
Phillis Nichols-Anderson
Founder / CEO
Dr. Phillis Nichols-Anderson is a distinguished Scholar Activist with a 30-year career in K-16 public education, committed to creating transformative educational experiences for underserved communities. She has served in key leadership roles across multiple school districts, including the Little Rock School District, District of Columbia Public Schools, and Prince George’s County School District, significantly impacting students’ academic outcomes and community engagement.
Nationally recognized for her work, Dr. Anderson has developed and managed charter schools in Arkansas, New York, Washington, DC, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. Her notable achievements include co-founding one of only nine charter schools in the U.S. located on a military installation at Little Rock Air Force Base. As Senior Vice President of Lighthouse Academies, Inc., she led the establishment of five charter schools across Arkansas, overseeing thousands of students, multi-million-dollar budgets, and large-scale facility projects.
Currently, as the Founder and CEO of ScholarMade Achievement Place, a public charter school in Little Rock serving economically disadvantaged K-8 students, Dr. Anderson is passionate about advancing emotional intelligence and trauma-informed education. Her pioneering leadership focuses on empowering youth through holistic, personalized learning.