EDUCATION FIRST, Inc.

Who we are, Why we exist

OUR STORY

In 2011 Education First, Inc. was officially registered in the United States as a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization and as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Liberia. However, the groundwork began in 2008 when the Executive Director and founder, Dr. Blidi Stemn, who has been in the field of education for more than 30 years visited Liberia. As he traveled across the country, he came across overcrowded classrooms with children sitting on lumber supported by cement blocks as they wrote with their notebooks on their laps. Most of the schools were staffed with under qualified and untrained teachers who taught at grade levels they themselves had barely achieved.

Despite the surmounting problems faced by schools and teachers as a result of the 14 years of civil unrest, Dr. Stemn came across some dedicated teachers with limited to no resources teaching in abandoned buildings and open areas. These teachers were making the best of the limited resources available to them at the time.

In September 2012, Education First Academy was established in Harper Liberia with 40 children from pre-kindergarten to grade 2. Now, approximately 400 children are receiving quality education and the education program has been extended to include grade 3 through 9 (junior high school). Other programs include afterschool remedial sessions, digital literacy, arts and craft, and extracurricular activities.

VISION

Education First, Inc., envisions a society where all children and youths in rural and underserved communities in Liberia have full access to innovative, high quality, and affordable education.

MISSION STATEMENT

We aspire to a “Total Child” approach to education. That is, a successful learner one who is knowledgeable not only in traditional academic subjects but emotionally and physically healthy and engaged in makerspace education that prepares children and youths to be elf-sufficient and ready for the world beyond formal education. 

OUR CORE VALUES

Accountability - We hold ourselves accountable for our own actions, admit when we failed our own standards, and always strive to be our best selves.

Appreciation - We show appreciation for one another whenever possible. We appreciate our donors, board members, parents, teachers, and support staff for everything they do for us and appreciate the kindness of our friends.

Growth - We have growth mindsets. We always believe we can improve and work every day to learn something new.
High Expectations – We have high expectations of ourselves, the students in our school system, teachers, and staff and believe that we can achieve more than we set out to.

Honesty - We value honesty when communicating with one another. The greatest test of honesty is when we must admit when we are wrong.

Integrity - We are both honest and driven by a clear moral compass. We believe that students with integrity strive to always do the right thing.

Perseverance - We recognize that learning is hard, but we can reach our learning goals with the guidance of our teachers and the support of our friends.

Excellence - We are an organization that strives to excellence in academic, extra-curricular activities, and artistic pursuits.
Critical Thinking – We embrace and encourage thinking critically about the world’s problems. We strive to teach students how to learn and be analytical so they can go out into the world as lifelong learners to solve the problems of the 21st Century.

MEET THE TEam

Dr. Blidi Stemn, Executive Director

Dr. Blidi Stemn,is the Executive Director and Founder of Education
First, Inc/Education First Academy in Harper, Liberia. He is an
Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at State University of New
York at Old Westbury and Chair of the Childhood Education and Literacy
Department. He is also the Co-Director of Teacher Opportunity Corps
(TOC) a State funded grant program dedicated to increase the rate of
historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged individuals
in teaching careers. He has been in the field education for over 30
years in Liberia, United Kingdom, and the United States. He has a
doctoral degree from University of Connecticut.
Bledii Chea- Stemm, Event Planner

Mrs. Bledii Chea-Stemn is program planner and fundraiser of Education
First, Inc. Bledii holds a BA in Radio Programming, and an FCC license
in Program production. She is an entrepreneur at heart. Bledii is a
senior Cosmetologist; she is proprietor of two businesses, Bledii C-Cuts
barbershop and Reflective Results Braids & Beauty salon in Beltsville
Md. She is very passionate about mentoring new beauty school graduates.
In her yearning to give back, she run several nursing home salons
bringing joy to the faces of the elderly. She enjoys being of service to
others, planning events and traveling.
Dr. T. Edwin Freeman, Development Director

Dr. T. Edwin Freeman is Development Director at Education First. He is
currently a Technical R&D Fellow at Mars, Inc., where he is responsible
for leading the research and development of sustainable materials and
driving the company’s commitments to circularity. Edwin is a
results-oriented and enthusiastic technical leader with a proven record
of successfully leading global cross-functional teams, fostering
collaboration at all levels, and driving strategic R&D initiatives and
sustainable practices at a number of Global Companies. Under the
auspices of UNESCO and The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), he has
provided volunteer services as Visiting Scientist at Tubman University
in Liberia, where he conducted lectures and seminars on low cost,
environmentally sustainable technologies. Edwin earned his PhD in
Polymer Science from The University of Akron, Ohio and he holds over 30
US Patents for various inventions over his career.
Ms. Josephine Jlogbor, Principal, Education First Academy

Ms. Josephine Jlogbor is currently the principal of Education First
Academy. She rose from the ranks of classroom assistant and later served
as the registrar of the school for 4 years. Ms. Jlogbor holds a Bachekor
Science degree in early childhood education from Tubman University in
Harper, Liberia.
 Mr. David Erskine, Board Chair, Liberia

Mr. David Hne Erskine is the local Board Chairperson of the Education
First Academy (EFA). Mr. Erskine also extends both teaching and
professional counseling services to students at EFA. Mr. Erskine is the
Senior Director of the Department of Enrollment Management, at the
William V. S. Tubman University, in Maryland County, Liberia. He holds a
Master’s in degree in Educational Foundation and Counseling from the
Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Mr. Franklin Buku Nah, Assistant Board Chair, Liberia

Mr. Franklin Buku Nah is the financial and technology director of the
local Board of Education First Academy. He also runs the digital
education program at the school. He is Assistant Registrar at Tubman
University and holds a bachelor’s degree in technology.
Dr. Jacqueline Grennon-Brooks, Member

Dr. Jacqueline Grennon Brooks is a special advisor to the Board of
Directors at Education First, Inc. She is a Professor Emerita in the
Department of Teaching, Literacy and Leadership at Hofstra University.
She is a co-founder of the Long Island Explorium, a children’s museum of
science and engineering in Port Jefferson, NY. She served as the
founding director of the Biotechnology Teaching Lab and the Discover Lab
at Stony Brook University and directed its Science Teacher Preparation
Program. At Hofstra University, she directed the Institute for the
Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences, the Science Education
Program, and STEM Studio, a clinical practice site for new teachers.
Mrs. Rheba Jules, Administrative Volunteer

Mrs. Rheba Jules is the Administrative Assistant volunteer of the Board
of Directors of Education First, Inc. and a sponsor of a student at
Education First Academy. She is the Director of Academic Services &
Outreach, School of Education, State University of New York at Old
Westbury.

EDUCATION FIRST, INC.

CONTACT INFO

(516) 974.3009 / 011.231.886709692 
1377 Exeter St., N. Baldwin NY 11510
info@edufirstinc.org

WHO WE ARE

Education First, Inc. was founded to help address the education needs of children and youths in underserved communities in the southeastern region of Liberia.

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