Very active in the music community, educators, peers, community members and music professionals of various backgrounds frequently boast of Mr. McLean’s talent and innate ability to inspire, motivate and connect with students. Mr. McLean maintains a community-first philosophy, and his ensembles and projects have earned a national reputation as a model of excellence. Recently, McLean was nominated for a GRAMMY Music Educator Award and was named a 2021 Top 5 Finalist for Broward County Public School’s Teacher of the Year award.

Sheldon’s passion and diverse experiences in education have led him to become the Founder and Director of The Sound Check Foundation. His sincere interest in developing infrastructure that provides equitable access to inspiring educational experiences is the driving force of the foundation’s existence. Mr. McLean earned his Bachelor’s Degree (B.S. 2010) from Florida A&M University (FAMU), his Master’s Degree (M.M.E. 2015) from The Florida State University and is currently pursuing his doctorate in Instrumental Conducting at The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

Having experienced educators throughout her academic journey who were committed to and motivated by student success, Dr. McLean deemed it a responsibility to “pay it forward” by becoming an educator in her own right, serving as a teaching assistant, tutor, mentor, collegiate guest-lecturer and graduate course co-director.

As an African-American woman thriving in S.T.E.M., Dr. McLean has overcome various barriers facing double-minorities, and has recognized the value of guidance, mentorship, and allyship by those who have proven instrumental in her personal, academic, and professional development. Independently and through the work of The Sound Check Foundation, Dr. McLean is committed to making a transformative impact in under-resourced and under-served communities.

During this time, Dr. Bookal served as the Vice President of Students Without Borders, where he organized local outreach activities as well as international service trips. Following graduation, he worked in higher education administration as an Associate Director of Admissions.

Years later, he transitioned back into medicine and earned his Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. After medical school, Dr. Bookal began his residency training in Internal Medicine with the University of Central Florida at Ocala Regional Medical Center. Dr. Bookal has a passion for medicine, music, education and service.

Through her leadership role, she provides resources and support to improve the educational and life experiences of at-risk children in minority communities. The CEA is a community-based organization that works with Broward County Public Schools and other educational and youth organizations to enhance the educational performance of students through the use of supplemental curriculum.

This curriculum is directed towards literacy, mentorship and exposure to broader cultural experiences. As a South Florida native who has lived and worked extensively in her community, she understands the importance and impact of making meaningful and sustainable improvements for students and their families.

He most recently completed a Master of Education Leadership program from the University of West Florida. While attending FAMU, Ransom was a member of the Incomparable Marching 100 and was appointed freshmen section leader. The leadership skills developed from that position led him to multiple leadership roles throughout his career, including Operations Management for Walgreens Drugstores, Collegiate Educator for Miami Dade College, and Transformational Leader for Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS).

Within MDCPS, the 4th largest school district in the U.S., Ransom was selected – over nearly 20,000 other educators – as Teacher of the Year and became a semi-finalist. Ransom’s passion for education and leadership has led him to build a business in finance where he empowers and educates people on financial literacy. He is also a proud member of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. His mission is to impact change through education and mentorship.

At Next100, his work focuses on the intersection of housing and climate change with a particular focus on climate adaptation policies and disaster recovery efforts. He also has a range of experience as a housing and community development advocate working in communities around the world—including prior stints with law firms in Washington, DC and New York City, and with the Legal Resources Centre of South Africa.

Dan earned degrees from Florida A&M University, the Hough Graduate School of Business at the University of Florida, and the University of Michigan Law School.

Working diligently to end the systematic oppression within the American education system, Colleen dismantles the School to Prison Pipeline daily by creating access and opportunity for her scholars.

With over 10 years in education, she serves as a mentor, step coach, the Instructional STEM and Special Education Lead, the Middle School Climate and Culture Coordinator, and an academic coach for pre-service educators. Colleen continues her advocacy and social justice work as an EdD student in the Curriculum, Culture, and Communities Program at Loyola University.