Assata Parkins is a 9th-grade English teacher in Charlotte, NC. She serves as her school’s Varsity Head Volleyball Coach, Student Council Advisor, and Yearbook Advisor. Parkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in reading from UNC-Pembroke and a master’s degree in Reading Education from UNC-Charlotte. Parkins is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and serves as a mentor to middle and high school girls part of the Delta Gems and Delta Debutante Cotillion. Assata was first introduced to CDF Freedom Schools in 2016 serving as a Servant Leader Intern for Freedom School Partners in Charlotte. She later became a Site Coordinator and now serves as a first-year Ella Baker Trainer. She is excited about her first year and wants to continue to have a positive impact on her scholars, SLIs, and community.