Staff

Faith Porter

Director of Operations, fporter@raisingexpectations.org
Faith Porter is an educator, researcher, and activist currently serving as Program Director at Raising Expectations, Inc. An alumna of Spelman College where she served as a Bonner Community Service Scholar, Faith holds degrees in International Studies and Spanish. Through the Bonner Scholars Program, she gained hands-on experience through internships at several Atlanta-based non-profits, as well as those located throughout the United States and in the Dominican Republic and received a certificate in non-profit management.  

Faith is a 2016 recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS), through which she studied Portuguese language and Brazilian culture at Middlebury College. She possesses years of classroom experience through her positions as a lead English Language Development and Spanish teacher as well as a teacher’s assistant during her tenure at Summer Institute for the Gifted. The 2022-23 academic year signals Faith’s fourth year as a member of the Raising Expectations team, where she previously served as Project DREAM Elementary Coordinator and Program Director at RE’s main site. 

Empathy and cultural competence are at the core of Faith’s personal and educational philosophies. She is passionate about child advocacy and is committed to using her skills to assist RE in the fulfillment of its mission.

Terese J. Lackley

Director of Programs, terese@raisingexpectations.org

Terese J. Lackley brings extensive experience in education, administration, strategic planning, budgeting, and accounting to the Raising Expectations team. As the former administrator and owner of two childcare centers and a tutorial company, she has been deeply involved in the educational sector since 1992, teaching countless students in all grade levels. She has served in various roles, including Classroom Teacher, Grade Level Chair, Learning and Development Trainer, and Success for All Reading Trainer. She has also been a Certified Director since 2009.

Terese has applied her skills in both the private and public sectors and had the pleasure of connecting with Raising Expectations’ co-founders while working at Charles R. Drew Charter School in 2000. In addition to serving in multiple positions at RE over the years, she has served as a Lead Floater for an after-school program and as a director and administrator of a collaborative after-school program model serving over 300 students. Terese’s children are products of Raising Expectations, and she is grateful to be back at RE as Director of Programs to assist the organization in its amazing community work.

Outside of work, Terese enjoys roller skating, bowling, fishing, and working out. She is the proud parent of two adult children and the grandmother of one beautiful granddaughter.

Dana Matthias

Project DREAM At-Promise Coordinator, dmatthias@raisingexpectations.org
Born and raised on the Caribbean Island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dana left to attend the University of Maryland College Park for her Bachelor’s in Animal Sciences. Upon returning to her country post studies, she became an educator and possesses over 12 years of classroom experience as a Biology and Integrated Science high school teacher. She has also served as an Executive Member as well as the Vice President of the St. Vincent National Science Teachers Association, that worked alongside other entities to plan and execute the annual National Science Fairs. Her interests have always been introducing youth in St. Vincent to the various STEAM subjects as well as job opportunities.

As a recent transplant to Atlanta, Dana is excited to take up her role as the Raising Expectations Project DREAM At-Promise Coordinator overseeing program operations at the At-Promise South and West locations alongside her team. This allows her to continue her passion for cultivating interest in the youth that are in underserved communities.

Montanez Baugh

High School Coordinator, mbaugh@raisingexpectations.org

Montanez Baugh is an experienced youth leader currently serving as High School Program Coordinator at Raising Expectations, Inc. Born and raised in Atlanta, Montanez attended Bard College (NY) as a Posse Scholar, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music. With nearly a decade of youth development experience, he has served as a college peer mentor, award-winning camp counselor, and an AmeriCorps ELA/Math tutor. His unique educational background, combined with hands-on experience, allows him to approach youth development with creativity and empathy.

Influenced by his own upbringing, Montanez is dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of the youth he serves. Throughout his career, he has had the privilege of serving in diverse roles that have equipped him with a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities students encounter on their path to success. Montanez is committed to fostering positive growth that empowers young people to thrive academically, socially, and personally. He is enthusiastic to leverage his expertise to support the fulfillment of Raising Expectations’ mission.

S.T.E.A.M Academic Leaders (SAL’s)

Project DREAM (5th-8th)

Sherese Eaglin, 

Project DREAM-At Promise Center (7th-12th)

Lenatta Goka, Brianna Cook, Alex Dunning

Project STEMWARE (9th-12th)

Kiara Hicks