Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of St. Laurence Education is composed of the following eight individuals:

Rev. Edith Woodling              Chair

Currently serving as Principal of Saint Martin's Episcopal Middle School, where she is also Chaplin.  Her prior experience includes:

            Head of School, Christ Church, for four years

Master's of Education in English Literature

Ordained as Deacon in October of 1995

Lead Perry Home Housing Project, for teenage mothers

Taught in College or High School Environment for 34 years

Faith Turner                           Secretary

Faith received an Associate of Arts degree from Colorado Woman's College in 1948 and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Indianapolis in 1952.  She taught until 1968 when she was accepted into the Educational Psychology Program at the University of Georgia, where she received her Master's Degree in 1970. Her major professor was Dr. E. Paul Torrance, a nationally recognized figure in Creativity and Giftedness.  In 1973, she received an Education Specialist Degree in School Psychology and began work as a School Psychologist in Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia. She retired in 1988 but continued to work as a consultant and psychological evaluator in various school systems throughout north Georgia. She was President of the Georgia Association of School Psychologists in 1982-84 and was a National Delegate to the National Association of School Psychologists during those same years.

Betty Larson

Betty taught school for 30 years before retiring in 2003.  For all but four of those years she taught at economically disadvantaged schools.  This resulted in her teaching many at-risk students.  She has also been involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts and has worked at both Church Camps and Scout Camps.  She has taught Sunday School and has tutored both through the school systems for which she worked and through her Church.  Betty has been involved with Saint Laurence since its inception.

Gail Snipes, Ph.D.

Gail has been an educator for 27 years.  Her experience has been at the college level, middle school level, and elementary level.  The majority of this experience is at the middle school level in grades 4-6.  She has also served as principal in a k-4 school and as an assistant principal in a 7-8 grade middle school.  Her degrees, doctorate; specialist, and bachelor,  are from Mississippi State University and her masters degree is from Mississippi University for Women.  The doctorate and specialist are in the area of educational administration.  The undergraduate degree and my masters are in K-8 education.

Gail has been involved with Saint Laurence the past two years serving as principal in gathering curriculum information and writing grants and help with fund raising.  She has also been a tutor at the Paulding Boys and Girls Club.  We expect Gail to return to the role of Principal prior to the schools official opening.

Brain Acker

Brian completed his BA degree (majoring in both Psychology and Economics) at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1988.  Subsequently, he was employed for a total of four years at Inner Harbour Hospitals and Ridgeview Institute in counseling and social work positions. He then returned to graduate school at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and completed (1995) his MA degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with an emphasis in Human Resources Management.

Brain has been employed in the Human Resources field for the last ten years, including positions with the Georgia Department of Labor, Corporate Business Solutions, and currently as Human Resources Director for the Paulding County Board of Commissioners (since August 1999). His Human Resources work experience has allowed him to build a broad generalist background in the areas of employee relations, recruiting and selection, performance management, benefits administration, policy development, and job evaluation and compensation. He is a member of both the national Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the SHRM Atlanta Chapter. He has held the certification of Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 1999.

Brian and his family have been active members at St. Julian's Episcopal Church in Douglasville since 1995.  He has served the congregation in the following capacities: Lay Reader, Eucharistic Minister, Vestry Member (1999-2002), and Rector Nominating Committee (2002-2003).

Rose Whittingham

Rose graduated Summa Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Albany in 1981 where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.  She Taught at the University of Pittsburgh while working on her Doctorate in Anthropology.  As a 'Stay at Home' mom, she volunteered in many community and school organizations.  While living in Schenectady, New York, she was an owner of a retail hand-craft business.  She is now an active participant in the Saint Laurence Education tutoring program at the Boys and Girls Club, and is involved in many programs at St. Teresa's Episcopal Church including Vacation Bible School, Children's Choir and Drama Camp.

Gregory J. Matechak

Greg has a diverse education background which includes:

Atlanta Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program, 2004

Medical College of Georgia, School of Medicine, M.D. 2001

Kennesaw State Univ. Pre Medicine Courses

University of Illinois, MS Aero & Astronautical Eng, June 1992

Auburn Univ. Bachelors of Aerospace Engineering, August 1987

His employment experience includes:

West Georgia Family Medicine, Dallas Office, Physician, September 2004 to Present.  Board Certified in Family Medicine until 2011. Neonatal Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Basic and Advanced Life Support certificates were earned during residency and at Tanner.

            Atlanta Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program, Morrow GA, July 2001 to June 2004.  Rotations in Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, NICU, GI and Family Practice

            Medical College of Georgia, Augusta GA, August 1997 to May 1999, School of Medicine Class of 2001

            Lockheed-Martin Aeronautical Systems Division, Marietta GA, January 1992 to August 1997.  Sr. Design Engineer with responsibilities to design of the F-22 fighter aircraft.  He was a team leader for various special projects and studies

Boeing Aircraft, St. Louis MO, October 1987 to December 1991. Greg designed and developed advanced aircraft technologies for new and existing aircraft on special projects.  He helped with design and developed and instructed classes on the F/A-18 design. 

            Lockheed-Martin Aeronautical Systems Division, Marietta GA, September 1983 to June 1986.  Cooperative Education Student with various engineering assignments.

Greg has also been involved with numerous research projects and been the recipient of many awards, may be the most important being Dad of the Year from his Kids for 11 straight years.

Reverend Thomas James

Rev. James is very involved in the community.  His employment includes:
1959-1976 US Army Honorable Discharge
1976-2005 Self employed at James' Church Supply Store, Cartersville, Georgia.
1980-2005 Pastor, presently serving at the Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church , Acworth, Georgia.
PAST AND PRESENT POSITIONS
Completed an unfinished term on the City Council of Kingston, Georgia
Served as President of the Seventh District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia
Presently serving as President Emeritus and recently elected as the treasure of the Seventh District.
Served as President of the Bartow County Branch NAACP, later elected District Coordinator.
Served as member of Juvenile Foster Panel Review Board
Served as a member of Health Systems Agency Board for North Georgia Area.
Presently serving as Vice President Congress of Christian Education for Friendship Association.
Presently serving as a board member of General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Inc.

Reverend James brings the voice we need to ensure we are working together as a team to find the right solutions for the families we will help.

Advisory Board


The Right Rev. J.Neil Alexander,
Episcopal Bishop of Atlanta

The Honorable Sandra W. Miller, Juvenile Court Judge-Paulding County

Mr. Bill Mooney,
Business Leader

Ms. Patricia Harris,
President/CEO of Cobb Microenterprises

Mr. Kirk Duncan,
Head of School, Holy Innocents' Episcopal School

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