Cheryl Jones-McLeod
For more than 20 years, Cheryl Jones-McLeod has been a noteworthy leader in the youth development and school climate and culture spaces. An experienced Public Administrator, Cheryl has a passion for developing systems that ensure the physical, emotional and educational safety of youth in community and academic environments. She has done considerable work in restructuring and developing trauma-informed behavioral systems within public and private schools as well as founded a non-profit organization geared toward mentoring youth and providing them with increased positive opportunities. Cheryl has dedicated her efforts towards empowering underserved communities and economically disadvantaged populations in various cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia and Chicago. A native of Brooklyn, NY and a proud graduate of two HBCUs: Lincoln University (PA) with a Bachelor of Psychology and Bowie State University (MD) with a Master of Public Administration; she has an extraordinary commitment to excellence in service of communities of color and diverse cultures, beliefs, identities, sexual orientations and all of the things that make us all so amazingly unique.
Throughout her career, Cheryl Jones-McLeod has received accolades and opportunities due to her commitment to excellence in using her experience and gifts in service of others. In 2006, her non-profit organization, On the Heels of Greatness, Inc, was selected by then Baltimore City Council President Sheila Dixon to serve as a discipline diversion program within various Baltimore City Public Middle Schools. Cheryl went on to continue to do exemplary work throughout the Baltimore City Public Schools system. After relocating to Chicago, Cheryl’s experience quickly created opportunities to stretch into new spaces. Cheryl was honored to become a TREP (Trauma Responsive Educational Practitioner) Fellow through the University of Chicago. The fellowship enhanced her knowledge and provided the opportunity to coach educators across the country to meet the psychological, emotional, behavioral and academic needs of students and staff members who are coping with trauma. Through this training and additional work with Loyola University of Chicago, Cheryl was invited to become a Restorative Justice Coach through the Illinois School Board of Education, allowing her to coach various school districts in developing trauma informed policies and procedures to govern their schools with a focus on physical and emotional safety. In line with her work around safety and trauma informed care, Cheryl was able to do some consulting with READI Chicago, an organization focused on gun violence prevention through therapeutic crisis intervention and employment, helping to launch their national work to build similar programs in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA. Most recently, Cheryl became a trainer in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention through Cornell University, in order to train practitioners on how to safely de-escalate students in crisis.
Cheryl finds her own peace and restorative moments spending time with her amazing family. She and her husband, Branden McLeod, PHD have 2 amazing children, Ammar and Aniya!