Meet the board

Experts in their fields and passionate about educational equity, our Board of Directors are elected to represent the commitment to a strong educational program for our scholars. Directors serve without compensation. Meet our current board members!

Board Members

Charles Russell, M. Ed, President

Charles Russell is a native Houstonian with over 33 years of experience as an educator. Charles Russell is a graduate of Prairie View A&M, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and a Master of Education degree in School Administration. During his 33 years as an educator, he has served in many capacities, including teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

Charles is a proud member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity incorporated. Additionally, Charles enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Phyllis C. Renfro Russell, daughter & son-in-law, Randa R. Russell Walker and Oveal J. Walker, and his two grandchildren, Randon C. Walker, and Vea S. Walker.

Charles’ aspirations have always been to be able to contribute to society and make a difference.

Kenitra Bennett-Edwards is a sixteen-year educator who serves as the District STEAM Coordinator at Rhodes School for the Performing Arts. Her academic preparation, along with excellent organizational skills, aids in her development and implementation of the STEAM curriculum. She builds capacity in teachers by mentoring and supporting their efforts. Kenitra possesses strong leadership skills that help her interact well with school faculty, parents, and other key educational stakeholders. Her professional experience and collaborative spirit make her a welcomed asset to the administrative team.

Kenitra graduated from Wiley College (Marshall, Texas) with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry and from Oklahoma City University with an MBA in Health Administration and Marketing. Her organizations and affiliations include Beta Kappa Kai, the National Scientific Honor Society, and Lake Houston Friendship Society, Incorporated.

Kenitra is married to Avery Edwards and has three children (Baleigh Burrell (20), Adam Daniels (14), and Averiel Edwards (7).

Kenitra Bennett-Edwards, M. Ed., Member

Michelle Harris, M. Ed, Member

 

 

 

Michelle Harris’ bio is coming soon!

Chrishelle Palay is the director of the Houston Organizing Movement for Equity (HOME) Coalition. HOME was created in response to Hurricane Harvey in an effort to ensure all Houstonians equitably recovered from the disaster. HOME comprises several organizations whose expertise ranges from policy advocacy, direct services, legal enforcement, and grassroots organizing. Prior to leading this collective, Chrishelle focused on fair housing policy advocacy as the Southeast Co-Director at Texas Housers for over seven years. Through this work, she provided housing and neighborhood development policy analysis and review to local community organizing groups who were addressing major disinvestment and neglect in their communities. Her expertise grew from disaster recovery efforts after 2008’s Hurricane Ike disaster recovery process. This experience well-positioned community leaders, organizers, and advocates to demand equitable investment and treatment for low-income communities in the Hurricane Harvey recovery process.  

Before transitioning into social justice work, Chrishelle practiced architecture, specifically multifamily high-rise development. Chrishelle is a Next City Vanguard alumni and was a Ford Public Voices Fellow of The OpEd Project. She also participates in several national cohorts, including Community of Practice on Local Housing Strategies, Ford Just Cities Narrative Shift  Project, and the National Fair Housing Peer Network Group.  

Chrishelle has a Bachelor of Architecture from Prairie View A&M University and proudly serves on the boards of directors of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, and Rhodes School For The Performing Arts.

Chrishelle Palay, Member

Derrick Sherrard, Member

 

 

 

Derrick Sherrard’s bio is coming soon!

ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING
13334 Wallisville Rd.
Houston, TX 77049
(281) 458-4334
information@rhodesschool.org

NORTHSHORE CAMPUS
13334 Wallisville Rd.
Houston, TX 77049
(281) 459-9797

HUMBLE CAMPUS
600 Charles Street
Humble, TX 77338
(281) 319-9300

Charles Russell, M. Ed, President
Kenitra Bennett-Edwards, M. Ed., Member
Michelle Harris, M. Ed, Member
Chrishelle Palay, Member
Derrick Sherrard, Member

CONNECT WITH RSPA!