Tina Koneazny is a long-time educator with two degrees in Education. She received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (where she was also a scholarship student-athlete in both track and cross-country) and her Master's degree in Literacy and Learning from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. Ms. Koneazny began her career teaching primary grades in the urban school district of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She took a year sabbatical from teaching in 1993 to service as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer at the Joint Educational Project at the University of Southern California, where she has now been a full-time staff person for the past eleven years and is currently Associate Director of Administration and Educational Outreach. Ms. Koneazny has been with the Youth Impact Program from its inception, having created the initial academic curriculums in both Language Arts and Mathematics along with her USC colleague, Kim Thomas-Barrios. Her first love is children and young adult literature, and believes that introducing real and relevant characters and situations to young people is the one sure way to create lifelong lovers of books and learning.

 

 

 

Mr. Grant has been with the Youth Impact program since 2006 and has worked as a teacher and football coach. Mr. Grant is a Certificated English teacher in California and is the Head Football Coach at South Gate High School in the Los Angeles area. Mr. Grant was named the YIP head Football Coach at the USC location in 2007. He has been instrumental in the development of the football curriculum and program with YIP. His background includes sports related software development, twenty plus years as a sports camp coordinator, coach, and businessman. A former high school student-athlete who held state records in track, and was recruited in football and basketball. He attended the University of Oregon on a football scholarship and was drafted and played for the New York Jets, in the NFL.   He is active in the community and currently serves on two national Boards of Directors for the National Alliance of African American Athletes and P.O.W.E.R.S. , Inc.

 

 

                                                              National Life Skills Director

                                                                         Morris Jones

 

Morris F. Jones Jr. prepped at Long Beach poly High School where he graduated in 1976. He was a member of the championship Varsity football team in 1975. He went on to Harbor Community College where he lettered in football and track. He completed his B.A. and his B. S. at Cal State University, Dominguez Hills. He earned his Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA in '05).

 

Morris has worked extensively with the Youth Impact Program (Y.I.P.) since its inception. He served as a teacher and coach in each of the four years that the program has been in existence. Last summer he served as the teacher trainer at Tulane University, the Youth Impact Programs' first extension site. This year Morris will serve as the National Life Skills Director for the Youth Impact Program. Additionally, he will coordinate the closing ceremonies for the Youth Impact Program.

 

Currently, Morris serves as the Director of Track and Field at Los Angeles Southwest Community College. His teams have competed at the state for the past four years and have compiled 14 All-Americans to date.

 

 

                                                         National Mathematics Director