Dr. Christopher J. Means
Founder & CEO/Executive Director, By All Means Leadership Alliance, Inc.
Associate Head of School, Broome Street Academy Charter High School
Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership, St. John Fisher University
I recently completed my Doctorate in Executive Leadership at St. John Fisher University, where my research explores the impact of youth development programs on Black male graduates. This work reflects my enduring commitment to centering community voices, grounding decisions in evidence, and creating programs that are culturally responsive, equity-oriented, and designed for long-term change.
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Today, I serve as the Associate Head of School at Broome Street Academy Charter High School, overseeing instructional development, teacher coaching, and academic planning. I’m also the Founder and Executive Director of By All Means Leadership Alliance Inc. (BAMLA), a Brooklyn-based nonprofit that empowers underrepresented youth through culturally responsive mentorship, leadership development, and Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR).
Over my career as a school leader, educator, nonprofit founder, and former hospitality executive, I have built a professional identity anchored in service, operational excellence, and the belief that every young person deserves access to transformative learning experiences.
I hold a Master of Arts in Teaching from NYU Steinhardt, with certifications in Social Studies, ELA, and Special Education, and a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. I’m a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.
Lee A. Means
Director of Education Policy, Strategy & Research, By All Means Leadership Alliance, Inc.
Doctoral Candidate, University of Pennsylvania
Lee is a founding member of By All Means Leadership Alliance, Inc. (BAMLA) and an accomplished educator, policy strategist, and non-profit leader with over 15 years of experience in K–12 education, instructional leadership, and equity-centered program design. He has taught and led in a range of educational settings across New York City and Newark, NJ, with a consistent focus on culturally responsive practice, inclusive school culture, and student empowerment.
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As BAMLA’s Director of Education, Lee designs and facilitates programming that supports the personal growth, leadership development, and civic engagement of underrepresented youth.
He brings an interdisciplinary background to his work merging legal training, public policy expertise, and deep classroom experience to create transformative learning environments for students and educators alike.
Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University, as well as a Master of Science in Education Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education and Organizational Leadership at Penn, where his research explores the impact of race and gender identity on the leadership trajectories of Black men in K–12 education.
In addition to his work at BAMLA, Lee has led large-scale school improvement initiatives with the Consortium for Policy Research in Education (CPRE), directed national LGBTQ+ advocacy projects, and served on multiple equity-focused boards. His work bridges practice and policy, always to drive justice, belonging, and lasting change.
Shobita Mampilly
Director of Programs, By All Means Leadership Alliance, Inc.
Doctoral Candidate, The Graduate Center, City University of New York
Shobita Mampilly is a poet, scientist, and educator with over 20 years of experience teaching in urban communities from Brooklyn to Bangalore, India. Her work bridges the arts and sciences, driven by a commitment to justice, healing, and youth empowerment. As Director of Programs and a founding member of By All Means Leadership Alliance Inc. (BAMLA), Shobita leads initiatives that expand access to culturally responsive STEM education and leadership development for underrepresented youth.
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She is the creator of Chem4All, a BAMLA program that supports young adults, especially those from marginalized communities, in exploring pathways to careers in health science, environmental justice, and scientific research.
Shobita is currently completing her Ph.D. in Urban Education and Leadership at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her dissertation, Science OF AND FOR the People! Authoring Engaged Science through Spirituality & Transformative Activist Stance uses an Ecogram case study to explore how community members, youth, and educators collaboratively transformed a former landfill into a thriving indigenous ecosystem through activist science education, youth-led inquiry, and spiritual resilience.
She also holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Poetry) from The New School. Shobita’s leadership philosophy centers on youth agency, ancestral knowledge, and interdisciplinary learning as powerful tools for personal and communal transformation.
