Kailanya Brailey
Project Director for CEFAM & Senior Education Equity Specialist
As a Senior Education Equity Specialist, Kailanya Brailey develops and delivers professional development to state departments of education, school districts, and schools on civil rights and educational equity issues. In addition to addressing educational equity, she provides technical assistance and customized trainings related to school improvement and/or teaching and learning that are relevant to State Education Agencies (SEAs) and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in an effort to ensure equitable access to instruction, resources, and opportunities for all learners.
Kailanya has over seventeen years of experience as a secondary educator in public school settings in South Carolina, including eight years as an English Language Arts teacher, five years as a middle school assistant principal, and four years as a middle school principal. She received National Board Certification in English Language Arts Early Adolescence in 2009 and was selected as a school-level Teacher of the Year in 2011. Kailanya holds a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina, a Master’s in Education from Walden University (with a specialization in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Secondary Education from Winthrop University. She has consistently held memberships with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the South Carolina Association of School Administrators, and the Palmetto State Teachers Association. Through her work as a school leader, she has had the privilege and responsibility of ensuring that students have equitable access to high-level coursework, advocacy, social and emotional supports, and resources.
In addition to her service as an educator, Kailanya is also a children’s book author (Mia Learns to Soar and Mia Finds Her Voice) and speaker. She has presented at local, district, and state-level conferences and professional learning events on a variety of topics including bias, building community, empowering students, leadership, and the power of one’s story.
