BOOST Staff consists of the Admin Team, Coaches, Coordinators, Junior Coaches, and Junior Coaches in Training (JCiTs). Admins are permanent staff, while the rest of the team (collectively known as Scholar Support Staff) rotates and fluctuates each season.
BOOST ADMIN TEAM
Douglass Coleman
Douglass Coleman has been working with historically marginalized communities since 1988 in and around public schools. His experience attending K-12 in Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), in addition to his time spent working for LAUSD, Compton Unified School District, and Durham Public Schools (DPS), has given Doug great insight into how best to partner with public schools and work with K-12 students. In addition to leading BOOST after the program regained funding, Doug initiated BOOST N Schools, which brought BOOST into DPS to judge science fairs, lead hands-on STEM lessons, and support school and community initiatives. He also co-created the Junior Coach model, a near-peer mentoring mechanism that has become a cornerstone of BOOST and a consistent exemplar for fledgling youth programs.
Doug has held several leadership positions in high school and university-led organizations, as well as community and professional organizations that support youth. He previously served as Program Director of Hayti Youth for Progress and Enrichment and helped coordinate Scientifica, a grant-funded high school program for DPS high schoolers that utilized college tours, STEMM competitions, lab and industry visits, internships, and other opportunities to encourage persistence in STEMM.
As a life-long educator and youth advocate, Doug has developed the skills to build rapport and motivate youth in extremely challenging contexts. As a testament to his aptitude in this realm, for many years every Duke student who tutored DPS students through Duke’s Program in Education attended Doug’s workshop on behavior management. Doug uses his lived experience, skills, and intuition to impart culture-building strategies that foster the nurturing environment for which BOOST is known.
Alexandra Valladares
Alexandra Valladares is a proud Latina double Eagle. She holds a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in Biology and an M.S. in Earth Science. An immigrant and proud graduate of Hillside High School, Alexandra has nurtured a passion for science since she was young. She has tirelessly advocated for underrepresented minorities in STEM, leading efforts to inspire and uplift through teaching biological and biomedical science labs and supporting college access pathways. She has partnered with several Durham Public Schools (DPS) elementary schools to host engaging science events.
With a rich background as a senior clinical research specialist at Duke University, a consultant for environmental groups, a professional affiliate of UVM’s Department of Natural Resources, and a co-chair of the PA’s Environment and Climate Justice Committee, Alexandra has been instrumental in advancing environmental and ecological education. She has contributed to Superfund, Nanoparticles, Public Health, and Health AI research. She played an essential role in revitalizing the BOOST Science Program, returning as Program Coordinator to continue the work she began with BOOST a decade ago.
In addition to her professional achievements, Alexandra has served on the board of Durham Public Schools. She remains dedicated to her alma mater, North Carolina Central University, where she serves on the Board of Trustees and continues to support the next generation of leaders.
