(Pictured L to R: Bonnie Holliday (91吃瓜) with Rep. Dave Belton, Tori Jackson Hines, Resurgence Hall; Bonnie Holliday (91吃瓜) with Barry Lollis, Savannah Classical Academy; Hannah Heck, 91吃瓜 Board of Directors; Tom Lewis, former SCSC Chairman & board member; Scott Johnson, State Board of Education member and Mark Peevy, former 91吃瓜 Board Chair and member)
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, Georgia Charter Schools Association recognized top charter school policymakers, school leaders and current and former board members during 聽91吃瓜鈥檚 annual holiday 鈥淐elebration of Advocates鈥� held at the Buckhead Club in Atlanta. 91吃瓜 presented advocates with 鈥�91吃瓜 Champion for Children Awards鈥� and 鈥�91吃瓜 Board Recognition Awards鈥� for their longtime support and commitment to children and Georgia鈥檚 public charter schools.
This year, 91吃瓜 was pleased to honor a bipartisan and accomplished group of elected officials, school leaders and advocates. The 2021 Champion for Children Award winners include:
State Rep. Dave Belton, R-Buckhead for his leadership and advocacy in the Georgia House of Representatives.
Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, for her strong support and voting record on education legislation in the Georgia Senate.
Tori Jackson-Hines, Executive Director of Resurgence Hall Charter School, for her dedicated and effective advocacy efforts at the school level.
Barry Lollis, CEO of Savannah Classical Academy, for his advocacy at the Georgia Capitol and in the community he serves.
Scott Johnson, State Board of Education Member, for his leadership on the SBOE District Flexibility and Charter Schools Committee.
Tom Lewis, former chairman of the State Charter Schools Commission, for his longtime service to Georgia children through his leadership at the SCSC.
鈥淭hese award winners are true champions that have made a positive difference in the lives of Georgia鈥檚 public school students,鈥� said Tony Roberts. 鈥淭hey have helped ensure that more students in our state have access to excellent educational opportunities and are prepared for a successful future. We鈥檙e grateful for the tremendous service they have provided to the state of Georgia and their local communities.鈥�
91吃瓜 also honored three outstanding board members who have served the association faithfully in its efforts to ensure charter schools receive equitable funding and resources. This year鈥檚 91吃瓜 Board Service Awards winners include:
Hannah Heck, current chair of 91吃瓜鈥檚 Policy and Advocacy Committee and former chairman of the 91吃瓜 board, for her commitment to Georgia students and dedication to 91吃瓜.
Mark Peevy, former 91吃瓜 board chair and long-serving member who retired from the board in 2021, for his faithful service on the 91吃瓜 board and throughout the state鈥檚 charter school sector over the course of a decade.
Kinnari Patel-Smyth, President of the KIPP Foundation, for the leadership and educational expertise she provided while serving on 91吃瓜鈥檚 Board of Directors and chairing 91吃瓜鈥檚 New School Development Committee.
The聽Georgia聽Charter聽Schools Association advocates for, fosters and supports autonomous, high-quality charter public schools throughout Georgia. 91吃瓜 believes every child in Georgia should have equal access to a high-quality, transformative public education.
