Stephen is a native of Southmont, North Carolina born in 1963.  His parents are Ida May and Harold Evans. He is one of four siblings. As a child, he had no idea that he would become the "Agent of Change" that he is today. He dreamed of playing in the National Football league. With such a goal in mind, Stephen earned starting positions as special teams and tight end for Ferrum Junior College and Marshall University. After a successful collegiate academic and sports career he was picked up by the USFL Philadelphia Stars, NFL Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills. 

 

During his sports career, Stephen found himself constantly visiting schools, speaking with children, reading stories in the classroom and spending big bucks on ice cream for all of the children. Little did he know that 10 years later he would find his true calling as a pioneer in the charter school movement. How did this happen?  Injuries during his professional sports career influenced his decision to pursue a career in education.

 

For seven years, Stephen served as a Special Needs Counselor /Assistant Principal at Eanes Middle School piloted for identified students.  During this experience Stephen's eyes of understanding were opened to the numerous challenges special needs students and their parents faced. This program was unique and the first of its kind in Lexington, NC. In this role, Stephen was mentored by a transformational school leader. He also worked with an experienced team of educational leaders specializing in innovative, successful academic and behavioral strategies special needs children.  Stephen found the wide spectrum of learning behaviors so intriguing that he earned a Master’s Degree in Leadership and Counseling and became a licensed counselor.  

 

Stephen then married his wife Terri and moved to Michigan. He became a multi-age, multi-abilities public school teacher in general education.  Due to his classroom success, Stephen was asked to present on "children at risk" at a state conference for public schools in Lansing, MI.  After this compelling, evidence-based presentation he was approached by Beacon Education Charter School Management regarding a brand-new charter school that was in a state of decline. This school was located in Pontiac, Michigan, one of our nations most impoverished urban cities. Stephen accepted this position and became a pioneer in the charter school movement. This was his first venture as a charter school revivalist/ turnaround school leader.  

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In 2002 , Stephen was thrilled to meet Marva Collins, the mother of the charter school movement. He had the honor of serving on one of her committee's and introducing her as the keynote speaker for the 5th annual state charter school conference in Michigan. Ms. Collins left an indelible impression upon him regarding the call to address inequities in education for children in underserved communities.  With the profound insight and understanding Stephen embodied regarding as a turnaround charter school leader and the heart of a National Football Leage player, he successfully tackled these challenges in Pontiac and Detroit.  Gangs, drugs and violence within the schools and communities were destroying hope and opportunities for children and their families.  He repeatedly took on the daunting tasks of schools slated to close in communities that have some of the highest crime and death rates in the country. He realized and accepted that this mission is far greater than the sacrifices that he had to make both personally and professionally. 

School transformations accomplished during this time could only be called miracles. For example, Pontiac Academy for Excellence was spiraling out of control, facing a half million-dollar deficit. There were facility concerns and a declining enrollment of 75 students. During this time, Beacon Management transitioned into Imagine Schools. With the full support of Roy Walter, Stephen's regional superintendent within seven years PAE flourished by leaps and bounds. The deficit and long-term debts were dissolved creating a flourishing financial balanced and profitable budget. The program grew to a K-12 Charter School program with over 1200 students. According to USA Today, Pontiac Academy was the largest charter school per capita in Michigan. Another impressive feat for the PAE team was the reduction of violence or aggressive acts. For five consecutive years Pontiac Academy operated without any violence.  When speaking with Stephen about such accomplishments, he is quick to give thanks to God, his governing board, staff members, students and parents for trusting in him and working with him side by side throughout the process.  

 

Due to his accomplishments, Stephen found himself as a participant and panel speaker of global educators at the Oxford University Round tables in Oxford England addressing the needs of socio-economically disadvantaged and disparities in education. His attendance was requested for four consecutive years.  He was also invited to Harvard University to participate in a “Strategic Management Styles.” conference, 2007-2008.  In January of 2009, Stephen was recruited to turn around a self- managed charter school in Sarasota, FL.  With only 160 students in a warehouse building and a myriad of concerns the charter would be discontinued without a major overhaul. In November of 2009, under Stephen's leadership, SSIS received a certificate from Governor Crisp and $17,701 in recognition funds. Two years later, the school earned its first of three “A” academic ratings, alleviated the budgetary concerns, long terms depths, acquired two new beautiful campuses, increased enrollment to over 420 students. By 2012, SSIS was well on its way to becoming one of the districts most diverse charter schools as well as the only Title 1 charter school in Sarasota.  In 2013, SSIS was granted, its first ever, unanimous 10-year charter renewal.  Without question, these accomplishments can only be described as remarkable. Stephen credits the school's success to SSIS educators, governing board and Sarasota County School District.

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In 2019, Stephen began his educational consulting company. During this time, he was also recruited to help an urban charter school in Michigan renew its charter. Stephen and his leadership team did just that. Within two years Timberland Academy's charter was renewed by Grand Valley for 5 more years. Stephen is a man of great vision who understands his calling and gifting. He has been compared to an earth mover; recruited for heavy ground- breaking, operations work; restructuring and re-engineering systems. From there the work is turned over to a leadership professional who will continue to advance the mission.

Make no mistake, there is a major difference between a traditional school leader and a turnaround school leader. A successful turnaround school leader has great insight and expertise in all areas of school operations from A-Z.  It only takes a brief conversation with Stephen to know that he has a unique gifting for developing charter schools. 

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Stephen says that Charter School operations have made enormous leaps and bounds today as Charter School Management companies have developed more effective structural systemic processes to equip and empower charter school administrators, employees and students.  Stephen speaks from the experience of functioning in the roles and responsibilities that management companies espouse including fiscal budgeting, accounting, compliance, real estate and marketing and more due to his pioneering experience of operating and growing charter schools that were independently managed or where management companies were newly established. Stephen also holds an Education Specialist degree in Leadership and Superintendency and Michigan administrative certification.

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Although Stephen has an impressive list of honors and credentials, he says his greatest accomplishment is his family. Today, he resides in West Michigan with his wife and daughter (Amani). He is a man of faith, strong convictions and contributes his success to God. Currently, he is writing a book entitled, "The Charter."  He hopes to release it within the next year.