Meet The Team
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We engage as specialists, sharing approaches and best practices to help schools and communities achieve excellence. With over 40 years of experience, we are experts in culture and climate.
Dr. Renee C. Meeks
Founding Partner of The Power of Engagement
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Dr. Renee C. Meeks is an educator, mentor, and public speaker with over 20 years of experience in education. Her experience spans classroom instruction, leadership, and non-profit education outreach. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and then went on to teach at the middle school and high school levels. She later moved into the role of Education Outreach Specialist serving in the nonprofit sector. She went on to serve as a Resident Principal, and an Assistant Principal at the elementary and middle school levels before entering into her current role as an elementary school Principal.
She is a Founding Partner of The Power of Engagement, LLC., where their mission is to inspire and empower others to engage.
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Dr. Meeks earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Memphis, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Freed-Hardeman University, a Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and a certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University.
Dr. Meeks has received numerous education awards including acceptance into New Leaders for New Schools, being chosen as an ASCD Emerging Leader in education in 2015 and has served on several local and national education committees. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Rock Life Memphis, Exquisite Pearls of Excellence, and the Tennessee affiliate of ASCD.
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Dr. Meeks was Memphis Shelby County Principal of the Year in 2023 and a semi-finalist for the state of Tennessee.
Dr. Tarcia Gilliam-Parrish
Founding Partner of The Power of Engagement
Dr. Tarcia Gilliam-Parrish is a wife, mother, educator, mentor, and motivational public speaker with over 20 years of experience in education. Her career spans classroom instruction, instructional leadership, and community engagement. She began her career as a substitute teacher in an elementary school. She went on to lead district-level Summer School programs. She has served as an Assistant Principal and Principal at an inner-city public middle schools.
She is a Founding Partner of The Power of Engagement, LLC., where their mission is to inspire and empower others to engage.
Dr. Gilliam-Parrish received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from the University of Memphis, a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Freed-Hardeman University, a Doctor of Education degree in Leadership in K-12 Administration from Bethel University, and a certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University.
She serves on several educational boards and has presented at the local, state, and national levels. She has published articles, teacher professional development material and has presented at national conferences. She authored chapter 10, “Implementing ExC-ELL: A Principal’s Perspective” in Teaching Reading to English Learners Grades 6-12 by Margarita Espino Calderon and Shawn Slakk. She has worked with Dr. Calderon to implement a framework for improving achievement in schools. She serves as the Shelby and Desoto County Executive Director of The Exquisite Pearls of Excellence non-profit girl mentoring organization.
