Cherise Ayers is a native of St. Paul, Minnesota. Her career as a teacher and administrator spans almost 20 years in all levels of K-12 public education. Her roles have included teacher, dean of students, and assistant principal. In her various roles, Cherise has developed expertise in professional development, strengthening support systems for students, and evaluating programs. Cherise is passionate about nurturing community and family engagement and implementing progressive systems of change.

Cherise currently serves as Equity Supervisor for North St.Paul - Maplewood - Oakdale Schools. In this role, she is responsible for creating and facilitating professional development on equity, managing district equity programs for students and staff, and promoting equitable implementation of curricula and programs throughout the district. Cherise holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College, an M.A.T in English from Brown University, and is currently working on a PhD in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Minnesota. A teacher at heart, Cherise's specialty is making connections as she explains complex and uncomfortable topics with style, humor, and grace.