Category: Staff

Tina Danner-Groves

Operations Support Specialist
Phone: 336-334-3875
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Tina Danner-Groves joined the SERVE Center as Operations Support Specialist in April 2020. Before starting at SERVE, Tina worked as a project manager for a National Science Foundation grant (focusing on out-of-school STEM experiences and their effects on youth STEM identity) in the UNCG School of Education, an administrative assistant for the UNCG Educational Research Methodology Department, and as an educator, serving as a GED Coordinator for a Department of Labor grant (juvenile justice rehabilitation and job training) in Tampa, Florida. Although her career path has led away from the classroom and toward more supportive roles, education is her passion, and Tina enjoys providing support for those who strive to make education better and accessible for all.

When she’s not working, Tina enjoys spending time with her wife and three cats, taking pictures of local flora and fauna, and curling up with a good book or video game.

Curtis Burgins

Communication Specialist
Phone: 336-315-7443
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Curtis Burgins joined SERVE, Inc. as Technology Support Manager in October 2020. In 2022, he moved to the SERVE Center side of things as a Communication Specialist. Before starting at SERVE, Curtis worked as a senior Technical Support Engineer for Dell EMC, where he provided technical administration and problem resolution for issues in customer environments. He was a student athlete at North Carolina A&T State University, where he was just recently inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fall for his accomplishments on the football field. In his time off, he enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with his two kids.

Donna Brown

North Carolina SEA Principal Liaison
Region 6 Comprehensive Center
Phone: 919-437-1918
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Donna Brown joined the SERVE Center in October 2019 as the North Carolina SEA Principal Liaison for the Region 6 Comprehensive Center (RC6). Prior to joining the RC6 team, Donna served as the Director of Federal Program Monitoring and Support for the NC Department of Public Instruction. She has worked thirty-seven years in education, beginning her career as a third-grade teacher in the Foothills of NC. She has served in multiple leadership roles focusing on instructional excellence, continuous school improvement, and services to underserved populations.

In her free time, Donna enjoys spending time with her granddaughters and working on home improvement projects.

Dr. Yatisha Blythe

State Coordinator
NC Foster Care Program
Phone: 336-315-7027
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Prior to her role as State Coordinator for the North Carolina Foster Care Education Program, Dr. Blythe served as Program Specialist with the National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE for over three years. She worked with Guilford County Schools for 15 years and gained experience as a teacher, school counselor in a Title I school, as the district administrator for homeless and foster care education, and as a district crisis team leader. During this time, Dr. Blythe also served as a member of the North Carolina Homeless Education Program (NCHEP) Leadership Team. Her experience in homeless education included: overseeing district data collection, overseeing tutoring and summer academic programs, providing professional development to school staff and district leaders, presenting at state and national conferences, and serving on the Guilford County Continuum of Care Board. Dr. Blythe earned a bachelor’s degree in social studies with a K-12 education licensure from Meredith College, a master’s degree in human services from Capella University, and a Doctorate Degree in Education Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University.

Nina Arshavsky, Ph.D.

Dr. Nina Arshavsky joined SERVE as a Senior Research Associate in 2008. Dr. Arshavsky’s research and evaluation projects focus on STEM and high school reform efforts. She has also focused on studying the Early College High School model, the implementation of this model, and how it impacts student learning and postsecondary outcomes. She served as a Project Director for a number of projects, including the evaluation of the NSF-funded ATE project MechTech Institute; the evaluation of the Math and Science Partnership ASSIST; the evaluation of the Race to the Top STEM initiative; and the evaluation of North Carolina Department of Public Instruction state-wide professional development initiative on formative assessment, and coordinated an evaluation of the STEM Early College Expansion Partnership. Currently, she leads an evaluation of the Smart Foodscapes project funded by The National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and evaluates early college and dual enrollment implementations in the states of Indiana and North Carolina.

For nearly 30 years, Dr. Arshavsky’s work has spanned all aspects of math education, particularly in the middle and high school levels, including research and evaluation, curriculum development and professional development.