Prior to joining Campbell Hall in 2021, Summerlyn taught English at the Alliance College Ready Public Schools in Los Angeles where, in 2018, she was honored as one of five finalists for “Teacher of the Year” from among the network of 27 schools. She also led professional development for teachers and school leaders to encourage a more inclusive, student-led classroom through exploring identity, examining biases, and encouraging restorative justice practices that reflect on and respond to the influence of historical injustices. In 2017, Summerlyn was awarded “Distinguished Teacher of Social Justice” by Facing History, a nationwide social justice organization. That same year, she also received an Earthwatch Teach Earth Fellowship, during which she participated in field work in Ecuador to contribute to the study of how climate change is impacting parasitism in Amazon cloud forests. In high school, Summerlyn worked as a Language Arts tutor at Kumon Learning Center in Memphis, and in college she helped recent refugees obtain EFL certifications necessary for their transition to U.S. citizens. Summerlyn holds a B.A. in English with a concentration in English as a Second Language and a German minor from the University of Memphis. She also holds a teaching credential from Loyola Marymount University.

EMAIL