Nís Phillips 

Nís Phillips is an educator, advocate, and curriculum designer committed to reimagining education through the lens of social justice and identity. A high school English teacher and the Director of Advocacy Education at The Flossy Organization in Canarsie, Brooklyn, Nís uses her practice to empower students and community members alike to think critically, write boldly, and act with compassion. Her work bridges classrooms and communities—helping learners see themselves as both storytellers and change-makers.

Her teaching is deeply shaped by an ethic of love and an identity-centered pedagogy, drawing inspiration from bell hooks and Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz. Through her leadership, she creates spaces where equity, care, and rigor coexist, nurturing students’ voices while challenging systemic barriers that limit their potential. As a young, Black, West Indian, Christian woman from Brooklyn, Nís carries her whole self into every space she enters—modeling what reflective, grounded, and justice-oriented leadership looks like in action.

Through the Acosta Institute Fellowship, Nís hopes to deepen her healing-centered leadership and connect with a community of educators who see teaching as both a sacred responsibility and a collective act of liberation. She joins the Fellowship with a commitment to learning, reflection, and transformation—seeking to sustain her joy and sharpen her purpose as she continues to build equity-driven futures for Brooklyn youth.