REACH GA Scholarship Program (part of Complete College Georgia Initiative) is a needs-based mentorship and scholarship program designed to encourage and support students, starting in middle school, and position themselves for success in college. Students are provided with the academic, social, and financial support needed to graduate from high school, access college, achieve post-secondary success, and be prepared for the 21st Century workforce.
David McDonough, President Modern Image Atlanta, Education Chair, Marietta Business Association
Helping organize Silent Auction and other fundraisers to raise fund for 2015 REACH scholarships. Owns Modern Image Atlanta, a Local document and photograph scanning business.
Dr. Dayton Hibbs, Associate Superintendent Marietta City Schools
Dr. Dayton Hibbs brings classroom experience as an elementary grades teacher in Florida, eight years direct administrative experience at the elementary, middle and high school level, as well as expertise in the areas of start-up charter school administration, educational technology, and curriculum development. He joined Marietta City Schools in 2005 as an assistant principal at Marietta High School. In 2006, Hibbs became Principal of Marietta Center for Advanced Academics (MCAA). After two years at MCAA, he was named Principal at Marietta Sixth Grade Academy (MSGA) where he successfully served for 3 years. He then served for one year as Assistant Superintendent for Operations, Technology, and Assessment before being named Associate Superintendent in 2012.
A graduate from Seton Hall University, Hibbs earned a Doctorate in Education at that institution. He also holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology from Nova Southeastern University, and he completed a certificate program in Educational Leadership and Supervision with an Emphasis in Curriculum Development at Florida Atlantic University where he initially earned his Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education.
Brad Bryant, VP REACH GA Scholarship Program
Brad Bryant served on the DeKalb County, Georgia Board of Education for 12 years, including 7 years as Chairman. Brad was appointed by Governor Sonny Perdue to the Georgia Board of Education in 2003 and served in that role until his 2010 appointment by Governor Perdue to fill the unexpired term of State School Superintendent Kathy Cox. Brad continued his service with the Georgia Department of Education as General Counsel and Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. Brad currently is Vice President for REACH, Georgia Student Finance Authority. Brad has expertise in school governance and leadership. He is a Past President of Georgia School Boards Association and the National Association of State Boards of Education. A graduate of Presbyterian College, University of Georgia, and Mercer Law School, Brad clerked for Judge Wilbur D. Owens, U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. He currently is a member of Georgia’s Education Reform Commission and serves as chair of Metro Atlanta’s Ready by 21 Leadership Council, organized the United Way of Greater Atlanta (UWGA) to provide an aligned and seamless educational and youth development support system for UWGA’s 700,000 students. He is a member of the Decatur Rotary Club.
Sara Neely, Business Development Consultant, REACH GA Scholarship Program
Sara Neeley has had a 30 year career in building business/school partnerships. She grew the DeKalb School System’s Partners in Education to over 700 active partners before starting the DeKalb County Public Schools Foundation and becoming their Executive Director.
Additionally, Sara spent 2 years as the Executive Director of the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools in Bloomington, Indiana. Her foundation work involved facilitating capital campaigns, board development and endowment management.
For the past two years, she has worked as the Business Development consultant for the REACH GA Scholarship program.
Prior to her work with school system, she had 10 successful years as a national sales representative. She holds a B.S from Indiana University.
