As the co-founder and inaugural Executive Director of Parents of Black Children, one of the fastest-growing non-profits in Ontario, Kearie has spearheaded and created the organization’s strategic vision, mandate, and approach and has leveraged her experience with systems navigation in cancer care and child welfare system to implement the methodology in support of Black families engaged within the education system. This has changed the landscape of support for Black parents by formalizing the historic practice of Black community advocacy within the education sector. As a ‘learning futurist’, Kearie works to challenge existing educational pedagogy and encourages education leaders to re-imagine education design. In this capacity, Kearie also conceptualized and led the development of PoBC’s Omo Africentric Campus, the first Africentric virtual campus in Canada accessible for Black children and families- offering an alternative, reimagining of how electronic platforms can be utilized in the education space.

In addition to her work within non-profit leadership, Kearie has anchored her career as a thought leader and writer on race, motherhood, and education issues. With a Masters’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications, Kearie began her career as a Journalist working as a freelance associate producer and assignment editor for NBC News, London Bureau.

In 2017 Kearie created the Podcast and Blog, Woke Mommy Chatter, a space to combat the invisibilizing of the Black motherhood experience and to shed light on the Black parenting journey. Kearie also writes about race, equity, and the Black motherhood experience for various publications, including Today’s Parents, CBC Parent, Flare, and Chatelaine.

Claudette sits on the OACAS Education Outcomes Strategy Committee and is a roster member at the Ontario College of Teachers. Claudette is currently completing a Master in Education in Social Justice Education at OISE (U of T) and recently published an article on Educating against Anti-Black racism which she co-authored with renowned antiracism scholar George Sefa Dei. Claudette runs her own private consulting firm, developing curriculum resources and offers, professional development and strategic planning services from an anti-oppression lens. She serves on several municipal and provincial steering committees championing race equity and is an Op. Ed contributor for the Centre for Integrative Anti-Racism Studies.

Through volunteer opportunities and community work, she has developed a strong knowledge of the nation’s and Ontario’s legislative offices and parliament. De’Ann is a passionate dual citizen of Canada and the United States of America, which has made her diverse in both nations’ politics. Eager to learn everything there is to know about social justice, policy, and governance, through her work with POBC, she has been able to advocate and educate others on the harms of Anti-Black Racism in the education system across Canada and the United States.

Her academic and career goals include exploring the effectiveness and ability of education systems and systems alike to serve students belonging to minority groups when policies, procedures, and foundational principles of these systems date back to times of colonialism and white supremacy. The only system that has yet to face significant changes and restructuring is the education system. De’Ann believes it is time to reconsider and reimagine the formative years of education. It is time for education to evolve.