Our Team

Matthew Militello is the Wells Fargo Distinguished Professor in Educational Leadership at East Carolina University. Prior to his academic career, Militello was a middle and high public school teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Michigan. Militello has more than 60 publications, including six books. Militello has received more than $22 million in external funding, including serving as the PI for the edPIRATE grant.

Jennifer L. Gallagher is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at East Carolina University where she teaches social studies education courses and serves as the program coordinator for the undergraduate and graduate history education programs. She taught for several years in Colorado and then earned her Ph.D. at Iowa State University. Her professional efforts focus on supporting students in critical inquiry of the social world. Her work has been published in several journals including Social Education, Social Studies and the Young Learner and Theory and Research in Social Education and Journal of Social Studies Research

Monica Headen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University. Her research interests include principal leadership, the impact of coaching for school and district leaders, and thriving leadership in rural areas. In her 25 + years as an educator, she has worked as a Director of Education and Youth Services for a non-profit, and a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in K-12 settings. She most recently worked as a School Leadership Coach for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Christy Howard has been an educator since 2002. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Literacy Studies, English Education, and History Education at East Carolina University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses. Her research interests focus on culturally responsive literacy instruction, content area literacy, teacher preparation, and identity. Her research has been published in several journals including the Journal of Literacy Research, Language Arts, and Literacy Research and Instruction.

An equity advocate, Angela Novak, Ph.D. is an associate professor and gifted coordinator at East Carolina University. For 25+ years, Angela has engaged collectively with learners, families, communities, and staff in K-22 education as an inclusion co-teacher, in a variety of gifted & talented educator, specialist, and administrative roles in public education, and in non-profit academic programming. Multilingualism, equity, and belongingness are deeply embedded throughout her professional work and personal lived experiences, contributing to her publications and presentations in giftedness, educator professional learning, collegians, and play. Editor of Journal of Advanced Academics, Angela is a mother-scholar, author, and lifelong learner.

Shawnda Cherry is currently serving on the edPIRATE team as the Associate Director for Teacher Residency in the Rural Education Institute at East Carolina University.  She has been an educator since 1995 and is an accomplished school leader with experience supporting K-12 educators and administrators across all grade levels in NC.  Shawnda is passionate about providing equitable access and opportunity for rural scholars.  Her research interests also include culturally responsive pedagogy.

Carrie Morris joined the East Carolina University Department of Educational Leadership in March 2019 after transitioning from a school administration role in Onslow County Schools, NC. She is excited to learn from and with eastern North Carolina public school leaders in her position as the Associate Director for School Leadership, funded through a U.S. Department of Education grant entitled edPIRATE. Carrie is interested in equitable educational practices positively impacting all students, empowering women in leadership, and the importance of relationship building in K-12 public education.