Ms. Zena is an activist and artist. She has been involved with the works of Jimmy and Grace Boggs since the age of fourteen and naturally followed this path to the Boggs School. Her work mainly focuses on the youth of Detroit, helping to shape the future they see for themselves. Zena is a lover of science fiction and being an all-around nerd. She is studying economics at Oakland Community College, hoping to graduate in at least the next ten years.
Support Staff
Zena Addae, Independence Paraprofessional, Gray Wolves Room (Grade 2)
Ben Beutel-Gunn, Independence Paraprofessional, Blue Herons Room (Grades 4/5)/MTSS Aide
Mr. Ben is in his fifth year at the Boggs School as an independence paraprofessional, this year serving in the Pheasants classroom. He is from Detroit and has a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Central Michigan University. He loves the Boggs School because so many of his favorite people are there. Mr. Ben loves spicy snacks, loud music, and walking around.
Dakarai Carter, Classroom Aide, Rainbow Room (Kindergarten)
Mr. dakarai is an enthusiastic classroom aide for the Rainbows (Kindergarten) classroom. While still matriculating through college at Wayne State University, dakarai fills his time as an activist with such initiatives as Detroit Summer and the Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership. Since 2015, he has been a part of the Boggs School family in many different capacities, including the after-school program, community arts classes, and substituting for many positions. Mr. dakarai lives in Detroit with his partner, two cats, and a dog.
Margaret Hermatz, Occupational Therapist
Ms. Margaret has been working as a school-based occupational therapist for three years and at the Boggs School since August 2020. She is originally from South Carolina and has a bachelor's degree in physical education with a concentration in exercise science from College of Charleston (South Carolina) and a master's degree in occupational therapy from University of St. Augustine (Florida). She lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan, with her husband, Dennis, and their two dogs, Sophie (goldendoodle) and Beau (Yorkshire terrier/miniature pinscher/Pomeranian).
Jamica Ingram, MTSS Aide
Ms. Jamica has served as a classroom aide and independence paraprofessional for five years with the "Littles" of the Boggs School. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and social work as well as an associate degree in graphic design. She has been a Detroiter, along with her husband, for over 15 years, and they have two children, Kaiya and Theron, who are 6th grade and 4th grade students at the Boggs School. She has really enjoyed not only being a Boggs parent but also a part of the amazing staff at the school. When not at school, you can find her and her kids enjoying the many beaches of Michigan, checking out new camping spots, in the car ready for the next road-trip adventure, or just hanging out at home.
Anita Jackson, Independence Paraprofessional, Pheasants Room (Grade 3)
Ms. Anita is excited to be one of the newest members of the Boggs School team and an aide for the Pheasants Room. She was born and raised in Detroit and is moving back after living in Arkansas with her husband for the last fourteen years. Ms. Anita received her bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Monticello at the age of 52. She served as a substitute teacher in the southeast Arkansas school system and taught Information and Computer Technology at the middle school level. In her spare time, she spends time with her blended family, which includes five adult children and thirty-four grandchildren. She also loves gardening, computer graphics, and community.
Kevin Lurkins, Independence Paraprofessional, Painted Turtles Room (Grade 1)
Mr. Kevin is in his third year at the Boggs School serving as an independence paraprofessional, this year in the Painted Turtles classroom. His background is working as a Registered Behavior Technician in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI). He has lived in Ypsilanti, Monroe, Flat Rock, and Detroit, Michigan; Los Angeles and San Diego, California; Portland, Oregon; and New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to his passion for working with kids, he is fulfilled by trumpet/percussion/piano performance, painting with acrylics, making stained glass, gardening, foraging for wild edibles, hiking/backpacking, making soy candles, and caring for his rescue dog, Luna Roo. He would die happy as a clam and fuller than a tick if he could eat only spanakopita for the rest of his life. “To the world, you may be one person. To one person, you may be the world.” - Dr. Seuss
Louise McDonald, Speech & Language Pathologist
Ms. Louise was raised in the city of Detroit and educated in the Detroit Public Schools system, graduating from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and from Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Ms. Louise is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist and a proud member of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); she is also involved in the ASHA-PAC, which seeks to increase the political awareness of its members and represent the interests of audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. She has been excited to bring her expertise to the Boggs School for the past six years, dedicating herself to improving the speech and language skills of young minds and empowering them to find their voices. Outside of school, Louise enjoys her small family, which consists of her husband and three cats: Gabriel, Gabriela, and Presley.
Jasmine Noble, Counselor
Ms. Jasmine serves as our school's licensed professional counselor, focusing on the social and emotional well-being of our students, families, and staff. She received a bachelor's degree in education and teaching certification from Eastern Michigan University (with coursework at Michigan State University) and a master's degree from Capella University in mental health counseling. Her journey at Boggs started during its inaugural year as a founding teacher with the Tiger Lilies (then Grades 3-4). She is an avid visionary and developer of initiatives focusing on meeting the unique needs of individuals and communities. What she loves about the Boggs School is its collaborative, empathetic, and innovative culture.
Klotylda Hartshorn Phillippi, Librarian
Ms. Klo has been the Boggs School's library volunteer since 2014. She has been involved with the school since before it opened and then joined the School Board in 2012, serving until 2018. Klo grew up on a farm in Rochester, Michigan, while also spending a lot of time in Detroit with her grandparents. She graduated from Alma College and obtained master's and doctoral degrees from Michigan State University. She taught elementary school for many years and taught at both Michigan State University and the University of Michigan for a combined 20 years. She has two grown daughters and two teenage grandsons.
Prostell Thomas, Independence Paraprofessional, Pheasants Room (Grade 3)
Mr. Prostell is an author, award-winning poet, licensed insurance agent, and native Detroiter, but his favorite title is Father of Eleven. He will be a proud Boggs School parent for a long time to come, and he is beyond excited to rejoin the Boggs staff. Long live the Boggs Brotherhood!
Patricia Walker, Social Worker
Ms. Pat has been a school social worker for over fifteen years. She retired from Detroit Public Schools and has worked with many children from DPS and the community, including from Crossman, Helen Field, and Jerry L. White Alternative High Schools and Vista Maria Residential (Clara B. Ford High School), just to name a few. She received her master's degree in social work from Wayne State University. This is Ms. Pat's second year at the Boggs School.
Ebonee West, Office Administrator
Ms. Ebonee has been a Boggs School parent since 2015 and an independence paraprofessional at Boggs since 2017. She loves the Boggs School because it not only nurtures the whole child, it nurtures the whole family! Ms. Ebonee completed coursework at University of Houston and Texas Southern University, and she is active in her Detroit community, North Rosedale Park. She is the proud mom of five children, including Boggs School Solutionaries Leland (Grade 7) and Sienna (Grade 5), and she is a new grandma! She loves road trips with her family, beaches, and lazy Sunday mornings with her plants, her pup, and a hot chai latte.
