Our Team
- Ashley Boyte, HOPE Prima Principal
- Kenny Webster, Assistant Dean of Students
- Dekisha Bridges, Elementary Dean of Instruction
- Toni Momon, School Admissions Manager
- Reggie Walker, Dean of Students
- Lurese Johnson Gillespie, Dean of Instruction
- Rachaad Howard, Office Manager
Ashley Boyte, HOPE Prima Principal
Ashley Boyte is a graduate of Culver-Stockton College with a degree in Business Administration. While she majored in Business, working with students has always been a passion. Upon graduation, she joined Teach for America and was placed to teach in Milwaukee. She taught Kindergarten at HOPE Caritas while attending Cardinal Stritch University. She graduated from Cardinal Stritch University in 2017 with a Master of Arts in Urban Education. Upon graduation and finishing her Teach for America commitment, Ashley knew she still wanted to work in a school setting. She sought a role where she could incorporate her business skills with her desire to serve children. Ashley became the School Operations Manager for HOPE Caritas and then transitioned to the role of Regional Director of Operations for HOPE Christian Schools, she now serves as the Principal at HOPE Prima. Ashley graduated in May of 2023 with her PhD in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service.
Kenny Webster, Assistant Dean of Students
Kenney Webster started his career at Parklawn Christian Academy in 2003, where he served as a teacher assistant and coach to the scholars in the Milwaukee community. His overall goal was to encourage, plant seeds, and collaborate with others all while pushing students to grow holistically.
After serving for the Parklawn community for over a decade, Kenney transitioned to Cross Trainers Academy where he specialized in the art of dance. He taught the students to embrace their creativity and to take risks. During the school year, the private school encouraged Kenney to collaborate with administrators on support with behavior management. He learned to build a healthy school climate through culture building and community circles. This in turn, helped him build life-long connections with the Milwaukee community.
He later transitioned to Hope Prima in 2015 where he entered back into a classroom serving as a teacher’s assistant in various grades. Before becoming the Assistant Dean of Students in 2020, he had various roles with the school; from being the athletic director to the assistant operations manager. This allowed Kenney to be diverse and skilled in all areas within the Prima building.
Dekisha Bridges, Elementary Dean of Instruction
Dekisha Bridges has been in education for 8 years, and has a passion for serving families in her community. Dekisha started her journey as a Kindergarten support teacher at Pilgrim Lutheran, and Shermain Lutheran serving students and their families with academics, parent engagement, and positive relationships. This position helped her be skillful in classroom management, being prepared, building relationships, all while being consistent for her Families.
In 2015 Dekisha was connected to the Center for Urban Teaching, serving to develop future educators throughout the city of MIlwaukee. This organization allowed Dekisha to grow in developing her leadership skills through live coaching, and leading professional developments, all while being a mentor to preservice aspiring educators.
This resulted in Dekisha being a founding Kindergarten teacher at a public charter school, the highest performing Kindergarten teacher serving over 30 scholars in the Brown Deer community, which inturn allowed her to be an exceptional servant leader to the Milwaukee community. After graduating with her Masters degree in Leadership Innovation from Wisconsin Lutheran college, Dekisha transitioned out of the classroom into a new role as Hope Prima Elementary Dean of Instruction. She aims to build connections with her staff and families, move the academic needle, all while building God’s kingdom.
Toni Momon, School Admissions Manager
ToniJanae’ Momon is a business management professional that has experience in admissions through higher education, cosmetology instruction, and non-profit management. Toni was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a Concentration on Entrepreneurial Studies, a Master of Science program for Business Administration and is currently studying for her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis on Organizational Development.
Toni is devoted to working with the community by working with youth and their families to have a better quality of life. Through her devotion for the community, she has facilitated and organized back to school festivals, health fairs, and virtual learning sessions. She works very closely in her faith through mission work and loves God.
Reggie Walker, Dean of Students
Hi! My name is Reggie Walker, and I am excited for this school year as the Dean of Students for Hope Christian School Prima. I received my high school diploma from Rufus King High school and my bachelor’s degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tn. I am from the Northside of Milwaukee and have been in urban education for over 10 years and my passion continues to flourish like my first year of teaching!
I am purpose driven and I prioritize Christ who comes first in my life. I married the love of my life on May 29, 2021, with my beautiful princess Heaven Curtis-Walker. I am a very family-oriented individual who loves to spend time with my family and travel the world with them. I am dedicated to developing future leaders and educators like myself to make an impact on the lives of families, understanding education is a vessel leading to greater opportunities for success in our daily lives. I pride myself in sharing my experiences with others to hopefully allow people to understand if God can bless me in my journey, God can certainly do it for you!
My outlook on life is to always have a growth mindset because I know there is nothing too hard for God! I am looking forward to having an incredible school year building awesome relationships with phenomenal people that will last a lifetime!
Lurese Johnson Gillespie, Dean of Instruction
Lurese Johnson Gillespie M.S., B.S.
Greetings, my name is Lurese Gillespie, I have been working in the field of education since I graduated from high school. I have worked in elementary, middle school and high school and Herzing University as a Criminal Justice Department Chair and Instructor.
I became a member of the Hope-Prima family in the fall of 2020 where I serve as the Social Studies teacher and Hope Prima Program Coordinator. I was appointed Interim Dean in 2021. I currently serve as the Dean of Instruction (DOI) for Middle School.
I attended Mississippi Valley State University, in Itta Bena, MS, where I received my bachelor’s degree in History and my master’s degree in Criminal Justice as well as earning my certificate in Legal Secretary and Office Management.
My passion for people has made me an excellent middle school teacher, high school teacher and university instructor, and my scholars have high respect for me.
I have a passion for young people. It brings me great pleasure to see our future generation become productive citizens of society. I know they hold the KEY to our countries FUTURE!!
Proverbs 2:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Rachaad Howard, Office Manager
I Rachaad Howard was born and raised in Milwaukee WI, I went MPS for all my pre-adult years and graduated high school from Milwaukee Vincent. Not sure what I wanted to do in life, I took a few years off just working some deadend jobs and trying other business ideas before I went back to school to continue my education. I attended the Art institute of Pittsburgh to earn a degree in graphic design and marketing. After college and dealing with the racial barriers of graphic designer careers in Milwaukee, I decided to become a freelance designer for local small businesses, landing my first big gig with the Marriott Hotel designing their restaurant menus and POW an entrepreneur was born. Over the years I have worked various jobs until I decided to become a full-time entrepreneur in 2010. I got into the commercial t-shirt printing business by accident when a friend asked me to print shirts for his church, didn’t know what I was doing but I figured it out and the rest is history. I have had 3 different businesses since then that I have started that all did well in their own area. I also recently started a small business coaching firm to help people of color gain more access to resources I never had. I use my talents to give back to the community, by parting with schools and nonprofits. I have partnered with companies like the Milwaukee Bucks, Kohls, United Way, Blood Center of Wisconsin and more. In 2021 I won the Milwaukee Business Journal top 40under40 awards for community leadership, The Biz Times Notable Minority executive award, and the Governors rising star business award and this year in 2022 I have won the award for the Titan top 100 CEO/C-level exec. I plan on continuing to spread my knowledge and service to the community for years to come.