ABOUT THE FLINT CENTER
VISION: We envision a future where Flint kids thrive because they are loved by thriving families, educated in thriving schools, and supported by thriving communities.
MISSION: Our mission is to build an educational ecosystem that works for all Flint kids by providing educational programs, policies, and research that ensure Flint kids, their families, schools, and communities thrive.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Flint Center for Educational Excellence is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities and outcomes for children in Flint, Michigan. Launched with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Flint Center is a place-based education reform initiative that works with schools, families, and the community at-large to build an educational ecosystem that ensures Flint kids thrive in any path they choose.
Theory of Change
Flint kids are not educated in a single school system, they are dispersed across a range of educational options—from traditional public schools to charter schools, private institutions, online learning, and homeschooling. Unfortunately, this system is disjointed and complex, especially for low-income families who must weave together a myriad of social services to help their children thrive.
An ecosystem approach addresses this challenge by weaving together a complex network of interconnected components that work together to support learning and education. Informed by Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, our approach encompasses intervening at various levels to create an optimal environment for Flint kids, their families, school, and communities to thrive.
We work with individual students and teachers to implement practices that improve educational progression, health, wellbeing, and belonging of Flint kids. Initiatives like the Community Education Initiative, Thrive Afterschool, and Network for School Excellence work with teachers across schools and school systems to improve outcomes for Flint kids.
We work with school and system leaders to improve school-level rates of academic achievement, school-community partnerships, and family leadership. Initiatives like the Flint Early Childhood Collaborative and Network for School Excellence address the school and system-level barriers that prevent students and teachers from achieving their full potential.
We serve as a convener and backbone organization to address issues that indirectly affect the Flint kid’s education through their impact on the immediate environment. Initiatives like the Flint Parent Collaborative and Research and Advocacy Initiatives influence educational policies and curriculum standards, community resources and support for schools, and policies that affect parents’ involvement in their child's education.
With our partners, we address the broader societal factors, policies, and systems that influence the education and well-being of Flint kids. Through initiatives like the Community Council on Education, we are working to disrupt the links between poverty and educational outcomes for Flint kids by influencing state and federal policy, and attracting increased investment in Flint kids, families, and communities.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ja’Nel Jamerson
President & CEO
Rafael Turner
Board Chair
Carma Lewis
Vice Chair
Latrese Carruth
Secretary
Thomas Parker
Treasurer
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ja’Nel Jamerson
President & CEO
Ja'Nel Jamerson, Ed.D., is the President & CEO of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence. As the Flint Center’s founding CEO, he brings more than a decade of experience in establishing multi-sector partnerships to address complex social issues.
Dr. Jamerson began his career as the Pre-College Programs Manager at the University of Michigan-Flint. His experience as a first-generation college student shaped his passion for advocacy and action that ensures every child can thrive. As a graduate student, Dr. Jamerson gained invaluable experience about the educational process teaching in Detroit high schools. This motivated him to support establishing the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network and serving as its first Executive Director in 2014. He later served as Executive Director of Educare Flint and as Vice President of Policy & P-20 Partnerships at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
A leader in education reform, Dr. Jamerson serves as the chairperson for the Michigan Early Childhood Investment Corporation, board member of the Michigan League for Public Policy, and trustee of the Ruth Mott Foundation, among other community leadership roles. In 2024, Dr. Jamerson joined the inaugural cohort of Fellows in the EdRedesign Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Leaders at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, collaborating with leaders from across the nation in creating a model for systemic change for children and families.
A native of Flint, Dr. Jamerson is an alumnus of the University of Michigan-Flint, where he earned a Master of Arts in secondary education, an Education Specialist in curriculum and instruction, and a Doctor of Education in education leadership. In his current role as President & CEO of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, Dr. Jamerson’s diverse academic and professional experiences have uniquely positioned him to lead an organization that is building an educational ecosystem in which children, their families, our schools, and communities can thrive.
Bryce Rucker
Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel
Bryce has a wealth of experience and expertise in various practice areas, including non-profit administration, product liability, business and commercial liability, real estate, and more. With over a decade of experience as a Senior Attorney at Dykema-Gossett, Bryce's strategic oversight plays a pivotal role in guiding the Flint Center's operations to new heights.
Bryce holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Northwood University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School. During his time at Notre Dame, Bryce distinguished himself as an executive board member of the Black Law Students Association and Executive Managing Editor of the Journal of College & University Law.
Rebecca Kelley, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Rebecca Kelley is the leader of Plante Moran’s financial accounting outsourcing controller and CFO services. She is currently providing fractional CFO duties for the Flint Center For Educational Excellence. Click here to learn more about Rebecca.
Keiona Mosley
Chief Strategy Officer
Keiona Mosley is a transformational education leader with a deep commitment to fostering growth and equity in education. With a distinguished career that includes serving as Assistant Superintendent and Director of Federal, State & Local Programs, Keiona has consistently championed initiatives that enhance student success and community engagement. Currently, she holds the position of Chief Strategy Officer for the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, where she drives strategic initiatives to improve educational outcomes in the community that nurtured her.
As a proud Flint native, Keiona’s dedication to serving the city that supported her is unwavering. Her work reflects her passion for giving back to the community and ensuring future generations have access to the same opportunities and mentorship she benefited from. Outside of her professional role, Keiona cherishes spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring education systems across the globe to bring innovative ideas back to Flint.
Her leadership, vision, and personal connection to Flint make her a powerful advocate for educational transformation.
