Effective April 1, 2015, RaShaun Holliman is promoted from Director of Outreach to Vice President of Outreach and Communications. And Nina Rubin is promoted to Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives.
In his newly expanded role, RaShaun will expand his outreach activities to include strategic leadership of our communications efforts which are integrally connected to outreach.
For the past three years, RaShaun has served GCSA tirelessly travelling the state of Georgia advocating for and educating the general public about “autonomous” charter schools. He has constantly identified interested individuals and groups who are interested in developing high- quality charters for their communities for training and assistance by the Association in their efforts. He also provides leadership to grassroots advocacy efforts by parents, teachers, and school leaders.
“RaShaun is very often the first face and first voice a community group in Georgia hears when they attend a public meeting GCSA hosts around the State to promote charter schools,” said Tony Roberts, President and CEO of GCSA. “That first experience is always a welcoming smile and helpful, encouraging information from a trusted source about charter schools when RaShaun presents.”
Prior to moving to Atlanta, at age twenty-six RaShaun became Principal of Focus Learning Academy East in Columbus, Ohio, a dropout prevention charter high school. Focus saw tremendous success in enrollment growth, increased graduates, community involvement, and academic success while under his leadership. He was also a Parent Liaison for the Columbus City Schools, where he endeavored to get parents more involved in the school and their child’s academics. Prior to joining the founding staff at Focus Learning Academy East, he was a content editor for McGraw-Hill, concentrating on writing and developing innovative textbooks and materials for elementary students across the country.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, RaShaun received his B.A. in Political Science from Wright State University and Masters in Educational Leadership from Capella University.
RaShaun is a 2014 New Leaders Council Alumni where he currently serves on the executive committee co-chairing the mentorship program. After serving as vice-chair for the previous year, he now serves as chair of Neighborhood Planning Unit-K in southwest Atlanta.
Nina Rubin Promoted to Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives
As the Director of Special Projects and Strategic Initiatives, Nina Rubin will build upon her seven years experience in fundraising and communications at GCSA to amplify our strategic efforts in board governance, communications, school services, and special projects which will help spur growth of GCSA effectiveness and self-sustainability.
“Nina is a multi-talented member of our team who has helped us deepen our organizational effectiveness and raised public awareness about charter schools,” said Tony Roberts, President and CEO of GCSA. “She has planted good seeds leading to community and financial support, helped us identify and recruit some of our most effective board members, launched the Georgia Parents Advocacy Network, and created the popular annual event Charter Schools Rock, to name a few.”
Nina will continue to be a vital part of the communications efforts for GCSA. In fact, one of the first special initiatives will involve what we are calling “A Day in the Life of Your School.” Nina will embark upon the mission of visiting every charter school in the state and developing a newsworthy profile for each of them, complete with photos, recorded interviews and even some video. The goal will be to enhance each charter school’s own communication and marketing efforts, while helping the Association to better advocate for the needs of our member schools. We also want to better promote our schools to the public who often uses GCSA as the first point of contact in trying to learn about available charter schools in Georgia.
Prior to serving at GCSA, Nina was Associate Director of Marketing at Jewish Family & Career Services, a nonsectarian, community-based social services agency, and was Media Relations Manager at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Before moving to Atlanta, Nina spent more than a decade on the creative side of the New York ad agency world creating print, TV, and radio advertising for such well known brands as Hefty, Pedigree Foods, Good Seasons, Bufferin, Bolla Wines, and Colgate. Her feature has been published in the New York Times and The Forward.
Nina earned a Bachelors degree in Urban Studies at SUNY Purchase and has done graduate work in Fundraising and Development.
