Jyevonne Saffold
Jyevonne Saffold is a 38-year-old native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona, during her 11th-grade year of high school. Before getting involved in student and community services, Jyevonne was a Sheriff Detention Officer for 9.5 years, with the last four years spent in the psychiatric ward. She found that her limitations as an officer limited her ability to fully serve or help people.
While working as an officer, she obtained her AAS in Family Life Education with a certificate in Adolescent Development and later earned her BS in Early Childhood Education. In 2017, Jyevonne became a first-year middle school teacher. She served her school community but knew she needed more education and resources to better mentor her students inside and outside the school.
2018 she enrolled at The University of Arizona Global Campus and obtained her MAED in Education, specializing in Family and Community Services. 2020 she earned her third degree, further expanding her knowledge and expertise. While teaching and working on her master’s degree, Jyevonne founded Natasha’s Closet at Brighton Charter School in Glendale, Arizona. For the past three years, she has worked with a youth community at Brighton, recognizing the need for community outreach, education, and youth development. Through Natasha’s Closet, she has aimed to enhance the learning experience for every young girl and boy involved.
Jyevonne has built the confidence of more than 200 teens, ages 11 to 19. She aims to “provide motivated students with the opportunity to achieve academic excellence in an accelerated, back-to-basics, safe learning environment taught by caring, knowledgeable, and highly effective educators, in cooperation with supportive, involved parents” (Legacy Traditional School). She believes she can be a source of support and a contributor to upholding this mission.
Currently, Jyevonne serves as the Dean of Students and Teacher Services at Brighton Charter School, where she continues to support both students and educators. She has been recognized nationally and regionally by AAA as the Safety Advisor of the Year for her leadership in student safety initiatives. Additionally, she played a pivotal role in helping Brighton Charter School secure approximately $14,000 in grants through AAA, funding programs that directly benefit students. In 2024, she also helped Brighton receive the Ruby Bridges Award of the Year, honoring efforts in promoting diversity, inclusion, and student empowerment.
Jyevonne has recently launched Natasha’s Closet full-time to better serve a broader youth community beyond her immediate demographics. She is working on her fourth degree and second master’s in Psychology at The University of Arizona Global Campus. Jyevonne is no stranger to trauma or hardship, but her ultimate goal is to impact at least one life, helping teens tap into their inner greatness. With her extensive experience and education, she is more than qualified to guide today’s youth in navigating the world's challenges.