Staff
Alexandra Blackwood
Philanthropy Manager
Alexandra joined Freedom School Partners in December 2024 and serves as the Philanthropy Manager.
Alexandra Blackwood, Philanthropy Manager
Alexandra joined the Freedom School Partners team as the Philanthropy Manager in December of 2024. In this role, Alexandra strengthens relationships with community stakeholders bringing them into the impactful mission of inspiring scholars.
Her career focusing on equity and social justice began in the summer of 2015 when she served as a Site Administrative Intern with Freedom School Partners. Alexandra is a passionate relationship builder and nonprofit leader. She advocates for equitable access to education and believes in the limitless potential within each child.
Alexandra earned a BA in Voice Performance from Salem College. She is an active member with the Junior League of Charlotte and is an avid community volunteer.
In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys going to the theater, trying new restaurants and traveling with her husband, Nick. She also sings, bakes and loves being outside. Alexandra’s favorite childhood book is Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd.
Email: [email protected]
Allen Davis
Chief Operating Officer
Allen joined Freedom School Partners in December 2025 and serves as the Chief Operating Officer.
Allen Davis, Chief Operating Officer
Allen joined the Freedom School Partners (FSP) team as the Chief Operating Officer in December of 2025. In this role, Allen leads strategy, operations, and organizational growth to ensure every scholar experiences a joyful, empowering, and high-impact summer learning journey.
Allen’s connection to Freedom School is deeply personal — he began his career here more than a decade ago, serving as an Ella Baker Trainer and later as Director of Secondary Scholar Initiatives and Program Operations. During that time, he helped launch leadership development programs for high school and college scholars and strengthened partnerships that connected families, schools, and communities. Returning now as COO, Allen brings both experience and renewed purpose to help shape the same program that first shaped him.
A champion for educational access and community partnerships, Allen has spent his career leading mission-driven organizations that expand opportunity for youth and families across Charlotte. Before rejoining FSP, he served as Senior Program Manager at Road to Hire, where he led the redesign of a five-year college and career model, achieving a 95% placement rate, and at Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, where he strengthened operational systems and community engagement efforts to advance housing and neighborhood stability.
Allen lives in Charlotte with his wife, Myah, whom he met while serving as an Ella Baker Trainer in 2008. Together, they are proud parents of four — Amiya, Mileah, Asiah, and Memphis — who inspire his daily commitment to learning and joy. His favorite book is The Eagles who Thought They were Chickens, by Mychal Wynn ,and he enjoys coaching youth sports, exploring new coffee shops, and community storytelling.
Email: [email protected]
Amber Jackson-Holston
Senior Program Director
Amber joined Freedom School Partners full-time in spring of 2023 and serves as the Director of Partnerships and Enrichment.
Amber Jackson-Holston, Director of Partnerships and Enrichment
Amber is a former elementary and middle school educator and instructional coach. She previously taught grades 3, 4, and 7 in North and South Carolina schools. As a classroom teacher and instructional coach Amber worked with over 600 children and their families in her 12 year career in public schools. She also previously served as an Impact Leader for Profound Ladies, a North Carolina based non-profit that recruits and mentors Black, Indigenous, Women of Color educators.
Amber Jackson-Holston joined Freedom School Partners in the summer of 2011 serving in several roles including, Servant Leader Intern, Site Coordinator, Regional Operations Manager, and Enrichment Manager. Amber joined the Freedom School Partners team full-time in the spring of 2023 and now serves as the Director of Partnerships and Enrichment. In her role Amber leads partnerships and enrichment for the Freedom School program.
Amber holds a BS in Elementary Education from Winthrop University and a MAT in Teacher Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. She is member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Incorporated. She avidly continues her research of instructional practices regarding teacher leadership, the science of reading, social studies curriculum, and instructional strategies for students of color and multilingual learners.
As a family, Amber and her husband Jonathan are currently revisiting their childhood favorite stories to share with their newborn son. Amber’s favorite childhood book is Socrates by Rascal and Geert Bogart’s.
Email: [email protected]
Essence Blye-Lee
Program Manager
Essence Blye-Lee joined Freedom School Partners full-time in April 2026 and currently serves as the Program Manager.
Essence Blye-Lee, Program Manager
Essence Blye-Lee joined Freedom School Partners full-time in April 2026 and currently serves as the Program Manager. In this role, she manages projects across multiple program areas, including enrichment, recruitment, training, and resource management, helping to ensure a high-quality and impactful Freedom School experience.
Essence is a dedicated servant leader with a deep passion for youth development, literacy, and educational equity. Her connection to Freedom School is both personal and longstanding—beginning as a scholar and continuing over the past decade through roles such as Servant Leader Intern, Site Administrative Intern, Site Coordinator, and Ella Baker Trainer. She also brings valuable experience from public education, having served as both an elementary school teacher and a high school English teacher.
Essence earned her Bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education, a post-baccalaureate certification in English as a Second Language, and a Master’s degree in Liberal and Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Project Management from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, planning small events, and crafting. Her favorite childhood books include the Junie B. Jones and Cam Jansen series.
Email: [email protected]
Ieeshah Mackey
Supplies and Materials Coordinator
Ieeshah joined Freedom School Partners in May 2023 and serves as the Supplies and Materials Coordinator.
Ieeshah Mackey, Supplies and Materials Coordinator
Ieeshah Mackey joined Freedom School Partners in May 2023 and serves as the Supplies and Materials Coordinator. In this role, she manages Freedom School Partners’ offsite storage location, supply drives, and in-kind donations. She is also responsible for coordinating the purchase and delivery of supplies and materials during the summer.
Ieeshah has a passion to see our scholars grow and discover new possibilities. She is a strong believer that everything in life is in a book. She is inspired by reading and always desires to learn something new. Ieeshah is an advocate for her community and proud to be a part of the Freedom School Partners movement.
Ieeshah was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Management. She also has an Associates of Applied Science degree in Medical Office Administration from Central Piedmont Community College.
Ieeshah was born in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is married to her husband and has two sons, Kyle and Kollin. Her favorite childhood book is Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume.
Email: [email protected]
Jowette Bobray
Community Engagement Manager
Jowette Bobray joined Freedom School Partners in April 2026 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager.
Jowette Bobray, Community Engagement Manager
Jowette Bobray joined Freedom School Partners in April 2026 and currently serves as the Community Engagement Manager. In this role, she leads volunteer recruitment and engagement, builds and strengthens community partnerships, and connects the broader community to the mission of Freedom School Partners.
Jowette is a servant leader with nearly a decade of experience in youth development, nonprofit leadership, and community-based programming. Her work has consistently focused on connecting people to resources and opportunities that support youth, families, and communities. She has served as an AmeriCorps member supporting nonprofit capacity building and has led initiatives centered on social-emotional development and community engagement.
Jowette’s journey with Freedom School is a full-circle experience. She began as a Servant Leader Intern in 2014 and has remained connected to the movement ever since. During her time at Davidson College, she supported the relaunch of a Freedom School site following the COVID-19 pause and served as project director, leading staff recruitment, training, and program implementation. She continues to be committed to creating spaces where scholars and families feel connected, affirmed, and inspired.
Jowette earned her degree from UNC Charlotte. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Curtis, and their two sons, Caiden and Caleb. She also enjoys traveling, baking, and reading—her favorite pleasure reads include the Skyland series by Kennedy Ryan.
Email: [email protected]
Leah Jones
Scholars and Families Manager
Leah joined Freedom School Partners in January 2019 and serves as the Scholars and Families Manager.
Leah Jones, Scholars & Families Manager
Leah Jones joined Freedom School Partners in January 2019 and currently serves as the Scholars & Families Manager. In this role, she manages the functionality of Freedom School Partners’ scholar registration and strategy for family engagement. She is also responsible for supporting strategy development for high school students’ engagement, including, but not limited to the Freedom School Academy.
Leah is a servant leader passionate about promoting upward mobility and resource equity for our communities. She advocates for the youth, our future community leaders, and brings four years of experience in adolescence mentorship, academic coordinating, and educational nonprofit programming. She is proud to support the impact Freedom Schools are making on children.
Leah graduated with her bachelor degree in Psychology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and is now a candidate for master of Nonprofit Management and Leadership at Walden University. In her spare time, she enjoys bonding with family, cooking, reading and practicing art therapy. She is a proud mother to one daughter. Leah’s favorite childhood book is When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner.
Email: [email protected]
Mary Nell McPherson
Founding Executive Director
From January 2000 – December 2019, Mary Nell McPherson served as the founding executive director of Freedom School Partners…
Mary Nell McPherson, Founding Executive Director
From January 2000 – December 2019, Mary Nell McPherson served as the founding executive director of Freedom School Partners working toward their mission to engage, educate, and empower children to succeed in school and in life through quality, year-round educational enrichment programs.
McPherson has been a leader in Freedom School Partners’ growth from one site serving 100 children to seventeen sites serving 1,200 children.
McPherson has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years. Her substantial history in nonprofit management includes serving as the director of operations for Habitat for Humanity in Charlotte and support specialist for Crisis Assistance Ministry.
McPherson also served on the Friendship Trays Board of Directors and has remained a Meals on Wheels driver for the past 20 years. McPherson also served on the Johnson YMCA Advisory Board for a short time in the early 1990’s. In October 2009, McPherson received Mecklenburg Ministries’ honorable Community Leader Award for ten years of service in the Charlotte community.
Due to the success of Freedom Schools in Charlotte, McPherson was appointed to the national Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools Advisory Board in 2011. An ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), she believes that education and the knowledge of God’s love are the keys for children growing into their potential.
She graduated from Mary Baldwin College 1979 and moved to Charlotte, NC to work for then, Duke Power and made a move to the nonprofit sector in 1985 to work for Crisis Assistance Ministry. After 10 years she worked for Habitat for Humanity and was hired as the executive director of then, Seigle Avenue Partners in 1999.
Mary Nell is married to Kevin Strawn with whom she has two daughters, Mollie and Rosemarie. In her free time she enjoys practicing centering prayer and yoga. Her favorite childhood book is Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Necole Watts
Year Round Engagement and Outreach Coordinator
For over 23 years, Necole Watts has been shaping the lives of children. Through her work as a group home counselor and an…
Necole Watts, Year Round Engagement & Outreach Coordinator
For over 23 years, Necole Watts has been shaping the lives of children. Through her work as a group home counselor and an advocate for children, there is no doubt that there are children who will become better adults as a result of their time spent with Ms. Watts.
As the third child of four, she is often described as a team player who loves being a part of the family whether at home or at work.
As school-year engagement coordinator, Necole continues to use her gifts to provide mentorship for children of all ages. She collaborates with community partners, supporting their involvement with scholars and their communities into the school year after Freedom School ends each summer.
Necole graduated from Pfeiffer University (formerly Pfeiffer College) with a degree in criminal justice and sociology. Her favorite childhood book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.
Email: [email protected]
Nikki Keith
Chief Executive Officer
Nikki joined Freedom School Partners in Spring of 2024 and serves as the Chief Executive Officer.
Nikki Keith, Chief Executive Officer
Nikki joined Freedom School Partners in Spring of 2024 and serves as the Chief Executive Officer. In her role she oversees and directs all operations of Freedom School Partners, ensures proper fiscal management, guides strategic thought leadership, and leads all advocacy measures in alignment with FSPs’ mission.
Nikki is a seasoned professional deeply committed to advancing educational equity and justice. With over 25 years of strategic leadership in the nonprofit sector, Nikki has consistently showcased her proficiency in spearheading impactful initiatives.
Prior to her tenure at FSP, Nikki served as Vice President of Partnerships and Development at Road to Hire, a local nonprofit dedicated to fostering economic justice through education and apprenticeships. She has also led development teams at Freedom School Partners and the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts + Culture.
Nikki holds a Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University and earned her undergraduate degree from Western Kentucky University.
Beyond her professional journey, Nikki treasures spending time with her husband, son, and daughter. Her commitment to fostering a more equitable society transcends her professional endeavors, as she also actively cultivates an environment of compassion, inclusion, and growth in her personal life.
Her favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Raechelle Petteway
Chief Development Officer
Raechelle joined Freedom School Partners in June 2025 and serves as the Chief Development Officer.
Raechelle Petteway, Chief Development Officer
Raechelle Petteway joined Freedom School Partners in June 2025 and serves as the Chief Development Officer. In her role, she leads a dedicated team to orchestrate FSP’s philanthropic initiatives and amplify its marketing and communications outreach.
Before joining FSP, Raechelle served as Senior Corporate Relations Manager at Road to Hire where she diligently nurtured relationships with Charlotte’s largest corporations, bolstering their talent pipelines and improving economic mobility for motivated young adults.
As an accomplished non-profit leader with more than 15 years of experience in development and corporate philanthropy. Drawing from her background in corporate social responsibility, marketing, and communications, Raechelle has consistently advanced the missions of organizations dedicated to serving children, youth, and families. She has held key roles in program development and strategic fundraising, where she has successfully cultivated partnerships with corporate donors, foundations, and community stakeholders to drive sustainable impact.
Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Duke University. These credentials, combined with her hands-on experience, uniquely position her to lead with both vision and operational excellence in the nonprofit sector.
Outside of work, Raechelle finds joy in the kitchen as an avid home cook and host—often gathering loved ones over meaningful meals and time-honored family recipes. She’s also a lifelong music enthusiast who enjoys discovering new artists and attending live concerts. Her favorite book is Boundaries, by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.
Email: [email protected]
Symone Holliday
Marketing & Communications Manager
Symone Holliday joined Freedom School Partners in March 2026 and currently serves as the…
Symone Holliday, Marketing & Communications Manager
Symone Holliday joined Freedom School Partners in March 2026 and currently serves as the Marketing & Communications Manager. In this role, she leads strategic digital communications and branding efforts, helping to connect the community to the organization’s mission and amplify the stories of scholars, families, and partners.
Symone is a passionate storyteller and strategic thinker with more than five years of experience in nonprofit marketing. Her work focuses on using digital platforms to elevate organizations that serve children and families, ensuring their impact is both seen and felt. She is deeply committed to advancing equity and strengthening community engagement through thoughtful, data-informed communication.
Symone earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Marketing and Communications from Florida State University, with a specialization in Multicultural Marketing. She brings expertise in content strategy, data analytics, and digital content creation. Outside of work, Symone enjoys reading biographies as well as science fiction and fantasy novels, running, trying new restaurants, playing video games, and spending time with her family.
Email: [email protected]
Special thank you to Daniel Coston Photography for the images.