply committed to creating transformative cultures that empower both adults and students to thrive. Throughout her tenure, 100% of graduating seniors have matriculated to college. Prior to moving into program leadership, Leslie spent many years in the classroom as a middle school and high school educator.
Dr. Allison 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 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.
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