Throughout her seven years in the field of education, Liz has had the opportunity to work with learners of all ages. She started her teaching career in Michigan, but moved to Memphis with her husband five years ago. Serving students as a classroom teacher, Vex Robotics Coach, and a STEM Coordinator have solidified Liz’s philosophy that children learn best when two essential things take place: 1) a positive culture is created via relationship-building, and 2) students are empowered to take ownership over their own learning.
Liz has always believed education was her calling, but quickly found that the expectations and priorities of the traditional classroom did not align with her vision of an environment that allows for development of the whole child. Feeling frustrated, she took a break from teaching in 2021 to start a business with a fellow ex-educator. Upon realizing that the parts of her new career that she loved the most were the parts that felt like teaching, she knew she had to return to her home of education. That’s when Liz stumbled upon The Lab School! She is beyond thrilled to join this tight-knit community where she knows she will be able to help guide learners to challenge themselves and to flourish into the best versions of themselves - academically, creatively, socially, and emotionally.
In her free time, Liz finds that outdoor adventures, traveling, crafting, cuddling with her pets, reading, and writing creatively are what allow her to recharge and be the best version of herself. She is excited to get to know the families and learners at The Lab School and to find out what motivates, inspires, and recharges them!
Britné Lauderdale is a native Memphian, wife, and mother of two. With a background deeply rooted in music and performing arts, Britné discovered a recent, yet ever-growing sentiment for early childhood education. For the last three years, Britné has worked in various administrative and instructional roles in early childhood. Britné is excited to be a part of The Lab School of Memphis.
Sarah joins us with 7 years of experience in education. Sarah has a MS in Mental Health Counseling and has spent her time in schools working as a school counselor and behavioral health specialist supporting the behavioral, emotional and social needs of her students. While she loved her time spent in the public education system she often found herself working against the grain in a lot of ways. She was frequently advocating for her students to have more freedom and flexibility in the way they learn and navigate their day in school. Sometimes this was met with understanding but at times it was met with hesitation.
Sarah and her husband recently moved to Memphis which gave Sarah an opportunity to pursue a career outside of the public education system that she was needing a break from. Sarah stumbled upon The Lab School and immediately felt a strong connection and passion for what it stood for and believed in. Although new to the Acton model, we believe she will be a great asset to our school community and specifically the social and emotional learning of our students.
Outside of school Sarah enjoys hiking, running, biking and spending as much time outside as she can with her husband and dog!
Melissa earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from South College in June 2019. She is originally from Knoxville, TN. However, she moved to Memphis in August of 2019 with her husband and son where she began her teaching career.
Since moving to Memphis, she has taught fourth grade math, third grade reading and math, and first grade. She is very excited to further her teaching experience with the learners at The Lab School.
Melissa likes to spend her free time traveling with her family, playing with her three dogs, or simply reading a good book at home. She can't wait to begin her new adventure at The Lab School!
Bobbie moved to Memphis from her hometown of Chicago, IL, in 2021. Bobbie joined The Lab School as a camp guide and long-term substitute before transitioning to a full-time role in the Wonder Studio. Bobbie is also a a digital marketing specialist, and partners with clients in education and education adjacent fields. Her goal is to make a positive impact in her community through mentoring young learners.
Alandria graduated from Manassas High School and attended Mississippi Valley University. Alandria enjoys dancing, traveling, and spending time with her niece. Alandria has been on a hero's journey to find her passion, and believes she has now found it working with children.
Alvin started his tennis journey in the early 90s as a student at one of the organizations that would eventually become Tennis Memphis – the Tennis Association for Memphis Youth. After his career as a collegiate tennis player at LeMoyne-Owen College in 2001, he worked as the assistant director of tennis at Camp Lohikan in Lake Como, Pennsylvania for six years.
Alvin has been a member of the Tennis Memphis staff since 2015. He is happy to have the opportunity to help mentor and mold players across the City of Memphis.
An award-winning school founder, learning designer, and devoted mother of four, Coi Morefield has built her work around an unwavering commitment to student-centered learning environments that prioritize equity and future-focused outcomes. With over 18 years of experience in both public and private sectors, her journey is a reflection of a life dedicated to the holistic support and empowerment of children, families, and educators.
Coi began her professional journey in various roles within public schools, establishing a solid foundation for her significant expertise in educational theory and pedagogy. Motivated by a desire to amplify her impact, Coi pursued an MBA in Leadership & Change Management, followed by a seamless transition into the private sector. Here, she excelled in business development, training, and organizational learning design within Fortune 500 companies.
Recognizing the urgent need for adaptive learning solutions following the onset of a global pandemic, Coi spearheaded the ambitious redesign of remote training and onboarding programs. This blend of experiences demonstrates Coi's unique ability to bridge educational best practices with business acumen, significantly influencing her path as an education entrepreneur.
In 2020, motivated by a desire to leverage her skillset to support K-12 learning, while also championing diversity and challenging young people to think critically, Coi created The Black Inquiry Project. With the introduction of the BlackIQ curriculum, she unveiled an inquiry-based curriculum designed to center and amplify Black voices and narratives within the study of civics, social studies, and language arts.
It was Coi’s clear vision of what impactful curriculum and learning should look like that influenced her founding of The Lab School of Memphis in 2021. Created out of a personal search for an inclusive and empowering learning environment for her twin boys, under Coi’s leadership The Lab School has become a model of innovative education offering customized learning pathways and community-based experiences that prepare young people for success in all areas of life. In 2022, The Lab School was honored with the prestigious Yass Prize STOP Award for Education in the amount of $200,000, acknowledging its commitment to ensuring transformational and permissionless education is accessible to all young people.
Currently serving as The Lab School’s Board Chair, Coi remains vocal in support of an open-walled approach to learning as the vehicle to develop the most relevant skills for future success. Coi champions the idea of education as a cornerstone of economic development, emphasizing the critical role of career exploration and skill building to break the cycles of poverty seen in historically marginalized communities. Ever the supporter of meaningful, lifelong learning, Coi offers program development, onboarding, training, and continuing education for microschools and forward-thinking educators through the Educator Expand eLearning platform.
Coi Morefield embodies the spirit of transformational education, her life's work serving as a powerful reflection of the impact of combining passion, innovation, and leadership to inspire and drive progress.
Check out Coi Morrison chatting all things The Lab School with WREG's Live at 9.
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