Ceriese Blue

About Ceriese Blue

I believe that education plays a pivotal role in providing access to all people, specifically those that are underprivileged and socially/economically disadvantaged. I started my journey on this mission to bridging the gaps of educational inequity in college, when I stumbled upon a summer job working with TRiO Student Support Services. Originally, the role was meant to be a pass time for the summer, but it gave me a first hand look at students of color with high potential and determination coming to college without the proper educational background that they deserved to be effortlessly successful in their matriculation through college. I continued to see these disparities in the criminal justice system when I completed my internship with the Guilford Probation and Parole Office. Consistently, many of the people on my caseload were people of color that did not finish high school. Before I graduated from college, I decided I wanted to be a part of the solution, not the problem. Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Teach For America seeks the most promising leaders of this generation who have demonstrated the values and leadership necessary to make systemic change. I joined this amazing organization upon graduation and became a proud member of the 2016 Charlotte Piedmont Triad Corps. I taught 9th and 10th grade English for three years at Harding University High School in Charlotte, NC, where I met, taught, and supported some of the worlds greatest future leaders. I left the classroom and joined recruiting to expand my impact on my students and those to come by continuing to find amazing individuals that see educational equity as a tremendous injustice. I want them to use their special skills and talents to stop this issue by enhancing those attributes and attacking the problem in their own unique way.I currently spend my days working on Teach for America\'s Recruitment Team, directly supporting the recruitment (sourcing, engagement, cultivation, etc.) of our nation\'s next best and brightest scholars from Historically Black Colleges/Universities (HBCUs) across the nation into our pre-K-12 classrooms. My goal is to continue building understanding and igniting interest in changing harmful, inequitable systems within Black students and future leaders through DEI and professional development.

Experience

1. Managing Director, Recruitment

   Teach For America

   Jan 2025 — Present · Charlotte, NC, US

   Manages 10 recruiters in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia.Building and Strengthening Relationships: Center people – devoting time and resources to intentionally build and strengthen authentic relationships – an essential part of my work.Problem-Solving thru Change: Identify challenges and opportunities in our ever-changing environment and think expansively in order to cultivate new possibilities and equitable solutions.Learning & Identity Development: Prioritize learning new and different knowledge, skills, and perspectives to continuously grow and expand the limits of my worldview.Setting Vision & Direction: Establish a clear vision aligned with organizational goals and develop teams and/or activities toward achieving this vision.Managing to Impact: Harness team energy and expertise to lead to greater impact and progress on team goals.Developing People: Purposefully work to support the growth and development of the people I manage-Manages a team of 7-9 people toward impact and results at the function or work stream level. Creates and advises on teamwide strategy and direction-Accountable primarily for the strategy and outcomes of the team unit they manage-Building the core skills required for strong people management and informed by intentional mindsets that center the identities and backgrounds of each direct report for a positive impact and strong management practice. Likely has developed these skills in other contexts and is working toward strong mastery of these skills as a team lead. Takes ownership over the collective effectiveness of RT team members in their subteam-Fosters a thriving, supportive culture within their management unit. Takes responsibility over and actively interrogates, supports building core values and DEI aligned culture across the RT by consulting and supporting initiatives. Shows up as a culture leader on the RT in full team spaces and when connecting with others outside their mgmt line.

Education

• North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Criminal Justice

  2012 — 2016

Skills

• Public Speaking
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Office
• Teamwork
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint