Wake 2027 Cohort
Wake ’27 Fellows
Kisha Boulai
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Kisha Boulai earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas and a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning with a focus on Middle School Education from Liberty University. With over 20 years of teaching experience in NC, Kisha began her career as a special education teacher for seven years before transitioning to a mathematics teacher at Heritage Middle School (HMS). Throughout her career, Kisha has held several leadership roles, including 6th Grade Team Leader, Mathematics Professional Learning Community Leader, Media Technology Advisory Committee grade level representative, and member of the School Improvement Team. Additionally, she served on the Superintendent Teacher Advisory Council for Wake County Public Schools. Kisha was selected as HMS Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year and named HMS Mathematics Teacher of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year. Kisha’s impact extends beyond the classroom as she was a co-advisor for the “Find Your Voice” Book Club, encouraging students to express themselves and embrace their uniqueness. Currently, Kisha serves as a 6th Grade Mathematics Multi-Classroom Leader at Durant Road Middle School in Wake County. Kisha can be reached at kcboulai@ncsu.edu.
Tisha Carnes
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Tisha Carnes earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Middle School Education from North Carolina Central University. With 20 years of teaching experience at East Garner Magnet Middle School, she specializes in English Language Arts (ELA) and Social Studies. Throughout her career, Tisha has taken on multiple leadership roles, including serving as the Step and Cheerleading Coach, Department Chair, Team Leader, and Mentor. Her dedication to teaching has earned her recognition, being named Teacher of the Year twice in 2013 and 2023. Additionally, she was honored with the Out of This World Educator Award in 2022 from First Bank. Outside of her classroom, Tisha continues to give back to the community by working with children as the Village Builder for TheGifted Arts, a local nonprofit that supports K-12 students. Tisha can be reached at lcarnes2@ncsu.edu.
Meaghan Comstock
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Meaghan Comstock earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, PreK-6 from Regent University. Meaghan began teaching in Norfolk, Virginia from 2016-2020, where she developed classroom management and relationship-building skills. She then moved to Wake Forest, where she taught at Jones Dairy Elementary since 2021. While there, Meaghan co-chaired as the third grade team lead, meeting bi-weekly with the school-wide leaders to help make decisions that benefit the school. She also co-chaired as SIP coordinator, where she attended district-wide meetings and helped develop school goals and prove them with data. She co-chaired the Culture and Climate committee, which helps bring coworkers together to build a more positive and inclusive environment. She is the 3-5 liaison for the PTA and meets regularly with parents to be a voice for teachers and help make the school a place parents seek out. Meaghan believes that building strong relationships with students throughout the school helps to create a safe and respectful learning space for everyone to reach their goals. Meaghan can be reached at mecomsto@ncsu.edu.
Sheryl Davis-Jackson
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Sheryl Davis-Jackson obtained her Bachelors of Science degree from Longwood University in Elementary (PreK-6) and Middle School (English and Science), where she gained her VA teaching license. Sheryl started her educational journey in Virginia, teaching 3rd grade for 10 years. During that time, she returned to school to earn her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Upon moving to Raleigh, NC, Sheryl taught 4th grade and started a mentoring group for young girls to have a safe place to share and use their voices. Moving from the classroom and serving in the last seven years as the Instructional Facilitator, Magnet Coordinator, and Intervention Team Facilitator has provided Sheryl opportunities to grow and learn in the educational instruction world. As a magnet coordinator, Sheryl became trained as an International Baccalaureate (IB) program workshop leader and has had the opportunity to share her experiences as an IB educator on a global scale. Along with the IB Primary Years Programme, Sheryl serves as the PYP Programme manager for IB Schools of NC (IBSNC) schools across the state and had the opportunity to present at the IB Global Conference in 2024. Sheryl is most proud of being a foster/adoptive mom outside of the classroom. Sheryl can be reached at sdavisj@ncsu.edu.
Reid Guthrie
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Reid Guthrie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Tennessee. After graduating, he relocated to Raleigh, NC, in 2019, where he earned his teaching license in social studies. Over the past four years, Reid has taught social studies to middle school students across all grade levels in Wake County. During this time, he also served as the Student Council Advisor and Chair of the Social Studies Department. For the last two summers, Reid has worked with StudentU, a Durham-based nonprofit that supports first-generation college-bound students, as the Dean of Students. In this role, he mentored students from diverse backgrounds and helped create impactful programming that allowed students to showcase their talents and potential. Before entering the field of education, Reid was involved in Tennessee politics, where he held leadership roles in various political party organizations and contributed to grassroots organizing efforts across the state. His passion for education began in high school when he served as the student representative to the school board and witnessed firsthand how leaders in education can make transformative differences in students’ lives and communities. Reid can be reached at rguthri2@ncsu.edu.
Jacey Macdonald
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Jacey Macdonald earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota in 2012 with majors in German and Anthropology. After graduating, she served as a Pre-K literacy tutor with the Minnesota Reading Corps in St. Paul before moving to NC in 2013, where she began her teaching career as a Teach for America Corps Member in Edgecombe County. She taught 6th and 8th grade ELA, Social Studies, and Global Studies, while earning her Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education through East Carolina University. In 2016, Jacey joined Wake County Public Schools as a middle grades ELA teacher, taking on various leadership roles, including Team Lead, Intervention Coordinator, School Improvement Team Co-Chair, and Curriculum Content Writer. Beyond the classroom, Jacey has worked extensively with Teach for America to support new educators as a Corps Member Advisor, Lesson Planning Specialist, and Content Facilitator. In 2017, she served as a Digital Support Writer for NCDPI, helping design digital tools and resources for the implementation of new ELA standards. As a 2018 UNC World View Global Fellow, she designed and published instructional resources that integrate environmental sustainability into English and Social Studies curricula. Jacey partnered with EducationNC from 2018 to 2020 to co-lead the EdAmbassadors project, facilitating professional learning sessions focused on equity in education and published articles that amplified teacher and student voices. Jacey now serves as the Instructional Facilitator and Reading Interventionist at Oberlin Magnet Middle School in Wake County, where she continues to support student learning and teacher development. Jacey can be reached at jmacdon2@ncsu.edu.
Keri McCormack
Keri McCormack graduated from Western Governors University with a Bachelor degree in K-12 Special Education and K-6 General Education, equipping her with a strong foundation to support students with diverse learning needs. Keri began her career in Wake County Public Schools, where she honed her skills in various roles. She started as a teacher assistant and later became a special education teacher. In 2020, she transitioned to East Garner Magnet Middle School, where she served as an In-Class Resource Teacher and also taught Math and English Language Arts (ELA) Essentials. In 2021, Keri embraced a new challenge by transitioning to the role of an Extended Content Standards Teacher, continuing her dedication to providing personalized support to students with specialized learning needs. In 2024, Keri joined the School Engagement and School Improvement Committee, working to help foster a positive and inclusive learning environment for both students and staff. She continues to inspire and empower students to achieve their highest potential in every aspect of their learning journey. Keri can be reached at kmccorm2@ncsu.edu.
Justin Miller
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Justin Miller earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from East Carolina University. Since 2015, he has taught 8th grade Social Studies and International Relations at West Millbrook Magnet Middle School. Justin was the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year and has held numerous leadership roles including Social Studies Department Chair and member of the School Improvement Team. He also served as Head Soccer and Head Basketball Coach from 2015-2021. Justin can be reached at tjmille6@ncsu.edu.
Frank Morris
Sponsoring District: Wake County
Frank Morris earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Carolina University. He began his teaching career in Jamaica, where he spent nine years educating students across rural, suburban, and urban communities. During his tenure, he held various leadership roles, including Assistant Grade Supervisor, Senior Teacher overseeing school events, the cafeteria, student governance, and Chair of the Disciplinary Committee. After migrating to the United States, Frank continued his passion for education by teaching fifth grade for several years. He has also taken on leadership roles such as Grade Level Chair, Leadership Team Chair, and Co-Chair of the School Improvement and Magnet Vision Committee. Currently, he is a 6th-grade math teacher and co-chair at Centennial Campus Middle School. Through his diverse experiences, Frank remains committed to fostering student success and contributing to school leadership. Frank can be reached at fmorris2@ncsu.edu.