David-Miller-Voting TeenSHARP students are making their mark this election season

In an unprecedented election year, TeenSHARP students are stepping up. From standing in long polling lines to volunteering to work extended hours at the ballots, our scholars were determined to cement their place in this historic election. 

David (C/O ’21), pictured above with his mother, cast his first vote Tuesday in a presidential election. Amanda (C/O ’21), like many TeenSHARP scholars, worked many hours at the polls; in her case, over 15 hours! She had worked as a greeter in September for the primaries; for the presidential election, she moved up the ladder and worked as a Voting Machine Operator. When asked why she chose to volunteer, she said: “I knew I needed to make sure other people can take pride in their voices [being heard].”

Lucia (C/O ’21), another TeenSHARP scholar, volunteered not only to fulfill her civic duty but also because she saw a community need. “Especially now because of Covid” she said, “many older people who work the polls may be at high risk and aren’t able to work as they usually do.”

Glorious (C/O ’21), a TeenSHARP senior, awoke at 4 a.m. on Election Day to participate in the democratic tradition. She spent the first half of her day making sure different polling places had all of their supplies. The second half of her day, she answered help desk calls from poll workers who might experience problems in the field. Glorious worked until 10 pm. She said this experience taught her how to better communicate with people and take charge when necessary.

TeenSHARP Summer Cyber Spark 2020 “Campaigns and Elections 101” Course from jenese on Vimeo.

TeenSHARP students have also taken advantage of the Elections and Campaigns college-level course we offer in our Striver program; it is taught by Mrs. Jenese Jones, a former elected official. This course provides historical information about voting that students don’t learn in the classroom. Exposure to these lessons has encouraged them to engage actively as civic agents of change. Click below to watch

“The biggest thing I have probably learned from the class is the importance of voting and the history behind it,” said Deborah (C/O ’21), a student enrolled in the class.

Another scholar, Kassidy (C/O ’23), said the class filled in gaps from public schooling. “I have learned how to become a better speaker, advocate, and historian. This class has given me insight and sparked my interest in possibly getting a job in this career field,” she said.

In addition to the course, many TeenSHARPies are getting real experience with campaign politics. Marco and Ryan (C/O ’21) volunteered for New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer’s campaign during the primary election, for instance. Students also got to produce their own campaign videos.  

After a long day working at the polls, Amanda Eric is exhausted!

Amid a pandemic and growing racial tensions across the country, our TeenSHARP students are choosing to stand tall and use their voices. Our scholars are being creative, and they’re not letting their age stop them from advocating for what’s right.  

TeenSHARP senior Amanda (C/O ’21) said it best: “We are in a place where your rights need to be protected—so why not exercise all the rights you have now?”

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.