Michael is a Practice Leader for McKinsey & Co, a global management consulting firm. His focus is bringing technology and analytics solutions to marketing and operations challenges to consumer sector clients. Previously, Michael was Vice President at PRGX and a consultant for Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney. He is co-owner and treasurer of Playmatters, an Atlanta-based pediatric occupational therapy clinic, which actively seeks out, engages, and supports an inclusive community of children with a focus on disenfranchised youth.
Shara Garwood Sanders is the Executive Director of Leadership DeKalb, an attorney, and a community volunteer who has been serving DeKalb County for years. A native of Orlando, Florida, Shara received degrees from Presbyterian College (B.A., English, 1992) and Florida State University (B.S., Biology, 1995) before moving to Atlanta in 1996 to attend Emory School of Law (J.D., 1999).
After graduating from Emory School of Law with honors, Shara practiced labor & employment and general litigation at Jackson Lewis, Hunton Williams, and Rogers & Hardin. In 2010, Shara stepped away from law to focus on family, returning to practice in January 2018 before accepting the Leadership DeKalb Executive Director position in December 2023.
Shara is also a graduate of Leadership DeKalb Class of 2017 and has served on the Junior League of DeKalb County (President 2017-2019), St. Martin’s Episcopal School Board (Chair 2022-2024), DeKalb Library Foundation (President 2022-2023), and many other community organizations.
Cicely C. Thornton Executive – Secretary; Governance
Cicely is a Human Resources professional experienced in designing and implementing start-up HR operations and strengthening existing practices. She has applied these skills in the technology, financial services, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries. Cicely holds a Master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in corporate and organizational communications, and a Bachelors in Communications from Rider University.
Brian is currently Senior Vice President of Trident Fund Services, Inc. Prior to joining Trident in 2009, he was Managing Director with MadisonGrey Fund Services (now Apex Fund Services). Brian has served on multiple boards for both public and private investment funds over the course of his career and spent time at PricewaterhouseCoopers and Jackson National Asset Management. Brian has a Certified Public Accountant license (inactive status) and a Registered Certified Public Accountant license with the State of Illinois. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree (Cum Laude) in Finance from Bradley University and Certificate in Accounting Studies from DePaul University.
Kiesha R. Storey is a judge in the State Court of DeKalb County, a position she has held since 2015. Before that she served as the Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General in the Diversion Unit in the DeKalb Solicitor-General’s Office, and previously owned her own law practice. She is a graduate of Spelman College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and Emory University School of Law where she received a Juris Doctor. She serves on the Governance Committee at Tapestry.
Amy is the President of Bright Enterprise Solutions, Inc., a boutique consulting firm specializing in complex project management and general management consulting using an analytically driven approach. Previously, Amy worked for AT&T / BellSouth in director-level roles ranging from corporate strategy and product management to consumer marketing.
Lindsay is a special education teacher at Taylor Road Middle School in Johns Creek, Georgia. She was named the 2021 Taylor Road Middle School Teacher of the Year and has taught for 14 years in metro Atlanta. She was the 2016 Enable Special Education Teacher finalist for the state of Georgia and started a cross-country team at Taylor Road (currently the largest middle school team in Georgia) so students with exceptionalities could participate in athletics.
Michelle Hall Board Member, Development/Partnerships Chair
Michelle is a consultant who focuses on executive search for national nonprofits and foundations who invest in child welfare, legal advocacy, media, civic engagement, community enhancement and economic mobility.
Michelle spent nearly three decades in higher education leadership. As Associate Dean, Dean and Vice President for four private universities, she built lasting institutional success and directed large staffs in support of diverse student bodies.
She holds a BS in History from the University of the South (Sewanee) and an MS in Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis.
Arlette is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at The Home Depot, responsible for leading human resource support for U.S. stores and international operations, outside sales and service. Arlette is a champion of the company’s unique culture that puts people – associates, customers, and communities – first. Arlette previously held the position of Vice President of Human Resources with responsibility for corporate functions including merchandising, marketing and online, technology, finance, human resources, legal, outside sales and service, and corporate communications and external affairs. Arlette received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Dillard University and holds Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in industrial-organizational psychology from Texas A&M University.
Beth Radford is a graduate of the Emory University School of Medicine, Division of Physical Therapy. Currently, she is a Level III Physical Therapist for the Children’s Hospital of Atlanta Chantilly Rehab outpatient clinic. In this position, she evaluates and treats infants, children, and adolescents with various neurological and orthopedic diagnoses. She also serves as the Coordinator for the Physical Therapy Student Program.
Victor G. Hicks is the founder and CEO of Coding with CUlture, an organization dedicated to expanding access to culturally responsive computer science and STEM education for Black and Brown youth. He brings over 20 years of experience as an educator, instructional coach, and curriculum designer, with a focus on identity-affirming, project-based learning. Victor also serves on the Board of Trustees at Decatur Makers, where he chairs the Youth Programming and Outreach Committee, supporting inclusive maker education in Decatur and across Metro Atlanta. He studied at both Fisk University and Clark Atlanta University and remains deeply committed to the legacy and future of HBCUs.
Ophelia Nnorom is a parent advocate with over five years of experience championing high-quality education in the state of Georgia. A retired police officer, Ophelia brings her background in public service to promoting equal opportunities for all students, particularly those with special needs. As the proud mother of a young son diagnosed with autism, her personal experience has deeply influenced and inspired her advocacy pursuits. She received her training in educational advocacy from GeorgiaCAN, an organization where she served as a parent fellow and mentor. She has connected parents to resources, provided feedback on special education, evaluated grant applications to ensure proper alignment with educational goals, and served on several boards with the aim of improving education, behavioral health, and developmental disabilities.
Patricia Nealy is a dedicated member of the Tapestry Public Charter School Board, bringing over 20 years of professional expertise to her governance role. As a licensed School Social Worker, she has a deep, practical understanding of the critical social, emotional, and educational needs of students and families.
Her commitment to Tapestry is both professional and personal; she is the parent of two children, which provides her with a valuable, firsthand perspective on student experience and district needs. She is committed to advocating for equitable quality education for all children, regardless of their background or zip code.
Ms. Nealy holds a B.A. in Sociology from Clark Atlanta University, an M.S.W. from the University of Southern California, and a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.
Dr. Maiysha Clairborne is a Physician, Consultant, and Founder of Mind Re-Mapping Co. She helps organizations create psychologically safe cultures by becoming trauma-responsive in their listening and speaking. Focused on inclusion in healthcare, education, and corporations, she teaches her audiences that by mastering their communication and thought habits, they can mitigate harm by becoming responsible for the impact of their words and behaviors. Dr. Clairborne is a graduate of Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, a 2022 TEDx Asheville Speaker, and co-author of Conscious Anti-Racism.
Dr. Emily Graybill received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Georgia State University in 2011. Her research interests include social justice advocacy in schools, bullying prevention, positive behavior supports, and school-based behavioral interventions for students with disabilities. She has provided training on behavioral supports in schools throughout the Metro Atlanta area and has worked for the Center for School Safety, School Climate, and Classroom Management at Georgia State University. In her current position in the Center for Leadership in Disability at GSU, she conducts program evaluations for school systems and provides behavioral consultation to educators across the state of Georgia.
Keely Harris, founder of Birdie Grants, holds over ten years of experience in all facets of development, including public and private grants writing and administration, in-kind solicitation, individual donor relations, event planning, and program and budget development. She has experience in community building, development, and activism around the issues of education, affordable housing, and women’s and civil rights. Keely holds an M.S. in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University and a B.S. in Sociology and Women’s Studies from Loyola University in New Orleans.
Tonna Harris-Bosselmann is the co-founder and former board chair of Tapestry Public Charter School. Tonna has a Doctorate in Education in School Improvement with a concentration in Inclusion from the University of West Georgia and twenty-five years of experience in the field of education, having taught at Georgia State University, Gainesville State College, and the University of North Georgia. Tonna and her husband Moritz Bosselmann are the parents of two wonderful boys, one neurotypical and one on the autism spectrum.
Kevin Hollingsworth is a Senior Design Consultant and Co-Founder of Fountainhead Design & Consulting, LLC, a service-disabled veteran owned business focused on providing innovative technical solutions in audio/visual, lighting, computer networks, and ergonomic furniture design. After serving in the U.S. Navy as an aviation electronics engineer, Mr. Hollingsworth specialized for over twenty years in the audio/visual industry and is certified as a technical specialist (CTS). Prior to starting Fountainhead, he worked as a sales engineer/project manager for CineMassive Displays, designing high-resolution multi-monitor display systems and video walls.
Dr. Karen Kuhel earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Florida and an MATESOL from American University. She is an Associate Professor of TESOL at Kennesaw State University. She has taught, designed, and administered programs for English learners in the US and Brazil, and collaborates with local school districts and the Georgia Department of Education on projects that impact the academic achievement of English learners.
Emily Rubin, MS, CCC-SLP, is an Educational Outreach Specialist for the Marcus Autism Center in Atlanta, GA. During her years as a Speech-Language Pathologist in private practice, Emily has specialized in autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, and related social learning disabilities. Emily was previously a lecturer at Yale University, where she served as a member of their Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic. She is a co-author of the clinical manual for the SCERTS Model, a comprehensive educational approach for children with autism spectrum disorders, and lectures internationally on autism and related developmental disorders.
Dr. Karen Weller Swanson holds a B.A. in Biology, an M.Ed. in Secondary Education and Technology, and an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University. She is Associate Professor and Director of the PhD program in Curriculum and Instruction at Mercer University in Atlanta, Georgia. Her research encompasses transformative education, faculty professional development, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. Dr. Weller Swanson conducts workshops nationally and internationally for faculty professional development and has served the National Middle School Association for over 20 years.
Carol Retamozo Taylor, MOT, OTR/L, is Clinical Director of PlayWorks Pediatric Therapy, Inc. Ms. Taylor is a former middle school and high school special education teacher now in private practice as a pediatric occupational therapist certified in Sensory Integration. She has extensive training in the DIR/Floortime model and currently consults with various public and private schools and child development centers serving infants to young adults.
Explore More Governance
Our board does not operate in isolation. Learn how we organize our committees, when and where we meet, what policies guide our decisions, and how we manage our finances.