Advisory Board
Sandra Deal, Atlanta – Chair – Sandra Deal has centered her life around matters involving family and children in her roles as mother, grandmother, teacher, and volunteer in her church. Mrs. Deal, like her husband, was born to parents who both chose teaching as a profession. Graduating from what is now Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Mrs. Deal followed in the footsteps of her parents and became a teacher.
Mrs. Deal often says, "As a teacher, I didn't just teach to one child. I taught every student in the class" and that is Sandra Deal's approach to her platform as First Lady, "With a Servant's Heart". Volunteerism, community involvement and outreach are the foundation of "With a Servant's Heart". "When we reach out to become involved in helping mold a new beginning for another person, we bring hope for that individual and we in turn receive joy. My goal is that every Georgian, no matter the background or circumstance, finds a way to serve others. I believe that a person's actions speak louder than their words. When someone gives freely of their time and their resources, they are truly living life "With a Servant's Heart."
Mrs. Deal was born in Gainesville, Ga. As a student at what was then called Georgia State College for Women, a friend set her up on a blind date with a college student from nearby Mercer University, the future Governor Nathan Deal. The Deals have been married for 45 years and have four grown children and six grandchildren and are members of First Baptist Church in Gainesville.
Andrew "Andy" B. Barclay, Atlanta – Barclay and his wife, Michelle, are founders of the Barton Clinic, a partnership program with Emory University School of Law that strives to encourage students from all fields to pursue public-interest careers. He also co-founded Fostering Court Improvement, a non-profit that works with juvenile courts to measure and improve outcomes for children and families. He also works as a full-time volunteer technical consultant to many of Georgia's non-profit and governmental agencies. Barclay earned a bachelor's degree from Tulane University, master's degrees from Stanford University and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and is pursuing a doctoral degree from Emory University. The Barclays have one child.
John C. Bowden, Forsyth, Youth Representative – Bowden is currently an administrative assistant for ERA Connie R. Ham Middle Georgia Realty. He was a SAT Scholar Student, the founder and past president of Interact and served as projects chairman of Future Teachers of America at Mary Persons High School. Bowden was a member of the National Beta Club and was named in Who's Who Among American High School Students. He was a member of the board of directors for the Monroe County Relay for Life and served on the Georgia Department of Education's Student Advisory Council. Bowden is an honor graduate of Mary Persons High School and will attend the University of Georgia in the fall.
Gaylyn L. Cole, Forsyth – Cole is a resource teacher in the Great Leaps Program at Stratford Academy in Macon. She has 16 years of educational experience in public and private schools. She is a member of the Forsyth Woman's Club and a 2005 graduate of Leadership Georgia. Cole earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a master's degree from Georgia Southwestern University. She and her husband, Jim, have two children.
Kenneth "Ken" M. Dobbs, D.Min., Greenville – Dobbs currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries, Inc. He previously served as assistant executive director of the Georgia Baptist Foundation and has been a pastor of several churches. Dobbs is past president of the Southern Baptist Child Care Executives of the Southern Baptist Convention and is the former chairman of the Endowment Committee for the Georgia Baptist Convention. He is the 2001 recipient of Mercer University's Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Dobbs earned a bachelor's degree from Mercer University, a master's degree from New Orleans Baptist Seminary and a doctoral degree from McCormick Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Linda, have three children and five grandchildren.
Rachel M. Ewald – Ewald is the founder and executive director of Foster Care Support Foundation. She served on the advisory board for one of First Lady Mary Perdue's Embrace Committees and created the event Prom-A-Palooza as well as the North Georgia Coalition for foster care support. She and her husband, Mark, have four children and six grandchildren and have taken in and cared for over 50 foster children in the last 20 years.
Michelle R. Girtman, Hazlehurst – Girtman is the executive director of The Haven Battered Women's Shelter, Inc. and the Magnolia House Shelter for Abused Persons. She is the chairperson for the Department of Human Services Domestic Violence Advisory Board and is a member of the Georgia Commission on Family Violence. She also serves on the FEMA board for Lowndes County. She and her husband, John, have four children and are custodial parents to three children.
Brittany D. Jean, Atlanta, Youth Representative – Jean is a student at Georgia State University where she is pursuing a master's degree. She previously worked as an account executive for the Georgia TeenWork Program in the Department of Human Resources' Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). She has interned with the Comprehensive Child and Family Assessment Program (DFCS) as well, and in the office of Congressman John Lewis. She is a youth advocate with Georgia EmpowerMEnt Group and is the founder and past president of Uplifted Hands. Jean earned a bachelor's degree from Georgia State University. She is married to Moise Jean.
Mika Kawana, Atlanta – Kawana is the finance director for the Georgia Republican Party. She is a former member of the finance committee of the UGA Alumni Association Board of Directors. Kawana previously served as regional director for the Georgia Republican Party in Fulton and DeKalb counties during the 2006 election. She also worked in the Finance Department for the Georgia Inaugural 2007. Kawana earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia.
Shaquita S. Ogletree, Clarkston, Youth Representative – Ogletree is an after-school counselor with the City of Decatur Children and Youth Services. She is active with Georgia EmpowerMEnt. She is also an AmeriCorps Alum and a Foster Care of America Alum. Ogletree earned a bachelor's degree from Howard University.
Linda H. Parker, Woodstock – Parker serves as coordinator for the Coverdell Leadership Institute and is vice president of the Cherokee County Advocacy Council. She is the former vice president of C-Med/Dove, Inc. and is active in Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, Must Ministries, and the American Red Cross. Parker earned a bachelor's degree from Doane College and attended the Victory Bible Institute in Oklahoma. She and her husband, Kenneth, have three children and six grandchildren.
J. Eugene Gene Pope – Pope is the Sheriff of Butts County. He is a member of the Georgia Sheriffs' Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the American Polygraph Association. He is also active with the Butts County Rotary Club and the Jackson High School Booster Club. Pope earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Patricia, have three children and two grandchildren.
Daniel "Dan" J. Provence, Bainbridge – Provence is the community chair for the Decatur County Family Connection Collaborative and volunteers as executive director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of Southwest Georgia, a non-profit organization that trains and manages court appointed volunteers who advocate for abused or neglected children in court. He is also the chief executive officer and broker of United Country-Provence Realty. Provence is the former president of the Kiwanis Club of Bainbridge and served as lieutenant governor for Division Five of the Georgia District of Kiwanis. He also served on the Judicial Citizens Review Panel and has received the Kiwanian of the Year award and the YMCA Volunteer of the Year award. Provence earned his degree from Bainbridge College. He and his wife, Bonnie, have two children.
Kathryn "Kathy" M. Schrader, Duluth – Schrader is an attorney with her own practice, Kathryn M. Schrader, P.C. and is co-founder of a mediation and arbitration firm, Resolution Matters. She is also associate judge for the Municipalities of Duluth and Sugar Hill. She serves on the board of directors for the Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett County, and specializes in matters concerning children and youth at risk. She is the past president of the Gwinnett County Bar Association, served on the First Lady's Our Children Campaign, and is a former member and chairman of the School Site Committee for the American Heart Association of Gwinnett. Schrader earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Mercer University. She and her husband, Richard, have three children.
Michele H. Smith, Pine Mountain – Smith is a former teacher and parental involvement coordinator at Park Elementary School in Hamilton, Georgia. She has served her field in a number of different capacities over her 20-year career in addition to serving her community, most recently as a member of the Board of Governors for the Chattahoochee Valley Art Museum. Smith has also been involved with the Chamber of Commerce and Child Abuse Council in Harris County. In 2007 she was appointed to U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson's Education Advisory School Board. Smith and her husband, Vance, have three children.
Steven C. Teske, Jonesboro – Teske is a judge of the Juvenile Court of Clayton County, where he has served since 1999. He served as chief of the Atlanta parole district and deputy director of field services for the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. He was a trial attorney and partner in the law firm of Boswell & Teske, where he also served as special assistant attorney general. He is president of the Georgia Council of Juvenile Court Judges, the Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity, and the Southlake Kiwanis. He serves on the Department of Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice, and serves on the board of trustees of the Good Shepherd Clinic. Teske earned an associate's degree from Clayton State College and University and a bachelor's, master's and law degree from Georgia State University. He and his wife, Sheryl, have five children.
W. Duane Whitley, Baxley – Whitley is president and owner of Independent Office Services, Inc. He serves on the board of trustees for the Baxley Wilderness Institute and is an executive board member of its parent company, the Associated Marine Institute. He is also a member of the Workforce Investment Board of Claxton and is former chairman of the Appling County Board of Commissioners. Whitley earned an associate's degree from South Georgia College. He is married to Margaret Whitley.
Board Expense Forms:
Travel Expense Form Hotel-Motel Tax Exemption Form