Age: 46
Company Name: Heart to Heart Services
Position In The Company: Founder & CEO
Dr. Johni Cruse Craig (Dr.J. Le’Ray) builds partnerships and community with educators, community stakeholders and other agencies to assist in the design and implementation of innovative professional learning and research experiences; inclusive of teacher training, leadership, advocacy, and community advancement through an equity lens. More specifically, Dr. Cruse Craig currently serves as a Research Resource Coach focusing on diversifying the workforce in a targeted region and a National Community Engagement Counselor focused on leading efforts in communities that are underrepresented in biomedical research through education, awareness, enrollment and retention activities.
Prior to these roles, she served as the National Project Director at the Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) leading the signature education programs; Delta Teacher Efficacy Campaign —Teachers Advocating to lead Great change (DTEC-TAG). These two programs were funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and executed with collaborative partner, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. These programs led research efforts focused on improving teacher effectiveness, through professional development on teacher self-efficacy, advocacy on teacher effectiveness through community town hall meetings, and the publication of research on the subject in DREF’s scholarly journal. A community of over 600 equity warriors was assembled, trained and equipped to assist in leading this work.
With more than 25 years in education, Dr. Cruse Craig served as an elementary and middle school science teacher, building and district leadership roles, community advocate and avid equity warrior. Dr. Cruse Craig has published academic reports, scholarly articles, op-ed articles, books, and journals. She has designed curriculum and presented over 125 presentations, with more than fifty percent focused on the DTEC-TAG research.
Dr. Cruse Craig holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, a Master of Education Degree in Middle Grades Math & Science, an Education Specialist degree, and Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration. She is also the Founder and CEO of Heart to Heart Services, where she provides a myriad of services through consulting, author, mentor/life & self-publishing coach. She lives by her two trademarked mantras: Education: It’s A Heart Matter® and Rise Holy Spirit, Rise®.
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjleray.heartcoach/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjleray/
