Charity Vesey-Upchurch is a 2026-2027 Teach Plus Illinois Affinity Group Facilitator and principal at Bowlesburg Elementary School in East Moline, Illinois. She serves on the board of directors for Inspire Next. Charity previously worked as a middle school English language arts teacher, team chair, and associate principal. She was named Houston Independent School District Teacher of the Year (2018–2019) and United States Department of Education Teacher of Excellence (2020). Charity earned a BA in Asian language and literature from the University of Iowa, MA in educational leadership and counseling from Prairie View A&M University, and is pursuing an EdD at the University of Iowa.
