Brenda DeRamus-Coleman, PhD is an educational consultant who has more than 50 years of educational experience, including classroom teaching and school administration. She is currently on the Montgomery County Board of Education and serves as its president.

Dr. DeRamus-Coleman is a servant leader whose mission is to serve and to teach. Taking the Great Commission literally and figuratively has allowed her to demonstrate loving, caring, and sharing in her personal life, her professional life, and her spiritual life. Her professional experiences include teaching in Montgomery Public Schools and Troup County (GA) Schools.

She served Opelika City Schools as an assistant principal and program coordinator and as an adjunct faculty of Concordia College. In addition to her quest for knowledge over six decades, her work instructing and developing students from kindergarten through college levels and her participation in professional development of teachers and in educational programs across the nation, she is the Director of Christian Education at First Baptist Church in Montgomery; and a certified dean for The Congress of Christian Education for the National Baptist Convention, USA.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in secondary education from Alabama State University and her Master’s and Education Specialist Degrees from Auburn University at Montgomery. She earned her doctorate in Educational Supervision and Curriculum from Auburn University. Her research and work focus on providing education and support for vulnerable populations while maintaining the integrity of educational programming. Her dissertation, An Examination of Teachers’ Perceptions of the Implementation of Democratic Principles in Alabama’s High-Poverty Schools. explored the use and the effect of democratic leadership in the achievement levels of students living in poverty and attending high-poverty schools.

Dr. DeRamus-Coleman’s professional expertise includes consulting and training. She has served as a writer, consultant, lecturer, leading educator, strategic planner, and public speaker.

She has served as Board of Examiner member of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) formerly the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Training, Michigan; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Training (NCATE) Evaluation Team, University of Kentucky; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Training (NCATE) Evaluation Team, Salem College, TN; and National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Training (NCATE) Evaluation Team, William Carey College, TN.

She has served as consultant and trainer for Alabama State Department of education, the Alabama Education Association, and the Alabama State University Regional In-Service Center. Her professional presentations include: 2010 Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference, Savannah, Ga.; 2012 Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration 53rd Annual Conference, New Orleans, La.; 2010-2014 Alabama Education Association, “Ethical Instructional Leadership” and “AEA Cares: Family Involvement Program”; and 2000-2011 Alabama Education Association “What is it About Me You Can’t Teach: A Book Study” and “Communication Skills for Educators.”

Additional publications, papers, and presentations include:

Coleman, Heasley, Thomas, & Valentini (2010) Correlating Standardized Tests as a Means to Employ Intervention Strategies Aimed at Closing Academic Achievement Gaps (paper) presented at 2010 Eastern Educational Research Association (EERA) Conference, Savannah, Ga.

Coleman, Kensler, Kochan, & Reames (2013) An Examination of Teachers’ Perception of the Implementation of Democratic Principles in Alabama’s Torchbearer and Non-Torchbearer Schools (paper) presented at 2012 Southern Regional Council on Educational Administration 53rd Annual Conference, New Orleans, La.

Dr. DeRamus-Coleman is a member and leader of numerous civic and social organizations where she puts to use her knowledge and skills to support education and the arts, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., The CARATS, Inc., The Links, Inc., The National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., The Order of Eastern Star, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Dr. Coleman has one son, Jewel Bryant Coleman III, and three adorable grandchildren, Jaxen Bryant Coleman, Lillian Talley Coleman, and Jewel Bryant Coleman IV.

Montgomery Public Schools

Meet the MCBOE Members

Dr. Brenda DeRamus-Coleman

President - District 3

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Cassandra Brown

Vice President - District 4

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Dr. Lesa Keith

District 1

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Pamela Portis

District 2

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Pamela Cloud

District 5

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Claudia Mitchell

District 6

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Arica Watkins-Smith

District 7

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