Shalelia Dillard is a Denver native and has been an educator for over 11 years. A Daniels Fund Scholar and survivor of situational homelessness, Shalelia has used her life circumstances to give back in the area that saved her life, education. After receiving her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Hampton University, she moved to Austin, Texas to become a teacher. During her 11 year teaching career, she taught math, science and private school education in underserved populations in Austin and Denver. Shalelia has a deep passion for community, cultural education and creating pathways for students to reach their educational potential despite any circumstances. Shalelia is the Founder and Executive Director of St. Clair Drake (SCD) Enrichment Program, which recruits and supports gifted students of color in advanced coursework. She is an alumna of the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado, The Denver Foundation’s Executive Directors of Color Institute, Moonshot edVentures cohort 3 graduate, a member of the Colorado Gifted Education State Advisory Committee (GE-SAC), the vice president of the Denver Metro Hampton Alumni Association, and is currently completing her Masters in Educational Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado with a Gifted and Talented Endorsement.