54256636_10212772065886994_790468548777476096_o-e1555524982392 How one student was determined despite her diagnosis

There are many challenges our students have to overcome on their path to top colleges that we expect and we can plan around. And then sometimes our students face challenges that are unpredictable and unfair.

Adia Bracy (12th grade, Mt. Pleasant High School)— will be attending American University in the fall. But before she received this great news, she had to display deep determination despite a serious diagnosis during her high school years.

Adia joined TeenSHARP’s inaugural class in Delaware in January of 2016. Adia’s refreshing excitement for learning and serving her community was evident from our first interaction. As she committed to TeenSHARP she stood alongside her peers and read the following words in our pledge:

“As TeenSHARP scholars, we will be STRIVERS, embracing and appreciating rigor and persisting through any challenges.”

As a student in the IB program at Mt. Pleasant High School in Wilmington who was committing to also spend a full day each Saturday over the next four years in TeenSHARP sessions, she was already putting the pledge into practice. But life is full of unknowns and Adia and her family could have never anticipated the diagnosis she was about to receive.

At the end of her freshman year, Adia was devastated to learn she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It took a physical and emotional toll on her and her family.

The disease meant she would undergo months of blood transfers and stem cell transplants. She had to stay out of school for a year and her mother fought to get her the right type of homebound education to keep her on track academically. She also had to deal with the emotional turmoil of good reports that sometimes were followed by setbacks and a lot of uncertainty.

When her health permitted, Adia astounded all of us with her commitment to attending TeenSHARP Saturday sessions in spite of all she was experiencing. And she was not just attending sessions, she came with the signature joy that makes her so special. As quintessential strivers, Adia’s family kept their faith and their focus on her dreams through all of this.

Adia eventually was able to return to school for her junior year with doctors closely monitoring her progress. Returning to school meant playing catch up academically even though she often was lacking in energy. But she was not satisfied with academic achievement.

That’s why, she traveled to Washington, DC to join Delaware’s Congressional delegation to testify for the STAR act, a bill that supports survivorship and helps embark on new treatments to save the lives of children with cancer. She created her own line of cupcakes —DidiCakes—as a fundraiser for pediatric research. She became the president of Girls Empowered at her school and participated in the ACLU Summer advocacy institute in Washington, DC.

It’s no surprise that she will find herself back in Washington, DC in a few months where she’ll start her undergraduate career at American University. Many will never know what it took her to get there. But there’s no doubt everyone will be compelled by her power and persistence.

Deborah Yanez

Parent Programs Manager

Deborah leads TeenSHARP’s parent empowerment work with love, conviction, and credibility. She grew up in one of America’s poorest cities (Camden, NJ), has served as an elected school board member, raised two sons who have accessed higher education successfully (one is a TeenSHARP alumnus and McCabe Scholar at Swarthmore) along with her husband, and has helped many more families prepare their children for college.

Zoha Fatima

Director of Operations & Special Projects

Zoha is driven by a deep passion for education and social justice. With over 8 years of experience in the development sector, she has made significant contributions to various education projects aimed at increasing access and equity. Zoha’s commitment to empowering learners stems from her belief that education is a fundamental right. She honed her expertise at Harvard University, earning a Master’s in Education and Technology, building upon her undergraduate studies in Public Policy.

Based in the Bay Area, Zoha loves exploring the diverse California landscape, especially through hiking. When she’s not championing educational equity, you can find her baking, hitting the trails, or enjoying the outdoor.

Sara Petty

Director of Pre-College Success

Sara Petty is TeenSHARP’s powerhouse Director of Pre-College Success, orchestrating a nationwide expansion to ensure that talented Black, Latino, and low-income students have a direct path to elite colleges. With a proven track record from her days scaling a college access program in Houston, Sara has a knack for turning educational challenges into triumphs. She thrives on transforming obstacles into opportunities and is known for her relentless drive and innovative solutions. When she’s not making waves in the world of education, you can find her brainstorming the next big idea over a cup of coffee or diving into a new book that sparks her curiosity. Sara’s mission? To make sure every student has the chance to unlock their full potential and claim their spot in the future’s top colleges.

Tamara Fentress

Chief of Staff

For over 18 years, Tamara has been a passionate advocate for educational equity, inclusion, and the overall improvement of support structures to build a solid foundation for the journey of learning. Driven by a desire to see all students and families thrive, she has successfully led major projects of varying budget sizes, while also co-creating and implementing innovative strategies at mission-driven organizations across various operational areas, from technology and project management to legal and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEIB) initiatives.

Her journey began in a large urban school district, where she spent a significant portion of her career leading the development of critical strategies that served over 86,000 students. This experience allowed her to work closely with a diverse team of over 10,000 employees, understanding and addressing needs across all levels of the organization. Her collaborative spirit extended beyond the school district, fostering strong partnerships with parent groups, community organizations, and government entities.

Tamara’s dedication to education stems from a deeply personal place. As a mother to two inspiring children, Harmony and Hudson, she sees firsthand the potential and power of having access to opportunities, caring adults, and belief in that which is greater than yourself.  This unwavering belief in the power of serving others, access, equity, and education to empower and transform lives fuels her commitment to continuous learning and creating equitable opportunities for all.

Tatiana Poladko

Co-Founder

Our “force of nature” founder came to New Jersey from Ukraine for graduate school over a decade ago and immediately put her hands to the work of community empowerment and expanding educational opportunity. She has experience managing youth programs for the UN in Ukraine (at the age of 19!), teaching at Temple University, building/managing nonprofit organizations, and supporting students to and through college. She is also a mother to three lovely kids (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), plays guitar and piano, and makes amazing soups!

Atnre Alleyne

Co-Founder/CEO

As TeenSHARP’s resident historian, Atnre is quick to share stories of the organization’s humble church basement beginnings, its growing pains, and many milestones. With his background in research and evaluation, policy and advocacy, communications, technology, and instruction, he has the type of Swiss Army knife skills that are critical in a fast-paced social impact organization. He has three lovely children (Zoryana, Nazariy, and Taras), an amazing wife (TeenSHARP’s Co-Founder), and he plays bass guitar and blogs when he finds the time.