1. 2016 Leon Bradley Scholarship Recipients
ANTHONY J. VELASQUEZ is a senior at Elon University in North Carolina. He is a dual
major in Elementary Education and Special Education.
While carrying a 3.8 GPA, he works on the Elon Residence Life Staff as an apartment
manager. During his school breaks, he works at Superior Beverage in Ohio, as a
display engineer, and for the Down Syndrome Association of the Valley as a site
manager at its annual I Can Ride bike camp.
At Elon University, Tony is the vice president of National Residence Hall Honorary, a
left handed pitcher on the Elon Club baseball team, and a member of academic honor
society Phi Kappa Phi, Elon intramurals, Elon Newman Center Parish, the Elon President’s list for academic
excellence and the Latin American Student Organization.
NATASHA JOHNSON, a former secondary education teacher and guidance
counselor in New York City, NY, recently earned her Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership
from the University of Tennessee – Chattanooga. Currently, she is a doctoral student
in the Educational Policy Studies Department at Georgia State University in Atlanta,
GA where she also serves as a graduate recruiter. Mrs. Johnson’s research interests
include educational injustices and inequality, curriculum development, and critical
race and feminist theories.
THE LEON BRADLEY SCHOLARSHIP AWARD, is intended for minority college students pursuing the teaching
profession and/or school leadership. The scholarship is named in honor of the late Leon Bradley, the first
African American president of AASPA (1983 - 1984). Announcement of the award occurs at the Annual
Conference in October each year. This award is a one-time, non-renewable grant. The first award was given
in 2004. Funds for the scholarship are raised through fundraisers at the Annual Conference and through
donations from individuals and groups.
Any members or organizations may send tax deductible contributions for the Leon Bradley Scholarship Fund
to the AASPA headquarters at 11863 W. 112th Street, Suite 100, Overland Park, KS 66210.
2016 AASPA Annual Conference - 23
ERNETTA CAGLE received her B.A. in Political Science from Bennett College for
Women in Greensboro, NC. She holds a professional educator certification in Middle
Grades Education (6-9) with a concentration in Mathematics from North Carolina
Central University in Durham, NC. Currently, she is working on her Master’s degree
in Educational Leadership from North Carolina Central University. Ms. Cagle has
always been committed to excellence in education. As a future school administrator,
Ms. Cagle knows that in order to be successful, she must sincerely care about all
students and staff, and be committed to her vision. Ms. Cagle’s ultimate goal is
to work in education policy which looks at and addresses educational systems,
processes, relationships and structures to determine if the nation’s youth are being
served effectively.