About Us

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’.

Ashley Thai is a self-taught culinarian from the south. During the last 5 years, Ashley developed a loyal audience within the home cooking space. Sharing her recipes has evolved from a passive bi-weekly recipe newsletter for close friends has grown to delivering food and recipe content across several digital platforms, including AshleyThai.com and the corresponding YouTube Channel.With a degree in film and having previously worked in the television industry, Ashley has over 10+ years of experience with content creation, filming, and editing. Her passion for visual storytelling also spills over into my love for fashion. Through AshleyThai.com, she has found a way to bring all her passions together artfully and genuinely.

 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.