Leadership
Click member names to read their profiles.
Staff
Gail Rothman, Executive Director
Board of Directors 2010-2011
Leslie Munson, PhD, Chair
Paula Collins, Chair-Elect
Charles Orth, Treasurer
Emilie Markert, Secretary
Andrea Arnold
Ann Berg
Walt Drake
Phyllis A. Edwards, EdD
William F. Floyd
Derrick Gervin
Lindsay Jones
John Joyner
Elizabeth Kiss, PhD
Rich Mahaffey
Carol Ellis Morgan
Katie Pedersen
Anthony Powers
Marty Sadler
Todd Speed
Eric Willis
Bob Wilson
Valarie Wilson
Gail Rothman, Executive Director
Gail Rothman brings extensive experience in non-profit leadership, youth development and fundraising to the foundation. Prior to joining the Decatur Education Foundation as its first full-time executive director, Gail served as CEO of GOAL, a non-profit organization that provides programming for adolescent girls through collaborative partnerships. Gail's 15 years of experience in non-profit management and education includes academic advising, program design and management and strategic business development.
Ms. Rothman completed her undergraduate degree in cultural anthropology at the University of California at Berkeley and received her master's degree in intercultural education and training from The School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont.
Ms. Rothman and her family live in the Winnona Park neighborhood of Decatur. Her husband, Doug Altizer, teaches at Decatur High School. Her three children attend Decatur schools—the oldest is at Decatur High, the middle at Renfroe, and the youngest at Winnona Park.
Leslie Munson is the Director of Education at the Atlanta Speech School. She is a member of the National Association of School Psychologists, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Oakhurst Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Munson attended College Heights Elementary School and graduated from Decatur High School in 1980. She went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in educational psychology, a master of education in school psychometry, and a doctorate in educational psychology, all from the University of Georgia.
Born and raised in Decatur, Dr. Munson is the daughter of Decatur Mayor Emeritus Elizabeth Wilson. She and her husband, Andrew, have one daughter, Kristin Elizabeth, who is a student at Renfroe Middle School.
Paula Collins is co-founder/principal with Our Green Value (a division of Peak Focus, LLC), a business consulting, coaching, and publishing company focused on helping small and medium businesses be successful, especially in the green economy. As an active member of the Green Chamber of the South and chair of the business section of the Green Chamber, she’s a wellknown figure in the sustainability world. She also served as a founding director of ZipToGreen, the Web’s first comprehensive home-energy reduction and education site.
In addition to being chair-elect for the DEF, Paula serves as cochair of the fundraising committee for the fifth year running. She was instrumental in the creation and building of one of the Foundation’s largest fundraisers, the annual Low Country Boil, for which she served as host for the first five years.
Ms. Collins graduated from Emory University in 1985 with a B.S. degree in biology and holds technical degrees in computer hardware and programming. With neuroendocrinology research and writing computer code far behind her, she focuses her time and effort today on helping others see the “invisible obvious” to uncover opportunities for business and personal growth.
Charles A. Orth, a partner with Westbrook, McGrath, Gibson, and Orth, attended Clairemont Elementary School and is a 1965 graduate of Decatur High School. He played basketball for two years and was a member of the tennis team for four years. He attended Florida Southern College and holds a BBA degree in accounting from Georgia State University. He was formerly on the board of directors of the Decatur Downtown Development Authority and Decatur Cooperative Ministry, and currently serves on the board of the Decatur/DeKalb YMCA. He is a member of Decatur Presbyterian Church, Georgia Society of CPAs, American Institute of CPAs and the Decatur Alumni Association.
He and his wife, Elizabeth Blanchard Orth, also a 1965 Decatur High graduate, have five sons - Cliff, Shawn, Billy, Brent and Brandon - and one daughter, Holly Broom. They have nine grandchildren.
Emilie Markert has been a resident of Decatur for more than 25 years. She is in sales with RE-MAX Executives Inc. of Decatur and has been with RE-MAX for 20 years.
Ms. Markert is the past president of the Decatur Business Association and past board member of Leadership DeKalb. She has also served on various committees at Decatur First United Methodist Church.
Ms. Markert taught high school French for 15 years and was Teacher of the Year twice at South Gwinnett High School. She has a BA in foreign language education from Winthrop University and an MEd from the University of Georgia. Ms. Markert is married to Bill W. Markert.
Andrea Arnold is the Assistant City Manager for Administrative Services for the City of Decatur, and has worked for the city since 1997. Prior to working for the City of Decatur, she worked for the Atlanta Regional Commission. Ms. Arnold graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, with a bachelor's degree in political science and urban studies. She received an MPA from the University of Georgia. Ms. Arnold is active in the professional association the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and was elected to the ICMA Board in 2009 for a three-year term.
Ms. Arnold and her husband, Dave, have lived in Decatur for 14 years. They have three children: Eleanor and Ben attend Clairemont Elementary School, and Charlie will be attending College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center.
Ann Berg is a business development officer at Decatur First Bank. Ms. Berg currently serves as president of the Decatur High School Booster Club board. She is past president of the Decatur Business Association and past board member of the Community Center of South Decatur. Ms. Berg holds a bachelor's of business administration degree from the University of Georgia.
Ms. Berg has lived in the Great Lakes neighborhood for the past 10 years with her two boys: Ben attends Decatur High School, and and Sam is at Renfroe Middle School.
Walt Drake is a Senior Partner for McCurdy and Candler, LLC and a former mayor of Decatur. He is past president of the Decatur Rotary Club and a member of the DeKalb Estate Planning Council, the State Bar of Georgia and the DeKalb Historical Society. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of Decatur First Bank, a trustee of Columbia Theological Seminary and a trustee of Agnes Scott College.
Mr. Drake is a graduate of Davidson College and holds a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. His wife is Beverly Drake, and between them they have five children: Beth Drake Brice, John Drake, Scott Drake, Richard Hills and Shannon Hills Hirsh. Beth, John and Scott all attended Decatur schools.
Dr. Phyllis Edwards became Superintendent of City Schools of Decatur in July 2003. She came to Decatur from Flagler County, Florida, where she served as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability, a position she held from 1999 to 2003. During her 29 years with Flagler County Schools, she served in a number of different capacities. She began her career there as a middle school teacher and was later appointed as the district curriculum coordinator in 1987. Between 1990 and 1999, she served as Director of Elementary Education and Director of Instruction and Staff Development before being named the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and Accountability.
Dr. Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of White Plains in New York, a master’s degree from Western Connecticut State University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. She and her husband Stephen have two daughters, Elaine and Elyse.
William F. Floyd, mayor of Decatur, is president of W F Floyd Construction Company of Decatur. In addition to serving as a member of the Decatur City Commission, he is a member of Decatur First United Methodist Church, serves on the boards of Decatur First Bank and the Dekalb Rape Crisis Center and is a past president of the Georgia Utility Contractors Association. He is a graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He holds an MBA degree from Georgia State University.
Mr. Floyd has lived in Decatur for 30 years. His wife, Sydney Flynt Floyd, attended Winnona Park Elementary School and is a 1963 graduate of Decatur High School.
Derrick earned his doctorate degree in Social Work from Clark Atlanta University and has more than ten years of experience in social work practice. He currently provides evaluation services to clients of The Evaluation Group who are implementing education programs such as the smaller learning communities and early learning and community-based partnership programs.
Dr. Gervin and his wife, new residents of Decatur, have two daughters, 1 and 3 years old.
Lindsay R.M. Jones has lived in Decatur since 2001. Although his family originates from Alabama, he grew up primarily in Minnesota, where he graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1988 and the University of Minnesota Law School in 1991. He currently practices law and serves as a Municipal Court Judge for the City of Decatur. He also serves on the board for the South Decatur Community Development Corporation.
Prior to relocating to Decatur, Mr. Jones lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he taught as an adjunct professor of law and held a senior research fellowship with a civil rights think tank at the University of Minnesota Law School. He has also served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota, an Assistant County Attorney and the Deputy Director and Director of Advocacy Legal Services of North Carolina.
Mr. Jones has a daughter named Isabella, who entered the Decatur schools in the fall of 2007. He has coached junior high school football and has volunteered with several at-risk youth programs. He currently teaches Sunday School at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, where he and his daughter attend.
Mr. John Joyner of Joyner and Burnette PC has lived in Decatur for 45 years and is an active member of Decatur Presbyterian Church, the DeKalb Library Foundation and the Georgia State Bar Association. In addition, Mr. Joyner currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Decatur Development Authority.
He is a graduate of the University of Florida, Georgia State University and Emory Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor. He is married to Marceil Joyner and they have two children, Mark Joyner and Jill Joyner Bush, who both attended Decatur schools, as well as three grandchildren, Tucker Bush, Camille Bush, and Natalie Joyner, who also attended Decatur schools.
Dr. Elizabeth Kiss was installed as the eighth president of Agnes Scott College in August 2006. Before coming to Agnes Scott, Dr. Kiss spent 10 years at Duke University, where she was Nannerl O. Keohane Director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics and an associate professor of the Practice of Political Science and Philosophy. Before that, she taught at Princeton University for eight years. She has also taught at Randolph-Macon College and Deep Springs College.
Dr. Kiss serves on numerous boards of directors, including for Duke University, the Woodruff Arts Center, Women’s College Coalition, SunTrust Atlanta, Association of Practical and Professional Ethics and Atlanta Council for Higher Education.
Dr. Kiss holds a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Davidson College and a doctorate in philosophy from Oxford University in England. She is married to Jeff Holzgrefe.
Rich Mahaffey, vice-president and owner of Ply Mart Inc., has been employed by his company for over 35 years and has been a resident of Decatur for 30 years. He is a member of Decatur First United Methodist Church. Rich holds a bachelor of arts degree in Industrial Management from Clemson University. He and his wife, Beth, have four children: Chris, a graduate of Decatur High School; Lindsay, Mary Bess and John.
Carol Ellis Morgan serves on the faculty of the University of Georgia School of Law, where she coordinates the Business Law and Ethics program and teaches courses on mergers and acquisitions, business negotiations, and other transactional practice courses. Prior to her current position, she enjoyed a 25-year career at National Service Industries Inc. (NSI) in Atlanta, where she served in a number of roles, from Assistant Counsel to General Counsel to President. She is now a consultant to NSI.
In addition to being on the board of the Decatur Education Foundation, Ms. Morgan is a member of the board of directors for the Decatur-DeKalb YMCA and is actively involved with North Decatur Presbyterian Church.
Ms. Morgan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN, and her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. She has lived in the Decatur area all of her life. She is married to J. Tom Morgan. They have two children, Caroline and John, both graduates of Decatur High School.
Katie Pedersen is a 16-year Decatur resident and a proud Decatur parent. She currently works for Perkins+Will as an architect and project manager, specializing in the design of educational facilities. She graduated from Miami University with a bachelor’s degree in environmental design and holds a master’s degree in architecture from Georgia Tech.
Ms. Pedersen has been actively involved with Clairemont Elementary’s annual Decatur Holiday Marketplace, serving as event co-chair from 2004 to 2007. Before her children entered the City Schools of Decatur, Ms. Pedersen spent six years on the Board of Directors for The Phoenix School, a private, non-profit school for children ages 6 months to 4 years, serving as president for one year. She is an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany. Her two daughters, Matilda and Phoebe McNeely, attend City Schools of Decatur.
Tony Powers, co-owner and manager of Intown Ace Hardware, graduated from Decatur High School in 1983. He was battalion commander of the JROTC, played varsity football from 1980 to 1982 and was a member of the high school newspaper staff. He holds a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Georgia and is a member of the Zeta Iota Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
He and his wife, Leisa, have two daughters: Diondra, who attends Decatur High School, and Alexandra, who attends Renfroe Middle School.
Marty Sadler has served as the Vice-President for Business and Finance at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur for seven years. He is a member of the CFO Council of the Association of Theological Schools and serves as a member of the Winnona Park Elementary School school council. He and his family attend Decatur Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Sadler received a BS degree in chemistry from Virginia Military Institute. His wife, Linda Rutherfor-Sadler, is an employee of the City Schools of Decatur. They have two children: Caralee is a student at Decatur High School, and Brittany attends Renfroe Middle School.
Reverend Doctor James Todd Speed has been the pastor of Decatur Presbyterian Church since 2007. He received both his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur. Dr. Speed also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration from Rhodes College.
Dr. Speed is an avid reader and committed sportsman. He enjoys running, biking, and playing soccer. He is married to Melanie Doxey Speed, who teaches Spanish to the fourth and fifth graders at Decatur's Glennwood Academy. He and his wife have four active sons in the City Schools of Decatur: Hall, 17; John and Mac, 15; and Luke, 11.
Mr. Eric Willis, owner of Sônz Fitness Decatur, has been a Decatur resident for 3 years. He is an active member of the Decatur Rotary Club, the DeKalb Medical Center Fundraising Committee and World Changers Church in College Park.
Mr. Willis is a graduate of Georgia State University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science as well as in managerial science. In his spare time, he enjoys working out; playing with his dog, Dutchess; watching movies; spending time with his family; and attending church.
Robert E. Wilson (Bob), an attorney for 33 years, served as chief public defender for DeKalb County from 1978 to 1980, was district attorney for the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit from 1980 to 1992 and was vice-chair and presiding officer for the State Board of Public Safety from 1991 to 1992.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the Atlanta Lawyers Club, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the DeKalb Bar Association, the Decatur Rotary Club and Decatur Presbyterian Church. He is currently serving as chair of the Dekalb Medical Center Foundation Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the DeKalb Regional Health System, the Georgia Center for Children Inc., the DeKalb Rape Crisis Center and Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council.
He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and holds a law degree from Emory University School of Law. He and his wife, Lynda, have two sons, Matthew and Alex, and a daughter, Sarah, who have all attended the City Schools of Decatur.
Valarie Wilson is the Executive Director of the Beltline Partnership. Ms. Wilson is currently serving on the City Schools of Decatur Board of Education as chairperson. She is also involved with the Georgia Gerontology Society, the National Association of Counties and the National Workforce Association, and is an Elder at Oakhurst Presbyterian.
Valarie earned a BA in communications at Clark College and an MPA from Troy State University. She has lived in the Decatur area for 15 years. Her husband, Carter Wilson, is the athletic director for the City Schools of Decatur. Their son, Nicholas Carter Wilson, currently attends Decatur High School.
