Atlanta Public Schools Celebrate School Board Appreciation Week

By Kimberly Willis Green

Atlanta Public Schools is celebrating members of the Atlanta Board of Education (ABE) during School Board Appreciation Week (March 16-20), a weeklong observance that recognizes the contributions of local boards of education.

The Atlanta Board of Education establishes and approves the policies that govern the Atlanta Public Schools. The Board consists of nine members, representing six geographical districts and three “at-large” districts. One person is elected per district to represent the schools in a given district for a four-year term. Chaired by Courtney D. English, members of the Atlanta Board of Education are:

Leslie Grant, District 1

Byron D. Amos, District 2

Matt Westmoreland, District 3

Nancy M. Meister, District 4 (Vice Chair)

Steven D. Lee, District 5

Eshé P. Collins, District 6

Courtney D. English, At-Large, Seat 7 (Districts 1 & 2) (Chair)

Cynthia Briscoe Brown, At-Large, Seat 8 (Districts 3 & 4)

Jason F. Esteves, At-Large, Seat 9 (Districts 5 & 6)

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

Not only do members of the Atlanta school board serve on behalf their respective geographical districts, ABE members also lead various board committees and taskforces such as:

Accountability Committee – Leslie Grant, Chair

Audit Committee – Byron D. Amos, Chair

Budget Committee – Matt Westmoreland, Chair

Policy Review Committee – Eshé P. Collins, Chair

Board Professional Development Committee – Nancy M. Meister, Chair

Charter School Taskforce – Byron D. Amos, Chair

Pension Fund Taskforce – Jason F. Esteves, Co-Chair and Nancy M. Meister, Co-Chair

Legislative Liaisons – Steven D. Lee and Matt Westmoreland

Additionally, members of the ABE represent the district on several external organizations including the National School Boards Association, Council of Urban Boards of Education, Council of Great City Schools, and Invest Atlanta. For a full list of all board appointments and affiliations, click here.

School Board Appreciation Week is sponsored by the Georgia School Boards Association. Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation declaring the week for school board members who are dedicated and committed to providing a quality education and resources for the students they serve.

The mission of the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education. For more information, visit http://www.gsba.org .