About EdQuest Georgia

What Is EdQuest Georgia?

EdQuest Georgia is a statewide initiative that champions comprehensive education and workforce strategies as vehicles for improving individual and community well-being.

The initiative includes two guiding documents. The Framework provides a roadmap for how to reach the North Star by 2033. The State Policy Plan identifies immediate action steps that state and community leaders should prioritize over the next two years to build momentum.

Charting Education Reform

The Georgia Partnership and EdQuest Coalition members share a common vision for success: all Georgians can achieve success given the appropriate supports. Since education is key to a better future, state and community leaders should pursue evidence-based solutions that help Georgians move from one milestone to the next.

EdQuest Georgia aims to inform, engage, and mobilize stakeholders – particularly in the education, business, philanthropic, and policymaking communities – to implement innovative strategies that help the state reach the North Star.

EdQuest Coalition Members

Coalition members support the EdQuest Georgia initiative through state-level advocacy, technical assistance, and direct program support. Through these efforts, members help state and community leaders execute evidence-based practices.

Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI)

Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education

Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)

Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE)

Georgia Association of Curriculum and Instructional Supervisors (GACIS)

Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL)

Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA)

Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI)

GeorgiaCAN

Foundation for Excellence in Education

Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce

Georgia Economic Developers Association

Governor's Office of Student Achievement

Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

State of Georgia Division of Family and Children’s Services

University System of Georgia

Southern Education Foundation

Truancy Intervention Project of Georgia

Boys and Girls Club of Georgia

Georgia Department of Public Health

Communities in Schools- Georgia

Urban League of Greater Atlanta

Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education

Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network

Quality Care for Children

Kennesaw State University's Bagwell College of Education

Georgia Chief Science Officers

100 Black Men of America

Georgia PTA

Georgia Association of Educators

Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals

Georgia Association of Middle School Principals

Georgia Association of School Personnel Administrators

Georgia Council on Economic Education

Georgia School Superintendents Association

Technical College System of Georgia

Atlanta Science Festival

OneGoal Metro Atlanta

Resilient Georgia

Founding Advisory Committee

Our Founding Advisory Committee consisted of leaders from a wide spectrum of areas connected to public school students.

Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim
CEO, Future Foundation

Stephanie Blank
Board Chair/Strategic Advisor, GEEARS/Naserian Foundation

Chris Clark
President and CEO, Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Shan Cooper
Chief Supply Chain and Technology Officer, WestRock

Dr. Stan DeJarnett
Director, The Georgia Vision Project for Public Education

Dr. Tjuan Dogan
Manager of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs, IBM

Dasha Radder
Managing Director, KPMG LLP

Renae Willis
Vice President of Business Development and Marketing,
LaGrange – Troup County Chamber of Commerce

Founding Steering Committee

Our Founding Steering Committee consisted of leaders from the business, advocacy, and philanthropic communities who shaped the initial direction of the project.

Brian Anderson
First Vice Chair, Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Dr. Leah Austin
Vice President of Programs, Southern Education Foundation

Chris Baumann
Executive Director, Georgia Association of Educators

Kristen Bernhard
Deputy Commissioner for System Reform, Department of Early Care and Learning

Mindy Binderman
Executive Director, Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)

Bobby Cagle
Director, Division of Family and Children’s Services

Anna Chafin
Chair, Georgia Economic Developers Association

Margaret Ciccarelli
Director of Legislative Affairs, Professional Association of Georgia Educators

Karen Hallacy
President-Elect, GaPTA

Duaine Hathaway
Executive Director, Georgia CASA

Kelly Henson
Executive Secretary, Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Matt Jones
Chief of Staff, Department of Education

Dr. Charles B. Knapp
President Emeritus, University of Georgia; Chairman, Education Reform Commission

Dr. Bob Michael
Associate Vice Chancellor, Educator Preparation and Policy, University System of Georgia

Dr. J. Patrick O’Neal
Commissioner, Department of Public Health

Jessica Pinson Pennington
Executive Director, Truancy Intervention Project Georgia, Inc.

Dr. Jennifer Rippner
Coordinator, Georgia Alliance of Education Agency Heads

Dr. Tony Roberts
President and CEO, Georgia Charter Schools Association

Zane Shelfer
Director of Student Support Services, Department of Juvenile Justice

Dr. Jimmy Stokes
Executive Director, Georgia Association of Education Leaders

Tisha Tallman
President and CEO, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Martha Ann Todd
Executive Director, Governor’s Office for Student Achievement

Arianne Weldon
Director, Get Georgia Reading Campaign

Pat Willis
Retired Executive Director, Voices for Georgia’s Children

Valarie Wilson
Executive Director, Georgia School Boards Association

John Zauner
Executive Director, Georgia School Superintendents Association