Hello
With over 25 years of experience in education—as a community leader, coach, and advocate — I continue to build bridges between families, schools, and communities, helping students realize that college and career success can start now.
My Story
Education and advocacy have always been a part of my story. Inspired by my father, Frank Stanton, a college professor and civil rights activist, I grew up deeply aware of the power of education and justice. My father’s involvement in historic movements like the Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins and the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, left a lasting imprint on my heart and purpose.
As a lifelong educator, I have witnessed firsthand the many ways the American education system has fallen short— especially for Black and Brown students and those who don’t fit into the “traditional” mold of what success looks like in America’s classrooms. I know the struggle personally, having navigated a school system where few teachers or leaders looked like me. The difference was having a strong role model in my father who showed me what was possible.
Today, I am channeling that same passion and purpose into College Now MN. The organization’s mission is clear and urgent: to raise the graduation rate of Black students in Minnesota, a state that currently ranks among the lowest in the nation for students of color. This is simply unacceptable. Our bright, beautiful students deserve to be inspired, supported, and seen.
Education & Professional Development
- Bachelor of Arts (Community Education and Diversity Degree - Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, MN)
- University of Wisconsin Lacrosse – 1992-1995 (Studied Teaching, Lacrosse Football Team)
- U.S. Army Veteran
- Over one hundred hours of Professional Development and Job Certification hours for position as a Cultural Family Advocate
- Restorative Practice and Restorative Circle Training (Certified)
- Well-trained in mediating dialogues around race, open mindedness to learn, and constructive problem-solving methods.
I was born and raised in Bethlehem, PA and later moved to LaCrosse, WI to further my studies in education. When I'm not mentoring students or collaborating with schools, I enjoy spending time with my family, coaching my son's basketball, baseball and football games, discovering great food, and playing golf. My life’s work continues to be guided by my father’s legacy and his own belief that every student deserves the chance to dream, achieve, and lead.
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.