LEADERSHIP

OPERATION REACH is a non-profit, community-based corporation founded by Dr. Kyshun Webster to:

1. Improve the academic performance of students grades K-12
2. Cultivate community-focused leadership in college students
3. Create a critical mass of informed parents equipped to hold schools and systems accountable for quality educational outcomes

KYSHUN WEBSTER

New Orleans native and public school graduate Dr. Kyshun Webster is a nationally-recognized educator and certified teacher who has worked in the non-profit sector as a community educator since he was 12 years old. He grew up in the St. Bernard Housing Development and returned there to start his first after-school tutorial program in 1998, which was later recognized by the Tiger Woods Sharing and Caring Award Program, declaring Dr. Webster a "local hero". Dr. Webster most recently has studied the implementation of parental involvement programs required under the federal No Child Left Behind policy. Additionally, he has been utilized as a policy consultant and expert witness for legislative initiatives on parental involvement in education, for both the Minnesota and Louisiana Legislatures.

Education

• University of Minnesota, Ph.D., Comprehensive Work, Family and Community Education (2005)
• University of New Orleans, M.S. with a concentration in non-profit leadership
• Xavier University of Louisiana, B.A. and teacher certification in Art Education

Recent Publications:

Webster, K. (2005). Parental involvement: Perceptions of how section 1118 of No Child Left Behind is being implemented in New Orleans public schools. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Webster, K. (2004). No Parent Left Behind: Evaluating programs and policies to increase parental involvement. Harvard Journal of African American Public Policy, (10).

Webster, K. (2002). Toward an Understanding of Urban Minority Parental Involvement in Public Schools: An Exploratory Case Study of A New Orleans Elementary School. Master's Thesis, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana.

2005 Operation REACH Board Members

• Kyshun Webster Sr., Ph.D., President/CEO
• Rose Lewis, Interim Chair, Social Worker, Mental Health Specialist
• James Gray, III, J.D., Attorney, Gray & Gray
• Ted Quant, BSc., Director, Loyola University Twomey Center for Peace through Justice
• Jonathan Williams, M.Ed., Principal, Medard Nelson Elementary School

OPERATION REACH STAFF

Nicole Payne

Director of Programs Nicole Payne is a former public school teacher, one of the founders of Operation REACH, and a professional with more than six years experience in implementing non-profit, after-school programming, parental involvement and community leadership programs. She holds a Master's degree in Organization Management from the University of Phoenix and a B.A. degree in Special Education from Xavier University of Louisiana.

Devin Wallace, Program Analyst

Devin L. Wallace is currently a doctoral candidate at Tulane University, seeking a degree in social psychology. Ms. Wallace holds a B.S. in psychology from The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga and a M.A. in experimental psychology from California State University, Northridge. Her research interests include social stigma, stereotype threat, and achievement motivation, particularly for African American students. She has worked with Operation Reach for the past two years as both an academic tutor and program consultant. Upon graduation, Ms. Wallace plans to continue her career in both applied and academic research settings.