Executive Director
Phallon Perry comes to Emerging Scholars with 13 years of experience as a development professional and has raised well over $20 million in her career. Phallon has led fundraising efforts for mission-based organizations that support education, human services, and the arts. In her formative years, she received her education through the Baltimore Public School System and later moved to the Midwest to pursue an undergraduate and graduate degree at Indiana University and Northwestern University. She is the author of several children’s books that highlight the stories of underrepresented children in literature. Phallon’s passion for education equality has led her to this role as Executive Director of Emerging Scholars.

phallon@emergingscholarsprogram.org

Director of Scholars Academy & Advancement
A former student of A Better Chance (ABC), Maurice "Coach Mo" Plaines has been involved with independent schools for more than 30 years. After completing his BA in Secondary Education at Brooklyn College, he interned at Friends Seminary and Fieldston Ethical Culture Schools while pursuing his masters. He spent 12 years as the universally loved and respected Athletic Director for St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School, and also volunteered for fundraising events and other programming at local schools including Landon, Holton-Arms, Georgetown Day, Washington Episcopal and Green Acres. His extensive work with the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference has provided him with an extraordinary network of like-minded educators. Coach Mo's ability to work with students of all ages and backgrounds, in addition to educational professionals and families, makes him an ideal member of the ES faculty. Proficient in Spanish and lax!

Mo@emergingscholarsprogram.org

Admission and Outplacement Coordinator
Theodra has over twenty years of experience working with the independent school admission process, with five spent as the Associate Director of Lower and Middle School Admission at Sidwell Friends School. With more than twenty years of experience working with public and private school students from preschool through high school, Theodra’s roles have ranged from school-wide diversity coordinator, physical education teacher and athletic department head, varsity volleyball coach, health instructor, NAACP parent representative, and parent advocate. Theodra has also worked in schools with special needs students and with nonprofit organizations for underprivileged children. She consults with a unique variety of schools and programs across the Washington, DC area, providing program-wide support in classroom design, accessibility, and best practices. She holds a BS from Florida A&M University, A Certification in Independent Educational Consulting from UCIrvine, she a Certified Educational Planner and was featured in articles about DC-area Educational Consultants in the Washingtonian Magazine and in Washington Business Journal. Theodra is also a Professional Member of IECA.

Marketing and Communications
Bethel Dawit is a dedicated professional with over six years of experience at the Emerging Scholars Program (ES), where she is both an alumna and a current staff member. A Cohort 13 scholar, Bethel has been deeply involved in the ES community, volunteering every summer since her Cohort graduation. She currently serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager, overseeing social media strategy, alumni engagement, and outreach efforts. Additionally, she serves as the Co-founder and Director of FORGE (Furthering Our Resources & Garnering Enlightenment), an organization dedicated to further educating female scholars about the importance of understanding the independent school environment and equipping them with the knowledge to navigate societal pressures. She currently spearheads FORGE's organizational initiatives and collaborates with the executive team on development initiatives. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration, while completing high school, and is also a graduate of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, where she studied Management & IT, with a pre-law focus. Bethel is passionate about educational equality, inclusivity, and expanding access to resources, she is committed to creating opportunities that empower individuals and communities to thrive.

bdawit@emergingscholarsprogram.org

Admissions and Program Manager
Erica was born and raised in the DMV area and brings over 10 years of experience in administrative and admissions support. She has a strong background in managing operations and collaborating with teams to ensure processes run efficiently and effectively. As a parent and a dedicated advocate for empowering youth and families, Erica is passionate about helping others reach their fullest potential. She takes pride in providing a welcoming and supportive experience for every family she works with, guiding them smoothly through the admissions process and beyond.

ES@emergingscholarsprogram.org

Contact Us

Stay in the loop: