Astere Yemmer-Brown is dedicated to educating young people and families, while living and serving in the Bronx community. She worked in various capacities during her 16 year tenure with the Department of Education; beginning as an Arts educator and transitioning to a literacy teacher, new teacher coach, and current member of the school leadership team. In her current role as a Student Success Leader at Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Middle School, Astere works closely with the administrative team, ensuring that students’ and families’ experiences at M.S. 180 are inclusive and allow young people to grow and learn in a safe and thoughtful environment.
A proud HBCU Alumnus, Astere Yemmer-Brown received her Bachelor’s degree from Virginia State University in 2006 and went on to pursue her Master’s degree in childhood education from The City College of New York in 2011. In 2013, Yemmer-Brown completed an advanced certification in School Building and District Leadership, from the College of St. Rose.
How it started…
In 2017, Astere took on the role of caregiver for her great-aunt living with dementia, and learned first-hand that information around longevity planning is not readily available to or for families of color. Inspired to share all that she had learned and after the passing of her aunt in April 2020, Astere took a leap of faith and self-published her first book, “Because I Said So: The 5 Steps to Longevity Planning.” Less than one year later, after spending a great deal of time with her family during the Pandemic, Yemmer-Brown wrote and published her first children’s book titled, Mornings With Mommy.
How it’s going!
In addition to her education and publishing experiences, Astere has been invited as a speaker for several events, including Senator Jamaal T. Bailey’s Black History Month Author Spotlight, Fireside Chat conversations with the 2021 Mayoral Candidates in NYC, The National Council of Negro Women annual Health Fair, and Girls 2 Women sit down with Andy King.
Yemmer-Brown is a member of several international, national, and New York based organizations. Her roles include current member of the Public safety and Economic Development committees for Community board 12; current Information & Technology Chair for the Co-op City Section of the National Council of Negro Women; former Co-chair of Risk Management and current Co-chair of the International Awareness & Involvement Committee for the Bronx Alumnae Chapter; current member of the Eastern Region Protocol & Traditions Committee of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.
Astere Yemmer-Brown is a wife, mother, and member of The Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem where she serves as a nursery school teacher. Astere enjoys traveling with a good book and great people, exploring all the places that have wonderful weather and even better food!
Astere A. Yemmer 