LaShonda Tankersley’s favorite quote is, Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Ghandi. The change she wants to see in the world is more love and peace. Therefore, she consciously works on Presence and Awareness to exemplify the peace and love she desires to see in the world. Her educational background is: Educational Leadership degree (ED.S); Cambridge University, Master of Business Administration; Brenau University, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education; Paine College. She started her teaching career in 1998 at Lamar Elementary School teaching 5th grade for five years. She taught fourth and fifth grade, and K-3 Augmented for 10 years at Glenn Hills Elementary. She is presently an Itinerant ESOL teacher in Richmond County. She has done extended studies to enhance her interest in Self-Improvement. She is a Mediation teacher and a Neurolinguistic Practitioner. Mrs. Tankersley feels honored and privileged to have the opportunity to work with the youth.

Mrs. Beth Gore

Beth Gore grew up in Augusta and returned after university. Moving with her ex-husband to various military postings, the family always returned to Augusta. Her four children (now adults) attended school here and the family home carries evidence of their childhood filled with music and art lessons, as well as many dramas and musical theatre performances.

Mrs. Gore has worked for many years in marketing and advertising for nonprofits. In recent years she has turned her skills to grant writing and grant management.

Mr. Tyrone J Butler

Arts and Life Skills School. Butler is a native of Augusta, Georgia, and noticed a void in the art offering for the area youth. Because of this void, he founded Augusta Mini Theatre which became Augusta’s first community art school to focus on multi-art disciplines, under one roof. Since 1975, Mr. Butler has ensured that the artistic needs of the underserved students (grades 1-12) are met. Mr. Butler offered free classes at AMT for the first 5 years and continues to allow students to take classes even if they are unable to pay. Over the years, thousands have benefited from AMTs programs and services.

Mr. Butler has 2 published plays that are being produced by other youth art groups and schools around the U.S. and continues writing plays that target teens and youth dealing with such universal life skill issues as the importance of education, consequences of alcohol and drug use, moving beyond the negative environment, making positive choices, anger management, self-esteem building, etc. Mr. Butler sees the importance of merging the arts and life skills to experience the creative self-expression that is inherent in the arts to become a more complete person. In honor of his mother, Mr. Butler began a college book scholarship providing enrolled Augusta Mini Theatre students with a 4-year college book scholarship.

A few of Mr. Butler’s Honors & Awards: The Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts 1984; Greater Augusta Arts Council Artist Award in 1993; Citizen of the Year Award 2015, “Stuff that Legends are made of” Award 2016. NAACP Humanity Award 2018, Champion for children Award 2018.

Mrs. Hettie Copeland

• Civic Relations*
• Retired Educator of Augusta-Richmond Board of Education
  Augusta GA

Ms. Kena Arnold

• Parent Body Chairperson*
• Clinical Counselor at Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at Augusta University
  Augusta, GA

Mrs. Paulette Mims Curry

• Corporate / Business Chairperson*
• Retired Government Worker and Owner of a Tutoring Service
  Augusta, GA

Mr. Ed Lowery

• Building & Maintenance / Property Chairperson
• Caterer, Janitorial and Funeral Attendant
  Augusta, GA

Commissioner Dennis Williams

• Political Action Chairperson
• Commissioner of Augusta-Richmond County District Two
  Augusta, GA

Mrs. DaWana McCoy-Dukes

• Sunshine’s Butterfly McQueen Conversation With… (Sunshine’s Roast & Toast / Alumni & Friends Chefs Showcase) Chairperson
• Vice President/Branch Manager of Truist Bank
  Augusta, GA