Dr. Bio of Nana Dr. Chike Akua
(pronounced Chee-kay A-koo-uh)
Nana Dr. Chike Akua is a former Teacher of the Year, Leadership Strategist and one of the most sought after speakers at urban schools, colleges, universities and educational conferences. He is also an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University.
Dr. Akua is the author of 13 books in total, producer of a series of historical videos online and 70 Black History and African Proverb Posters.
Dr. Akua’s book, Education for Transformation: The Keys to Releasing the Genius of African American Students shares the methods master teachers use to bring out the brilliance in Black students.
His book Honoring Our Ancestral Obligations: 7 Steps to Black Student Success is a favorite among high school students and those who teach and lead them.
Dr. Akua has also developed Reading Revolution Online, a web-based, culturally relevant academic support tool that increases reading comprehension, vocabulary development, grammar and writing skills.
Dr. Akua has been featured in Ebony magazine and more recently in Black Enterprise magazine and The Washington Post for his work as an innovative educational leader. He has helped lead over 1000 students and parents on trips throughout Egypt, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco.
In 2022, Dr. Akua was enstooled as a Chief in Ghana and given the name Nana Abakah, meaning, “leader with heart, spirit and soul.”
Dr. Akua earned a doctorate in educational policy studies at Georgia State University, a Master of Arts degree in education with a concentration in school counseling from Clark Atlanta University and is a bachelor of arts degree in English Education from Hampton University.
Dr. Akua is the father of two sons and resides just outside of Atlanta, GA in the US with his wife of thirty-one years. Learn more about Dr. Akua at www.ReadingRevolution.org.
Tavares N. Stephens released his first book, Soul Food Café while still a college student at the University of Georgia. He went on to become a master teacher, transforming the lives of thousands of middle and high school students as a language arts and literature teacher and basketball coach. Tavares also contributed as a freelance writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He then earned a Masters of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. As a multi-talented man on a mission, today Tavares is known nationally as a dedicated minister, spoken word artist, songwriter and gospel artist. Tavares contributed to the research and writing for the book, Reading Revolution.
Willette
Akua is a veteran educator with over twenty-five years of experience producing
excellence in early childhood education.
Additionally, she has significant experience and expertise with online
education and homeschooling. Willette is
known and loved by her students for being fun, warm, caring and wise while
keeping educational standards high. She
earned a bachelors degree in accounting from Norfolk State University and a
teaching certificate in elementary education from Mercer University.
In 2013, Willette founded Seba Academy, a school that served grades 1-6, fostered academic and cultural excellence while cultivating a love for learning within its students. In 2021, she launched Seba Academy Online to meet the increasing demand for engaging, culturally relevant and responsive online instruction. Willette’s text editing, production design and voice overs were essential in the production of Reading Revolution Online.
Jennifer Jackson was born in Hampton, VA to a military family. She was raised in Fort Washington, MD and is now living in Cincinnati, OH, by way of Charlotte, NC. She is a proud mother of two delightful daughters in their early twenties. She is committed towards serving her community and others and does so through active membership in service-oriented organizations. Jennifer is a graduate from Hampton University and has a long and successful career in programming and data management and analysis.
Jennifer specializes in assisting content creators in setting up internet sites to deliver their content. She has extensive experience with platforms including ONTRAPORT, Kajabi and TalentLMS. Jennifer also provides support for WordPress sites. Jennifer’s organizational acumen, technological expertise and solution-centered approach to web design and course design were essential in the production of Reading Revolution Online. Jennifer can be reached at jjaconsulting64@gmail.com.
Jahbari Akua is a Computer Engineering and Game Design
Major at Kennesaw State University. He
is also the author of Sankofa Kemet: My First Trip to the Motherland, a
children’s books that he wrote about traveling to Egypt when he was nine years
old. Jahbari enjoys composing music,
skateboarding, exercising, traveling and all things technology!
Amari Akua is a Cinema, Television & Emerging
Media Studies Major at Morehouse College.
Since his freshman year in high school, he has been an award-winning
filmmaker and highly requested photographer to national speakers like Dr.
Marquita Blades, Principal Baruti Kafele and Dr. Chike Akua. Also while in high school, his films have won
numerous awards from film industry judges.
He enjoys creative production, photography and traveling.
Kaylie Yale is an anthropology major at Kennesaw State
University with a minor in Environmental Studies. She enjoys working with animals and reading
about anthropology, archeology and history.
Her text editing and voice overs were very helpful in the production of
Reading Revolution Online.
Aiyana Cooper is a Communications major at University
of West Georgia. Aiyana is an
award-winning filmmaker and a very skillful writer, photographer and video
editor. Her video editing skills were
very helpful in the production of Reading Revolution Online
