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
Where It All Began
Where It All Began
There is an urgent case to be made that we must intervene in young people’s lives and provide them with innovative educational experiences that prepare them for real-world challenges they may face after high school. As a native of Cobb County, I’ve seen families in our community embark on entrepreneurship, experiencing both success and struggles, even my own.
Entrepreneurship requires creative thinking, critical thinking, effort, and discipline—skills and values that are often overlooked in traditional schools. If families had the understanding of entrepreneurship from a younger age, they can achieve incredible success. That’s why The Simple Vue Academy (SVA) was born.
The Simple Vue Academy is a 6th-12th charter school, with a mission to provide students with a STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Arts, and Mathematics)-based education, emphasizing entrepreneurship and financial literacy. This innovative educational approach aims to create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship by equipping scholars with the skills, knowledge and support needed to thrive in their chosen communities.
The Simple Vue Academy is committed not only to providing a STREAM-based education and emphasizing entrepreneurship and financial literacy, but also to increasing economic mobility for the Metro Atlanta community. Because we recognize the challenges economically disadvantaged students in the region face, our mission is to address these disparities and create a sustainable pathway to entrepreneurship, college, career and beyond.
To ensure that SVA’s efforts align with the needs and aspirations of the community, our team has actively engaged in extensive community outreach over the past year. We have organized focus groups, community events and surveys involving over 800 stakeholders, to gain insights and feedback.
This inclusive approach ensures that community voice is heard and considered in shaping the academy’s programs and initiatives. We’ve learned that the next generation needs the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive in an evolving region. SVA recognizes entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic mobility, particularly for disadvantaged groups. We aim to bridge this gap by providing an entrepreneurial education that imparts real-world skills.
At the core of SVA’s educational approach are three values: Voice, Ubuntu and Empowerment. By placing student voice and choice at the center of our classrooms, the academy empowers students to become self-directed learners, exploring their passions and contributing their ideas and opinions to the decision-making processes and curriculum development.
Adopting a two-generational approach, SVA focuses on the whole family to create a legacy of educational success and economic prosperity that transcends generations. We welcome all families to the school community, celebrating their diverse cultures, seeking their input on the curriculum and valuing their perspectives in collaboration with board members, school leaders and teachers.
Empowerment is another fundamental value we uphold. Students are encouraged to develop a strong sense of self-confidence, allowing them to explore and choose their own paths while making informed decisions. By offering exploration and choice, the academy supports students in solving problems, meeting needs and creating meaningful impact through their ideas, products, and services.
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!
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
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Dr. Bre Peeler is an accomplished educator specializing in educational leadership, curriculum development, and instructional coaching. She earned her doctorate in School Improvement from the University of West Georgia (2015), following degrees from Georgia State University (M.S., 2003) and Spelman College (B.A., 2000).
As MTSS Coordinator in Cobb County School District, she provided targeted reading and mathematics instruction while sharing progress data with educators. Her career demonstrates consistent dedication to creating inclusive learning environments and supporting teacher development.
Dr. Peeler's commitment to professional growth and evidence-based practices has established her as a respected figure focused on advancing student success through strategic leadership.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
