ELITE Co-Founders

  • Dr. Bishop graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond and received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley. She earned her teaching credential from the University of San Francisco where she was student of the year. She earned her Master's Degree and administrative credential from California State University, Hayward. She was awarded a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Pacific.

    Dr. Bishop has served as Superintendent of Vallejo City Unified School District and Associate Superintendent for Educational Services in the Twin Rivers Unified School District. Her professional career also includes teaching, serving as principal, director, assistant superintendent and superintendent in several urban school districts. Additionally, Dr. Bishop has served as the elected president of the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators.

    Colleagues and community members have recognized Dr. Bishop for her excellence in education. She has been responsible for building multiple systems that enhance outcomes for all students. As a principal, she led a staff that facilitated API growth of 122 points in one year. In another principal position, she lead a staff that facilitated growth in similar schools ranking from a four to an eight.

    Most recently, Dr. Bishop worked with the VCUSD staff to implement innovative research-­proven strategies while removing the district from state control (the district achieved positive budget certification for several years in a row the credit rating went from no credit rating to a Standard and Poors rating of A+). Simultaneously, the staff implemented programs that are receiving state and national attention and having a strong impact on student outcomes, including. but not limited to: Wall to Wall College and Career Academies for all high school students, a Full-­Service Community School District, systemwide implementation of PBIS, RJ and Trauma-­informed Care, K-­8 STEAM programming, and innovative magnet school programs.

  • Alana J. Shackelford is an educational leader. Professionally, she has worked in the field of education since 1997. She has over 20 years of specialized experience and expertise in teaching and school-site administration.

    She is and has been the President/Chief Executive Officer of Ms. A’s Tutoring Service, Inc. Her company is the solution to building children’s self confidence through literacy and mathematics. Ms. A’s ensures that each student has a personalized learning plan that ultimately leads to student success.

    During her tenure at the Vallejo City Unified School District, Dr. Shackelford was promoted to the position of Director of Partnerships and Community Engagement. As a director, she was responsible for the district-wide implementation of Full Service Community Schools (FSCS), in addition to overseeing the structure and development of the Wall-to-Wall Academies (W2W) at each of the comprehensive high schools.

    She also developed partnerships with parents, the business community, and relevant government agencies in order to provide school sites with the support they need. Dr. Shackelford was also responsible for supporting school sites in building positive school cultures. She lead the school district in implementing their Integrated Intervention System-which includes Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, Restorative Justice and Trauma Informed Care.

    Dr. Shackelford is a graduate of St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School. After high school she attended Oral Roberts University, Tulsa, Oklahoma; where she completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Pre-Med.

    She continued her education receiving a Master’s Degree in Education & Administration and Policy Studies from California State University, Sacramento.

    Dr. Shackelford graduated from St. Mary’s College, Moraga, California with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

  • Ms. Reyes has over a decade of experience working in close partnership with various community and youth adult partnerships. She brings a host of facilitation skills and leadership in developing community and school partnerships, and innovative design of new programs. Ms. Reyes has extensive experience working with community-­based organizations to strengthen their capacity to support young leaders, engage boards of directors/administrators, develop and implement strategic plans, design and implement effective leadership, and provide training in fundraising, staff development, program evaluation and planning.

    Ms. Reyes previously served as the Program Director of Community School Partnerships for the UC Davis School of Education. She has the proven ability to develop strategically effective professional development and technical assistance for diverse communities and stakeholders. In addition to her experience working with schools, bel has also presented at numerous national conferences, led various diverse and well experienced teams around various research-­focus efforts, and dedicated time toward juvenile justice efforts and systems change initiative both at a local and statewide level.

    Having been born in Sacramento, California, bel brings her unique dedication to working with communities of color, schools, families and youth throughout the Sacramento Region. One of bel’s special core values is working with the Spanish Speaking families, communities and youth, developing their capacity to be educational advocates. Born to immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico, and a mother herself, bel values the contributions that culture, language, and identity have on education and community.

    bel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies at California State University, Sacramento with a concentration in Chicano/a Studies. She is currently in process of earning a Doctorate in Education from the University of Southern California, School of Education Rossier program in Organizational Leadership.