Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of Lillie May Carroll Jackson School is comprised of individuals from across communities and areas of expertise.  They commit countless of hours of volunteering with their services and expertise.

Monica Butler Mitchell, Board President, has over 20 years’ experience in banking and community development. In her role, Monica leads Wells Fargo’s national philanthropy for Youth, Young Adult, and Family Wellbeing Programs. Prior to that, Monica led Philanthropy and Social Impact work for the Maryland and Greater DC regions, and served as chair of Wells Fargo’s $1.6 Billion lending and philanthropic commitment in Washington D.C. called ‘Where We Live’™ focused on supporting small business, financial health and housing affordability.  Extensive engagement in workforce development, entrepreneurship and eliminating policy barriers that perpetuate poverty for low-to-moderate income communities are central to Monica’s work, with a personal passion to address the intersectionality of these issues with public health outcomes.

Monica is intentional in her advocacy for community impact programs and policies that advance historically underserved neighborhoods, drive economic growth, and provide educational equity and family stability. Monica is the founding President of the Board of the all-girls Lillie May Carroll Jackson Middle School in Baltimore City. Monica led the creation of the school and acquisition and redevelopment of the 60,000 sq.ft. formerly vacant blighted building in East Baltimore with a $4MM renovation that is now the permanent home to the school, which has quickly become a community anchor.  She also serves on the advisory council for Project REACh – DC, a program launched by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and on the boards of Junior Achievement, LISC DC, and the Eddie and C. Sylvia Brown Family Foundation, one of the nation’s largest Black Family Foundations, whose goals include advancing racial equity across policy and philanthropy. She was a founding member of the United Way Emerging Leaders United Program to promote the professional development and community involvement of Maryland’s next generation of leaders. Additionally, Monica served on the mayoral transition team for Baltimore mayor, Brandon Scott.

 Monica has received numerous awards including: Baltimore Business Journal 40 Under 40, National Coalition of 100 Black Women Shes100 Award for championing corporate social responsibility on behalf of black women and girls, Associated Black Charities ‘Icon Award’, Girl Scouts ‘Distinguished Women honors’, is one of the youngest honorees inducted into The Maryland Top 100 Women Circle ofExcellence, and was most recently named a 2021 Influential Marylander.

Jean Waller Brune, Emeritus, served as Head of Roland Park Country School from 1991-2016.  She has extensive experience in innovative school design and sound board governance and is a nationally recognized leader in the independent school world.  She is currently the President of the Association of Independent Maryland Schools Board of Trustees and serving as the Acting Head of The Country School in Easton, MD. 

Ann Daniels, Secretary has extensive experience in non-profits and in board governance, including work with Middle Grades Partnership, Baltimore Community Foundation and Planned Parenthood of NYC. Most recently, she served as Board Chair of the Middle Grades Partnership. 

Lynnea Cornish, is a passionate leader with over 20 years of experience in education. She spent much of her career in the Baltimore City Public School system as a teacher and administrator, and currently serves as the Interim Principal at Mother Mary Lange Catholic School. Ms. Cornish is a board certified special education advocate who assists parents struggling to navigate their children’s 504 Plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). She shares her time and talents with several organizations committed to the well-being of communities in Northeast Baltimore, where she and her family reside. Ms. Cornish is the parent of a daughter in the 7th grade at LMCJ. 

Kelly Dettman is a professional CFO with deep functional knowledge and wide-ranging industry experience. Kelly has provided financial, strategic, merger, operating, HR and administrative guidance to financial services, energy and consulting firms. Kelly began her career as a management consultant, providing strategic, operating, organization and restructuring services to clients in a number of industries. She has also held senior positions with and provided significant leadership to The Women’s Board of the Joffrey Ballet, Healthy Schools Campaign and the Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls Club. Kelly graduated from Mount Holyoke College and from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

Krysti Dickerson is a Workforce System Strategies at the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development. She is an experienced workforce practitioner with a demonstrated history of working in the civic & social organization industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Leadership Development, Case Management, Program Development, and Community Outreach. Krysti is a workforce development professional with a passion for improving employment practices and opportunities for Baltimore City residents.

Mary Ann Facente, Interim Treasurer, is currently a Vice President at Truist Bank, responsible for analyzing and approving loans for commercial, industrial and not-for-profit clients.  Previously she served as a Senior Vice President for Bank of America where she was responsible for expanding the Community Bank’s portfolio of charter schools across most of the lower 48 states.  An active community volunteer, Mary Ann previously served on the board of Chase Brexton Health Services and the Finance Committee of Paul’s Place as well as the Board Treasurer of KIPP School in Baltimore.

Raquel Gilmer is the Executive Director of OrchKids, a year-round, during and after school, music program designed to create social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baltimore City neighborhoods.  Raquel is an attorney, seasoned campaign manager, founder of a non-profit for girls and author of Crumbs Are Not Enough. 

Tia Gray served as the Parent Member of the Board at LMCJ for almost four years and graciously agreed to stay on as a Community Member after her daughter  graduated in June 2022. Tia has experience in educational grant management programs and public-school construction. Tia has also worked with both state and local education agencies helping them to facilitate funding for school construction projects. Tia has also served in various volunteer roles on the PTO and is a member of BOND – Building Our Nation’s Daughters. 

Elisha James has over 20 years of experience in education. She is a charismatic, empathetic, and inclusive leader who is skilled in acknowledging and nurturing the diverse gifts of students and faculty to build them up and bring out their best. Ms. James is the Director of K-12 Student Life and Engagement at Roland Park Country School. She has served as a teacher, Dean of Students, Director of the B.E.S.T. Summer Scholars program, Co-Director of Middle Grades Partnership, and in various other organizations in the Baltimore community.

Tiara Moyd is the parent of a current 7th grader at LMCJ. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has ten years of experience in education. She has spent the last several years eight working with children with disabilities. 

Todd Scott is the Deputy Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnership at the State of Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. He is responsible for promoting the mission of the agency by optimizing opportunities with current and potential external partners.  Todd informs Marylanders of the diverse portfolio of programs and services offered by the agency, including Maryland Mortgage Program, Neighborhood Business Works, Neighborhood Revitalization, BeSmart, Rental Housing Programs, Single Family Housing Programs, Housing and Building Energy Programs, Local Government Infrastructure Programs, Non-Profit Organizations and more.    Prior to Todd’s current position, he was a Portfolio Administrator that managed the Division of Credit Assurance’s Multifamily Asset Management Team.  The team reviewed the financials (P&L Statements, Balance Sheets and Audits) of all State of Maryland, Department of Housing’s 565 Multifamily Rental Housing Properties (50,000 units) for low income families and elderly tenants throughout the State of Maryland. He also enjoys mentoring the youth in Baltimore with his non-profit, We RISE.  

Carla Spawn-van Berkum, Vice President, Director of Accreditation Services at the Association for Independent Maryland and DC Schools. Carla has 40 years’ experience in Baltimore City Independent Schools including 10 years as Middle School principal and extensive work in curriculum development. 

Matthew Wernsdorfer, Sr. Director for Strategic Initiatives and Regional Impact at City Year, helps lead the work of Americorps members in public schools across 28 cities.  He has over 20 years of experience in public school teaching, administration, and reform, including having worked as a principal and teacher in Baltimore City Public Schools, and as a school reform coach for Johns Hopkins University.  He is also a proud graduate of the Baltimore Public School system.