Our Leadership Team

Chris McGilvery, M.A. & M.Ed. Founder and Executive Director

Chris McGilvery is an educator who has lived and worked abroad in Dominica and has over 12 years of experience working in public schools and higher education. His mother grew up in the Philippines and could not afford to go to school. At the age of 11, she quit school to work on her family’s farm. Her story motivated her to change the narrative for her children. There are similar stories in our communities. We need to reimagine learning and support for students in underserved and under-resourced communities. Every child deserves an excellent education. Chris is committed to supporting students and teachers to build leaders and readers in their communities, supporting education equity and literacy for all.

Bree Markunas Marketing Team

Hailing from Nashua, New Hampshire, Bree Wallace takes her fervent belief in TLRN’s mission to provide education equity and literacy for all, and love for graphic design, to help bring ideas to life. In her free time, Bree enjoys crafting new espresso drink recipes, baking, and time with her pets.

Kayren Gray, M.Ed. Chief Experience Officer

Kayren is the author of The Road to Equity: The Five C’s to Construct an Equitable Classroom and creates spaces for classrooms, campuses, and communities to begin a conversation to close the gap and change the narrative. Kayren brings her experience as a Texas public school teacher, parent, administrator, entrepreneur, and DEI advocate. In her various positions, she has created equitable initiatives to create more inclusive, diverse programs and policies to get and keep students connected to campus in a positive way. Kayren has worked with various organizations to include school districts, universities, and businesses to facilitate workshops and training. She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, is the founder of MK Results LLC, and hosts a podcast entitled “The Road to Equity” because she knows diversity begins with dialogue. Learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion at: https://theroadtoequity.com

Monique Turner Literacy Projects Coordinator

Monique is a Professional School Counselor for all grade levels, and a previous middle school teacher from Killeen, Texas. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development from Texas Southern University, and her Master’s degree in Counseling with a School Counseling certification from Texas A&M University-Central Texas. Monique discovered her love of reading at a very young age. Through listening to stories read aloud by her mother, she would envision the stories as movies in her head. As Monique began reading on her own, she was instantly transported into different worlds with exciting characters and storylines. It was at this very moment when Monique realized the power of literacy, and her desire to spread that power so others could experience it for themselves. She is committed to her purpose of inspiring others through literacy, creativity, and positivity.