Courtney Lancaster

BA from Martin Methodist College in Tennessee in 2011
MA in Social Change from the Iliff School of Theology

Born and raised in Alabama. Following graduate school, she served over three years as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the field of education.

While with AmeriCorps, Courtney served in AmeriCorps VISTA supporting a small school district in southern Colorado and as a VISTA Leader (team lead) with another education nonprofit. She also worked with Public Allies (young-adult leadership development) at Eagle Rock School in Estes Park, Colorado as their Service-Learning Teaching Fellow. Afterward, she worked with the charter school Hope Online Learning Academy CO-OP leading daily social studies and science read-alouds as well as teaching small group math and literacy instruction to 2nd and 3rd grade students. Other education and youth development positions previously held include lead school-age teacher (3 summers), 3 summers as camp counselor with 12-18 year-old students, site director of two after-school programs, private tutor, and paraeducator.

Currently, Courtney is working as a literacy intervention instructor (K-4) with the nonprofit Reading Partners, as well as beginning a graduate certificate in grant writing. She is extremely passionate about educational equity and the value of building strong literacy and academic skills in young students. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, pop art, indie rock, and exploring ghost towns.