Tanya E. Watson is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. She completed her undergraduate degree from Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) and obtained 25 hours of graduate courses at the University of New Orleans (UNO). Tanya graduated from North Carolina State University in 2008 with a Masters in Education and is currently working on her doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction (3rd Year) where she is in good standing with a 3.8 GPA. Tanya has twelve years of professional teaching experiences in New Orleans Public Schools as well as four years of substitute experience in Wake County Public Schools. Currently, Tanya is a University Supervisor with the MAT program and a Graduate Research Student at the African-American Cultural Center Library. Her research interests include middle school education and literacy. As part of her portfolio, she has participated in a host of educational seminars, academic sessions, poster sessions, and extended workshops in all facets of education and technology with NC State. She has recently been offered an opportunity to travel to England with the National Writing Project (Summer 2011). In her spare time, Tanya volunteers as a Sunday School teacher; works at a Clothes Closet/Food Pantry, which serves the citizens of Wake county; organizes an annual family reunion; and uses her skills and abilities wherever she can to better serve the community of Raleigh and all its citizens, especially the youth and elderly.