Building a
Family-First
Detroit
Family-First
The Community Education Commission is led in partnership with the City of Detroit.
What drives us?
A Family-First Education Ecosystem
The Community Education Commission (CEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization formed in May 2018 by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. In response to the more than 30,000 students that leave Detroit every day to attend school outside of the city, Mayor Duggan sought to work with education leaders, families, and educators to develop new resources that help to retain students in the city.
Since its inception, the CEC has invested in innovative initiatives that increase access to afterschool enrichments and transportation, and provide transparent information about Detroit schools.
Our mission is to increase access to quality education for all Detroit families.
Working with diverse stakeholders across the city, CEC develops critical resources and systems-level solutions that address common challenges faced by Detroit families, such as access to information and access to enrichment programming.
Meet Our Team
CEC Detroit has built a team of cross-sector leaders. Get to know our team below!.
Cynthia White-McPhaul
Executive Director
cmcphaul@cecdetroit.org
Maria Montoya
Director, Office of Early Learning & School Readiness
mmontoya@cecdetroit.org
Kat Grow
Director, Development & Operations
kgrow@cecdetroit.org
Kinyel Friday
Program Manager, GOAL Detroit
kfriday@cecdetroit.org
Our Board of Directors
Community Education Commission’s board members include a cross-section of leaders representing Detroit’s diverse education landscape, including Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD), charter schools, the teacher’s union, philanthropy, community organizations, teachers, and parents.
Currently, our board consists of 10 volunteer members who were appointed by Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan:
Monique Marks
Board Chair
CEO, Franklin-Wright Settlements
Tonya Allen
President & CEO, Skillman Foundation
Nikolai Vitti
Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD)
Ralph Bland
CEO, New Paradigm for Education
Venessa Keesler
Senior Project Director, AEM Corporation
Teferi Brent
Member, Detroit 300 and Goodwill Industries
Nate Walker
Organizer and Policy Analyst, American Federation of Teachers in Detroit
Sherita Smith
Executive Director, Grandmont Rosedale Community Development
Marsha A. Lewis
Teacher, DPSCD
Renee Wendt
Teacher, Detroit Charter School
Our Sponsors
