Ayana Clarke

Director of Training

Ayana Clarke joined the GCSA team as a program specialist before becoming Director of Training. She has seen, first hand, how charter schools can positively impact the trajectory of a child’s educational journey and enhance the growth of a community. Ayana entered the charter school arena in 2005 as Founding Dean of Students in a New York City charter school. She has since served as Dean of Students in various schools and most recently at KIPP STRIVE Academy in southwest Atlanta. Ayana has seen how effective professional development, intentional instructional planning and a focus on building strong relationships with students and families can bolster student achievement. To date, her greatest professional joy has been seeing two students from her founding class graduate from college and return to Achievement First to start their teaching careers!

Ayana is eager to work with new and novice teachers through GaTAPP to impact teacher development and ultimately help to build great schools. Ayana graduated from York University with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor’s of Education in Primary Junior Education. She also holds a Master’s of Educational Leadership with a concentration in Urban Teacher Leadership from Georgia State University. 

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