Education Consulting
Project Management
Grant Writing
SAJ PARTNERSHIP LLC
Creating partnerships to efficiently and effectively drive student academic achievement.
About Us
SAJ Partnership LLC is a consulting firm dedicated to partnering with organizations to address points of deficiency while celebrating strengths and driving continuous improvement. Our mission is to develop impactful partnerships that support organizations in achieving measurable outcomes through strategic planning, effective implementation, and sustainable growth.
We specialize in working with educational institutions, equipping school districts and leaders with the tools, systems, and strategies needed to improve academic achievement. Our work emphasizes school reform, organizational change, and the development of strong, equitable systems that support student success.
In addition to education consulting, SAJ Partnership offers comprehensive services in project management, grant writing, and business development to support organizations across multiple sectors.
Project Management Services
We provide strategic oversight and execution support for complex initiatives, including:
Closure and consolidation of schools
Capital bond program oversight for K–12 education (including multi-million dollar projects)
End-to-end project management for organizational initiatives
Event planning and execution for organizations of all types
Grant Writing & Funding Support
We help organizations secure funding and build sustainable programs through:
Comprehensive planning aligned to organizational goals
Research and identification of grant opportunities (government and non-government)
Development of grant proposals and supporting documentation tailored to funding requirements
Business Development
We partner with organizations to drive growth and expand their impact by:
Identifying and pursuing new opportunities
Developing strategies to broaden customer base and increase market reach
Supporting sales growth and business expansion
Facilitating the formation of strategic partnerships
Enhancing overall profitability and long-term sustainability
At SAJ Partnership, we are committed to delivering high-quality, results-driven solutions that empower organizations to lead, grow, and thrive.
Our Team
Some’ McCowan
CEO/Founder
Some’ McCowan specializes in culturally responsive, anti-racist and equity centered leadership, campus/district-level implementation of school turnaround practices, effective campus culture, observation feedback cycles, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), instructional improvement, response to intervention, effective teaching strategies for diverse student populations, data-driven decision making, and design/delivery of professional development (campus/district level).
Some’ provides executive coaching to C-Suite leaders. She walks alongside executive leaders with a plan of action to reach their goals, while providing plenty of accountability and support along the way. The executive coaching gives them the time they need to make real, sustainable change and optimize their performance as leaders.
As a devoted contributor to public education and the ever-evolving education arena, when Some’ isn’t busy with all that was mentioned above she can be found reviewing authors literature. As well as supporting the research of others in the field of education.
Additionally, she is creating partnerships within her community to support the development of her nonprofit Elite Scholars with A Purpose. The organization addresses the variables that hinder foster youth specifically males of color that have aged out of foster care from attending higher education. Furthermore, she oversees an unincorporated nonprofit Progress Point Tutoring. Progress Point Tutoring provides free tutoring for k-12 students with financial needs. Lastly, she supports young entrepreneurs and small business owners as they grow their businesses in an impactful and meaningful way through entrepreneurship coaching.
When she is not strategically supporting others, you will find her spending time with her family and friends watching sports and she loves Salsa dancing. She also enjoys reading and traveling to unique places.
Shaun Ratcliff
CFO/Co-Founder
Shaun Ratcliff is the Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder of SAJ Partnership, LLC. With over 15 years of experience in the education industry, Mr. Ratcliff has an extensive background in the development and delivery of special education curriculum and instructional programs that incorporate district goals and support student academic achievement. As well as experience in leading and overseeing campus behavioral frameworks that are preventative, multi-tiered, and culturally responsible to support students change in behaviors. Mr. Ratcliff is our expert special education lead advocate supporting families to get the most effective results when working with schools to ensure their child receives all necessary services.
As a former collegiate football player and HS coach, Mr. Ratcliff consults with football coaches to increase their team performance. This strategic partnership includes reviewing films and attending games to provide guidance around correct techniques and where they can improve as a team. Additionally, he coaches and provides constructive, structured, and actionable insights for improved interview performance for HS coach candidates.
In addition, Mr. Ratcliff is the CEO and Founder of End Zone Services, LLC. As the CEO, he is responsible for facilities operations management for a variety of businesses that focus on achieving operational excellence.
When he is not engaged in creating partnerships, you will find him spending time with his family and friends watching sports, hunting, and traveling.
Dr. Dessynie Edwards
Chief Program Officer
Dr. Dessynie Edwards, Ph.D. is a seasoned scholar-practitioner whose career seamlessly blends K–12 leadership and higher education. With over 25 years of experience in district and school leadership, her work exemplifies the bridge between practice and scholarship
From 2020 to 2022, Dr. Edwards served as Assistant Superintendent for Austin ISD, guiding district-wide initiatives and supporting leadership growth across the organization. Since 2022, she has been a Clinical Faculty Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she mentors emerging leaders and advances research in educational leadership and equity.
Her earlier roles include serving as Assistant Superintendent in Dallas ISD, Executive Director in Judson ISD, and principal in San Antonio schools. In higher education, she has held faculty positions at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi and Texas State University–San Marcos, where her scholarship has explored the educational superintendency, race and gender intersectionality, and leadership mentoring.
Dr. Edwards is also an active member of AERA Division A, contributing to The Conversation platform and engaging with peers on issues concerning equity, policy, and leadership in education.
Her extensive contributions span research, teaching, and district-level implementation, underscoring a deep commitment to equity-driven leadership and educator development.
Nicole M. Cathey
Education Consultant
(M.S., Administration & Supervision)
Nicole is a San Antonio–based consultant who helps organizations build leadership clarity and operational strength. She brings 27+ years of experience across public school systems, nonprofits, and community programs, supporting leaders to move from good intentions to consistent execution.
Nicole has built and led large-scale leadership development and improvement work as a National Designer & Facilitator with The Leadership Academy, Managing Director of Schools in Southwest ISD, and founding Program Director at The Holdsworth Center, with additional experience in principal pipelines and large-scale program implementation. Her style is straightforward and solution-oriented: diagnose what’s getting in the way, design simple systems that stick, and build the habits and accountability that sustain results. Clients value her for sharp diagnosis, practical tools, and facilitation that moves groups from discussion to decisions, accountability, and results.
Keelie Taylor
Behavioral Leadership & ADHD Specialist
Keelie Taylor is a powerhouse in neuro-affirming leadership, specializing in ADHD-informed behavioral strategies and the district-wide implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). With a career built on cultivating high-performing campus cultures, she excels at bridging the gap between data-driven behavior prevention and restorative, de-escalation practices.
As a Behavior Instructional Coach and Certified CPI Instructor, Keelie provides a unique, “in-the-trenches” coaching framework for educators and administrators. She doesn’t just offer advice; she walks alongside school leaders with actionable plans to navigate executive functioning challenges and behavioral regulation. Her approach provides the accountability and structure necessary for schools to achieve sustainable, systemic change for neurodivergent students.
Keelie’s leadership style is forged from over 15 years of athletic coaching experience and a background as a former College MVP and First-team All-Conference player. This extensive history on the sidelines and the court allows her to bring a elite-level competitive edge, disciplined focus, and a “coach’s heart” to professional development. She understands how to build a winning team—whether that team is in a gymnasium or a classroom—by leveraging observation feedback cycles to optimize performance.
Beyond her district responsibilities, Keelie is the founder of The UnLinear Lady: ADHD Coaching with Candid Clarity. Through this entrepreneurial venture, she supports individuals in navigating their unique neurodivergent paths with purpose and grit. A devoted contributor to the field, she also authors behavior prevention resources and remains deeply engaged in the research of school-wide support calibration.
When she isn’t strategically coaching others to success, Keelie is likely spending time with her husband, Lonnie, her sister, Kori, and their new grandbaby, Myles. A dedicated dog lover, she shares her home with her two pitbull mixes, Jax and Zoe. To maintain her own high-performance balance, she enjoys walking her dogs, dancing to music of all genres, and staying committed to her fitness routine.
Have Any Question?
Feel free to get in touch. Our staff will be glad to help you. Reach out to us for any suggestion or query you have. We are always open for new ideas.
