About Us

“ESEC’s leader is exceptionally intelligent and creative. In our collaboration, I have watched the delivery of professional development for systemic change, the securing of partnerships and collaborations with other high-profile demanding organizations.”

Kevin Baird

Center for College & Career Readiness

ABOUT US

We Listen and Work Together To Create A Truly Unique Experience

Empire Strategic Education Consultants is an organization with members experienced with implementing Federal, State, and Local education policies impacting school communities and families across New York City. Members have served as school and district leaders responsible for supporting and evaluating school leaders, classroom pedagogues, guidance counselors, athletic coaches, and administrative school staff; to build the capacity for sustainable instructional and social-emotional development programs.

The staff has a breadth of over thirty years of school and district leadership service, immersed in designing professional learning institutes, producing standards-based instructional programs, training in analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, conducting school quality reviews, and advising on multiple pathways to college for students.

We take pride in providing high-quality professional development tailored to meet the needs of school leaders and teachers.

We have partnered with the Center for College & Career Readiness to offer graduate-level Continuing Education Units to teachers, school, and district leaders through the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education for identified sessions.

Our goal is to serve as Educators Breaking Barriers

WHY CHOOSE US

Commitment, Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity!

Our mission is to support learning and community-based organizations, strengthen professional practices to ensure impactful outcomes, and design programs to help decrease the educational equity gap for students in underserved communities. 

  • School District Expertise 100% 100%
  • Program Design 95% 95%
  • Leadership Development 98% 98%

Years of Educator Experience

Nonprofit Education Experience

Youth Development Experience

Meet the Team

Talibah J. Daniel, Senior Executive Director

Licensed AreasNew York State Education Department, School District Leader and School Building Leader, Superintendent of Administration, Education Administrator, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist; New Jersey State Education Department, Principal, School Administrator, Education Administrator.

Professional Summary
Education Administrative Officer, Executive Director of School Improvement, New York City Department of Education: 16 years as District Leader; 8 years as a School Leader; 5 years as a Classroom Teacher of Law and Government.

    • Licensed School Leadership Coach
    • Teacher and Counselors’ Evaluator
    • Reviewer and Classroom Instructor
    • School Improvement Executive Director
    • Qualitative and Quantitative Data Analyst
    • Comprehensive Education Plan Developer
    • Non-Profit Organization Consultant
    • Certified Professional Development Facilitator
    • Experienced School Quality Reviewer and Assessor
    • Certified Curriculum Development and Instruction Designer
      Elma Powell, Executive Director of Professional Development and Instruction

      Licensed AreasNew York State Education Department, School District Leader and School Building Leader, Education Administrator, Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development.

      Professional Summary
      K-12 Administrator and Supervisor, Superintendent of Administration, New York City Department of Education: 10 years as citywide Programs and District Leader, 10 years as a School Administrator and Supervisor, 8 years as a K-12 Classroom Teacher of Various Subject Areas and Grades.

      • Senior Educational Consultant
      • Certified K-12 School Programmer
      • Certified School Budget Evaluator
      • School and Community Liaison
      • National Professional Development Coach
      • School Improvement Executive Director
      • Adjunct Professor of Educational Courses
      • Comprehensive Education Plan Developer
      • Certified Curriculum and Assessment Designer
      • Licensed School Leadership Coach and Evaluator
      • Certified Standards-Based Instructional Curriculum Designer
      • Experienced K-16 Classroom Instructor in Various Subject Areas
        Ayanna Dewer, Director of Operations and Youth Services

        Non-Profit Education Director: Over 20 years as Director of College and Career Programs, 9 years as Vice President of Program Operations for Business, Engineering and Computer Science Programs.

        • Global Summer Institutes Director
        • Budget Development Administrator
        • Professional Development Facilitator
        • Internship and Business Partners Coordinator
        • Progressive Educational Programming Designer
        • Computer Science and STEM Education Specialist
        • National and International College and Career Director
          Lisa-Marie Newkirk, Director of Youth Development and Community Outreach

          Law Enforcement Sergeant, New York City Police Department: 20 years as Law Enforcer
          as Police Officer and Sergeant, Crisis Counselor and Youth Development Coaching.

          • Peer Counseling Trainer
          • Community Policing Supervisor
          • Youth Officer Advocate and Mentor
          • Applied Suicide Intervention Trainer
          • Emergency Psychological Technician
          • Curricular Content Manager and Facilitator
          • Certified Life and Stress Management Coach
          • Certified Anger Management Specialist and Mediator
            Partnership with Dr. Michele Darby, President of Excellency Coaching and Consulting Services

            Dr. Michele Darby, President of Excellency Coaching and Consulting Services, LLC, 20 years NYSED Administrator, School District Leader, School Building Leader, Professional Development Specialist, expertise in serving incarcerated youth and providing Social Emotional Learning support to students across grade levels.