Kellie Cook McLaurin is a founding board member of CHCCC and has served on its board since its inception and is the Chairperson of the Board whose motto is “Listen, Learn, Lead”. She is a respected educator with over 25 years’ experience and is currently the Principal of Nassau County BOCES Special Schools. She is a member of the National Alternative Education Association, the Oxford University Roundtable, the National Principals Leadership Institute, New York Historical Society Fellowship, and current President of the Board of Directors for UMOJA Network for Young Men, with a specialty in curriculum development since 2014. Kellie holds a bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University and two master’s degrees from Adelphi University — the first in secondary education and the second in administration and supervision in technology and is a doctoral candidate in Educational Administration and Leadership at St. Johns University. She is a long-time resident of Cypress Hills.