Featuring Future Leaders: Meet Isaiah & Kourtney

Meet Isaiah

  • Tell us a little about yourself. I am Isaiah, and I am a preteen. I live with both my parents and four siblings. I am in the 7th grade. I attend church regularly and I admire our pastor. The position I play on my Varsity Pee Wee football team is defensive tackle. I am also on a track team and the events I do are javelin, shot put and 1500 meters. Since the age of two, I have enjoyed these sports.
  • What is your favorite subject in school and why? My favorite subject is writing. It can help me reveal how I am feeling, and it helps me give more information to the people who are reading my writing.
  • How has M.A.S.T.R Kids helped you? M.A.S.T.R Kids has helped me learn new things in math and music. Mrs. Pitts and Ms. Sneed are enthusiastic about teaching ELA.
  • What career options do you think would be interesting to learn more about? Snake catching is a career that interests me. I would like to learn more about being a biologist and zoologist as well as learn how to preach the word of God.
  • What’s a fun thing about you or about M.A.S.T.R. Kids that you’d like to share? M.A.S.T.R. Kids is a great program that helps kids with their school work and other problems.

Meet Kortney

An original poem
They say that identity is ‘the fact of being who or what a person or thing is’, but to me it’s different. To me identity is what you are and what you are going to be.

Most people like to linger on the past and that can make a person belligerent. But I feel as if we have to move past that so the people can see.

So the people can see the person you are in the moment of time. So that person wouldn’t feel like they are talking to a two-way mirror. So the person who judges you will base it on your now so it won’t feel like a crime.

Then when you are judged it won’t be crazy or wild, but right so that the moment will be clearer. So when you get older, life won’t be like a blooper.

You will take yourself with pride and go farther and further and once you are through you will leave your mark.

Identity, ‘the fact of being who or what a person or thing is’, but it’s not. To be identifies you have to know yourself, before others know you.

So for me my identity would be a leaf rushing through a raging sea. Just trying to make it by and make it to the top, but cutting too short to make the job.

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About The Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation

SPPF works directly with students to build core skills in English and Math and practice these skills in fun and engaging activities, field trips and interesting exchanges with community leaders.

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Pam Williams

Chief Operating Officer

As COO, Pam ensures the organization’s financial, data, fundraising, and HR infrastructure is strong today and ready for scale that multiplies impact in the years ahead. Pam’s 30+ years of nonprofit experience started with the turnaround of an organization in financial crisis, leading to the launch of a consultancy providing training, transition, and turnaround services to nonprofits and associations in the US and East Africa. In 2016, Pam became COO/CFO for the first women’s college in Rwanda, leading an international team across 3 continents and overseeing administration, finance and operations as the business grew from 50 students to over 400. Pam’s work consistently reflects a commitment to equity.

Darren Hammond

Site Operations Leader

Darren Hammond is currently serving as the Site Operations Leader for the Shirley Proctor Puller Foundation. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education. He also holds a Master of Science in Curriculum & Instruction, National Louis University, and an Education Specialist Degree (Ed. S) in Administration & Supervision, Nova Southeastern University. Darren spent 37 years with Pinellas County Schools transforming students to reach their ultimate learning potential using proven classroom strategies developed during his tenure in education. While working with Pinellas County Schools, he served as Teacher, Guidance counselor, Assistant Principal and as a Principal. Darren is a passionate educator who openly shares his love of learning with teachers, parents, and other educators! He was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Keisha Snead

Academic Leader

B.S. in Elementary Education,Cum Laude, FAMU 1996

I have served 24 years within the Elementary school setting in various instructional roles.  I have also served as the Mentor Coordinator for new and returning teachers. 


I have led professional development for faculty at several schools within Pinellas County.  I have coached colleagues in the understanding and delivery of the standards of reading and writing.  My love for learning is what drives my passion for teaching.  When I look into the eyes of a scholar who needs me, that is where I find my passion!