Charnika Elliott is an educator, entrepreneur and pillar of her local community. She was born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia and is married to Byron Elliott also of Roanoke. She is the proud mother of two children, Promyss and Joshua and became a legal guardian and mother to a former student, Devante. She is a licensed and ordained Elder of New Life Christian Fellowship where she actively serves and holds leadership positions as the church administrator, a member of the praise and worship team, director of the youth choir and praise dance team as well as co-teaches Sunday school.
Charnika has two Associate of Arts degrees from Virginia Western Community College in General Studies and Education. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Roanoke College in Psychology with a minor in Education and has a Master of Education degree from Regent University specializing in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Christian School.
Charnika received an honorary Doctorate of Christian Philosophy from Bethlehem Bible College and is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Education Psychology program at Regent University. She is also a certified Christian Life Coach, HIScoach and an International Author.
Charnika’s passion and desire in life has always been to make a positive impact in the lives of children and individuals. Driven by that passion, she has obtained twenty-three years of experience working hands on with youth. Such experiences consist of running the before and after school program sponsored by the YMCA, serving as an assistant cheerleading coach for inner city recreational sports, mentoring teens through the Upward Bound program, directing and co-directing multiple youth choirs including the Boys and Girls Club, holding the position of Youth Program and Activities Director for KP’s childcare and more. She is also a former educator of Roanoke City Schools where she worked for eight years as a teaching assistant and classroom teacher. Her time with Roanoke City was where she truly demonstrated her gift to educate, lead and mentor youth. The genuine love, compassion and devotion Charnika exhibited towards her students at Forest Park Elementary made her very popular with parents and students within the school community and well respected by her colleagues and principal. As a fairly new classroom teacher, she was appointed to serve on the school improvement team working with the State Department on strategies to implement during classroom instruction to enhance test scores. Although her time there was brief, from then to present day, she has been labeled by many in the field of education as a “Master Teacher.”
After enduring significant loss of burying two baby boys a year apart, Charnika became more engulfed in her mission to encourage, motivate and empower youth. Since March 2005, Charnika has worked diligently to build the foundation of the Noah-Christian Community Center Inc., in memory of her two deceased children. The non-profit organization has offered free educational services to the youth of the Roanoke Valley and beyond such as: Youth and Parent Workshops, Tutorials, Outdoors Experiences (camps), College Tours, Career Expos, a Mentoring Program and more. She also founded the H.E.A.L. (Heartache Endured after Loss) Support Group where she serves as a Life Coach to women and their families who’ve suffered a loss due to fetal and infant deaths. In the fall of 2011, Charnika celebrated the start of her childhood dream, Noah-Christian Academy, a Christian School designed to Build Hope, Build Dreams and Build Community. While developing the vision of the school, Charnika has served as an advocate for at risk students and relentlessly works to create innovative programs to aid in enhancing their lives spiritually, socially and academically. She also trains and educates teachers on how to individualize their instruction to actively meet the needs of their classroom students. She has partnered with the Education Department of Roanoke College and has supervised forty-three interns. As the co-founder of BCElliott & Associates Inc. she has conducted, planned and organized local events, workshops and trainings and served as an inspiring motivational speaker. She is also the creator and designer of an inspirational handbag and accessory line from which proceeds have supported the scholarship fund for students of NCA. As one who labors to continuously advance in her own knowledge and skills, Charnika desires to obtain her PhD and develop quality curriculums for schools, youth organizations, businesses and churches.
Charnika is a young woman who is known for her diligence and compassion to unselfishly help others. Her vibrant personality and high energy labels her as a beacon of light to all that cross her path. She is also known as a godly woman and a prayer warrior who labors to meet the needs of her community. She has taken her personal, tragic experiences and has used them to empower and encourage individuals from all walks of life. Her primary mission is to break generational curses in youth and their families by Planting Seeds of Life!
