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Jamilia Smith Board Chair jsmith@brightenacademy.com Jamilia Smith is a wife, mother to three beautiful daughters, and a dedicated advocate for education and leadership development. Jamilia brings a wealth of experience and passion to our school community. Holding a Master of Public Administration in Human Resource and Nonprofit Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations, she is an accomplished leader, consultant, and coach. As a professional Business Consultant and Leadership Development Coach, Jamilia manages a diverse portfolio of businesses generating $150M-$200M annually across the United States. With over 15 years of higher education and corporate leadership experience, she has excelled in Career Services, Human Resources, Talent Strategy and Development, and Recruitment. Her strategic leadership has driven positive outcomes in gainful employment for college graduates, resulting in accreditation maintenance and renewal, increased funding, and a decrease in student loan debt for graduates in creative arts fields. A sought-after motivational speaker with over a decade of expertise in governance, public policy, and parliamentary procedure, Jamilia also serves as a Douglas County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador and a member of the county’s strategic planning team. She is a 2024 graduate of Leadership Douglas and continues to pursue higher education in Executive and Strategic Leadership as a lifelong learner. Passionate about fostering environments where students, staff, and parents thrive, she is dedicated to advancing student achievement and academic success. When not working, Jamilia cherishes traveling with her amazing husband and daughters.
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Cary Claiborne Board Member cclaiborne@brigthenacademy.com Cary Claiborne is Chief Program Officer for College Advising Corps where he is responsible for overseeing the portfolio of partnerships university and funding partners, including traditional in-school advising, hybrid and virtual advising, and advising performed by artificial intelligence. Cary has led strategic student success initiatives for over a decade. He brings experience developing, implementing, and scaling student success programs at two- and four-year collegiate levels. At Georgia State University, he served various roles, from serving students as an academic advisor to leading the university’s first-year strategy for over 8,000 students. Most recently, Cary served as Director of Diagnostic and Implementation Services at the National Institute for Student Success, where he partnered with institutions nationwide to improve student success outcomes. Cary’s storied path through Georgia State University and his passion for the work of student success is well documented in “Won’t Lose This Dream: How an Upstart Urban University Rewrote the Rules of a Broken System” by Andrew Gumbel. Cary is pursuing his Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies from Georgia State University, where he earned an MBA in Business Analysis and a BS in Economics. When he’s not enthralled with Student Success, Cary collects vinyl records and retro technology or travels with his wife, Danielle, and two children.
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Coriya Burns Falker Board Member
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Kristen Moses Board Secretary kmoses@brightenacademy.com Kristen Moses holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a focus on Journalism and Interpersonal Communications. As a published journalist, she has contributed to various media outlets and has a diverse professional background spanning both public and private sectors. With over 10 years of experience as a Communications Specialist, Kristen has worked with Fortune 500 companies and numerous private organizations. In addition to her professional achievements, Kristen served on the Brighten Academy PTO board as Membership Chair, where she played a key role in organizing school events and fundraising initiatives. She is deeply passionate about community outreach, children’s education, and empowering local communities.
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Matthew Vitale Board Member mvitale@brightenacademy.com Matt Vitale is a Senior Instructor and Captain for Delta Air Lines. In that role he is responsible for the training and certification of new pilots, as well as the development and mentoring of instructors. Mr Vitale is also has responsibilities as a project lead and Flight Training Liaison. Matt and his family have been residents of Douglas County since 2006, and members of the Brighten Family since 2020. His son is a Brighten alumni now thriving at Aleaxander High School and his daughter is still a student at Brighten.
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Shauncey Battle Board Member sbattle-williams@brightenacademy.com Shauncey Battle is the proud mother of an amazing little girl, who inspires her daily and reinforces her belief in the power of education to open doors and transform lives. She is honored to contribute her time and expertise to helping Brighten Academy continue its tradition of academic excellence and character development. Shauncey is a dedicated advocate for education, equity, and community engagement, bringing a passion for student success to her role on the Board. With a strong background in public service and leadership, Shauncey is committed to fostering an environment where all Brighten community has the resources, opportunities, and support needed to thrive. In her professional capacity, Shauncey serves as the Compliance Director for the City of Atlanta Department of Transportation, where she oversees accessibility initiatives, policy compliance, and infrastructure improvements that promote inclusivity. Her work is grounded in collaboration, problem-solving, and a deep respect for diverse perspectives, which are also the skills she brings to the Board in service of Brighten’s mission.