Principal Advisory Council Candidate Bios
Online elections for the HMS Principal Advisory Council are being held from September 15th-September 22nd, 2020. Electronic ballots are being email to parents using the addresses in Infinite Campus. Please see the bios of each candidate below:
Parent Candidates (in alphabetical order):
Lynsey Barron
I am a white collar criminal defense attorney and partner at a firm in midtown, and former federal prosecutor. I served on the PAC at Sagamore Hills (my son’s dad was on the PTA) and really enjoyed the meaningful opportunity it gave me to contribute. My son is a new 6th Grader and I am looking to volunteer as much as I can in his new school. I have a background in education policy and feel I have a lot to contribute.
April Callahan
I am a communications leader with 20 years of corporate and agency experience. More importantly, I am passionate about my two daughters, their education and our community. I would like to bring together my experiences as a communicator, team coach and parent to help make our school community the best it can be.
Mel Eldridge
Dear Parents and Staff, I am the father of a rising 7th grader at Henderson Middle School. We are relatively new to DeKalb County schools, having moved for my son to begin 6th grade at HMS. I work as a child psychologist, and I am familiar with both the social/emotional and academic needs of students in middle school. In the past I have enjoyed volunteering and being active in the PTA, and I have a strong appreciation for the role of parents in supporting the staff in creating a positive environment for our children. Thank you again for your consideration.Margaret Evans Former PAC, PTA President, and current Foundation Board member at Henderson Mill Elementary. Previous volunteer at HMS and Lakeside High Schools. Very active and engaged school community member.
Alison Kirkwood-Murphy
My career background is healthcare. I am the Member Relations Operations Manager for Georgia for Kaiser Permanente. I am volunteering because learning is my passion and I want to be a resource to my children and school if I can. I have volunteered with the Girl Scouts, KP Cares, Atlanta Foodbank, and I am constantly providing information to the underserved women in underserved communities.
Jennifer Knupp
My interest in the PAC position springs from my belief in the value of quality education and the principle of contributing to one’s community. I am an immigration advisor at Emory University and have worked as an ESL teacher and a German tutor to secondary students. I volunteered several years at my son’s elementary school and as a co-den leader for my son’s Cub Scouts den. I want to continue to serve my community as a member of the Parents Advisory Council connecting community and school constituents and facilitating communication of values and ideas towards the achievement of shared goals.
Erica Lee
I am an Assistant Professor at Emory University School of Medicine based at Grady. There I work with individuals experiencing mental health challenges in therapeutic and educational domains. I find volunteering through my church feeding the homeless and food insecure as well as providing mental health support groups in the community, to be rewarding and impactful. I believe this and other means of community engagement serve to make a space for our children to grow and thrive. I would like to continue to serve in order to address virtual learning, (cyber)bullying, parent engagement, and mental health for parents and students.
Nikita Trivedi
1. My family and I have been DeKalb residents for 8 years now and we are very passionate about the community and our public education. Through the Leadership DeKalb program and my professional experience at Georgia Power I understand the broader impact of quality public education on our community. 2. The sustainability of quality public education is rooted in joint efforts of parents, administration and teachers. I promise to incorporate all those perspectives to enhance student achievement and to make sure our kids are challenged and geared for success. I hope you will support my candidacy!
Teacher Candidates (in alphabetical order):
Kindra Daniely
I have been teaching public school for twenty -eight plus years. I have taught elementary and middle school Reading, Language Arts and Science. My teaching spectrum ranges from one end of the exceptionalities to the next like Early Intervention Program and Gifted Education students. I served in many teacher leadership capacities like grade level chair, grade team chair, co -chair language arts department, teacher support specialist mentor, new teacher support mentor, ladies in the making founder (support group for middle school girls), BETA club co-sponsor, leadership team and so many other committees, workshops, other educational forums.
Constance Folsom
Previously, I have volunteered on a Principal Advisory Committee at Lilburn Middle School many years ago during my tenure as a Special Education teacher. I desire to step up in leadership roles in my present school and be a part of solutions during our national education and health crisis.
Tim Ryan
I am a 12-year educator, teaching at Tucker MS, Peachtree Charter MS, and now I am at Henderson MS. I went to Woodridge ES, Miller Grove MS, and attended Redan HS. Before I was a teacher I substituted at almost every single school in the county. Being a DeKalb County native, the educational impact DCSD has made on me is dear to my heart. I want to serve on the PAC to give back to the county I love. Ensuring that the quality of the education students receive continues to be the best it can be.