About Us
Mahogany Methodologists is a team of dedicated scholars, committed to providing tailored strategies that enhance learning outcomes, support mental well-being, and drive pioneering research for educational practitioners. We are committed to creating sustainable solutions that contribute to the advancement of knowledge, the betterment of mental health, and the enrichment of educational experiences worldwide.
Our Team
Founders
Ashley Baines,
MA, CSC, LPC
Ashley Baines is a Licensed Professional Counselor, EMDR Trained, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapist Trained, and Certified School Counselor. She received her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Sam Houston State University and her Master of Arts in Counseling from Prairie View A&M University. Ashley is a year three Ph.D. student at Sam Houston State University, studying Counseling Education and Supervision. Ashley is currently the President of Spring Creek Counseling Association. She has over 14 years of experience in education and has experience with supporting the mental health and crisis needs of students and families. Ashley is the owner of A. Baines Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, where she specializes as a clinician working with trauma and promoting wellness. Ashley has helped train school counselors by presenting internationally, locally, and statewide. Ashley is committed to empowering school counselors globally so that they may be a catalyst for change in the lives of children and families.
Kanika S. Simmons is a Sam Houston State University doctoral student and an education advocate with the Holmes program at Sam Houston. She has a passion for literacy and has worked in education for over 25 years, holding positions as a teacher, instructional specialist, and director of literacy programs. Her immediate aspirations include enhancing her expertise in promoting educational research-based best practices and educational equity. Ms. Simmons has dedicated her time and expertise to various educational endeavors, including volunteering as a tutor and facilitating adult literacy programs. Her pedagogical approach emphasizes the value of education, positive character development, and establishing meaningful connections between academic pursuits and future career prospects. Ms. Simmons deeply admires the younger generation and is dedicated to providing each student with a high-quality educational journey. Her focus as an advocate and change agent is on nurturing students’ abilities and equipping them with the necessary knowledge and skills to become lifelong learners reassures the audience of her student-centered approach.
Kanika Simmons,
MAOM
Tikara C. Young,
M.Ed.
Tikara C. Young is a literacy educator with 20 years of experience in public education. She has served as a special education teacher, intervention coordinator, administrator, and literacy specialist. Throughout her career, she has been committed to ensuring that striving readers in upper elementary grades receive accelerated interventions, with a focus on building foundational reading skills. Mrs. Young’s work has benefited and closed achievement gaps for many of the students she has served. To better serve the literacy education community, Mrs. Young is currently attending Sam Houston State University to pursue a Doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on literacy. Mrs. Young has also served pre-service teachers as an intern supervisor at Sam Houston State University. She has presented her work at the NABSE Conference (National Alliance of Black School Educators) and the TALE Conference (Texas Association of Literacy Educators). Building foundational reading skills for students using the science of reading is a long-standing passion that Mrs. Young wants to share with the literacy community.