Dr. Juanita Coleman-Merritt has been an educator for over 40 years. She has contributed to the field of education as an instructor, program coordinator and administrator, having served in  six school districts in the states of New York, Georgia and California. She is currently an Educational Consultant and Trainer. Her areas of expertise are building school, family and community partnerships, promoting high expectations for educators, parents and students, and developing positive school climates that support enhanced educational outcomes – particularly for those students who face the greatest challenges to academic success.

Prior to her current position, Dr. Coleman-Merritt was the Parent Ombudsperson for Local District 8, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). She worked with school site leaders to ensure that parent involvement activities were focused on enhancing student achievement. She also served on the District 8 Steering Committee for the implementation of the Discipline Foundation Policy, providing training and support for school staffs and parents.

 Dr. Coleman-Merritt was the Specialist/ Community Liaison with the Division of Special Education, LAUSD for four years. She has served as a Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Mentor and a Master Teacher for student teachers in the Culver City and Moreno Valley Unified School Districts, as well as several charter schools. As an instructional leader, she has supported the development of teachers new to the profession, and designed and presented workshops for certificated staff. As a coordinator, she established and trained Student Success Teams that included an entire school staff over a three year period.  

Dr. Coleman-Merritt earned her BA at Barnard College, Columbia University, an MS at Bank Street College of Education, an MA in Educational Administration at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and an Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership at Pepperdine University.

City of Carson, CA: 2009 Award for Youth, Family, School and Community Partnerships    

National Network of Partnership Schools: 2008 Promising Practices Award

California School Leadership Academy: 1996 Associate Award

Moreno Valley Mentor Teacher Service Award: 1995

Moreno Valley Educators Association WHO Award: 1994