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.

I first came in contact with DCPA in 1989 at a meeting with Mr. Richard Leitgeb, Artistic Director and founder.  Because of my extensive media experience, I was commissioned by the school system to produce a documentary that captured performances and artistic events. That program was created to help recruit arts students.

My work with DCPA provided opportunities for students to appear in educational programs and PSAs. Even before I was on staff, I attended DCPA programs and events with my family. 

In 1997 I was hired to create and develop a media program for DCPA.  For 19 years, I fostered students interested in media, expanded the program and integrated media throughout the arts at DSA.

Since retirement, I have continued my involvement with DSA through substitute teaching and supporting the arts events. The DSA Foundation provides the perfect opportunity for me to continue to support DSA.  It gives me great joy to be working with and meeting new students, faculty and friends of the arts.

Sue Briss has been involved with DeKalb School of the Arts since her daughter entered the school in 2006 as an eighth grade student. Sue was active in the PTSA, serving as president for two years. She is a musician in her own right, having majored in Music Education at The College of Wooster in Wooster, OH.

Following a career of teaching elementary music, Sue stayed home to raise her two daughters, volunteering for various school and extracurricular activities in which her kids were involved, including Atlanta Young Singers. 

In 2011 Sue began a new career, attending culinary school, then having a brief but very satisfying career as a caterer. She loves to cook and bake. 

Sue and her husband Peter Briss have been married for nearly 40 years. They are the happy parents of Erin Swinney, son-in-law John Swinney, and DSA alum of the class of 2011, Laura Briss, who now teaches music at Oak Grove Elementary School. Sue and Peter are also head over heels in love with their granddaughter, Sadie Swinney.

 Jeff is the former director of choral activities the DeKalb School of the Arts in Atlanta, GA, a position that he held from 2003 until retirement in 2020. He is a graduate of Auburn University receiving the Bachelor's 1986, Master’s 2006, and the Education Specialist degree in 2008. 

Jeff currently serves on the Executive Board for the DeKalb School of the Arts Foundation as treasurer, Pianos for Education Foundation and the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Chapter of American Guild of Organists. He served the Georgia Music Educators Association as Vice-President for Evaluations from 2019-2021. He previously served Georgia Music Educators Association as State Choral Chair, State Choral Chair-Elect, District 4 as the choral chair. He previously taught chorus at Druid Hills High School and Stephenson High School in DeKalb County and prior to moving to Atlanta, Funderburk taught for 14 years in Macon, Georgia where he taught at Central High School, Miller Middle School, Weaver Middle School and Porter Elementary School in the Bibb County School System. 

He is currently the Organist/Music Director at Columbia Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia and a substitute teacher for DeKalb County Schools.

Mr. Funderburk taught HighLeit, ProArte’ and Concert Choir at DSA. 

Mr. Funderburk’s choirs performed hundreds of community performances for the past 33 years of his teaching career. 

He is an active member of Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, American Guild of Organists, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and the Atlanta Alumni chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.