KC Educators Missional Network Zoom Meeting

Born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, Jennifer attended both private and public schools in the area, culminating in her graduation from Sumner Academy of Arts and Science. Coming from a family of educators has always played an integral role in Jennifer’s life, invigorating a passion for education and a belief that all children deserve access to a quality education as it has the
power to unlock doors of experience and opportunities that would otherwise be closed.

Jennifer is committed to advocacy and, more importantly, living out of the ideals of equity social justice and integrity in both her personal and professional life. She has served as a women’s ministry leader for 18 years and espouses that young girls and women have been uniquely equipped to serve and lead—and through faith can achieve far more than they’ve ever imagined. She believes that every experience that one has throughout life is more than mere
happenstance or coincidence. Instead, those experiences work cooperatively to shape and make us into who we were destined to be. She espouses that her past, her joys, her hurts, and her victories are all essential and can be leveraged to build and bless herself, as well as others. Our lives are not just about us, but about all whom we may positively impact and are called to serve.

She is the wife of an esteemed pastor and mother of a beautiful, multi-talented daughter, who is the joy and pride of her life.

Dr. Tyrone Michael Bates, Jr.

is From Kansas City, Kansas by way of Chicago, Illinois.  Tyrone is a 1996 graduate of Wyandotte High School. He attended Northwest Missouri State University while on a full ride Cross Country & Track & Field Scholarship. Tyrone is a 2002 graduate of Northwest Missouri State University where he received a Bachelors of Science in Biology and a minor in chemistry as well as his Educational Specialist Degree.  He also holds a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Pittsburgh State University. Tyrone earned his Educational Doctorate degree from the University of Missouri, Columbia in 2012.

Tyrone has received several honors and awards including Who’s Who Among American College and University students & teachers, the KCTF (Kansas City Teaching Fellows) outstanding teacher of the year spotlight.  He was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa National Academic Honorary Society in 2004, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s “2007 Man of Excellence Award” for community and educational activism, and the Friends of Yates Center Black Man of the Year Award in 2009.

Tyrone taught biology and chemistry for four years at his Alma Mata, Wyandotte high school, in Kansas City, KS; Two years as an Academic Coach with the Kauffman Scholars Program, seven years as an administrator with KCKPS and owns a consulting business (True Empowering, LLC) for the past 10 years, where he serves as President/CEO. TRUE Empowering, LLC exists to partner with organizations to develop tailored solutions to their complex cross-cultural relationship building challenges.  He currently serves Shawnee Mission School District as the Coordinator of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.