Leadership Steering Committee

Shamoyia Gardiner

Shamoyia is the executive director of Strong Schools Maryland. Before Strong Schools, she directed the education policy portfolio at Advocates for Children and Youth, provided cradle-to-career-spectrum policy analysis at the Family League of Baltimore, and project-based work with the Institute for Higher Education Policy, the DC State Board of Education, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Atlanta Civic Site.  Shamoyia is a board member at B.O.N.D. (Building Our Nation's Daughters) and The Intersection and is a coordinating “mama” with A Revolutionary Summer.

David Hornbeck

Chair and Executive Director

David served as Maryland State Superintendent of Schools (12 years), Philadelphia's Superintendent of Schools (6 years). He is the founder of Voices for Restorative Schools. Other prominent advocacy leadership includes: founder, Strong Schools Maryland; founder Good Schools Pennsylvania; board chair and, later, president, Children’s Defense Fund.

Chuck Hurley

Early on, Chuck was a Naval Intelligence Officer and China analyst. Later, he developed his political skills as a staffer for the Delaware State Speaker, Governor and Wilmington Mayor and then as a Congressional Legislative Director. Turning to highway safety, Churck served as a senior official of the National Safety Council, before retiring as the national CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 2010. In retirement, he has been active on civil rights, education, and other issues.

Thornell Jones

Thornell is President of World Class Graduates, dedicated to helping ensure the success of the Blueprint. He is a Physicist with in-depth IBM experience in computing; manufacturing; networking; market development; sales; and consulting; as well as using computers as research tools. A past scout leader for adults and youth, he recently worked to include African American youth in marine programs in Maryland. He is the Chair of the Education Subcommittee of the Caucus of African American Leaders, and a member of the Anne Arundel County Joint Commission to Eliminate the Opportunity Gap established by the County Executive and the Superintendent of Schools.

Edward Lee

Ed is a professional real estate agent. He is an elected Board Member Maryland State Conference NAACP and former Branch President Worcester County NAACP.  A civic leader, he is the founder of Teach Them to Fish™, LLC Financial Literacy and Homeownership. Ed is a member of the Caucus of African American Leaders.