Program Leadership
Amber Spears, Executive Director
aspears@tntech.edu | 931-372-6265
Dr. Spears is an associate professor of literacy methods in the College of Education & Human Sciences at Tennessee Tech University. Dr. Spears has directed summer programming for children in Putnam County since 2017. She led Putnam County’s Ready to be Ready summer literacy camp, then began her service as the Elinor Ross CDF Freedom School project director in 2019. Dr. Spears has worked with children, families, and communities to provide high-quality experiences for children during the summer months when school is not in session.
Spears is a former elementary school teacher and is licensed in Tennessee in K–8 elementary education, PK–3 early childhood education, and PK–12 reading specialist. She holds a Ph.D. in exceptional learning, an Ed.S. in early childhood education, a master’s in curriculum and instruction, and a bachelor’s in elementary education. Dr. Spears serves on the Advisory Board for the Literacy Association of Tennessee and was the 2018 recipient of the Literacy Professor of the Year award. In 2021, she received the Hoyte Snow Literacy Leadership Award for the Literacy Association of Tennessee
Cassie Brown, Project Director
Ms. Brown is currently a Ph.D. graduate assistant under the guidance of Dr. Amber
Spears and is pursuing her doctorate in exceptional learning with a concentration
in literacy. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction with a literacy
concentration and a bachelor's in elementary education.
Cassie, previously an elementary school teacher in grades K–3, holds two licenses within the state of Tennessee, elementary education (K-5) and reading specialist (K-12). She serves as the treasurer of the Upper Cumberland Literacy Association. Her journey with the Freedom School started the summer of 2023 as a servant leader intern.
Trinity Summons, Site Coordinator
Trinity is returning for her fourth consecutive summer as our Site Coordinator, bringing her expertise as a dedicated 6th-grade science teacher in White County. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction from Tennessee Tech University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Science with a concentration in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. As a licensed teacher for grades 6–12, Trinity is passionate about fostering a love of learning and curiosity in young scholars.
During the summer program, Trinity oversees daily operations, supports staff, and connects with families to create a positive and enriching experience for every scholar. She works tirelessly to plan engaging activities that encourage academic confidence, leadership development, and community involvement. Over the past three summers, Trinity has impacted the lives of more than 100 scholars, and she looks forward to another season of inspiration and growth.
