Empowerment 

At the TAFT Foundation, we believe in the power of empowerment. We provide students with the tools and resources they need to take control of their education and their future, helping them to build confidence, develop skills, and achieve their goals. 

Free Tutoring

 Our free peer tutoring program is more than just an academic support service. It’s an opportunity for students to build relationships, develop confidence, and improve their academic skills in a supportive and nurturing environment. 

Scholarships

Our scholarships are more than just financial aid. They are an investment in the future of our students, providing them with the opportunity to further their education and achieve their career goals. 

Future Educators Program

Our Future Educators Program is not just about training teachers. It’s about building leaders. Through this program, we are helping to shape the educators of tomorrow, fostering a new generation of leaders who will champion equity in education and drive transformative change within their communities.

Dr. Yajuan Ding, Founder|Board Chair|CEO| |Director of Education Research

As the founder and driving force behind the TAFT Foundation, Dr. Ding provides strategic leadership as both Board Chair and CEO. With nearly 30 years of multifaceted experience in the education sector – from middle school English teacher and university librarian to adjunct lecturer and gifted education advocate – she possesses a profound, ground-level understanding of education systems and students’ needs.

Her diverse experiences are complemented by advanced academic credentials, including a Ph.D. in Humanities (a joint Ph.D. program collaborating with Beijing Foreign Studies University), an M.A. in Education Economy and Management from University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB), a Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education from Johns Hopkins University School of Education, a certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard University, and a Gifted and Talented Endorsement from Drake University. This robust background informs foundation’s rigorous research-based approach.

Notably, Dr. Ding has demonstrated exceptional subject-matter expertise by earning perfect or top national scores on teaching licensure exams, including the Praxis Middle School Mathematics (185/200) and Core Academic Skills for Educators Mathematic Assessments (200/200).

Dr. Ding’s personal commitment and initial investment haven been pivotal in launching TAFT, and her comprehensive expertise continues to guide its mission to advance education equity and promote future teacher diversity in the United States.

Xiaoye (Grace) Yang | Independent Director

Cross-sector Leader in Technology Innovation & Educational Governance

Ms. Grace Yang serves as President of Beijing Liangye Biotechnology and is the Funding Principal of Beijing Miyun Huixue Training School, with over 20 years of executive leadership in technology R&D and educational innovation. Her strategic vision has been molded by key roles at global companies. She led China market expansion for IDEX’s biometric solutions as Country Manager.

As an education innovator and principal of a private school, she transformed Huixue Training School into a leading K-12 STEM institution, incorporating engineering methods into its teaching. At the TAFT Foundation, she manages strategic compliance for ed-tech projects, aligning with the mission: “Advancing educational equity through empowering students in innovation and technology.”

“True education transformation lives at the intersection of technological accessibility and human-centered design,” embodies Ms. Yang’s governance philosophy for TAFT.

Laura Seminario-Thornton | Independent Director

Education Policy Advocate & Champion for Educational Justice

Guided by her lifelong dedication to the common good, Laura brings over 25 years of expertise in promoting equity for marginalized communities.

Holding a Master of Education in Gifted Education from Johns Hopkins University (2025), Laura’s research advances legislative protections for special education rights, with a scholarly focus on gifted children overcoming socioeconomic barriers.

As an Independent Director, Laura provides essential and unbiased oversight of TAFT’s multicultural program compliance and legal governance under Georgia Nonprofit Code §14-3-860. Her expertise in political science and gifted education ensures that the TAFT Foundation’s operations align with its mission while promoting educational justice through systemic advocacy.

In a world of competition, choosing the common good is revolutionary.

Dr. Tawheedah Abdullah, Inaugural CEO

As our Inaugural CEO, Dr. Tawheedah Abdullah played a pivotal role by supporting the design of the TAFT Program, encouraging Dr. Yajuan Ding to move from concept to action, and helping establish the vision and early direction of the TAFT Foundation. We remain grateful for her early support.

With a career that began as a middle school teacher and later transitioned into an assistant principal role, she has firsthand insights into the challenges and opportunities within the educational landscape. Her tenure as the Director of the Stanford University School Leaders Program saw her developing leadership initiatives for school leaders, further honing her expertise in educational leadership. It was Dr. Abdullah’s commitment to educational equity that served as a key encouragement for the founding of the TAFT project.