Meet Our Team
KIDS 1st Education LLC was founded by career educators, Chuck Poer and Cellie Scoggin, for the purpose of working with K-12 schools to improve outcomes for KIDS. Chuck and Cellie have worked together for more than a decade, leading teams of educators to make a positive impact for KIDS. They are joined by an experienced team of educational coaches and specialists with a heart for KIDS and a passion for teaching and learning.
Kids First Leadership
Chuck Poer, M.Ed.
Co-Founder
Original, Caring, Creative, Expressive and Flexible
"Names have power! Names tell a story!! Our name, Kids First, has power, because it speaks to our purpose… Our heart… Kids First comes with our stories, our experiences, and our history of improving learning and outcomes for kids!"
Meet Chuck
Cellie Scoggin, M.Ed.
Co-Founder
Christ Follower, Family Focused, Purposefully Driven, Motivated to Empower Others
“What we know matters, but who we are matters more” -Brene Brown
Meet CellieShawnese Herrington, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Educational Services, MS Division
Ambitious, Passionate Educator, Family-Oriented, Beach Bum, Lover of Shoes and Handbags
“The only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them.” - Michelle Obama
Meet ShawneseGreg Cobb, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Educational Services, AL Division
Christ Follower, Devoted Husband, Lover of Travel, and Antique Enthusiast
“It’s easier to build strong children then to repair broken men” - Frederick Douglass
Meet GregAlethea Henry, Ed.D.
Executive Director of Educational Services, TN Division
Innovative thinker, Effective and efficient operator, Dedicated wife and mother, Lover of the color green
“Luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation.” - Seneca
Meet AletheaMarvin Lishman
Executive Director of Educational Services, Private Schools
Focused, Life-Long Learner, Pop to AW and Gaines, MSU Bulldog Fan, Lover of High School Sports
“To whom much is given, even much more is required.” - Luke 12:48
Meet MarvinPatrick Scoggin, M.Ed.
Executive Director of Operations
Christian, Husband, Father, Runner, Outdoorsman
"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." -African proverb.
Meet PatrickChristopher Blair, Ed.D.
Chief Officer of Equity & Inclusion
Pursuer of excellence; Weekend jogger with my pet, Nova; Nature lover & snake watcher
“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never be broken.”
Meet ChristopherJoel Rush
Chief Evaluation & Assessment Officer
Data-Driven Education Problem Solver, Family Focused, Lifelong Learner
"If you don't like someone's story, write your own." - Chinua Achebe
Meet JoelCassandra Williams, M.Ed.
RFP/Proposals Manager & Head Coach
Organized, Analytical Multi-Tasker who Loves Shoes and Watching Westerns
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”- Maya Angelou
Meet CassandraMarketing & Sales
Regina Ginn, M.Ed.
Executive Director of Marketing
Live... Laugh... Love
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." -Mahatma Gandhi
Meet ReginaStephanie Case, M.Ed.
ELA Coach / Marketing & Sales Associate
Christian, Natural Motivator, Runner
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” - Carl Buehner
Meet StephanieSupport Services
Erin Scoggin, M.Ed.
Digital Media Manager
Christ-Centered, Tenaciously-Minded, Gym Fanatic, Family-Focused, and Determined to Finish Strong
“All limitations are self-imposed.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes
Meet ErinRandi Fortenberry
Accounting Manager
Ambitious Dreamer, Motivational Leader, Lover of God, Family, and Travel
"A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions." - Oliver Wendell Holmes
Meet RandiHead Coaches & Content Leads
Charlotte Cornish
Head Coach
Determinedly Dedicated, Encouragingly Optimistic, Enjoys Exciting Excursions with Grands
"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire" -W.N. Yeats
Meet CharlotteJamie Loper, M.Ed.
Head Coach / Science Team Member
People Pleaser, Sweet Tooth, Avid Traveler
"I love getting to share my passion for learning and help improve the lives of teachers, students and schools."
Meet JamieJennifer Weeks, Ed.S.
Integrated Teams Manager / Special Education Team Leader / Head Coach
Growing, Grateful, Goal-oriented
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Meet JenniferKaty Boyd, Ed.S.
SEL Team Leader / Project Coordinator
Math minded motivator, fitness instructor, mother of boys, sunshine seeking bird lover
"The most significant of changes are those that are made within."
Meet KatyKayla Calcote, M.Ed.
Math Team Leader / Project Coordinator
Thoroughly Meticulous, Family Obsessed, Sudoku Puzzler
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” -Albert Einstein
Meet KaylaNicole Cooley, MS
Research, Development, & Publication Manager / ELA Team Leader
Avid Reader, Deep-Sea Fisher, Visual Learner
“In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.” -Mortimer J. Adler
Meet NicolePhyllis Jenkins, M.Ed.
Science/ACT Team Leader & Project Coordinator
Meticulous and detailed oriented, Dedicated to family, Dog lover, Nature seeker, Addicted to antique malls and other people’s junk
“Go Confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” - Henry David Thoreau
Meet PhyllisRachel Wooten, M.Ed., LDT
Dyslexia & MTSS Leader / RTI Rails Team Leader
Organization wizard, reader of westerns, writer of all the feels, ice cream connoisseur, goat and chicken mama
"Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Meet RachelStephanie Brewer, Ed.S.
ACT Math Team Leader / Project Coordinator
Energetic, Fiercely Positive, People Lover
"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." -Abraham Lincoln
Meet StephanieVicki Davis
Sales Support Team and Leadership Support Team Member/Head Coach
Tenacious, encourager, nature nerd, songbird, lover of people, fun, and Jesus
“Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold out for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.“ - George Bernard Shaw
Meet VickiKen Byars, M.Ed.
Leadership Team Leader / Head Coach
Hard Working Human, Servant Leader, Quiet Sports Junkie
"The dictionary is the only place that success comes before work. Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you accomplish anything." - Vince Lombardi
Meet KenKristie Ezzell
Head Coach
Passionate about Education and Kids, Multitasker, Boy Momma, Family Oriented, HGTV Junkie
Morning is God’s way of saying one more time - Go make a difference, touch a heart, encourage a mind, inspire a soul and enjoy the day.
Meet KristiePhyllis Hicks
Math Content Team Leader
Avid Competitor, Passionate Educator, Nerdy athlete, Completely devoted to faith and family
"One person in pursuit of excellence raises the standards of everyone around them. And, as they strive for greatness, they bring out the greatness in others. Be that one person today." - Jon Gordon
Meet PhyllisCindy Klages
Head Coach
Christian, lifelong learner, research nerd, wife and mom, lover of chocolate and coffee, beach goer
“Believing in people before they have proven themselves is the key to motivating people to reach their potential.” - John Maxwell
Meet CindyReeda Betts, M.Ed.
Head Coach
Data-Driven Education Problem Solver, Family Focused, Lifelong Learner
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Meet ReedaCasey Wilberding, M.Ed.
Early Learning Leader / Project Coordinator
Wife, Mother, Beach Lover, Shopper, Christmas Obsessed, Seminole Fan, Loves to Help People Grow
"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." - Walt Disney
Meet CaseyMichele Parker
ELA Content Lead/Project Coordinator
Resilient and intentional, traveler, family-focused
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." - C.S. Lewis
Meet MicheleJohna Channell
Math Content Lead/Project Coordinator
Constructivist at heart, Life-Long Learner, Christ-Centered, Mom, Wife, Writer, Reader, Mountain Lover, and Shih Tzu Mom
"People who add value to others do so intentionally. I say that because to add value, leaders must give of themselves, and that rarely occurs by accident." - John Maxwell
Meet JohnaLaQuanta Nelson
Leadership Coach/Project Coordinator
Critical thinker, effective communicator, accomplished musician, adrenaline junkie, fierce foodie
"The sun doesn’t ask for permission to shine, neither should you!"
Meet LaQuantaContent Area Specialists
Select a content area below to learn more about our team members in each specialty.
