
Beacon Hill SLT Candidates 23-34
Candidates for BHMS 23-24 School Leadership Team
BHMS Families,
We are happy to announce that twelve Beacon Hill parents have stepped up to run for our three open spots on the Beacon Hill School Leadership Team (SLT). Please read the bios below of the twelve SLT candidates for BHMS in alphabetical order by last name.
Elections will be conducted via Google Form sent in the Thursday, September 7, 2023 eblast. Polls will close at 4:00 p.m Friday, September 8, 2023.
There is ONE vote per STUDENT at BHMS. If there are multiple adults in a household, please coordinate your vote so that there is only one per BHMS student. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will be the parent representatives on the SLT.
Best regards,
Derrick Thomas, Principal
Odufa Aburime
I am Odufa Aburime, a Clinical IT Manager who grew up in the Decatur area. My husband Ekinadese and I have lived in Decatur for over 7 years with our 3 children - an 8th grader at BHMS, a 4th grader at Talley and 2nd grader at Glenwood. I have served as Vice President on the PTA at BHMS, on the DEI and TigerFest committees at Talley, as a front office volunteer at Clairemont and as a Room Parent at Clairemont, Talley, BHMS and Glennwood. At Glennwood, I also organized the Glennwood Cake Walk in conjunction with the annual Chili Cook Off sponsored by the PTA, engaging BHMS students and Decatur High students to earn volunteer hours. While on the PTA at BHMS one of the major initiatives I participated in was engaging the PTA boards across all 9 schools to collaborate and improve processes by learning and pooling resources from each other, and to function in a more unified manner, along with collaborating with CSD central office. I also participated in the BHMS Teacher Grants process, which involved reviewing and approving grant requests for the betterment of the BHMS community. As a stakeholder in the CSD community, I was an active participant in the Decatur Dinners endeavor and the equity consultant sessions leading to the creation of CSD's Equity Director role to improve our community.
My desire to join the Beacon Hill SLT stems from a desire to see all our children succeed. Specifically, to ensure a well rounded, diverse and educational, enriching, safe space for all of our children. I hope to bring my experience as a parent who has been in the district for over 7 years, a corporate employee who collaborated and championed the success of corporate organizations for all involved stakeholders, and from collaborating with CSD parents, school staff and administrators, to the forefront. It would be an honor to serve on the Beacon Hill SLT, and work towards ensuring a diverse, educational and intentional environment where all stakeholders in the Beacon Hill community can thrive and contribute to positively impact our students. A stronger Beacon Hill community leads to the success of our students and staff. Thank you for the consideration and I look forward to serving!
Thank you,
-Odufa Aburime
Kristen Denius
My name is Kristen Denius and I'm a parent of two CSD kids: one in 8th grade at BHMS and one in 11th grade at DHS. My family has lived in Oakhurst since 2004 and we have been part of the CSD community since our oldest began Pre-K at College Heights in 2010.
Professionally, I have 18 years of experience in the legal department of the City of Atlanta where, as an attorney for the city, I advised on legal compliance, employment matters, pensions, and open government requirements. I also routinely drafted legislation and other policies. Since 2019 I have served as the city's first Chief Transparency Officer with purview over policy development, training, and compliance with open government laws, including the Georgia Open Records Act. I am passionate about the importance of proactive and easy to understand communication with constituents as a critical component of an effective public agency.
Throughout my family's twelve years of experiences in CSD I have found myself consistently grateful for my children's creative, amazing, and dedicated teachers and school-level administrators. But I've also been distracted and frustrated by voluminous communications that bury important information as much as provide it. And I've become dismayed by the distrust and suspicion this type of communication has created between the various stakeholders in our CSD community. The BHMS SLT fills important roles in evaluating student achievement and with components of the school budget and planning processes, but the SLT also should embrace a greater proactive role in facilitating meaningful communication between parents/guardians, school administration, and district leadership where necessary to assist in addressing the needs and challenges facing our school and our district.
I believe that I have the necessary experience and skills to make a positive contribution to the work of the SLT, to champion improvements with communication, and to act as an accessible advocate for the BHMS community. I hope that you will consider voting for me to fill one of the open positions on the BHMS SLT this year.
Dr. Will Epps
I wanted to write to formally express my interest in serving on the SLT at Beacon Hill Middle School. Professionally, I am a private practice pain physician and anesthesiologist in the metro area. My wife, India, and I have been in Decatur since 2015. We have a 3rd and 6th grader in the CSD. I’ve served on the SLTs at both Winnona Park and Talley Street. I’ve enjoyed actively participating in some of the decision making processes at the lower and upper elementary school level and hope to continue to do that at BHMS. I hope to help BHMS embrace the new CSD strategic plan of “All In Decatur” and ensuring all of our middle schoolers feel including and are on the path to success.
Regards,
Will Epps, MD
Neron Ferguson
My name is Neron Ferguson, and I would like to submit my name for BHMS SLT. I am a 10-year Decatur resident with two children in CSD, one in BHMS and one at F.Ave. We began our journey with the Westchester team and have been so fortunate to continue with strong school and community partnerships ever since. My wife is an educator, so I have been immersed in the teacher experience by proximity. I know firsthand how hard our educators work to cultivate meaningful experiences for our children, and the success of our schools is a direct testament to their dedication. My goal is to support teachers while ensuring our collective efforts result in achievement for all students, especially those historically marginalized. Our family has also experienced some of our community's growth points as we strive to include all voices and perspectives in our decision-making. These reasons are why I would be an asset to BHMS SLT.
I am originally a native of Trinidad and Tobago. My father was an international consultant for much of my childhood, so he brought a worldly perspective to our upbringing. Even as he approaches his 80th year, he continues to conduct leadership coaching and often challenges us to look beyond ourselves and consider our role in humanity. I moved to the U.S. to attend Fayetteville State University (and HBCU), and there, I learned so much about the Black experience in America. I earned my M.B.A. from American University in D.C., where I formed life-long relationships with friends from various states and countries. I also earned my M.S. from Johns Hopkins University. Professionally, I serve as a Senior Manager within the consulting practice at Deloitte LLP. I frequently collaborate with a variety of global stakeholders. My daily work requires innovation, direction-setting, data analysis, collaboration and compromise, and progress monitoring. Most importantly, my work must be relevant to all stakeholders while simultaneously ensuring the success of the collective. These skills directly mirror the daily work of our educators and are in direct alignment with CSD's new strategic plan.
The popular adage "It takes a village" guides how my family engages with the world. I have come to understand that while many players support in the background, it is also critical that new voices and perspectives are added to the conversation. I believe that my perspectives as a Black, international, community member and business acumen have provided me with a diverse view that has served me well, and I hope to use those experiences to help CSD as we embark on our new strategic plan and strive to be "All in".
I appreciate your consideration,
Neron Ferguson
Amber Harris
I am the parent of a 6th grader and am excited to get more involved at BHMS. I have lived and worked in Decatur for more than 15 years and feel strongly about giving back to this community that has given my family so much. When my son was at Oakhurst Elementary, I served as a member of the Oakhurst SLT for two years, including the 2019/2020 school year. I was part of the SLT, and an officer for the PTA, that supported the school as they addressed the crisis of a new pandemic. I helped bring parent voices to the administration while also balancing the needs of teachers and the limitations of the school environment that existed at that time. As a PTA officer, I also helped leverage parent and community support to meet emerging needs for students and teachers. On the Oakhurst SLT, I was involved in reviewing and approving the school's budget, monitoring the continuous school improvement planning process, and interviewing for new staff. After transitioning to F.Ave, I continued to play an active role in advocating for students and families, serving on the PTO and volunteering in other capacities, such as room parent.
My professional background has also given me experience that I believe will be beneficial to the BHMS community. I have an advanced degree in social work and do fundraising, event planning and strategic communications for Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, a Decatur-based nonprofit. This includes creating and monitoring program budgets, participating in community-based strategic and vision planning and then working said plan, reviewing data that illustrates community needs and opportunities and creating new programming or funding streams to address those needs and opportunities, elevating diverse voices and working toward equity across a variety of underserved populations, addressing social issues, advocating for funding from governmental entities, and interviewing and hiring staff. I have also served on the Field Education Advisory Board for the Georgia State University School of Social Work, which has responsibilities similar to that of the School Leadership Team.
I look forward to this opportunity to serve the BHMS community.
Thank you!
Amber Harris
Keisha McEwen
SAMANTHA McMAHAN
My name is Samantha McMahan. I’m the mother of 2 children in the City Schools of Decatur district. My eldest is 11 and in 6th grade at Beacon Hill. My youngest is in 2nd grade at Winnona Park.
I used to be a teacher (in the U.S., Germany and the U.K.), but I’ve worked in corporate immigration now for 20+ years. I would like to be on the School Leadership Team as it would give me a chance to develop a better understanding of our middle school system, as well as allow me to represent other parents and their opinions to the school. Also, I could bring a different perspective to the SLT since I’ve studied and taught in different school systems. I’m enthusiastic and enjoy helping schools, so I would really enjoy being an SLT member.
Abha Shah
I am writing to express my interest in the School Leadership Team at Beacon Hill Middle School.
I have worked in the education sector for most of my professional career as an educator, a former employee on AdvancED's innovation team (now Cognia), and now in workforce development. I have had the unique opportunity to understand the learning environment of students, develop educational resources, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational programs. I have an avid interest in students and improving their quality of education.
As an educator, I taught a range of subjects including social studies and math. In my classroom, I strived to create engaging material for my students that would align with current standards but still spark their curiosity. While we were assessing the teachings of each grade level, we found that students had gaps in their abilities from elementary to middle and middle to high school. I worked with a team of teachers and administrators to ensure a smoother transition between the levels and better communication through the department. I also had the opportunity to work with AdvanceEd (Cognia) to create improvement services tools, evaluate SIPs, and determine pathways for continuous improvement. I was able to use this experience to serve as a member of Glenwood's SLT when my son attended.
I have been living in Decatur for 17 years and have had the opportunity to get to know the community and the schools. I feel given my experience in education I would be an excellent member of your School Leadership Team. I thank you for your time and consideration.
Best,
Abha Shah
Gwendolyn Shaw
A multidisciplinary techno-functional senior transformation leader, adept at reimagining and driving complex digital strategies, modernizing organizations through optimizing operations and streamlining expenses for clients and a proven track record for launching growth, revenue and profitability for incubator level Consulting Practices within established small cap to Fortune 500 consulting organizations across multiple industries, including non-profit. I have held operational and human resource responsibilities from practice demand/pipeline to staffing model management strategies that included the recruiting of staff, managing utilizations, capacity and bench management and other staffing development functions. I am certified in PMP, Agile (PSM) and hold a Six Sigma White Belt, with a Yellow Belt in process.
In our community of schools, I have served as a room parent, as GOTR coach, PTO Vice President, and until recently, the BHMS PTA Co-President. In my spare time, I enjoy focusing on my fitness (run, lift, bike), knit copious amounts of scarfs and hats and DIY house projects.
Thanks,
Gwendolyn Shaw
Courtney Sollie (Incumbent)
I have been committed to the children of our district since moving here in 2018 from the NYC area. I have actively engaged with the community by serving as a mentor to 5th graders at FAVE, helped establish the Talley PTO, assisted with several events at Talley, served on multiple committees at WP and served three terms as WP PTA President. I have been an active volunteer with DEF and the food coordinator for MLK weekend of service.
I am a parent of four kids in CSD schools. I have one child at BHMS (7th), one at Talley (5th), one at DHS (10th) and one at Winnona Park (2nd).
I have served one term as a SLT member at BHMS, helping with the principal transition, while also prioritizing and advocating for inclusive educational experiences of ALL children in our community. As such, I am committed to keeping our children first as we enter a new school year.
BHMS has a wonderful, engaging community and I believe that comes from the continued support and involvement of the administration, teachers, parents and students. I want to continue to be an active participant in the continued growth of the BHMS community. Thank you for your consideration.
Kelly Stinson
My name is Kelly Stinson, and I am running to serve as your representative for the BHMS SLT. A native of middle Georgia, I moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia State University. After landing a fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), I completed my masters at Emory University, and found a real passion in studying tuberculosis (TB). I have worked in TB research for almost 20 years in the public, private, small business, and non-profit sectors. I worked for several years in Washington DC, but after having our first child, we realized the southern hospitality in Atlanta would foster the most supportive community for our kids.
Now with two boys in the CSD system, Everett (6th) and Lucas (3rd), I have a vested interest in being part of a community that raises well rounded children who can comfortably grow and thrive in our schools. Having served on the Glennwood Elementary SLT, and as prior co-president of the Glennwood PTA, I have enjoyed being a part of the school governance and providing support to teachers and staff. Likewise, my current and previous roles on diversity, equity, and inclusion councils have provided much exposure and education that I would carry forward to the SLT, both in review of the school improvement plan and the interviewing of new employees. Lastly, as a former small business owner, I would assist in the careful review and maximum potential of the school budget and brainstorm ideas for creative use of funds. Ultimately, I want to volunteer to best support our children's education and evolution into holistic humans that can maintain and improve the strong community in which we live. Thanks for your consideration!
Kelly
Meagan Swingle
Hi, I’m Meagan Swingle, and my husband, Jon, and I live in Ponce Heights with our 3 boys, who are in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade this year at BHMS. As a member of the SLT, my focus would be to work to ensure all students, regardless of race, household income, or where they fall on the spectrum of educational needs, have an equal opportunity to learn and thrive at BHMS.
I've done extensive advocacy work in literacy and equity, including my experience serving on the CSD Dyslexia Task Force last year. As a task force, our group looked at the K-3 dyslexia screening process, teacher learning, and parent resources, and made recommendations for improvements. As we worked together for 7 months on this task force, I found myself asking: What about our older students? While our task force was only given the purview to examine K-3 processes and training, I know from life experience and from the Milestones data that we have a lot of students at the middle and high school level who are struggling with reading and writing, as well as other core subjects.
From the most recent Georgia Milestones data, 83% of Decatur’s economically disadvantaged middle school students are below Proficient levels in ELA, and 87% are below Proficient levels in math. 73% of our Black middle school students are below Proficient levels in ELA and 76% are below Proficient levels in math. As a district there has been much discussion around eliminating these widespread equity gaps, yet issues around literacy and intervention and special education eligibility processes remain central to that core problem, in every grade level, K-12.
I’d like to work with the SLT to help address these issues at BHMS and make sure we’re preparing all students, regardless of race, income, learning differences or special needs, to continue on to high school, equipped with the foundational skills they need to thrive in academics and life. In addition to my advocacy, I am the state-wide communications chair for Decoding Dyslexia Georgia, and the owner of Little Light Group, a communications agency that I began in 2016 after a 16 year career in communications and PR with the Atlanta Braves and FOX Sports.