Meet Iya
Bashea Jenkins-Imana a.k.a Iya is an Award-winning educator and entertainer. She has inspired, educated, and empowered thousands of children for over 17 years.
Iya is the founder of Kuumba Kids, an innovative developer and provider of educational programs and materials for children. Iya's energetic, enthusiastic, and motivating personality captivates children. As a Master Educator and artist, Iya provides educational enrichment programs, professional development, in-school residences, and cultural arts events throughout the region. She serves several school districts, local community, daycare and early learning centers, Maryland Park and Planning, and Wolf Trap's Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Prince George’s County Gazette, The Hyattsville Wire, WPGC 95.5, and WPFW 89.3. Iya performs monthly children programs at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville and Bloombars in Washington, D.C. Iya has also released her first educational children’s CD, “Ooh Kuumba!"
Iya started as a professional vocalist, musician, and radio personality. She later made a career change to education where she taught music and specialized reading programs. Additionally, she served as a mentor for new teachers. Her educational peers recognized her as one of the best teacher's in the County.
Iya also served as a Master Educator for DC Public Schools. As a Master Educator, Iya worked to ensure that highly effective teachers were in every DCPS classroom. She evaluated teachers (pre-k - 12) and provided them with one-on-one instructional feedback, coaching, and resources. She facilitated targeted professional development workshops and collaborated with school principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches. Today through Kuumba Kids, she trains teachers, childcare providers, and parents to use the arts to teach core academic content.
As a teaching artist, Iya uses the arts to support core-curriculum subjects such as reading, mathematics, science, and history. She also uses the arts to promote critical thinking, character development, cooperative work, and creativity.
Iya is happily married to educator, Dr. Kwaw Imana and is the proud homeschooling parent of three beautiful children.
In 2013, Bashea was a recipient of Prince George's County's Top Forty UNDER 40 award for her outstanding work in education.
Iya is the founder of Kuumba Kids, an innovative developer and provider of educational programs and materials for children. Iya's energetic, enthusiastic, and motivating personality captivates children. As a Master Educator and artist, Iya provides educational enrichment programs, professional development, in-school residences, and cultural arts events throughout the region. She serves several school districts, local community, daycare and early learning centers, Maryland Park and Planning, and Wolf Trap's Institute for Early Learning through the Arts. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Prince George’s County Gazette, The Hyattsville Wire, WPGC 95.5, and WPFW 89.3. Iya performs monthly children programs at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville and Bloombars in Washington, D.C. Iya has also released her first educational children’s CD, “Ooh Kuumba!"
Iya started as a professional vocalist, musician, and radio personality. She later made a career change to education where she taught music and specialized reading programs. Additionally, she served as a mentor for new teachers. Her educational peers recognized her as one of the best teacher's in the County.
Iya also served as a Master Educator for DC Public Schools. As a Master Educator, Iya worked to ensure that highly effective teachers were in every DCPS classroom. She evaluated teachers (pre-k - 12) and provided them with one-on-one instructional feedback, coaching, and resources. She facilitated targeted professional development workshops and collaborated with school principals, assistant principals, and instructional coaches. Today through Kuumba Kids, she trains teachers, childcare providers, and parents to use the arts to teach core academic content.
As a teaching artist, Iya uses the arts to support core-curriculum subjects such as reading, mathematics, science, and history. She also uses the arts to promote critical thinking, character development, cooperative work, and creativity.
Iya is happily married to educator, Dr. Kwaw Imana and is the proud homeschooling parent of three beautiful children.
In 2013, Bashea was a recipient of Prince George's County's Top Forty UNDER 40 award for her outstanding work in education.