Founding Committee

Driven by Passion. Powered by Community.

The members of the founding committee are passionate educators, community champions, and big thinkers united by the goal of creating a school of the future where every student thrives. With a mix of experience that spans all levels and areas of education, the committee is focused on launching a school that sparks curiosity, celebrates innovation, and sets students up for lifelong success.

Meet Our Committee

Officers

• 
  Catayah Clark, Chair
  Catayah Clark serves as the founding committee chair and brings to The Committee twenty-one years of experience as a South Carolina educator. Catayah’s two decades of experience have been equally divided between brick-and-mortar and virtual settings. She has dedicated the past ten years to virtual school and program leadership, growth, and transformation, having served as the… Read more: Catayah Clark, Chair
• 
  Deirdre Edwards, Secretary
  Deirdre Edwards has over 16 years of experience in online teaching, curriculum development, instructional design and technical systems management. Deirdre served as the founding Curriculum Team Leader at VirtualSC, South Carolina’s supplemental virtual program. In her 8 years in that role, she led a team of over 20 design and curriculum professionals to create, maintain… Read more: Deirdre Edwards, Secretary
• 
  Dr. Edward Johnson, Treasurer
  Dr. Edward Johnson is a 22-year veteran South Carolina educator. Dr. Johnson has extensive experience in school counseling and school administration. He has served as a school social worker, an assistant principal, a school and district-level director of counseling, a director of student services for a virtual charter school, and an education associate at the South… Read more: Dr. Edward Johnson, Treasurer

Members

• 
  Dr. Mallika Stubbs, Member
  Dr. Mallika Stubbs is a veteran educator and Transformation Coach with more than twenty years of experience in education. Dr. Stubbs has distinguished herself as a trusted advisor, development coach, and facilitator. Throughout her career, she has successfully guided numerous educational institutions in navigating complex challenges, fostering growth, and enhancing overall effectiveness. Dr. Stubbs is an… Read more: Dr. Mallika Stubbs, Member
• 
  Michele Klein, Member
  Michele Klein is an award-winning educator, certified Project Management Professional (PMP®), Google Certified Trainer, and education leader with a master’s degree in administration and supervision. She brings 12 years of experience in K–12 education, including nearly a decade in virtual learning environments, specializing in educator effectiveness, assessment, and accountability.  Michele has supported initiatives to strengthen… Read more: Michele Klein, Member
• 
  Dr. Henry Tran, Member
  Dr. Henry Tran currently serves as Associate Professor of Education Leadership and Policies in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina (USC). He has also served as the Co-Director of the Center for Innovation in Higher Education and the Director of the Talent Centered Education Leadership Initiative. Dr. Tran has taught numerous classes… Read more: Dr. Henry Tran, Member
• 
  Doris Chaplin, Member
  Doris Chaplin is a former nursing professor for Midlands Technical College (MTC). During her time at MTC, she developed the first associate degree nursing (ADN) program designed to prepare students for more advanced educational pursuits in nursing, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees. In designing the program, Doris collaborated across multiple institutions in South Carolina to… Read more: Doris Chaplin, Member