Implementation Team Biographies
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Courtney Reed Jenkins, JD, CPM
T3 Project Director, DPI
Dr. Marian Wright-Edelman said, “Service is the rent we pay for being.” Courtney has “paid her rent” through two decades of work in the nonprofit and government sectors – always with a clear focus on eliminating institutional barriers to success for underserved youth. She started her career in education as a paraprofessional in a segregated school for students with disabilities, which literally paid for – and informed the focus of – her legal training. Since then, she has conducted legal investigations under federal and state civil rights laws for the State of Wisconsin; managed systems-change state initiatives focused on gender and racial equity in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa and Wisconsin; and served on the senior management team of a national civil rights organization. Courtney is the daughter, niece, parent, and sister to people with disabilities and is a parent to a justice-involved youth. Courtney focuses on justice in education in honor of her mother, who grew up white in the segregated south, and her daughters, to whom she wants to leave a fairer world.
Ellen Antoniewicz
Office Operations Associate, DPI
Ellen is the administrative professional supporting the T3 project. She is an Office Operations Associate on the Continuous Improvement team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Angela (“Angie”) Balfe, Ph.D.
Project Manager and Communication Strategist, CESA2
Dr. Angela Balfe is a Project Manager and Communication Strategist with Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) #2, where she leads the implementation, coordination, and logistical oversight of deliverables for the Transforming to Thrive (T3) Grant. In this role, she provides strategic leadership across key functions including project management, communications, fiscal operations, data systems, and organizational branding. Previously, Dr. Balfe worked on U.S. Department of Justice-funded initiatives to support tribal communities in developing sustainable justice systems and addressing alcohol and substance abuse in Indian Country. She also served as the educational liaison on a multidisciplinary, multi-jurisdictional committee focused on collaborative solutions between tribal and non-tribal entities to strengthen public safety and community engagement. Dr. Balfe’s career reflects a deep commitment to social and criminal justice, grounded in advocacy for equitable systems and community-driven solutions. She holds a Doctorate and Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science, and an Associate’s degree in Ethnic Studies.
Rudy Bankston
Digital Storyteller Workgroup Member, i Am We Village
Roderick “Rudy” Bankston is a committed educator, entrepreneur, Restorative Justice practitioner, and author. Rudy is a survivor of the school-to-prison pipeline He was wrongly convicted and sentenced to life at 19 years old, Rudy spent 20 years in prison before winning back his freedom on appeal. After his release from prison in 2015, Rudy began working for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD); first serving as a Community Liaison at Memorial High School. He added a second position guiding students’ learning and growth within ‘Restore’, the district’s expulsion abeyance program. The following school year, he transitioned into a Central Office position as a Restorative Justice Coach to support the engagement of Restorative Justice across all levels of the organization. Since leaving MMSD, Rudy continues his work engaging Restorative Justice as a founding member of Small Fire, LLC. , founder of i Am We Classics and i Am We Coaching & Mentoring, LLC. Most recently, Rudy founded, i am We Global Village to deepen the work of creating spaces of healing for individuals and communities as they adopt, center, and practice restorative values. Rudy has served as an adjunct professor at Edgewood College and currently is a consultant with the National Equity Project, serves on the board for the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRI), and is a member of the Black Educators’ Network. Rudy’s published works include a novel, Shed So Many Tears; two collections of Haiku, Snippets of Soul in Seventeen Syllables and Snippets of Soul, Too; and a book of poetry, Buried Alive.
Seth Bishop
Special Ed Data Analysis and Research, DPI
Seth Bishop is a data analysis and research specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, where his work focuses on federal compliance and oversight in special education. He leads data-related efforts in identifying and addressing educational inequities, particularly across disability status and race, in public schools. He is excited to work on the Transform to Thrive (T3) project to improve the supports and outcomes of justice-involved youth in Wisconsin.
dr. ananda de oliveira mirilli
T3 Digital Storytelling Project Director, DPI
dr ananda de oliveira mirilli is unafraid and unapologetic in their commitment to, and centering of, racial justice from a global & intersectional space, that evokes creativity and innovation in tackling deep seated inequities. They are native of Brazil and have a long history of working with communities in the U.S. and abroad. At age 14 ananda engaged in social justice movement & advocacy. After moving to the U.S. ananda became an educator and found their passion facilitating learning spaces for individuals, groups and organizations engaging in transformative work. As a skilled facilitator, ananda has engaged with thousands of youth and diverse professionals, building coalition and solidarity. ananda is a beautiful storyteller, a deep listener, and a thoughtful, experienced practitioner who centers love and restorative principles in the work that they do. They work for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) as a Digital Storytelling Project Director for the Transforming to Thrive grant, an initiative to support youth transition out of correctional facilities. ananda received their doctoral degree from Alverno College, centering their work around co-creating belonging in learning spaces. They hold a master’s degree in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Psychology. In Madison, Wisconsin, ananda is a former member of the Board of Education of the Madison Metropolitan School District, Nuestro Mundo Bilingual School and Unidos Against Domestic Violence. Lastly, ananda is a proud and dedicated mother to their daughter Breana.
Mr. Myron Duckworth
Vice President, S.M.I.L.E. INC
Myron Duckworth is Vice President of S.M.I.L.E. INC (Services to Maintain Independence and Life Efficacy). He is a U.S. Army veteran, and a dedicated advocate for youth navigating justice involvement and re-entry. Myron has over 15 years of experience working across education, health, workforce, and justice systems. He has a background in business and human services, and brings strategic insight, compassion, and a collaborative spirit to every space he joins.
Mr. Kinen Fleming, MBA
Director of Performance & Evaluation, S.M.I.L.E. INC
Mr. Kinen Fleming leads S.M.I.L.E. INC’s performance systems, ensuring program alignment with organizational goals. He is experienced in implementation strategy, continuous improvement, and executive reporting. With a background in criminal justice, workforce development, and policy leadership, he specializes in systems change, quality assurance, and cross-agency collaboration. Kinen focuses on enhancing effectiveness, aligning grants, and delivering actionable data insights.
Annalee Good, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher and Evaluator, WEC
Dr. Annalee Good is an educational researcher and evaluator with the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she directs the WCER Clinical Program and co-directs the Wisconsin Evaluation Collaborative. She supports youth-serving organizations through research-practice partnerships and culturally responsive evaluation in areas such as digital tools, engaging youth voice in research and evaluation, academic tutoring, personalized learning, community-school partnerships, and ensuring equitable access and outcomes in advanced learning opportunities. Annalee also is the co-lead of the Wisconsin chapter of Scholars Strategy Network. She was an 8th grade social studies teacher before earning her master’s and doctoral degrees in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Nadiyah Groves
Policy Director, Kids Forward
Nadiyah Groves hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is a graduate of Milwaukee Public Schools, where she attended the Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School. She studied User Experience at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Nadiyah chose to pivot careers and cut her teeth on her first campaign as a strategist in 2018. Since then, her expertise has encompassed grassroots political organizing, government affairs, lobbying, campaign strategy, and deep community engagement work to address critical issues impacting vulnerable people's lives and material conditions. She is dedicated to issue-based and coalition-driven advocacy, creating inclusive spaces, and amplifying the voices of communities that are marginalized and working with power holders at the local, state, and federal levels. Notably, she has held leadership roles in statewide campaigns, including the Biden-Harris campaign in 2020, has served as the Director of Governor Tony Evers' Milwaukee office and most recently as the Political Director for U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin's reelection campaign in 2024. Currently, Nadiyah works at Kids Forward, a state budget and policy center as the Policy and Budget Director. Outside of her professional life, Nadiyah enjoys spending time with her daughter Kaylah and her cat, Muffin, yoga and watching episodes of The Office.
Donna Hart-Tervalon, Ph.D.
Education Consultant and T3 Research Advisory Board Co-Chair, DPI
Dr. Donna Hart-Tervalon served as a consultant on the special education team with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction from 2001 - 2011. She also served as an Assistant Director of Special Education during her tenure. She retired in 2011 but continues to work (part-time, post retirement) for WDPI’s Division of Learning Support as an Educational Consultant to support work focusing on racial equity and addressing issues of disproportionality in special education. She has more than fifty years of combined experience in the field of education/special education. Dr. Hart- Tervalon has taught undergraduate and graduate level courses and provided professional development to educators on issues of racial equity, diversity, cultural awareness, culturally responsive practices and multiculturalism. She is also a published author.
Sarah Kuehn
Program and Policy Analyst, DWD
Sarah Kuehn is a Program and Policy Analyst for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Sarah has over 20 years of experience working in the field of disability and employment. She co-leads statewide transition activities and initiatives for DVR and is the Project Manager for the interagency Act 178 – Employment First Initiative. Prior to working for DVR she worked for the WI Department of Health Services in the Employment Initiatives on disability employment related programs including the Medicaid Infrastructure Grant (MIG), WisTech, WisLoan, and Project SEARCH.
Shahanna McKinney-Baldon
Evaluation Implementation Specialist, WEC
Shahanna McKinney-Baldon is an Evaluator and Clinical Program Mentor at Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has held leadership roles with public education and Jewish community organizations.
Patricia (“Patty”) Noland
WDA 6 Director, DWD
Patricia Noland, Director with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation-Northcentral Region for the past 13 years, leads a team of Licensed Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Specialists who support workers with disabilities in achieving their employment goals. Prior to her employment with DVR, Patricia led a Team of Career Development Professionals for a private non-profit employment agency and has 15 years of experience in Talent Acquisition and Human Resource Management field. She has a BS Degree from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Human Service Leadership, a graduate of the National Rehabilitation Leadership Institute, San Diego State University and also received certification as a Global Career Development Facilitator from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). She has 30 years of experience working with and managing Teams who serve individuals with barriers to employment.
Alicia Reinhard
Education Consultant, DPI
Alicia Reinhard is an Education Consultant at the WI Department of Public Instruction. Prior to working at DPI, Alicia was a transition coordinator and special education teacher. Alicia holds a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. Outside of schools, Alicia has 12+ years of experience as a therapist for children with autism. Her work focuses on empowering educators to support students with disabilities to graduate high school equipped to achieve their postsecondary goals.
Pamela Richter-Boss
Special Education Coordinator, DOC
Pamela Richter-Boss is a member of the T3 Implementation Team and leads the Dyslexia Screener Ad Hoc Group. She also represents the Wisconsin Division of Juvenile Corrections (DJC) across several other T3 working groups. Currently serving as the Special Education Coordinator for the WI Division of Juvenile Corrections, Pam brings over 30 years of experience in Wisconsin corrections. Her background includes teaching special education in juvenile facilities, as well as adult basic education, special education, and vocational training within adult correctional institutions. In addition to her professional expertise, Pam brings valuable lived experience as a person with dyslexia, deepening her commitment to inclusive and effective education.
Ms. Annette Veasey
Clinic Director, S.M.I.L.E. INC
Annette Veasey is the CEO and Founder of S.M.I.L.E. INC (Services to Maintain Independence and Life Efficacy), where she leads with over 25 years of experience in social services, behavioral health, and community-based support. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Phoenix and a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health from Loyola University of Chicago.
Throughout her career, Annette has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to empowering youth, young adults, and families. Her expertise spans mental and behavioral health counseling, AODA treatment, spiritual health, and mentoring. She is known for her eclectic therapeutic style, drawing from Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic approaches to create personalized strategies that promote healing and self-efficacy.
Through S.M.I.L.E. INC, Annette advances her mission to serve underserved BIPOC communities by offering holistic services that foster independence and improve quality of life. With a deep commitment to inclusion and compassion, she continues to create spaces where individuals can overcome adversity and thrive.