Civic Enterprises
Senior Policy Advisor
Rebecca Schamore Friant
Rebcecca Schamore Friant is Senior Education Policy Advisor for Civic Enterprises, where she works on education policy, the high school dropout epidemic, and the role of educational institutions and faith-based organizations in controlling malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Friant has had a longstanding career in teaching at the university and secondary school levels. She currently teaches 9th grade honors English and 11th grade Advanced Placement Language and Composition at Dobyns Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN. Friant also taught French at Middle Tennessee State University, French and Developmental Writing at Armstrong State College and St. Leo College, and French and English at both East Tennessee State University and Northeast Community College.
Friant's teaching experience and interests include every level of student from the struggling 9th grader who rejects any notion of an advanced education to the brilliant 11th grader who forgoes P.E. in order to pursue one more AP credit.
Friant’s interests and career have also taken her to France, where she spent two years studying languages, and to Africa, where she has used her language skills to help those in need.
She performs regular volunteer service through her church, where she served as Director of Christian Education, and has worked with the Bridge Refugee & Sponsorship Services to help Burundian refugees settle in East Tennessee. Other community involvement includes work with Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and Meals on Wheels, as well as participation on various community boards.
Friant graduated with high honors in both French and English and received her master’s degree in French from Vanderbilt University.
