Carmen Willingham is the proud product of parents who instilled in her the importance of striving to be #1 and to do everything with excellence. Mediocre was never an option. She is determined to pave the foundation of educational excellence daily. ​ Carmen has served as an elementary school teacher, middle & high school principal and a superintendent. Carmen has served on the State Superintendent’s Teacher Leader Team, been a nominee for the MAPSA (Michigan Association of Public School Academies) Administrator of the Year, served as a MAPSA conference presenter, served as a motivational speaker for the National Management Association-Blue Cross Blue Shield and a recipient of the Detroit Pistons and Museum of African American History Educators Making a Difference Award. ​ Carmen is the proud CEO/Founder of Excellence Matters Most, Inc., which is a nonprofit organization that is committed to improving reading, writing and public speaking skills among the youth. Excellence Matters Most, Inc. has impacted the lives of thousands of young people through mentoring, tutoring and hosting several conferences for the youth. Excellence Matters Most, Inc. has been blessed to create a character, Literate Langston who promises to motivate and encourage the youth that having great reading, writing and public speaking skills is definitely cool. ​  Carmen is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and she is the biggest cheerleader for her daughters, Ariel and Alexcia. Carmen knows that her faith has granted her unusual favor!