Six New Members join Atlanta Board of Education, English Voted Chairman

As the members walked in, the crowd cheered.

The first order of business was to swear in the new board.

But before the ceremony, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Kimberly Edmond Adams delivered a mandate.

“The theme that you have endorsed, bold leadership, student driven community focus requires you to put the students first. The citizens of the city of Atlanta, who elected you, expect you to put the students first.  And your conscious and duty should compel you to put the students first.”

Next with their right hands raised and facing Fulton County Senior Judge Melvin K. Westmoreland, the members, including the judge’s son Matt, took their oath.

Soon afterwards, while positioned in their new seats, it was time to select a new board chairperson.

At-large district seven representative Courtney English was nominated without any opposition.

Serving for APS Superintendent Erroll Davis, who was absent, associate superintendent Steve Smith conducted the vote.

With gavel in hand, the new board chair addressed his fellow members.

“I thank you for your willingness to support my leadership, but also please know this is not about me. We stand united as a board in unanimity.”

District four representative Member Nancy Meister was elected vice chair.

English and Meister are the only leftovers from a dark chapter involving the APS board.

That’s a time filled with the unfolding of the cheating scandal, public sparing, suing each other in court and an ethics investigation that could have kicked English off the board.

He told WABE, those days are gone.

“We’re ready to move forward and we are united with one common purpose and that’s the education of the 47-thousand kids in which we serve.”

In addition to Meister and English, Byron Amos returns.

And the newest members are Cynthia Briscoe Brown, Eshé Collins, Leslie Grant, Jason Esteves, Steven Lee and Matt Westmoreland.

The board members will serve four-year terms.

·         Leslie Grant, District 1

·         Byron D. Amos (incumbent), District 2

·         Matt Westmoreland, District 3

·         Nancy M. Meister (incumbent), District 4

·         Steven Lee, District 5

·         Eshé P. Collins, District 6

·         Courtney D. English (incumbent), At-Large Seat 7, Districts 1 and 2

·         Cynthia Briscoe Brown, At-Large Seat 8, Districts 3 and 4

·         Jason F. Esteves, At-Large Seat 9, Districts 5 and 6