George A. Barnes is the owner of George A. Barnes Realty and a product of Duval County Public Schools.  He graduated from New Stanton Senior High School, attended Edward Waters College where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and attended the Florida Real Estate Institute where he became a licensed real estate agent.

Mr. Barnes has acquired several designations within the real estate industry such as Property Management Certification, Certified Real Estate Brokerage, Graduate of the Realtor Institute and Accreditation Buyer Representative.  He has also served as a mediator ombudsman with the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.

Mr. Barnes is married to Deloris Chapman Barnes.  They have four children, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Allison grew up in the Duval County Public School system, where she graduated from Sandalwood High School. She then received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida in civil engineering. She has worked both in the private and public sector as a project engineer and currently works as a program manager with security and construction projects.

She and her husband love to volunteer and seek to be an integral part of their three children’s education journey in Duval County Public Schools.

Joe Carlucci is a Jacksonville native who attended public schools all the way through his bachelor’s degree from UNF. Joe is the co-owner of Brightway Insurance – The Carlucci Agency, which he and his brother have grown to become the largest Brightway agency in Jacksonville. Joe loves to travel with his wife Victoria, and now with his two boys, Joseph III, and Jackson.

Lynette Clinch is a wife, mother, and grandmother of three beautiful girls.  She is a retired Corrections Sergeant with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after 32 years of service.

Lynette graduated from Florida Community College of Jacksonville with an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. She has a strong belief that education is the key and having the necessary tools is of fundamental importance. She has served as a certified court mediator, on several boards, and loves reading and traveling.

Nate Day is vice president of H. Smith, Inc., a local single-family residential development company that builds neighborhoods throughout Northeast Florida.  Nate is actively involved in the community, serving as the 2020 president of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, commissioner and 2012-2013 chair of the Jacksonville Planning Commission, and board member of Northwest Jacksonville Young Life. 

Nate is a graduate of Duke University with degrees in both electrical engineering and biomedical engineering.

Mr. Dennis is a native of Mobile, Alabama and a graduate of Florida A&M University where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.  He also received a Certification in Educational Leadership from the University of North Florida. He recently retired after a 37-year career with Duval County Public Schools, where he served as an elementary school principal, middle school principal, and in 2003, principal of Jean Ribault Senior High School. Under his leadership, Ribault was removed from the “F” schools list. 

In 2008 Mr. Dennis was appointed as region superintendent for Duval County middle schools.  That title was expanded in 2011 when he served as region superintendent for Region 2 (31 schools: 23 elementary, 5 middle, and 3 senior high schools).  Mr. Dennis has worked with development of novice principals as well as assistant principals and aspiring assistant principals in leadership development. 

Mr. Dennis and his wife, Kimberly, are the parents of a son, Mylz, and are involved in numerous community initiatives.  Both are active members of The Bethel Church in Jacksonville, Florida. 

Rachel Duff currently serves as the Data & Research Manager for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. With her skills in research and data analysis, she seeks to uplift local education issues in order to promote transformational change in Duval County.

Prior to this position, Rachel served as a Policy Fellow with the DC State Board of Education, where she was responsible for advancing the goals set by the nine elected State Board members. Previously, Rachel worked in Duval County Public Schools first as a 6^th-8^th grade ESL Teacher and later as a school-based Reading Interventionist. She began her career at The Sulzbacher Center where she served as the Children’s Program Assistant. She was recognized as one of the top five finalists for Duval County Teacher of the Year in 2019, and she has presented at the 2018 Northeast Florida TESOL Consortium as well as the 2019 WJCT Teach Conference.

Rachel holds a master’s degree in Educational Transformation from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of North Florida.

Brian Evans is the senior commercial banker for North Florida and Jacksonville city president for Fifth Third Bank.  As city president, he is responsible for the strategic growth, community support, brand reputation, and business development for the Jacksonville market.  Further, as senior banker, he leads the bank’s commercial banking line of business across the Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville markets. Brian has spent the last 29 years in financial services and banking, the past 6 leading Fifth Third in the Jacksonville market. 

Brian received his BS in finance from the University of South Florida and MBA from the University of Florida. He currently serves on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Northeast Florida.

Diana Galavis is a Broker-Associate with Watson Realty Corp and a longtime resident of Duval County. She has served on various committees supporting community growth, affordable housing and economic development. Diana serves as a Director of the Local, State and National Association of REALTORS and is the 2021 Treasurer for the Northeast Florida Association of REALTORS.

Delmas ‘Dedee’ Harper is the Broker/Owner of Harper & Associates Real Estate, LLC, a leading Real Estate Brokerage, and Harper School of Real Estate in Duval County.  She leads her team in representing buyers and sellers on a day-to-day basis and facilitating Real Estate Education. She is a graduate of Jacksonville University with a master’s degree in educational leadership.

In addition, she is the founder of POISE, Inc., a nonprofit organization that professionally develops women into productive, career-oriented citizens through training in financial literacy, etiquette, life skills, study skills and job readiness, and transitional housing.  POISE, Inc. is Dedee’s heartbeat and soul purpose, and her reason for creation. Nothing is closer to her heart than helping individuals reach their potential.

Dedee works on the philosophy of giving back to the community in her role as a leader. She holds several designations and board positions with active participation in many committees. Dedee is very active as a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority, a Mayoral appointment position on Renew Arlington, the CRA Advisory Board, the Citizens Planning Advisory Committee, a member for the Arlington-Beach Area, and a Board of Director for Northeast Florida Real Estate Association and President for Jacksonville Women Owned Small Business.

David Hathaway is a lifelong Neptune Beach resident.  He graduated from Fletcher in 1997 and then the University of Virginia in 2001 with a degree in finance.  Presently, Mr. Hathaway runs an asset management trading firm in Atlantic Beach, FL. 

He married his Fletcher High School sweetheart, Katie Hathaway, and they have two wonderful sons together.

Michael J Hawk is the Chairperson of Duval County Public Schools’ District Advisory Council.

Driven by passion for the community, Michael pastors a local church and holds a degree in divinity.

Michael has decades of experience in sales and works as an insurance agent. He’s a husband, father and grandfather.

Alberta Hipps is a native of Jacksonville, having graduated from Paxon High School, and obtaining a bachelor’s in nursing from the University of North Florida and an MBA from Jacksonville University.

After a career in healthcare, she was elected to serve as a City Councilwoman representing the Southwest area of Duval County from 1995-2003. Since 2004 she has been President of Hipps Group Inc., a consulting firm.

She and her husband Frank live on a farm in the Westside of Jacksonville and have two grown children and one granddaughter.

Maurice Martinez is a Jacksonville, FL native, Bolles School and the University of Florida graduate.  He has over 15 years of experience in contracts, real estate, construction, and dispute resolution. He is also a licensed real estate broker, and has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a mediator. 

As a "Jacksonvillian," Mr. Martinez is committed to this community.  He gives back through investments of his time, talents, and treasures.  He is a husband, father, and son.  In his free time, Mr. Martinez enjoys exercising, reading, and relaxing with family and friends. 

Kelly Pourciau is the Chief Operating Officer for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. As part of her role, she oversees Human Resources, governance and strategy, facilities management and events.

She is a mom to two students in Duval County Public Schools, as well as a preschooler and a baby due in June 2021.

In her capacity, as Chief of Staff and Special Assistant to the President & CEO for Strategic Initiatives at Edward Waters College, Dr. Pamela Richardson Wilks is charged with providing innovative stratagems and vision by driving intersectionality between key stakeholders to impact growth and effective communication through internal and external relationship and consensus building.

An accomplished educator, scholar, and administrator in higher education for almost two decades, Dr. Wilks most recently held posts as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Vice President for Academic Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Shaw University and Wilberforce University, respectively.  She has also served as Associate Provost for Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment at Wilberforce University; Director of Institutional Assessment, Research and Planning at Bennett College; and Director of the Sit Lux Scholars Research Initiative at Johnson C. Smith University.

As an academician, she held academic rank as Associate Professor of English at Shaw University, and served as a faculty member in the rank of Assistant Professor of Languages and Literature at Johnson C. Smith University, English Faculty at both Livingstone College and North Carolina A&T State University, and African American Studies Program Faculty and Administrator at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Prior to her role in higher education, she taught ninth through twelfth grade English at Western Guilford High School in Greensboro, NC.

Dr. Wilks holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical (A&T) State University in Professional English and English, African American Literature, respectively.  Further, she earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Literary Theory and Criticism from Indiana - University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA. She is married to Christopher Wilks, Sr., and is mother to Anthony, a senior at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Christopher and Joshua – who both proudly attend Duval County Public Schools.  She is also an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated.

Hank graduated from the University of North Florida, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  He went on to further his education at Troy University, attaining his Master’s in Public Administration.  

He worked for the Florida House of Representatives for nearly 10 years; he resigned his position to focus more on volunteering and mentoring.  He currently works with the I'm A S.T.A.R. Foundation, Inc., in addition he is a Guardian Ad Litem fighting for kids in the foster care system that have no voice, all while serving on various boards and committees, including the Jacksonville Branch N.A.A.C.P. 

Authentic, driven, and invested would describe Monique Tookes; a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication has over 16 years of experience as a Parent and Education Advocate in Duval County Public Schools (DCPS).

An alumnus of the 2nd Parents Who Lead cohort and a DCPS Parent Leader, she participated in the development of the DCPS Parent Academy, the Single Gender Leadership Academies at Eugene J. Butler, and the Fort Caroline Visual Performing Arts middle school.

With an investment of 8 children in the DCPS system, she is a visionary leader with a proven track record who serves in leadership on various DCPS advisory councils, a board member of the Public School Facilities Planning Joint Planning Committee, Director of Family Empowerment at the Potter’s House International Ministries and a 27-year member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Monique Tookes brings tenacity, fiscal responsibility, and dedication expected when serving families for the betterment of the community and educational system.

John Wesley White, Ph.D.

John is a lifelong educator who began his teaching career as a high school English teacher in Denver, Colorado. He earned his undergraduate degree at Wake Forest University, his masters degree at Southern Methodist University, and his PhD (and postdoc) at the University of Colorado at Boulder. John is now a Professor of Education at the University of North Florida where he helps prepare future English teachers and reading teachers. He is the Director of the Seven Bridges Writing Project (a National Writing Project Site) at UNF and also serves as president of the Faculty Association (the faculty governing body) and as the faculty representative on the UNF Board of Trustees and the Foundation Board. He and his wife have a nine-year-old son in 4th grade in DCPS.