Shelby Williams Long, of the Twice Exceptional Mom, LLC, is the mother of two exceptional children, ages 6 and 12 and an early childhood educator with 20 years of experience teaching grades 2-5.  

Ms. Long earned a B.S. from Christian Brothers University , a Masters of Arts from Wesleyan College and an Education Specialist Degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. 

Ms. Long is a parishioner at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Macon and a Life Member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.  

Ms. Long is a fierce advocate for children, especially those who are exceptional learners.  To learn more about exceptional learners, advocacy, and parent rights in Georgia please visit her website :thetwiceexceptionalmom.com , YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@thetwiceexceptionalmom , and Tik Tok.@thetwiceexceptionalmom

Shakia is a mother of two in Middle Georgia. Her advocacy journey began with her son.  She once felt as though she lacked the knowledge to ensure he received a fair and quality education.  However, she has found success with a private microschool education that fits his current needs. 

As the current GeorgiaCAN Parent Advocate Fellow for Peach County, she is committed to educating and equipping Middle Georgia parents with the tools to advocate for their children.  

Her goal is to drive change in her local school district.  She supports Rising Scholars by arranging venue locations and helping build workshops to educate parents.

Zakia Muhammad, mother of five, entrepreneur and community activist, Zakia brings her vast experience in community engagement and provides Rising Scholars Collective support with identifying community agencies in which to partner in events.

Bionca is a client turned advisory board member for Rising Scholars Collective.  A dedicated education advocate, mother and college student, she has a strong commitment to service and community impact.  

She has certifications in Phlebotomy, EKG Technician and Nurse Aide, and brings professional experience from customer service roles with healthfield related companies.  

She has also served as a substitute teacher in MOID/self-contained classrooms within the local public school system, giving her firsthand insight into the needs of students with complex support needs. 

With aspirations of becoming a registered nurse, she is passionate about bridging education, healthcare and advocacy to support students and families holistically.  

She helps out by providing customer service support to Rising Scholars Collective and serving as the Program Manager for upcoming events.

Lakeshia S. Williams, Ed.S. is a veteran educator, certified school counselor and education administrator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Middle Grades Education, a Master of Education in School Counseling, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Counseling. 

With more than 20 years of experience in education, her professional background spans school counseling, instructional leadership, and program development, with a sustained focus on equity, access, and college and career readiness for historically underserved students.

Williams is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in School Improvement at the University of West Georgia, where her scholarly interests include scholar-practitioner identity, educational policy analysis, CTAE accountability, and the intersection of leadership, access, and student outcomes. Grounded in a reflective, practice-based research orientation, her work seeks to bridge theory and practice to inform sustainable school improvement efforts at the secondary level.