Brookhaven Innovation Academy Panel
BIA Film Screening of "Most Likely to Succeed" & Panel Presentation:
Click here to learn more about the film!
Panel Moderator for BIA:
Dr. Gregory C. Ellison II, Ph.D. is a product of the Atlanta Public School System and a proud alumnus of Frederick Douglass High School. On May 10, 1999, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University, where he was inducted into the Emory College Hall of Fame - the first black male bestowed with that honor. Gregory continued his educational journey at Princeton Theological Seminary as a Presidential Scholar where he received his Master of Divinity degree and Ph.D. in Pastoral Theology. Ten years after graduating, he returned to emory to join the faculty of Candler School of Theology as an assistant professor of pastoral care and counseling. In his second year of teaching at Candler, Gregory was awarded Faculty Person of the Year (2010-2011). He is the author of Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men, and an ordained Baptist minister who has served on the ministerial staffs at both Methodist and Presbyterian churches. Gregory is the executive director of Fearless Dialogues and is supported by a dedicated team of experts committed to seeing and hearing those perceived to be invisible and voiceless.
About Our Panelists:
Mike Davis is an alumnus of The Broad Residency in Urban Education. He is currently the President and Co-founder of Great Teachers’ Academy, a network of teacher-led schools. Most recently, Mr. Davis was Vice President of Business Partnerships for ZippSlip. Previously, Mr. Davis served as Executive Director of Talent Management for Fulton County Schools (FCS). He also served as Chief of Staff for FCS. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Davis held various leadership positions with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), including special assistant to the superintendent, where he provided counsel on education policy and national education reform initiatives. Prior to that role, he managed the design and implementation of a performance management data system and the development of the district’s accountability system. Before joining CMS, Mr. Davis was a recruitment director with Teach For America. Mr. Davis began his professional career with SmithKline Beecham as a pharmaceutical consultant. He is a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Morehouse College. He is married with two sons and a daughter.
Edward H. Lindsey, Jr. is a Board member of the Brookhaven Innovation Academy and a partner in the law firm of Goodman McGuffey Lindsey & Johnson, LLP. Edward was a member of the Georgia General Assembly from 2005 to 2014 where his work included serving as the House Majority Whip and as a member of the House Education and House Education Appropriations Committees. Among other legislation, he was a co-sponsor of the 2012 constitutional amendment and accompanying legislation that created the Georgia State Charter School Commission. Edward and his family live in the Historic Brookhaven neighborhood.
Bates Mattison, Executive Director of BIA and on the Brookhaven City Council, was raised in Atlanta and has lived in the Brookhaven for the last 17 years. He was elected to Brookhaven’s first city council, District 3, representing Historic Brookhaven, Brookhaven Fields (including the Brookhaven MARTA & Dresden Dr. Overlay area), Brookhaven Heights, and Lenox Park. Bates Mattison has worked in the healthcare field for the past twenty years, most recently serving as Executive Director of the Institute for Healthcare Information Technology (IHIT). Previously he was a founding partner of Cosmetic & Laser Specialists as well as managing and consulting with healthcare practices throughout Georgia. Bates holds a Master of Business Administration degree in International Business from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business at Georgia State, in addition to double majors in Business and German from the College of Charleston. He currently serves as on the City of Brookhaven Development Authority, and the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Education Subcommittee.
Michael Robertson is the Executive Director of TAG Education Collaborative. Michael Robertson joined TAG Ed in November 2010 and serves as Executive Director. In this role, he works with TAG Member companies to support and promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs to today's students, the workforce of tomorrow. Prior to joining TAG as a full-time staff member, Michael helped build bridges between businesses and education in a variety of volunteer roles. While serving as chairman of the Advisory Board of the GIFT (Georgia Industrial Fellowship for Teachers) Program at Georgia Institute of Technology, which offers summer fellowships to Georgia teachers, he was instrumental in expanding placements to over 100 teachers throughout Georgia. He has also served as a member of the Peachtree Executive Advisory Board for FIRST, which aspires to make science, math, engineering, and technology as cool for kids as sports are today. Michael has also been very active in a variety of volunteer roles with TAG including being a founding member & President of TAG Human Resources Society, as well as, serving on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.