Meet Jurema
Jurema Gorham is a dedicated educator, literacy advocate, and nonprofit leader committed to equipping children with the essential tools to thrive academically and beyond. Since 2008, she has taught and worked with students from Kindergarten through 12th grade, always remaining in "student mode" herself—continuously learning and evolving to meet the needs of her community. While pregnant with her son, she pursued her first Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, transitioning from elementary to high school education. There, she witnessed learning disparities firsthand, particularly among students struggling to meet grade-level expectations. This experience ignited her passion for differentiated learning, leading her to earn a second Master’s degree in Differentiated Instruction in 2016.
In recent years, Jurema has expanded her impact beyond the classroom, coaching educators and advocating for systemic change. Currently pursuing her PhD, she is dedicated to addressing gaps in the education system, including standardized testing inequities and individualized learning support. Her expertise in navigating relationships between students, parents, teachers, administrators, and communities positions her as a leader in tackling educational barriers. As she enters her 15th year in education, Jurema remains passionate about the power of literacy—not only as a gateway to academic success but as a tool to empower and transform lives. Through Burst Into Books, she is committed to creating inclusive spaces where children can engage with literature, explore new ideas, and develop a lifelong love for reading. Inspired by her son, Trey, she continues to uplift and encourage as many children as possible to embark on the same literary adventure.
In addition to her work in education, Jurema is the CEO of Jurema Gorham LLC, where she provides strategic consulting and coaching services for nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators. Her services include strategic planning, board development, business coaching, fundraising strategies, professional development workshops, and nonprofit establishment. She equips organizations with the tools needed to scale their impact, secure funding, and build sustainable operations. Whether guiding a new nonprofit through its 501(c)(3) application or helping business owners craft a visionary growth strategy, Jurema is dedicated to empowering leaders to turn their ideas into actionable success.



Education
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Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education - Chicago State University (2008)
Endorsements: Language Arts (Middle School), Self-Contained General Education, Kindergarten-9th Grade, Social Science (Middle School), and pursuing General Science
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Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with Type 75 certification - Concordia University Chicago (2013)
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Master’s Degree in Differentiated Instruction - Concordia University Chicago (2016)
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Doctoral Degree in Curriculum and Instruction - Concordia University Chicago (December2025)
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Emerging Leaders Program- New Leaders Chicago (2017)
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Nonprofit Management Certificate - University of Chicago (February 2022)
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Civic Leadership Academy - University of Chicago (2022)
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Inaugural Leaders of the USA Cohort - Obama Foundation (2023)
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Black Professional Entrepreneurs Resurgence Accelerator Program -The Kyra Company. & JPMorgan Chase & Co. (2023)
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Advanced Fundraising: Accelerating Your Development Strategy (Northwestern University, Center for Nonprofit Management) - (2024)








Jurema is the reason I am currently working at Butler College Prep. When I interviewed with Jurema, I knew instantly I wanted to work under her leadership. She was warm, welcoming and immediately made me feel at ease. Once I was hired, Jurema started coaching me and helped shape me as an educator. Although I had taught for 5 years, she helped me see teaching from a new lens and encouraged me to change my perspective on how to instruct. She coached me not just at the beginning, but every week helped me set goals, gave me resources/ideas/tools to implement the goals, checked in and made sure I followed through. My scores were not the best at the beginning but over the course of the year they improved simply because Jurema was there to coach and guide me.
Marria Rahim
Rashad Jefferson
I have had the pleasure of knowing Jurema for almost a decade and she has been nothing less than a beacon of light for anyone that has had the opportunity to share a space with her. I initially started off as Jurema's co-teacher in her science class and during that time we were able to develop a good partnership as well as friendship. She did not hesitate to incorporate me in her lessons and provide valuable insight as I was learning the structures of teaching. Her of patience, understanding, and wisdom made her presence in the classroom irreplaceable. Those same characteristics in addition to her ambition, makes her ability to help people undeniable. I have had the opportunities to work with Jurema in several capacities ranging from co-planning lessons and curriculum to business consulting. In any of those capacities, she has proven that she is a resource that will contribute significant value any to any endeavor that she pursues.