MenSa Ankh Maa brings 20+ years of experience as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and
equity facilitator to his work. He was raised in Mount Vernon, New York and attended public
schools there before earning his BA in Psychology and African-American Studies at Syracuse
University and then a Master of Professional Studies in Africana Studies from Cornell University.

MenSa began his career in education as a substitute teacher for Mount Vernon Public Schools
during his college years and became a Teach For America Corps Member in the DC in 1998. After
teaching seventh grade Social Studies for five years, and working as an entry level administrator,
MenSa was accepted into the New Leaders for New Schools program and served as a Middle
School Assistant Principal and Principal in DC Public Schools for four years. During this time,
he earned his second master’s degree, this time in Educational Administration from Trinity
University in Washington, DC. MenSa then served as the Managing Director of Program, Alumni
Relations, and Public Affairs for Teach For America’s DC regional office for two years. Getting
the “principal bug” once again, MenSa and his family moved to Durant, Mississippi where he took
on the principalship of Williams-Sullivan Elementary School (K-8). At the time, the school was
the fourth worst performing in the state. During his two years as principal, the school experienced
dramatic academic improvements, allowing the school to meet rigorous growth targets in a short
period of time. Following his tenure at Williams-Sullivan, MenSa returned to the DC region and
assumed the role of Principal at William W. Hall Academy, a Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade
school in Capitol Heights, Maryland, from 2012- 2015. MenSa joined Teach For America- DC
Region again, this time in the capacity of Senior Managing Director of the People and Partnerships
team from 2015-2017, before becoming a full time principal coach and equity facilitator.
Currently, MenSa works as a Partnership Director with Turnaround For Children

MenSa has been married for 13 years to his beautiful wife Monica and they have two children,
Genesis Marley and Makeda Assata.