About
Amp Up Arts

A former English teacher, RtI Coordinator, and assistant principal, Ashley holds a Bachelor’s in Secondary Education and Language Arts with a minor in Theatre, a Master’s in Liberal Arts- English, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership. As executive director, she is particularly passionate about strategies to provide increased equitable arts education access to underserved communities across Alabama.

In addition, Ashley is closely involved in her local arts community, occasionally paints, and as a kidney donor, supports transplant advocacy. Ashley is currently living and working in the Montgomery area. She is happiest with her two boys, a cup of coffee, or on a hiking trail.

A  native of Kansas City, Missouri Taylor holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Taylor currently teaches, choreographs and directs with Gradient Dance Theater & Community where she advocates for equitable access and opportunities for people to engage with dance in Birmingham. Having honed her resourcefulness and collaborative skill while directing Taylor is passionate about uplifting and nurturing artist educators right here in Alabama.

A former math and dance teacher, Carey is Professor of Social Foundations of Education and Educational Research at Auburn University. She also serves as the Education and Training Consultant for the Office of Research Compliance. In these roles, she explores and facilitates the work of educators toward more ethical and socially just policies and practices. Carey’s education includes: BS, Berry College, 1999; MA, Texas Woman’s University, 2022; MA, The Ohio State University, 2007; Ph.D., The Ohio State University, 2008.

Jonathan Michael Avant is a father, music & visual artist, accountant and community advocate that believes successful economic and community development can better be sustained through a healthy socioeconomic foundation. A Montgomery native, Jonathan was born on the Maxwell Air Force base to Glenn and Brenda Avant. Jonathan is an accounting graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery and possesses extensive experience in commercial lending, business development, banking, and accounting. Since April 2021, Jonathan has served as an accountant with the Montgomery-based firm of Aldridge, Borden & Co. where he focuses on providing accounting services to small minority-owned businesses and schools with the hopes of improving access to capital and increasing the number of locally created jobs.

A teacher that is focused on helping each student improve their future by reaching their potential.

Euri Townsy Carr, native of Troy and resident of Montgomery, has over a decade of experience in arts education and grants management. Carr has served on curriculum and instruction committees for universities and  local K-12 boards of education. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at Alabama State University. Carr’s dissertation study focuses on arts education access in rural areas and she’s committed to working with schools across Alabama to implement arts education programs.

Pamela Cevallos Amores is the Community Program’s Manager at The Children’s Museum of Denver. Pame holds a B.A. in Art History and a minor Contemporary Arts from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and Louisiana State University. For the past nine years, her work has been focused on leading art education projects that promote the expression of cultural identities and encourage collaborative community relationships. She serves as a board member of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast and the Amp UP Arts Initiative. The Ecuadorian art professional speaks four languages and her research interests range from participatory and relational arts to art studies on gender, cultural identities, and politics.

Kerri-Noelle is a dedicated arts professional serving as the Program Director for the Alabama Dance Council. She passionately shares her arts education expertise as a Teaching Artist for Creative Launchpad and the Arts Collab. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was honored with an Arts Educator Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts in 2022, and she previously earned the title of Academy for Academics and Arts Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Presently focused on building connections between art and non-art subjects by developing and implementing Arts Integration programs in city and county schools. Ruth also holds an active practice in her studio and helps support underrepresented local artists with an annual non-profit event every December.

James Ward is a practicing attorney in Montgomery, Alabama, where he primarily works on matters concerning public education and administrative procedures or regulations.