Maya Bugg, Ed.D., has deep roots in the education sector – from beginning as a classroom educator in North Carolina to working with the United States Department of Education as a policy consultant. Now, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Tennessee Charter School Center, her more than a decade of experience launching, scaling, and leading high-impact initiatives throughout the education sector are poised to lead charter school growth and success here in Tennessee.
Prior to joining the Center, Maya served as the founding State Director for Education Pioneers Tennessee, where she was charged with overseeing strategic growth, financial stability, and partner development throughout the region. She has also worked in capacities to support evaluation and strategy for teacher preparation programs; lead school and district-level leaders in advancing school turnaround efforts; and found a national resource dedicated to training educators in the use of culturally responsive education.
Maya earned a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania, an Ed.M. from Harvard University, is National Board Certified as a teacher, and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership & Policy at the Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt University.
Cameron Quick is the operational mastermind behind the daily function at the Tennessee Charter School Center. As the Chief Operating Officer, he brings a unique background of business and operations support, financial and facility advising, educational leadership, and national group purchasing that are helping to make the center more efficient.
Cameron has spent over a decade supporting charter schools across the country. In that time, he launched the first Facility Resource Center in the country which has since replicated in several other states. In the past five years he has brought over $600 million in facility resources to charter schools across the country, and continues to be a lead facility expert for national programs and federal grants designed to support charter schools navigating the real estate process. He serves as a team member for the Charter School Facility Center, a project of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; founder and developer of The Lending Project, a free online loan matching platform for charter schools; an in house expert for all charter school facility needs for the TCSC Facility Resource Center.
Cameron received his B.A. in Communications and a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Arizona State University. In his leisure, Cameron is surfing, rock climbing, traveling, cooking, exploring, and learning to fly a plane.
Elizabeth Fiveash is the Chief Policy Officer for the Tennessee Charter School Center. Prior to joining TCSC, Elizabeth worked in state government relations for ACT and was the Assistant Commissioner for Policy & Legislation for the Tennessee Department of Education. Elizabeth is a native of Alabama and worked in government affairs for eight years in Washington, D.C. prior to moving to Nashville. She received a BA in political science from the University of Alabama and a master’s in public policy from Georgetown University.
Laurie has spent the last decade making good trouble to ensure that students and their families across the rural South had access to support, opportunities and resources. While working as a Teach for America corps member, Laurie authored a federal grant to bring AP courses to her campus for the first time in the school’s history. As KIPP Through College Director, she negotiated new college partnership contracts that provided $1.8M for her graduates and wrote a grant to bring college advising to local public schools to ensure equitable access to college. As a chief of staff she led the charge to register over 480 families to vote in Nashville, Tenn. and Jackson, Miss. She is committed to advocate with those who are marginalized and uses compassion and partnership in working across lines of difference in order to achieve the best results for all.
Laurie holds a B.S. in Sociology and African American Studies from Florida State University and a M.S. in School Counseling from the University of Central Arkansas.
Emily Lilley is a proud representative of East Tennessee, and believes all students should have the opportunity to attend an excellent school, no matter where they live. As Vice President of External Affairs, Emily leads TCSC’s communication and external partnership efforts, managing the team’s work in stakeholder and supporter engagement, development, and communications. Prior to this role, Emily served as TCSC’s Director of Government Relations, leading the organization’s efforts to develop and advocate for policies supporting a public charter school sector focused on quality. In her seven years with TCSC, the policy team saw wins including the defeat of all negative legislation regarding public charter schools, the establishment of a state facilities grant fund for public charter schools, establishment of a statewide appellate charter school authorizer, and strengthening of policies that ensure public charter schools are held accountable equitably. Emily’s ongoing work at TCSC serves to continue to increase understanding about public charter schools in Tennessee and build productive relationships with stakeholders, supporters, and policy makers across the state.
After graduating with a teaching degree, Emily taught in Atlanta, followed by several years working as an editor in her hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee. A 2012 stint as the communications director for a successful congressional re-election campaign in Georgia led her to return to Tennessee to work in education policy and advocacy.
Emily has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education and History from Auburn University and a Master of Arts degree in Communication from Johns Hopkins University. In her spare time, Emily enjoys reading and sharing new fiction @thebookandcover, trying new cocktail recipes, and playing with her miniature dachshund, Bertram.
Tommiea Jackson a native of Marks, Miss., is the communication manager for the Tennessee Charter School Center.
Tommiea offers a strong set of professional skills in corporate communication, media relations, journalism, research, event planning, team management and photography. Jackson served as a newspaper reporter in Clarksdale, Miss. and Monroe, La. where she covered government, health and technology before joining the public relations team at Jackson State University and later at her alma mater, Rust College. Most recently, Tommiea worked in communication, marketing and events at Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida. Tommiea has a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi and a bachelor’s degree in English from Rust College. She earned accreditation in public relations in 2018.
Joshua Perkins is no stranger in the education sector. As the Director of Quality Schools, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Tennessee Charter School Center.
Joshua taught special education for six years before expanding his career as the founding Dean of Scholars for Leadership Preparatory Charter School. As a dean, Joshua created and implemented a behavior program, facilitated professional development, and supported teachers with creating and executing behavior plans to improve academic performance. Knowing no limits, Joshua began a new journey as the Advisor of Academic Quality and Accountability in the Office of Charter Schools (OCS) with the Shelby County School District. In this role, he managed 56 charter schools and ensured that each school was in compliance and up-to-date with statute and policy. Joshua oversaw the annual site visit in which every school participated to remain in compliance with SCS Board Policy and state statute regarding progression towards goals.
Joshua received his bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of Memphis and a master’s degree in Education from Cambridge College.
Carra Powell is a leading advocacy, policy and community grassroots organizer. Her work has influenced the school choice conversation at the national, state and local level. Her nearly 20 year education career has honed her skills and expanded her knowledge base in preparation for the role of Director of Policy and Advocacy at Tennessee Charter School Center.
Most recently, Carra worked as the Director of Enrollment and Community Engagement to found and recruit families for Compass Community Schools, a six school charter network in Memphis, TN. Carra has also worked with the American Federation for Children, Jubilee Catholic Schools, and the Black Alliance for Educational Options.
Carra believes that all children should have access to a high quality education regardless of their zip code. She has dedicated her professional career to advancing choice-friendly policies that empower children and parents. Beyond her professional roles, Carra enjoys spending time with her three children, leading parenting classes, volunteering at her church, and playing with her two dogs.
Kim West is the Office Coordinator and Special Assistant to the CEO.Prior to joining the center, she was the Associate Program Manager forthe Vanderbilt Medical Center Operations Improvement Department whereshe was in charge of providing administrative support for a staff of19 and brings over a decade of office coordination and administrativesupport.
She earned a B.A. from Trevecca Nazarene University and is a Nashvillenative. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, making jewelry andspending time with her grandson.
