Nine Members Sworn In During Atlanta Board of Education Inauguration

With a new year came three new members for the Atlanta Board of Education. On Jan. 10, the inauguration took place for newly elected and re-elected Atlanta Board of Education members. The new board elected the following new leaders: Board Chair Eshè Collins and Vice Chair Aretta Baldon.

Mayor Andre Dickens attended the swearing-in ceremony and organizational meeting for the newly-elected and re-elected members. This is in alignment with Mayor Dicken’s campaign promise to redevelop the relationship between the City of Atlanta and Atlanta Public Schools. By doing so, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Herring has been named one of five co-chairs for the transition team of the newly-elected mayor.

Dr. Herring joins former Mayor Sam Massell, Georgia State University President Dr. M. Brian Blake, Federal Reserve of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic, and Bank of America’s President of Global Commercial Banking Wendy Stewart on Dicken’s transition team.

Dr. Herring shared her enthusiasm for the occasion. “It is my honor to stand alongside my Board Members , our colleagues — your community representatives, to do the work that is necessary. Which is to change the trajectory of every child that we serve. For the good. For the better. For the best! That is our call and commitment.”

She continued, “This morning we have this opportunity to officially swear in those who will continue to shape and lead the vision of Atlanta Public Schools in partnership with the superintendent, with the voice of our city in mind.”

The newly elected and re-elected members of the Atlanta Board of Education were sworn in by the Honorable Verda M. Colvin, Georgia Supreme Court Justice.

Newly elected Board members include:

Katie Howard joins the Board representing District 1.

Elementary Schools: Barack & Michelle Obama Academy, Benteen, Dobbs, Hope-Hill, Mary Lin, Parkside, Slater, Thomasville Heights

Middle Schools: King, Price

High Schools: Carver, Carver Early College, Midtown, Jackson

Charter Schools: Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School (K-8), KIPP Vision Academy (K-8) The Kindezi School – Old Fourth Ward (K-8) Wesley International Academy (K-8)

Jennifer McDonald joins the Board representing District 4.

Elementary Schools: Brandon, Brandon Primary, E. Rivers, Garden Hills, Jackson, Jackson Primary, Smith, Smith Primary

Middle Schools: Sutton

High Schools: North Atlanta

Charter Schools: Atlanta Classical Academy

Tamara Jones joins the Board representing as At-Large Seat 7

The At-Large Seat 7 serves Districts 1 & 2.

Among the re-elected were:

Eshé P. Collins represents Educational District 6 and serves as Chair on the Atlanta Board of Education.

Elementary Schools: Cascade, Cleveland Avenue, Continental Colony, Deerwood Academy, Fickett, Heritage Academy, Humphries, Hutchinson, Kimberly, Kindezi at Gideons, Perkerson

Middle Schools: Bunche, Forrest Hill Academy, Long, Sylvan Hills

High Schools: Hank Aaron New Beginnings Academy, South Atlanta, Therrell

Aretta Baldon represents Educational District 2 and serves as Vice Chair on the Atlanta Board of Education.

Elementary Schools: Dunbar, Finch, Hollis Innovation Academy (K-8), Jones, Stanton

Middle Schools: H. J. Russell West End Academy

High Schools: Douglass, North Metro, Washington

Charter Schools: Centennial Academy (K-8), KIPP Strive Academy (K-8), KIPP WAYS Academy (K-8), KIPP Atlanta Collegiate (9-12)

Michelle Olympiadis represents District 3 of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Elementary Schools: Burgess-Peterson Academy, Morningside, Springdale Park, Toomer

Middle Schools: Howard

High Schools: Adult Literacy Program, Midtown, Phoenix Academy, Atlanta Virtual Academy

Charter Schools: Drew Charter (K-12)

Residential Flexible Learning Program: Hillside Conant (Grades 2-12)

Erika Mitchell represents District 5 of the Atlanta Board of Education.

Elementary Schools: Beecher Hills, Bolton Academy, Boyd, Peyton Forest, Scott, Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy, Usher-Collier, West Manor, Woodson Park Academy, Harper-Archer

Middle Schools: John Lewis Invictus Academy, Young

High Schools: Mays

Single Gender Schools: B.E.S.T. Academy (6-12), Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (6-12)

Charter Schools: Kindezi West, Westside Atlanta Charter

Cynthia Briscoe Brown represents At-Large Seat 8 for the Atlanta Board of Education.

The At-Large Seat 8 serves Districts 3 & 4.

Jason Esteves represents At-Large Seat 9 for the Atlanta Board of Education.

The At-Large Seat 9 serves Districts 5 & 6.

The Atlanta Board of Education establishes and approves the policies that govern the Atlanta Public School system. 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.

Under the provisions of the new board charter, approved by the Georgia Legislature in 2003, Board members elect a new chair and vice-chair every two years. The day-to-day administration of the school district is the responsibility of the Superintendent, who is appointed by the Board.