Cleveland is widely sought for his expertise in such areas as cultural proficiency, instructional equity, implicit bias, closing achievement gaps, learning styles, transforming school culture, conducting culture audits, and school improvement planning. He has led staff development events for many school districts, social service agencies, state educational agencies and universities and conducted training sessions addressing equity and achievement gaps issues from Alaska to Mississippi. In academia, Roger has taught at Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State University, and Eastern Kentucky University. In 2013, the received the P.G. Peeples Equity and Equity and Excellence Achievement Award from the Fayette County Equity Council for his work in improving local schools. Cleveland was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame 2014. Two years earlier, he was honored by the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education as Professor of the Year and was recognized as “Teachers Making a Difference at Eastern Kentucky University.” Cleveland is also the associate director of the nationally recognized Black Males Working (BMW) Academy Program at First Baptist Church of Bracktown. The Academy helps African American Males focuses on college and career readiness, through academics, social emotional learning and student achievement. The Middlesboro, Kentucky, native, also served two terms on the Commonwealth’s School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council, and was appointed by Mayor Jim Gray to the Lexington-Urban County Human Rights Commission. Recently, Lexington-Fayette County Urban League honored Cleveland as The Individual Champion for Diversity Award at the League’s 48th annual Empowerment Banquet. The award recognizes an individual or business “that embraces, celebrates and applies holistic inclusion and participation of a diverse people.” He is currently a full professor in the School of Education at Kentucky State University and will serve as the Director, Center for Research in Eradication of Educational Disparities (C.R.E.E.D).

He resides in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife, Audra and Children, Maya, Taylor and Dorian.

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