OUR TEAM

Meet Our Team

KIDS 1^st 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 Cellie

Shawnese 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 Shawnese

Reeda Betts, M.Ed.

Executive Director of Educational Services, AL Division

Problem Solver, Word Nerd, Distance Runner, Reader, Seinfeld Fanatic

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Meet Reeda

Marvin 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 Marvin

Patrick 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 Patrick

Christopher 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 Christopher

Cassandra 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 Cassandra

Stephanie Allen, Ed.S

Project Coordinator

Ambitious, Analytical thinker, World traveler, Dedicated mother, Lover of murder mystery shows

“A strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is in the journey that she will become strong.”

Meet Stephanie

Marketing & 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 Regina

Sue Anne Boatman

Mississippi Marketing and Sales

Spreader of Kindness, Motivational Networker, Christ-Centered, Family-Focused, Fashionista!

“"Bring love wherever you go. Shine light wherever it’s dark. Leave blessings wherever you’ve been. Be kind wherever you are.” - Mary Davis

Meet Sue Anne

Kristie Ezzell

Alabama Marketing and Sales

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 Kristie

Support Services

Erin Scoggin, M.Ed.

Digital Media Manager

Christ-Centered, Tenacious, Family-Focused, Devoted Wife and Mother

“All limitations are self-imposed.” -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Meet Erin

Randi 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 Randi

Head 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 Charlotte

Jamie 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 Jamie

Jennifer 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 Jennifer

Katy 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 Katy

Kayla 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 Kayla

Nicole 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 Nicole

Phyllis 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 Phyllis

Rachel 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 Rachel

Stephanie 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 Stephanie

Ken 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 Ken

Kristie 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 Kristie

Phyllis 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 Phyllis

Cindy 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 Cindy

Reeda 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 Reeda

Casey 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 Casey

Michele 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 Michele

Johna 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 Johna

LaQuanta 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 LaQuanta

Jessica Flynt

HQIM Resources Software Manager

Driven, problem-solver, Jesus follower, wife/mom, addicted to black coffee, & terrified of heights

"Nine-tenths of education is encouragement." - Anatole France

Meet Jessica

Michele Lee

English Learner Team Leader/Head Coach

well organized, Hodophile, HSN junkie

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Meet Michele

Shanna L. Nesser

Project Coordinator & Science Support Team

Effective Communicator, Strong Critical Thinker, Indoor Cycling Enthusiast, Devoted Mama, Loves to Binge Watch Twilight Series

"The success of all children is dependent upon the quality of both general and special education and how well schools integrate services." - National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE)

Meet Shanna