Elevate Oregon Staff
Meet the Elevate Family: Our Dedicated Staff
The Elevate Oregon Team
On the Ground: Our Teacher/Mentors and Program Managers work in the classroom, 1:1 with students, and behind the scenes to help Elevate students to be their best selves. Our entire staff is committed to promoting educational equity in schools and community.
Donell Morgan
Executive Director
Donell Morgan’s role as Executive Director at Elevate Oregon is the culmination of his entire life’s experiences.
He grew up in the inner city, starting his basketball career in high school and continuing through college, which led him to playing basketball around the world. After retiring from basketball, Donell worked first-hand with troubled youth at Echo Glen Children’s Center, a detention home where he helped young men & women piece their lives back together. For 10 years, he coached basketball at Umpqua Community College, kick-starting his mentorship of young African American men and becoming the first African American coach in Douglas County. Donell worked to open two Boys & Girls clubs in his hometown of Tacoma.
Now, as Executive Director at Elevate Oregon, Donell continues to mentor students and build life-changing relationships. His goal is to give back to his communities all that was given to him and more. An energetic and engaging speaker, Donell aims to inspire and develop the next generation of leaders who will transform communities and build a better future. His 5 years of service on the Oregon Department of Education’s African American/Black Student Success Advisory Committee are just one of the ways he works towards that aim.
In his free time, Donell recently earned an MBA at Willamette University. He enjoys learning, cooking, and – never having given up his love of the game – coaching Parkrose High School’s Varsity basketball team for the last 7 years.
Sarah Dougherty
Director of Programs
Growing up a Portland native, Sarah always saw the need for support for underserved youth. She has spent her life helping youth pursue their passions and dreams, starting with her deep involvement with her faith as a youth leader and mentor. Sarah served as Teacher/Mentor for Elevate’s Class of 2022, guiding her cohort for all 4 years of their high school career. During her class’s senior year, she also served as high school Program Manager, mentoring new staff around her, creating new curriculum, and developing highly effective relationships with program partners in the Portland community. Sarah's passion for youth development, her tireless work ethic and her natural loving spirit have enabled her to give back in a way that is deeply meaningful to her and everyone around her. Her recent Bachelors degree in Psychology/Human Development at Warner Pacific University has enabled her to better assist her staff in reaching their goals.
Tiffany Robinson
Family/Community Coordinator
Xavier Friday
David Douglas School District Manager
LaQuay Kennedy
Parkrose High School Teacher/Mentor
LaQuay was born and raised in NE Portland and graduated from Jefferson High School. She attended Benedict College in South Carolina, an HBCU, majoring in Biology. She joins Elevate after 10 years working for Multnomah County in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Department, fueling her focus on mental health within the community. With extensive experience mentoring NE Portland youth, LaQuay is ready for the work, open to the challenge, and excited to see who her students become.
Freddie Sly III
Fir Ridge High School Lead Teacher/Mentor
Freddie Sly III was born and raised in NE Portland, attending Jefferson High School. There, he participated in a Nike Product Creation Experience internship, and later mentored youth in fashion and design through that same program. He has worked with middle school and high school students ever since, and has over 8 years of experience mentoring Portland youth.
Freddie is currently a senior at PSU finishing his degree in Communications. He is a competitive gamer, and is the father of a beautiful 1-year-old baby girl.
Anthony Green
Parkrose High School Lead Teacher/Mentor
Anthony was raised in the heart of NE Portland. Growing up without a father and having little to no exposure to male role models help fuel his passion to be a part of the change that is needed for today's youth. His journey for youth advocacy began through volunteering as a Community Ambassador with Nike's Made to Play Program, and as a mentor with the Big Brother Big Sister program. Anthony's goal is to inspire the next generation by teaching them the fundamental skills of self-advocacy and leadership.
Jamarsae Brown
Parkrose High School Teacher/Mentor
Adofo Lawrence
Menlo Park Elementary Teacher/Mentor
Adofo joins Elevate Oregon after nearly 20 years in youth development. His passion for working with youth began in high school when he volunteered as a student leader with Outdoor School. Since then, he has worked with a variety of organizations as an Educational Assistant, In School Coordinator, Caregiver, Youth Development Mentor, Camp Counselor and Group Leader. Adofo grew up playing sports, attending summer camps, and playing at parks around the inner city neighborhoods in St. John’s and NE Portland. He attended Jefferson, Marshall and Vocational Village High Schools before attending Portland Community College. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, watching sports, and coaching basketball.
Dominique Lincoln
Parkrose Middle School Lead Teacher/Mentor
Jordan Griffin
Ron Russell Middle School Teacher/Mentor
Serena Smith
Parkrose High School Teacher/Mentor
Serena Smith is a driven and dedicated individual who has always strived for excellence. She completed her high school education at Union High school in Camas, WA and continued her academic journey at Cal Poly Humboldt University. There, she started a Black Student Athlete Union and worked in the Umoja Center for Pan-African Student Excellence. She graduated in May 2023 with a degree in Kinesiology, focusing on pre-physical therapy. Serena’s passion for helping the youth stems from her own experiences of overcoming challenges in the education system with limited resources. As a former cross-country and track & field athlete in both high school and college, Serena learned the importance of hard work and perseverance. Her goal is to empower young people to embrace their potential, connect with their communities, and become leaders in all aspects of their lives.
Jessica Ruiz Rodriguez
Ron Russell Middle School Teacher/Mentor
Jessica was born and raised in Mexico, immigrating to the U.S in 2003. Decisions that she made during her teen years led to her marrying and having children at a young age. This experience gave her valuable life lessons about the choices we make, and still informs her parenting and mentorship of teens today.
Jessica developed a passion for working with students over 10 years serving as a volunteer in her children's schools. Most recently, she coordinated and taught a middle school girls wellness/health class. Jessica plans to study Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counseling for Youth at MHCC. She loves being able to be a part of a team that focuses on supporting and mentoring youth while working to changing lives for the better.
Luz Ruiz Ruiz
Parkrose School District Manager
Jaelen Blake
Ron Russell Middle School Lead Teacher/Mentor
Jaelen is a former Elevate Oregon student and a Parkrose High School graduate. He’s an avid gamer with a passion for helping youth and the community he grew up in. He joined Elevate as a student in 2014, and became a staff member in December of 2020, starting at Sacramento Elementary School. Jaelen is now the full-time lead mentor at Ron Russell Middle School.
Chandra Roseby
Russell Elementary Lead Teacher/Mentor
Michelle Braxton
Reynolds School District Manager
P. Michelle Braxton is a Portland native and a long-time resident of the Parkrose neighborhood. She brings over 20 years of skills, knowledge, and experience in child advocacy and education to her role at Elevate Oregon. In her work as a youth mentor, Qualified Mental Health Associate, Restorative Justice Coordinator, Foster care Provider, Behavior Specialist, and SUN School program manager, she has been privileged to work with some of the most underserved and displaced communities in Oregon. Michelle is an intentional and committed Change Maker, using her influence to speak for the voiceless, serving as a positive role model, and selflessly advocating for underserved populations in need of a helping hand. This work feeds her soul. In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and event planning.
Nia Bradley
Ventura Park Elementary Teacher/Mentor
Nia Bradley was born and raised in the Portland area and is a Grant High School graduate. She was a college athlete, playing basketball for Miles College, a historically Black college in Birmingham, AL and later for Portland Community College. Nia worked as a Pediatric Psychiatric Technician in a sub-acute crisis center, as well as serving as a clinical Behavior Technician for kids with autism. Nia experienced the positive impact of a mentoring relationship in high school and is excited to give back to her community as an Elevate Oregon Teacher/Mentor at Ventura Elementary School.
Andre Reasno
Gilbert Heights Elementary Teacher/Mentor
Andre joins Elevate Oregon's team as a full-time Teacher/Mentor at Gilbert Heights Elementary School! He comes to the role with a strong background of mentoring youth, including work as a Program Coordinator and then an Elevate Teacher/Mentor at Prescott Elementary. Growing up, he developed strong leadership and management skills through playing sports all of his life (basketball, football, and track). Andre has the knack for helping the people around him grow and succeed, and enjoys using that talent with the young lives to give them life and see them flourish!
Carliss Holland-Smith
Margaret Scott Elementary Teacher/Mentor
Jamaal Goodlow Jr.
Prescott Elementary Teacher/Mentor
New Staff bios coming soon!
Braxton Knight
Lincoln Park Elementary Teacher/Mentor
Brenda Norell
Parkrose Middle School Teacher/Mentor
A'mere Ledbetter
Alice Ott Middle School Teacher/Mentor
New Staff bios coming soon!
Ray Ray Crain
Middle School Teacher/Mentor
New Staff bios coming soon!
Jim Wildermuth
Office Manager
Jim is an artist/entertainer who has lived all over the United States. For more than a decade, he has made his living working in office settings for health care teams and nonprofits. Jim is grateful for the opportunity to offer his abilities to an organization that is concerned with teaching valuable life skills to young people. He believes in forming relationships based on mutual respect so that together we can combat the fear that pervades the systems into which we were born.
Angela Taylor
Director of Finance
Born and raised in inner city Portland, Oregon, Angela was an at-risk youth who skipped school, got bad grades, and eventually dropped out of high school to become a teen parent. Years later, she earned a GED at PCC and then graduated from the Portland State University School of Business Administration for Accounting. Her passion and dedication for the community has led to a decade serving local area nonprofit organizations. Angela is excited to share her personal and professional experiences to support Elevate Oregon's mission. In her spare time, she enjoys nature photography, cooking, hiking, and playing the piano.
KJ Mack
Training & Development Manager
KJ was born and raised in South Carolina. It was there that his passion for serving the next generation first blossomed. KJ experienced firsthand the transformative power of deep, intentional relationships during his time in youth and college ministry. He went on to spend multiple years working with a wide variety of middle, high school, and college students as a ministry leader and youth pastor. Now, he continues to serve and impact youth through his work at Elevate Oregon. He has a deep desire to help others grow and succeed and loves designing systems and processes that help people and communities flourish.
KJ earned a BA in Public Health from the University of South Carolina and a MA in Christian Studies from Southeastern (SEBTS). In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with friends and family, exploring new places, reading, writing, and playing sports.
Claire Olmstead
Grant Writer
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Claire first earned an associate’s degree at Mt. Hood Community College before going on to graduate summa cum laude from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Arts & Letters. Claire is a multi-disciplinary artist, poet, and author, whose work has been published in both Perceptions and Pathos liberal art magazines. With ten years of experience in retail and customer service prior to earning their college degrees, Claire is pleased to be able to bring both technical and creative skills to the table for the Elevate Oregon team.
Dequesha Smith
Human Resources Generalist
New staff bios coming soon!
Kristen Robertson Rogers
Director of Development & Communications
A native Oregonian, Kristen attended the University of Oregon and Mills College in Oakland, California. With a strong writing background, she oversees Elevate Oregon's fundraising and communications efforts. Kristen has been deeply committed to Elevate Oregon’s work toward Educational Equity since 2017, when she started as a volunteer grant writer. In her spare time, she enjoys taking pictures, hiking with her dog, reading great books, and hanging out with her family.
Tony Ande
Chief Operating Officer
Tony Ande holds an MBA in Accounting, an MS in Executive Leadership and is an Oregon licensed CPA. Prior to moving into the non-profit sector Tony spent more than 20 years in public accounting culminating his career as CEO of Peterson & Company, CPAs, a regional CPA firm in San Diego.
Moving to Portland in 2003 Tony has spent the past 17 years as a finance executive in mission focused organizations including Portland Schools Foundation, Mercy Corps, Alta Bicycle Share, and Self Enhancement, Inc.
Tony was a Portland Business Journal 2014 CFO of the Year Non-Profit Honoree.
Tony lives in Vancovuer, WA with his wife, poet and artist Jan Lee Ande.