Anika earned her B.A. from Howard University in elementary education. She also has earned several graduate degrees in education from New York University and Howard University. She has a Masters in liberal arts from St. John’s College and has earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from the University of Maryland. Her research focus is on building literacy with African American students through engagement in the books of the Canon. She has served as a teacher, supervisor for student teachers, director of education and Head of School. Currently she is the founder and principal of a unique Christian school in Southern Maryland called The Living Water School which is based on the Sudbury model. She and her husband Damon, have three children (ages 3, 5 and 7), a Tibetan Terrier, a miniature schnauzer, 3 parakeets and a pretty crazy cat. Anika is also an avid knitter and crocheter and hopes to soon start raising Angora rabbits for their wool in order to make Angora yarn and to dive deeper into her growing passion for the fiber arts.