Onward Education & Consultant

Renisha Ward is a dedicated education professional with a passion for empowering students to reach their full potential. Her journey in education began as a preschool teacher at Wesley United Methodist Preschool, where she spent seven years nurturing the minds of three and four-year-olds. She then served as a second and third-grade teacher in the Pine Bluff School District for 14 years, earning a Teacher of the Year nomination in 2015 for her commitment to helping her students achieve state and federal milestones. Renisha's impact extended beyond the classroom as the Program Director of the Jefferson County Methodist Faith and Family Mentoring Program and Lead Teacher of the 21st Century After-school/Summer Enrichment Program.

Renisha's dedication to educational enrichment led to her role as the Pre-Health Professions Recruitment Specialist at UAMS South Central in Pine Bluff. Here, she connected students with health-related careers through programs like A Day in the Life, Club Scrub, MASH, and CHAMPS. She also organized academic advising and shadowing opportunities for collegiate students. As the Director overseeing a staff of up to 10 people, Renisha managed over seven enrichment programs for junior and senior high school students through postgraduate college levels, creating a pipeline into healthcare programs nationwide. These programs served over 200 scholars in three years, funded by several federal and local grants. Renisha's collaborative approach included partnerships with numerous in-state and out-of-state organizations.

A proud alumna of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Renisha is currently pursuing a second master's degree in Teaching the Gifted and Talented. She is active in her community, church, and sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. Renisha draws inspiration from First Lady Michelle Obama's words, "When you've been blessed, you've worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed." Renisha embodies this philosophy, reaching back to empower others and create a lasting impact on education.