With more than 25 years of experience in education, Nikki Leonard is dedicated to preparing future educators and promoting excellence in teaching and learning.

Prior to joining Wake Tech in 2021, she spent more than a decade at Johnston Community College, serving as Early Childhood Education instructor, Birth-Kindergarten mentor and evaluator, and faculty leader. During her tenure, she helped secure and maintain NAEYC accreditation, led student success initiatives, mentored faculty and received the 2019 Course Exemplary Showcase Award for her innovative curriculum design.

In addition to her community college experience, Leonard served as an early educator support evaluator with East Carolina University, providing coaching, evaluation and professional development support to licensed Birth-Kindergarten teachers across North Carolina. Earlier in her career, she worked as a Birth-Kindergarten coordinator for Barton College and as a certified early intervention specialist, supporting young children with developmental delays and disabilities and partnering closely with families and community agencies to promote positive outcomes.

Dr. Ileetha Groom founded Wake Tech's Educator Preparation Program and has led its growth into one of the largest community college-based teacher preparation programs in North Carolina. Through her leadership, the program has expanded opportunities for aspiring educators and supported school districts in addressing teacher shortages across the state.

With more than two decades of classroom experience, Groom has taught students in kindergarten through fifth grade in North Carolina, California, Illinois and Nevada. Her professional experience also includes serving as a language arts consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and working as a literacy and instructional coach for schools and districts across multiple states.

In higher education, Groom has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California, DeVry University and Kaplan University.

KeAndra Boyd has more than a decade of experience teaching Family and Consumer Sciences in the Wake County Public School System. Her professional background also includes serving as a childcare director, assistant director, lead teacher and floater in early childhood settings. These experiences strengthened her passion for understanding child development and preparing future educators with the knowledge and skills needed to provide high-quality care and instruction.

Before coming to Wake Tech, Staci Herman Drauss was an infant/toddler specialist and education manager for the North Carolina Child Care Services Association, which provides professional development programs for child care providers, connects families with child care options and conducts research to improve care.

She also previously worked for a decade as an infant and toddler caregiver at childcare centers in California and New York and was an adjunct instructor in Early Childhood Education at Rasmussen College.

With more than 23 years of experience in the field of early childhood education, Janice Hopper brings extensive knowledge and practical expertise to the preparation of future educators.

Throughout her career, Hopper has worked closely with families, taught young children, consulted with early childhood programs and successfully owned and operated a family childcare business. These diverse experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of child development, family engagement and effective early learning environments.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has demonstrated strong leadership within the college community, including serving as president of the Faculty Association.

Latesha Levins-Malone has more than 25 years of professional experience as an early childhood classroom teacher, behavior specialist and childcare administrator. Her diverse background enables her to provide students with practical insights and a deep understanding of the complexities of early childhood education.

In addition to teaching courses such as Language and Literacy Experiences and Child, Family and Community, she mentors future educators and collaborates with local schools and early childhood centers to bridge the gap between theory and practice. She has extensive experience in curriculum design, inclusive education and early childhood development.

Cory Morris is dedicated to preparing future educators for success in the classroom and beyond. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes developmentally appropriate practices, play-based learning and the promotion of social-emotional growth in young children. She is committed to helping students connect educational theory with real-world applications, ensuring they graduate with the skills and confidence needed to make meaningful contributions to classrooms and communities.

Morris' professional experience includes serving as a licensed North Carolina preschool teacher in a Title I public school classroom, a community resource teacher with Project Enlightenment and a North Carolina Child Care licensing consultant. These roles have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of early childhood education from the perspectives of classroom instruction, family engagement, program support and regulatory oversight.

Morris is passionate about lifelong learning and professional growth and enjoys collaborating with colleagues and community partners to promote best practices in early childhood education.

Brenda Mullen has served as a preschool teacher, an elementary school teacher and a special education teacher. She also has provided assessment and counseling of children with psychiatric, developmental and/or substance abuse issues.

Dayla VanSchaick has taught in preschools, kindergartens and elementary schools and served as a preschool special education teacher. Before coming to Wake Tech, she was an adjunct instructor in Early Childhood Education at Dallas County Community College – Eastfield College.