Director, Get Georgia Reading Campaign

The Get Georgia Reading Campaign, is a collaboration of more than 100 public and private partners working to ensure that all children in Georgia become proficient readers by the end of third grade.

Arianne was previously the Maternal and Child Health Services Title V administrator for the Georgia Department of Public Health and the director of State Partnership Strategies for Georgia Family Connection Partnership. Weldon earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Georgia State University and a master’s degree in public health from Emory University.

President, Technical College System of Georgia

Before joining TCSG in 2018, Martha was Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Associate Superintendent of Teacher and Leader Effectiveness at the Georgia Department of Education, and Assistant Superintendent in Meriwether County Schools.

With more than 40 years of experience in education, in both public and private schools, Pre-K through 12th grade and now postsecondary, Mrs. Todd has served in a wide range of teacher positions and leadership roles at multiple levels throughout her career. She is an alumna of Emory, Columbus State, and Georgia College & State University.

Commissioner, Georgia Department of Early care and Learning

Appointed commissioner by Governor Nathan Deal in 2014, Amy oversees an annual budget of more than $800 million for programs benefiting children and families including child care licensing, nutrition, and early childhood education, specifically Georgia’s Pre-K Program.

She is a member of the Georgia’s Children’s Cabinet, the Georgia Child Fatality Review Panel, the Alliance of Education Agency Heads, and the 2020 Complete Count Committee. She sits on the board of directors for the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and is chair of the board for the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning.

Community Relations Director, Georgia Lottery Corporation

Carrie is a graduate of the University of North Georgia with a degree in business management. Ms. Deal has an extensive business background ranging from international publishing software specialist, project manager, business consultant, to small business owner.

Carrie is an active volunteer and leader within the Garden Clubs of Georgia, Master Gardeners, Boys and Girls Clubs, and foster care programs within the State. She is the Chairman of the Deal Foundation, established for her mother, Sandra Dunagan Deal. She is honored to continue her mother’s legacy of promoting literacy and education initiatives for all Georgians.

Mercer University School of Medicine/Community Health Care Systems

Keisha is a women’s health professional. She serves on faculty at Mercer University School of Medicine. Callins is an alumni of the 2018 Class of the Georgia Physicians Leadership Academy, a 2015 alumni of Leadership Georgia and serves on the Georgia Composite Medical Board.

Callins earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). She completed her graduate medical training at the MSM OB/GYN Residency Program at Grady Memorial Hospital, where she served as chief resident.

Georgia Board of Education

Lisa represents the 4th Congressional District on the Georgia Board of Education. She also sits on the advisory board of Thrive Youth Development, Inc. and sat on the board of Northeast Independent Preparatory Academy for five years. Kinnemore earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.

Interim Dean, John H. Lounsbury College of Education

Joanne earned her Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Kent State University in 2009. Since 2009, she has worked at Georgia College & State University as a Middle Grades Professor and Interim Chair of the Department of Teacher Education (2020-2023). s of the Association for Middle Level Education.

She received the Outstanding Professor of Middle Level Education Award in 2016 from the National Professors of Middle Level Education and Georgia College & State University’s University Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Executive Director, GOSA

Joy has served in several state roles including director of Senate Research Office, policy analyst and deputy COO for Governor Sonny Perdue, and director of scholarships and grants (and REACH Georgia) at Georgia Student Finance Commission. She served as director of education for the Metro Atlanta Chamber and director for Literacy For All.

In 2019, Governor Brian Kemp appointed Joy as executive director of Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, a PreK-20 and workforce agency. As part of her current responsibilities, she serves as co-chair of the Georgia Children's Cabinet and the Governor’s Workforce Strategy Team.

Director of Youth Services, Georgia Public Library Service

Evan has over 25 years of experience in public libraries and early childhood and reading education. He has a BSED in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia and an MLIS from the University of Alabama. Evan has represented youth services at the local, state and national level, including two ALA national award committees – The Randolph Caldecott Award for illustration, and the Pura Belpré Award for exceptional Latinx children’s literature.

He has also served three years on the Georgia Children’s Picture Book Award, and two years on the national summer reading art committee. Evan is the project director for Prime Time in the state of Georgia, and also teaches children’s programming and literature classes to future librarians.