Mr. Ankrum is a firm believer that education can be the catalyst to eradicate generational poverty. As a first-generation college student, Mr. Ankrum utilized education to escape the school to prison pipeline that many of his family and friends fell, victim to the system.
Mr. Ankrum graduated from the University of Stony Brook with a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies and a Master’s Degree in Professional Studies with a concentration in Human Resources and Management.
Post-September 11, 2002, Mr. Ankrum decided that he wanted to become a classroom teacher. Mr. Ankrum attended Morgan State University to obtain his Master’s of Arts in Teaching Social Studies. Mr. Ankrum selected Morgan State University over John Hopkins University, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County because exposure to a Historically Black College or University would be more beneficial to his development as an educator.
Mr. Ankrum taught US History, World History, Global History, and American Government for four years in the Baltimore City Public School System. While in BCPSS, Mr. Ankrum served as a building representative for the Baltimore City Teachers Union.
In the 2007 school year, Mr. Ankrum got his first experience in charter schools, accepting a Dean of Students position at Democracy Prep Public Charter School. After a year at DP, Mr. Ankrum brought his talents to Harlem Village Academies. In 2010, Mr. Ankrum earned his Ed.M from Teachers College, Columbia University. Shortly after, Mr. Ankrum was named principal at HVA.
Mr. Ankrum accepted the role of Executive Director of Riverhead Charter School in 2012-13. After a successful school turnaround campaign, Mr. Ankrum received a promotion to the superintendent of the Riverhead Charter School in 2017-18.
Mr. Ankrum is in an advanced candidacy at Northeastern University. He is set to defend his doctoral dissertation in August of 2019. The title of Mr. Ankrum’s doctoral proposal is “The Successes and Challenges of Parental Engagement in Urban Charter Schools.”