Creating a Sustainable Pathway to Entrepreneurship
The Simple Vue Academy’s Vision for Empowering Students in Northwest Metro Atlanta
Cobb, Paulding, Douglas, and Fulton Counties
With our innovative educational model, SVA addresses the specific needs of the Metro Atlanta community. By actively seeking input and emphasizing collaboration, we tailor our design to students’ requirements. Through STREAM education, entrepreneurship, and real-world skills, we’re preparing students to create their own futures and make a positive difference. With support from the community and other stakeholders, we’re increasing economic mobility and creating a brighter future for all.
The Simple Vue Academy’s mission is to create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship by providing scholars grade 6-12 with a STREAM based education, guidance on business and financial management and a village of support!
Our Founder
Nandi Edouard, a dedicated educator and community leader, has deep roots in Cobb County, Georgia, where she was born, raised, and has returned to make a difference. A graduate of Spelman College with a bachelor's in psychology, Nandi's passion for education led her to teach at YES Prep Public Schools in Houston, TX. There, her tireless efforts helped boost ELA state test scores from 39% to 61% in just 7 months, while collaborating with colleagues to improve school culture. Seeking further growth, Nandi moved to Brooklyn, NY, earning a master's from Columbia University. She then served as Dean of Students and Director of School Culture at Windsor Terrace Middle School, overseeing discipline, social-emotional support, and parent engagement. Beyond her educational roles, Nandi is a committed community organizer, co-chairing an education committee and sharing her expertise as a master's level instructor at Columbia University's Teachers College, focusing on school design and creation.
Meet The Board of Trustees
-
Cedric Thorbes is an educator, public speaker, and award-winning author from Cleveland. A Morehouse College honors graduate in African American Studies, he holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University.
Currently an Academy Leader in Atlanta, Cedric previously directed School Culture and Career Technical Education at a Newark charter school, where he developed entrepreneurship programs and secured corporate partnerships.
His memoir "Outspoken" chronicles his resilience journey, while his national speaking engagements inspire inner-city youth to pursue education and self-determination. Cedric advocates for culturally responsive education with social-emotional components, living by his mantra: "To have what average people don't have; I must do what average people won't do."
-
Clarke Henderson, CAPM, is an innovative business professional with a demonstrated history of supporting cross-functional teams through technical, organizational, and process improvements across multiple industries. Her career history includes senior roles at PCI Government Services and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. Key achievements include pioneering standardized project management practices, designing targeted capacity-building programs, and restructuring internal operational frameworks to boost efficiency.
She has excelled at executing transformational initiatives, which can be attributed to utilizing data-driven decision-making while maintaining accountability with project stakeholders and compliance with company policy and quality assurance guidelines.
Clarke holds a BA in Business Management from Agnes Scott College and professional certifications, including CAPM and CUA. Her core competencies span business process development, program management, agile methodologies, research, strategy development, and change management.
-
Ajuah Helton (she/her/hers) is a partner in Bellwether Education Partners’ Strategic Advising practice. Before joining Bellwether, Ajuah worked for five years with the KIPP Foundation, the national office of KIPP Public Schools, as Vice President of KIPP Forward, KIPP’s high school counseling, postsecondary Match and career preparation program. Prior to KIPP, Ajuah served as Chief Program Officer of iMentor, the national mentoring-for-college-success organization, and BUILD, the national entrepreneurship-for-college-success program. She also worked with Teach For America – Metro Atlanta as Vice President of External Affairs, leading fundraising, district and community partnerships, marketing and communications and data and impact strategy and The Enterprise Center, Pennsylvania’s Minority Business Development Center, as chief of staff. Ajuah has also been an independent consultant for the last ten years, specializing in theory of change and theory of action work, board development, and program evaluation. Ajuah is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and English education, and University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master’s degree in Teaching, Learning and Leadership.
-
Monica Wills Brown, Ph. D. is a transformational leader committed to building culturally responsive educational opportunities that empower educational stakeholders and cultivate a growth mindset for social justice advocacy. For the past twenty years, she has dedicated her efforts to creating, designing, researching, implementing, and evaluating innovative school curriculum, leadership, and operations. Her approach merges research-based methodologies with common sense pedagogical practices. She has served as an Executive Director for a charter school, coordinator of Federal Programs, and as a governing school board member. She has created policies and academic trajectories for schools while advising school boards. She also conducts research and collects data on varied educational facets to improve accountability initiatives. Dr. Brown has published articles and a book chapter in the areas of school finance, state level budgeting systems, and culturally responsive leadership practices and preparations. She holds professional certifications in Superintendency and School Administration and received her Doctor of Philosophy from Clemson University in Educational Leadership. She believes educational leaders should be compassionate, competent, visionary, strategic, thorough, and adaptable to evolving educational trends.
-
William Ray Brown, DBA, DHA, MSBME, PMP, CPHQ, LSSMBB, FACHE, is a distinguished healthcare administrator who has a proven track record of driving substantial organizational success through visionary change management and strategic initiatives focused on enhancing quality, process improvement, and patient safety. His expertise is revitalizing underperforming areas and uncovering new growth opportunities across multiple prestigious institutions, including Glenwood Resource Center, UnityPoint Health, Grady Health, and the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University. Dr. Brown holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business and Healthcare Administration from Northcentral University and Oklahoma State University. He also has a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Iowa State University and a Bachelor of Arts in General Science from Grand View University. As a lifelong learner, Dr. Brown is passionate about the transformative power of education and is dedicated to guiding individuals toward fulfilling and successful careers.
-
Anthony I. Giles is a strategic and purpose-driven leader with over a decade of experience in organizational planning, financial stewardship, and team development. He serves as a Senior Principal Team Leader at Chick-fil-A Inc., successfully leading high-performing teams and managing budgets exceeding $90 million with precision and accountability. Anthony's leadership is rooted in five core values: Humility, Empathy, Encouragement, Execution, and Discipline. These principles have empowered him to guide organizations through critical transitions and facilitate strategic growth. His expertise includes budget management, strategic planning, and organizational restructuring. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Anthony is deeply committed to community service. He actively supports youth through his involvement with Bloom Our Youth and is a dedicated door holder at Passion City Church. He is passionate about creating opportunities for young people through entrepreneurship, STREAM-based education, and holistic development to help them thrive in their community and beyond.
-
Lovette Curry has nearly two decades of experience in HR and Operations across government, nonprofit, and educational sectors. With a passion for empowering teams and a talent for establishing strong foundations, Lovette has devoted her career to assisting businesses ranging from startups to organizations moving to the next level. Combining her legal expertise with practical knowledge, Lovette is adept at crafting impactful organizational strategies that keep people at the center. She has overseen Operations, Human Resources, and People & Culture departments in diverse fields such as politics, education reform, nonprofits, and government. Whether formulating policies, refining procedures, or providing executive coaching, Lovette understands the essential elements that drive organizational success from the ground up. Lovette has a B.B.A. from Howard University in Washington, DC, and is a licensed member of the CA State Bar holding a Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law in Los Angeles, CA. She also holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership from the Broad Residency Program. Lovette is active in her community as a member of several social action organizations and serving various nonprofits. Lovette is married to Graham Curry and has two children, Alexander and Samuel.
-
Erika Estrada Olufade is an accomplished finance and accounting leader with over 15 years of progressive experience. She specializes in helping high-growth companies scale their finance functions. Erika has served as the Finance Lead at Slutty Vegan, a rapidly expanding QSR, CPG, and real estate company, where she established budgets, forecasts, and accounting processes to support multi-unit operations. Additionally, she held the Controller position at Rev.io, a $10M+ global SaaS firm, leading all accounting activities. Erika has also driven large projects at big consulting firms - she managed the design and delivery of accounting transformations at Accenture projected to generate $5.8M in savings. Her industry experience spans technology, consumer goods, food and beverage, and professional services. Beyond core accounting and FP&A, Erika has expertise in treasury management, financial systems, technical accounting, tax compliance, and financial modeling. She received her MBA in Finance from Emory University and holds an active CPA license in Georgia. With her strategic mindset and hands-on execution capabilities, Erika has proven success in guiding companies through rapid growth phases.
Board Meetings at The Simple Vue Academy
The Simple Vue Academy’s Board of Trustees play a crucial role in guiding our school's mission to create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship for 6-12th graders. Our board:
Sets the school's strategic direction
Ensures financial stability and accountability
Oversees academic performance and innovation
Maintains compliance with our charter and state regulations
Board meetings are open to the public, fostering transparency and community engagement. Parents, students, and community members are encouraged to attend and participate in shaping the future of our unique, entrepreneurship-focused education.
Meeting schedules, agendas, and minutes are posted here regularly. Join us in empowering the next generation of ethical, collaborative, and resilient innovators!
Join Our Board
Are you passionate about education and eager to make a difference in our charter school community?
We're on the lookout for dedicated individuals to join our board and help shape the future of learning.
Your expertise can be the key to unlocking brighter opportunities for our students.
Get involved today!
Get in touch.
Have any questions about SVA?
Feel free to fill out our contact form and a member of our team will reach out to you within 48 business hours.
