Administration – DuBois Integrity Academy

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Empowering the Leaders of Tomorrow!

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Craig Cason is responsible for marketing, business development, implementation, and operations.

He specializes in Comprehensive Business Development and Integrated Event Program Development with expertise in Marketing and Public Relations.

Mr. Cason has served on the football coaching staff of The Philadelphia Eagles, Princeton University, Howard University, Dartmouth College, and The University of Maine. Mr. Cason earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Howard University in 1983 and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maine in 1985.

Mr. Cason has a tremendous track record and is well-established when it comes to strategic planning and organizational growth. He created and served as the Executive Producer for the tremendously successful Honda Battle of The Bands for seven years, served as the movie Drumline’s Coordinator for Special Events, and was a member of other profound Youth and Sports Programs.

Mr. Cason is known as an innovator in Charter School facilities development and is recognized nationally as an expert in Charter School development.

Dr. Stephanie Payne is a 30+ year veteran educator. She earned a BS Degree in Biology from Clark Atlanta University, a Master in Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Specialist in Curriculum & Instruction from Argosy University, Sarasota Florida, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership also from Argosy University.

Dr. Payne has served children in economically disadvantaged urban Title I schools in Atlanta, Boston, and Chicago. She has also served as a General and Special Education Classroom Teacher, Department Head, Teacher Leader Support Specialist, Title I Coordinator, Professional Development Coordinator, and State Academic Coordinator with the No Child Left Behind Inactive.

Dr. Payne served on the founding Governance Board of DuBois Integrity Academy (DIA) as Board Chair where she was later selected as the founding Principal.

Dr. Payne believes that every child has a divine purpose and passionately believes that children in low-economic communities deserve to have the best teachers, resources, and educational opportunities.

Calvin Lewis serves as DuBois Integrity Academy’s Assistant Principal at the Middle School. He also is the Middle School Athletic Director.

With degrees from both the University of Memphis and Grand Canyon University, Lewis has dedicated over two decades to advancing the field of education. His journey began as a professional athlete, an experience that continues to fuel his passion for athletics today. This passion, combined with a strong foundation in leadership and education, naturally guided him into pivotal roles that have defined his career.

As a former High School Athletic Director, Lewis oversaw comprehensive athletic operations, including financial planning, community relations, compliance, and key administrative functions. He led with integrity, revitalizing the school’s athletic program and re-establishing its distinguished history, culminating in the creation of the celebrated “Wall of Fame.” He also fostered alumni relations, ensuring vibrant annual homecoming festivities that drew alumni back to the school.

As Assistant Principal at a Title I Distinguished Charter School, Lewis contributed to achieving and maintaining recognition for Annual Yearly Progress (AYP), significantly impacting the diverse student population he served.

Lewis’s coaching tenure, spanning over two decades across various sports, culminated in consecutive 5A GHSA championships in 2021 and 2022 for women’s varsity basketball. His coaching success earned national recognition, including a prestigious invitation to the 2022 GEICO National Invitational, and had a national ranking of 12.

Lewis has remained committed to fostering educational excellence, promoting holistic student development, and creating supportive learning environments throughout his career. His diverse experiences have equipped him with a unique perspective on educational administration, emphasizing collaboration, equity, and student achievement as paramount goals as he continues to seek opportunities for continued personal growth and ways to add value to his environment each day

Mr. Kenneth Scott received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Georgia State University. While enrolled in the Political Science program, he studied abroad in Old Havana, Cuba studying international relations. Later, he completed his Master of Education at Liberty University.

During Mr. Scott’s teaching career, he served as the Student Support Chair, Social Studies Department Chair, Circle of Support Chair, Grade Level Chair, and District Curriculum Team Member. As he transitioned out of the classroom, he became a Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Coordinator.

Mr. Scott is now using his curriculum knowledge and behavioral expertise to impact the climate and culture at DIA! He is grateful and excited to share resources and strategies to improve student behavior and academic success.

With an impressive 19-year career in education, Dr. Yusuf brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to fostering academic excellence.

Dr. Yusuf attended Spelman College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Child Development. She furthered her education at Grand Canyon University, obtaining both a master’s degree in School Leadership and a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum & Instruction.

Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Yusuf has held various roles, including classroom teacher, instructional coach, district-level ELA instructional lead, Curriculum Lead for grades K-12, and assistant principal. She has extensive experience working in Title I districts, where she has demonstrated a strong ability to address the unique challenges and leverage the opportunities these environments present. These diverse experiences have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the educational landscape and the ability to drive positive change at every level.

Dr. Yusuf’s philosophy of education centers on the belief that all scholars can learn with the right combination of support and quality instruction. She strongly advocates for data-driven decision-making, using evidence and analytics to guide instructional strategies and improve student outcomes. Her passion for education extends to empowering and effectively supporting all educational stakeholders to enhance systemic practices, ultimately resulting in positive outcomes for all scholars.

Committed to ensuring that all students are college and career-ready, Dr. Yusuf is dedicated to preparing them to compete globally. Her leadership will undoubtedly inspire our school community to reach new heights of academic success.

Jaela Rutledge is a highly qualified, veteran educator who has spent her career serving Title 1 districts. This has been her passion because she believes that every child deserves a top-tier educational experience. She has utilized her gifts, talents, and expertise to deliver quality
instruction, improve student achievement, build confidence and positive relationships with students, and provide memorable lifelong learning experiences. She has worked to build positive relationships with staff as well while providing them with the guidance, training, and professional development necessary to be successful educators. She has also worked to build positive climate and cultures within schools to ensure that teachers and students are in an environment and mental space that is most conducive to teaching and learning.

Jaela Rutledge attended the University of Alabama where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Education. Her educational journey continued as she earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Central Michigan University. She also received her Educational Specialist degree in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

Throughout her career, Jaela Rutledge has had the pleasure of serving in multiple roles including classroom teacher, grade level chair, MTSS chair, Teacher Mentor, TAPP Mentor, ELA Lead Teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, Leadership Team, and Instructional Coach. In addition, she has also been a leader or member of numerous committees while also sponsoring various student groups, clubs, and extracurricular activities.

As Jaela Rutledge continues her educational career, she strives to lead with purpose and passion to help all students, staff, and stakeholders reach new goals and a new level of academic success.

Calvin Lewis serves as DuBois Integrity Academy’s Assistant Principal at the Middle School. He also is the Middle School Athletic Director.

Ms. LaKeesha Jones is a 20-year veteran educator teaching and leading in both private, public, and charter schools. Throughout her career, she has served in multiple capacities including Pre-K Lead Teacher, K-5th Classroom Teacher, Grade Level Chair, EIP Lead, Camp Director, Teacher and Student Mentor, Behavior Specialist, and PBIS Facilitator.

Ms. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Child & Family Development from Georgia Southern University in 2003; A Master of Education in Elementary Education from Cambridge College in 2009; A Specialist in Education from Walden University in 2017; and is currently completing her doctorate in Early Childhood Education at National University.

Ms. Jones strives to create a culture of learning for all students, encourage academic ownership, and truly value social and emotional learning. Her knowledge and expertise are being used to build a climate and culture for staff and students, as well as improve academic success for ALL learners at DIA! She is extremely fortunate to serve such a supportive community of dedicated teachers, staff, involved parents, and diverse learners.

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