ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH THE ARTS.

Florena in her current role serves as Vice President of Operations/ Chief of Staff for the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC).  In this position, Florena is responsible for the day to day operation of the council as well as the programs and activities designed to support the over nine hundred (900) ethnic minority business enterprises that are constituents and the more than one hundred and eighty (180) corporate members of GMSDC.   Florena’s passion for DSA began when her daughter ( Bria Price, class of 2010), started DSA in the 8thgrade.  Florena saw a place where she could serve and jumped right in.  That year she was recognized as volunteer of the year.  From 2006 to 2010, Florena served in several roles with DSA and the  PTSA. Parent Coordinator for the vocal department, PTSA committee chair, PTSA Vice President and PTSA President. After Bria’s graduation in 2010, Florena along with two other parents were the impetus for the DSA Foundation.

Eric Perry is a two time Emmy Award Winning journalist who joined the FOX 5 News team in August of 2020. He anchors FOX 5 News at 6, 10, and 11 on weekends.

Eric was born and raised in Atlanta and graduated from DeKalb School of the Arts. Eric went on to attend Hampton University and graduated in 2016 (Go Pirates!) with a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Theater Performance. Eric was able to participate in several internships in Washington, Baltimore and the Hampton Roads.

Eric started his television news career at WBBJ in Jackson, Tennessee where he was the Weekend Anchor.  After that he was Weekend Morning Anchor and Reporter at NBC12 in Richmond, Virginia. While in Richmond Eric covered a number of big stories including deadly tornadoes, the Governor’s blackface controversy and the Virginia Beach mass shooting.

Eric is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. and loves getting involved in the community. He’s the proud parent of his fur son ‘Harper’.

Raised in Stone Mountain, GA, Ashley is a proud alumna of DeKalb School of the Arts, where she graduated as Class President in 2007. During her time at DSA, she focused on vocal music and media production, laying the groundwork for a creative career that would take her from singing backup while in college to the worlds of film, costuming, and marketing. 

After graduating from Georgia State University with a degree in Film and Video, Ashley worked in production as a coordinator and costumer, a path that began at DSA when her technical theatre encouraged her lean into her fashion sketch hobby and become lead costumer for school productions. This experience helped her develop a passion for visual storytelling that would later shape her career. She transitioned into marketing, where she has spent the past eight years leading national and international campaigns for major brands like GAP and Carters/OshKosh.

More recently, Ashley has found joy in cooking and creating online content around recipes. Her self-produced cooking show, *Toast With Thai*, is a testament to the media production skills she first developed at DSA. Now, as secretary of the DSA Foundation Board, she considers it an honor to work alongside her former teachers, principals, and mentors to support the school that ignited her creative journey and ensure that future generations experience the same magic of the arts.

 A native of New Orleans and graduate of St. Augustine High School, I moved to Atlanta in 1987 to attend Morehouse College. After graduating, I chose to enter the field of Education in lieu of pursuing the field I received my degree, Business Management. I’ve been teaching in the public-school system for the past twenty-eight years. All my time was spent teaching in the DeKalb County School District, with the exception of one year teaching in the Atlanta Public Schools System. During my teaching tenure, I worked at all three levels of schools: elementary, middle, and high. In 1994, I began my career teaching Math and Science at Evansdale Elementary School for three years. I was selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year in 1997. 

During the following four years, I taught Math at Miller Grove Middle School in the Magnet for High Achievers’ Program. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I served as the department chairperson for the Magnet Department and was selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2001. 

I spent the following fourteen years at DeKalb School of the Arts where I taught most levels of high school Math. During this time, I sponsored several student organizations and served on an advisory board for the State School Superintendent for one year. I was selected as the school’s Teacher of the Year in 2008. During my final two and one-half years at the school, I served as the school’s Assistant Principal. Being the only Assistant Principal, I was responsible for Attendance, Discipline, Instruction, Testing, and Scheduling. 

Though I enjoyed the challenges associated with the position, I experienced the greatest joy working with the students as a classroom teacher. I decided to return to the classroom teaching Math at Charles R. Drew Charter School and then Druid Hills High School where I currently teach. I retired at the end of the 2020 school year and continued to teach part-time. 

In addition to serving on the DSAF board, I serve on three different ministries at my Church, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, serve on the board of a Financial Literacy non- profit, and serve as the treasurer for the Atlanta Chapter of my High School Alumni Association. 

I am especially excited to assist The Foundation with creating and expanding the alumni network. As a result of their experiences while attending DSA and DCPA, the graduates continue to excel in their respective fields. It is vital to provide a forum to celebrate these accomplishments and create a venue for the alumni to support the students currently attending DSA. 

 Born in Atlanta, Reginald Smith, Jr.  grew up a dedicated choral student from elementary school onward. His formative experiences as a music student inspired him to take a double major in Vocal Performance and Choral Music Education at the University of Kentucky, where he earned degrees in both. While he ultimately chose a performance career, he has channeled his love of teaching into numerous masterclasses, where he is known as a highly knowledgeable and engaging presenter. He returned to his alma mater during the 2017-2018 season for a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Lexington Singers and the University of Kentucky Chorale. He later returned to the University of Kentucky for a Masters in Vocal Performance, completing the degree in the Spring of 2021.

Pauline Marshall’s association with Dekalb School of the Arts (DSA), began when her daughter Danielle (DSA C/O ‘15), entered as an 8th grader after graduating from Dekalb Elementary School of the Arts (DESA C/O ‘10).

At DSA, Pauline sought to be engaged in other aspects of school life outside of the Parent-Teacher conferences and PTA Meetings. Pauline volunteered where needed and served as one of the Parent Leads for the Dance department.

As a Parent volunteer, Pauline served as a member of the Planning Committee for the Dekalb School of the Arts Foundation White Boa Ball - All Class Reunion in 2014 and the Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner in 2016.

Though Danielle has long graduated, Pauline still strives to support Dekalb School of the Arts (DSA).

Dr. Rodney Swanson is the son of Charles and Mary Swanson of Atlanta, GA. Rodney graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1985 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the University of Georgia in 1989. In 2001, Rodney earned a Master of

Science in Educational Leadership from Jacksonville State University and completed his educational journey by earning a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership from Mercer University in 2015. He is a retired  educator and worked for 30 years in the DeKalb County School District. In DeKalb he served

as a paraprofessional for one year, a Middle School social studies teacher for nine years, an Assistant Principal for eight years, a Principal for ten years, and a Regional Superintendent for two years. Dr. Swanson has had the opportunity to influence the lives of over 30,000 students and their families during his career as an educator. He enjoys family activities, reading, listening to music, and traveling.