About Us The Mississippi First team is a group of dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to promote the mission of Mississippi First.
Our Focus Areas At Mississippi First, we lead change by advancing ideas through the policy continuum. We are a leading voice for high-quality early education, high-quality public charter schools, access to highly effective teachers and leaders, and creating a future for public schools.
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News & Updates Stay informed with the latest updates, stories, and perspectives on our work to advance educational excellence in Mississippi.
Take Action Check out the various ways to get involved below and help us increase access to high-quality public education in Mississippi.
Grace Breazeale
Staff Director of Research and K-12 Policy

Grace was raised in Columbia, SC. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019 with degrees in Public Policy and Economics, and a minor in Chemistry. During college, Grace completed internships at the Brookings Institution, the US House of Representatives, and UNC’s Office of Ethics and Policy, in addition to […]

Tomeka Cheatham
Staff Director of Operations

Dr. Tomeka Cheatham is a seasoned nonprofit leader and business professional with over 29 years of experience in management, retail, business startups, event planning, finance, and grant writing. A native of Prentiss, Mississippi, she began her academic journey at Hinds Community College, earning associate degrees in Business Technology and Pre-Nursing. She went on to receive […]