Dr. U'Nika Harrell is a native of Houston and an advocate for underserved students and English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). She began her educational career over 18 years ago, working with special needs students with a range of disabilities from Autism to Cerebral Palsy. This rewarding experience contributed to her goal of ensuring equitable education and deep learning for all children, regardless of their background, disabilities, or socio-economic status.

Dr. Harrell earned a Doctorate in Education for Learning and Organizational Change at Baylor University. She also received a Master of Education from the University of St. Thomas, specializing in Linguistically Diverse Learners. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston.

Dr. Harrell has held various educational roles, including Interim Principal and Dean of Instruction at a middle school in Houston, Texas. She has also worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) elementary school teacher for grades K-5, Elementary Instructional Specialist, Dual Language Coordinator, Language Proficiency Assessment Committee Administrator (LPAC), House Bill 4 Grant Coordinator, and District Multilingual Specialist.

Dr. Harrell is certified by The Texas Education Agency as an Early Childhood through 12th-grade Principal and an Early Childhood through Sixth-grade teacher for both English and English as a Second Language (ESL) students.