Board of Trustees

Born and raised in Henry County, Mrs. Holly Cobb graduated from Henry County High School in 1988. She continued her education at the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management in 1992. After her graduation, Mrs. Cobb began her career with Norfolk Southern. She later chose to focus on her family and community, becoming a full-time mother and an active volunteer in her church and local organizations. Her commitment to education and community service led her to run for the Henry County Board of Education, where she served from January 2017-December 2024. During her tenure on the board, she was chosen by her colleagues to serve as Vice Chair for two years and Chair for two years. Mrs. Cobb follows in the footsteps of her father, who also served on the school board. She is passionate about our students and providing teachers with the resources they need and is proud of the hard work and dedication of the district's employees.

Mrs. Cobb has also been involved in many other organizations including the Georgia Education Coalition (GEC) where she served as Vice Chair for two years and Chair for two years, is a graduate of Leadership Henry, where she also served as a board member for three years, and Youth Leadership Henry, where she served as a board member for two years and is now serving as Chair. She is also a board member of the Henry County Chamber of Commerce and Kids Point Learning Center, which is a faith-based childcare center. Recently, she has begun using her expertise on the Henry County Board of Education to train other local boards of education through the Georgia School Boards Association. Serving on the Henry County Public Schools Foundation Board will allow her to combine her passion for public education with her desire for community service. Mrs. Cobb is looking forward to working alongside the other board members to make a difference in our school system.

Mrs. Marla Reddick is a resident of Henry County. She is the Director of Business Data Governance for the Coca-Cola Company, Financial Services Division, and serves as a member of the Henry County Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Magnolia (GA) Chapter of The Links Inc., and Women’s LINC. Mrs. Reddick has an exemplary record of service to the community. She was recognized by the Honorable Judge Stephen Knights for leadership to youth in Henry County and served as the Chair of the Capital Campaign for Creekside Christian Academy.

Mr. James Xavier Johnson is a dedicated professional whose background in and passion for marketing have established him as an industry leader. He earned a degree in theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also holds a doctorate in organizational psychology and leadership.

Mr. Johnson is dedicated to community service and fostering growth in others through roles including coach, mentor, and servant. He is an inaugural graduate of Henry County Schools' 2023-2024 Community Leadership Academy.

Mrs. Kimberly Redd is a dedicated advocate for community development and enhancing educational opportunities. She is an active member of the school council at Stockbridge High School, collaborating with educators and parents to foster a supportive learning environment.

As a proud parent of children Henry County Schools graduates, Mrs. Redd values quality education and community involvement. Her personal experiences drive her passion for ensuring all students have access to the resources they need to succeed.

Mrs. Redd has a master's degree in educational/instructional technology, which she looks forward to leveraging in supporting the Foundation’s mission. She also has a background in talent management.

Mrs. Debra O’Quinn holds a master’s degree in math education from Georgia Southern University and a leadership certificate from the University of Georgia, enhancing her expertise in educational administration. She is an active member of Glenn Haven Baptist Church.

Mrs. O’Quinn has a distinguished career in education, starting as a math teacher and an instructional specialist at Henry County High School. She retired from the district after serving as an instructional specialist and an assistant principal for at Ola High School, leaving a legacy of excellence in educational leadership.

Mrs. O’Quinn has a long history of service to the community, including serving alongside her husband at Bethany Baptist Church and actively supporting the church’s mission. She regularly prepares meals for the homeless and was a dedicated supporter of the former Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC).

She is the proud mother of her two children, both graduates of Henry County High School, and her daughter has followed in her footsteps and is now an educator in Henry County Schools

Mrs. Natasha Branch has an extensive background in sales and advertising. She has held leadership roles in various organizations, including Google, AOL, and Monster.com, and successfully managed advertising portfolios for Fortune 500 companies, demonstrating her ability to drive results and innovate in competitive markets. Building on her success in advertising, Mrs. Branch transitioned into real estate, establishing herself as a top performer and trusted expert.

Mrs. Branch is deeply committed to her community and seeks to leverage her skills and passion for service in enhancing educational opportunities for Henry County students. Her professional expertise and community engagement reflect her belief in the power of education and service. Natasha is a wife and proud mom of two HCS students. She is also a proud graduate of Henry County Schools’ Community Leadership Academy.

Mrs. Cindy Armistead Crawford experienced living abroad as a military child before returning home to Henry County. She attended Hampton Elementary School and Henry County Junior High School and graduated from Henry County High School in 1988. She continued her education at Mercer University and graduated in 1992 after pursuing double majors in political science and human services and development and a double minor in German and psychology.

Mrs. Crawford began her career as a counselor in a psychiatric hospital, a challenging job she credits with enhancing her understanding of people and life. She later chose to focus on her family and become a full-time mother of two who are now Ola High School honors graduates.

She currently owns Ruth Ruby’s Antiques & Vintage, turning her love of history, antiques, and preservation into a gratifying business. Her passion for human services inspired numerous volunteer efforts over the years, including leading a domestic violence support group.

Mr. Shashee Patel resides in Henry County and owns DonutNV, a mobile, interactive food truck franchise based in McDonough. He is a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist who supports community events that benefit children, families, and schools throughout the county.

Mrs. Alpa Panchal is a visionary leader dedicated to making a positive impact in her community. Her background and success as an entrepreneur provide a wealth of knowledge and skills favorable to her role on the Board of Trustees.  She is the president of Luxe Homes and has been the proprietor of several companies, including a Sky Zone franchise, a medical staffing agency, and a rehabilitation clinic.

Mrs. Panchal is a devoted Henry County resident with a strong history of community service and commitment to educational excellence and has actively participated in various initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for Henry County students.

Mrs. Sheryl Riggins brings a wealth of experience to her role on the Board of Trustees, including serving as a contract systems administrator, managing projects and analyzing contracts, and working 28 years with the Coca-Cola Company’s Legal Department.

Mrs. Riggins has a passion for service, whether supporting the growth of a global corporation or nurturing the next generation in our community. She currently serves as the executive assistant at Momentum Christian Church in McDonough and is an active volunteer in the Kids Ministry. Additional roles such as School Council Chair at East Lake Elementary, underscore her commitment to improving the educational experience for students and fostering a stronger relationship between the school and the local community.  

Mrs. Riggins always strives to make a positive impact and has a keen ability to streamline processes, solve complex problems, and collaborate across teams. She is married with three children who all attend Henry County Schools.

Laura Whitaker Shortt is a successful sales and marketing executive with more than 25 years successful sales and marketing experience in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.  Laura has been the Director of Community Relations and Volunteer Services for Piedmont Henry Hospital since 2021. In her role she is responsible for all community relations marketing and volunteer services operations which includes community engagement, fundraising and volunteer recruitment.  Prior to her role at Piedmont Henry Hospital, she Physician Outreach Consultant where she successfully created new healthcare programs, and grew psychiatric market share in key health markets in pediatric, adult and geriatric services.  Laura has worked for world class healthcare organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Barnabas Health, UHS, Acadia, and HCA.  Laura is a behavioral health advocate and speaks regularly on the topics of youth, veteran and first responder suicide awareness and prevention. Laura has had the privilege of partnering with the Jason Foundation, Inc., Henry County Schools, Houston County Schools, Bibb County Schools, Robins Air Force Base, the Veterans Administration and Houston County Fire on stigma reduction to improve access to care for patients and their families.   

Laura is a graduate of Seton Hall University and resides in Henry County Georgia with her family.

I am a Georgia Native and have lived in Henry County for over 30 years.  My husband, Kerry and I raised two children, now 29 and 26 years old, in the Henry County School system.   I was employed by the Henry County school system for several years as a substitute teacher.  I currently serve on the board of the Ferst Readers.  Where I endeavor to assist the children of Henry County in a love for reading whilst equipping them with the materials necessary to do so. A number of other non-profit committees have afforded me the opportunity of working alongside others to aid Henry County.  In His Name Food Pantry, Operation Lunch Box, and Medical Mission Outreach as well as several others associated with Pinecrest Baptist Church. 

I love Henry County and want to see the School system as well as the County thrive.

Just prior to joining the Children’s staff, she spent 10 years as the City of Stockbridge’s Main Street Program Manager. She has also worked in the same capacity for both the City of McDonough and the City of Griffin. Kira is a graduate of Hampton University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media communications, and a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree. Immediately after completing her education, Kira worked with several advocacy, government, and nonprofit organizations, in Washington, D.C. and Maryland. Some places of note include the Smithsonian Institution’s Office of Public Affairs, the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, Advocates for Children and Youth, and Maryland Lawyers for the Arts. After locating to the Atlanta area, she worked at the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Hillside Hospital, Clayton State University, and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

Kira brings more than thirty-five years of community building, economic development, nonprofit management, and public affairs experience to the Southern Crescent Region where she also resides. She is a member of the 2015 Leadership Henry Class, an active member of the Henry County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., an associate member of Lake Spivey Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA, Inc., and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce.

A mother of two adult daughters, who both matriculated through the Henry County Public Schools system, Kira is also an arts enthusiast, who enjoys spending time with her family, going to the theatre, listening to live music, exploring historic sites, and traveling to interesting destinations.

Mr. Clayton Carte is a lifelong Henry County resident and proud graduate of Henry County Schools. He attended Unity Grove Elementary School and Ola Middle School before graduating from Ola High School in 2015. After graduating high school, he attended Jacksonville State University and Clayton State University.

Mr. Carte was the founder and publisher of the local news publication The Henry Reporter from January 2017 to June 2025. The publication shared local updates with a focus on transportation projects and new developments. Nowadays, Clayton works for the Henry County SPLOST Department coordinating public outreach about the county’s capital and road projects.

Mr. Carte was previously the chair of the Henry County SPLOST V Advisory Committee in 2018-19. He has also served on the Superintendent’s Community Advisory Group, various county land use plan and education SPLOST committees. Clayton is a graduate of the Henry County Schools 2024-2025 Community Leadership Academy.