Meet Team Focus
Founder and President
Sheena Jackson is a dedicated youth advocate for more than 20 years. After earning her degree in Psychology in 2002, she entered the social service field where she worked as social worker for parenting teens through Aunt Martha's TPSN program. Knowledge of the barriers to access that lack of education caused this "at risk" population, led Sheena back to school to obtain a graduate degree in Education in 2008. She then began her tenure as a professional educator in Chicago. Her background in psychology and counseling, and a deep understanding of the needs of students has driven her classroom instruction and led to years of proven competency in improving literacy scores. In the classroom she has repeatedly shown growth of upwards of 200%, moving students more than 2 grade levels each year. She has shown expertise in creating safe learning spaces and expanding confidence in scholars through her middle school classroom, as an instructional coach, and through private tutoring. FOCUS is the manifestation of her vision for exceptional free education in the South Suburban Cook area.
Sheena Jackson, M.A.T., Ed.
Andrea Simpson- Perkins, M.A.T., Ed.
Bio coming soon
Sagona Perryman is an international educator, having taught in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Sagona’s United States teaching experience began in 1994 with Chicago Public Schools. Throughout her years with CPS, she has been a Guidance Counselor Aide, Substitute Teacher, Teacher,Librarian, Literacy Coach, and Interventionist. She also has administrative experience, serving as an Assistant Principal in 2013.
Sagona has an undergraduate degree from Chicago State University, and Master’s degrees in Reading and Educational Leadership, which includes a Type 75 certificate.
Having a passion to educate teens and young adults, Sagona currently serves as a Board Secretary for two non-profit organizations that share the same passion. Additionally, she hopes to acquire a provisional patent
within the year on an invention she is working on.
Sagona Perryman is a Chicago native and currently resides on the South Side of the city.
Sagona Perryman
John Mahome Jr.
Bio coming soon
Isaiah Simpson
Bio coming soon
Carol Mahome
Bio coming soon
Yvette Hulet
Bio coming soon
Kiayla Ryann
Kiayla Ryann’s curiosity knows no bounds. For as far as she can remember she has followed her passion for greater understanding of the world around her and the one within. This curiosity has led her down many different paths: living in different cities, performing her original plays and poems around the country, Guest speaking at her alma mater, guiding students through yoga and meditation, and meeting and learning from incredible people. As a multi-hyphenate artist, poet, yogini, and culture curator, she has channeled her curiosity into a career and life committed to celebrating the wonders of the human experience. Kiayla is a fierce advocate of self discovery, care, and community building. She looks forward to serving her home community of the South burbs as a Focus board member. There she intends to uplift the importance and joy of following one’s curiosity.
Nathan Jackson attended Indiana University, Bloomington, where he competed as a collegiate wrestler, earning All-American honors. After finishing a Liberal Studies B.A. in 2017, Jackson began his collegiate coaching career at Princeton University. While coaching, Nathan has simultaneously competed as a member of the USA national team in pursuit of world and olympic medals. During his time spent as a professional athlete, Jackson has enjoyed a great deal of success including; winning the US Open national championship, winning the World Team Trials, and is a 2x Pan American gold medalist, all while representing the USA.
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Outside of his professional career Jackson has become active in the nonprofit sector as he founded the Black Wrestling Association in 2019 with a mission to inspire, connect, and empower Black wrestlers and allies to grow wrestling through representation, equality, and opportunity. He also donates his time serving as a board member of Historically Black Colleges and Universities Wrestling initiative with a goal to revive Division 1 college wrestling at HBCU programs. Jackson and his family are actively engaged in youth empowerment programs in their local communities, highlighting his passion for innovative solutions to community ailments. Nathan serves as a board member of FOCUS inc.