The panel discussion of this barbershop edition of our State of the Black Community had a special focus on supporting our students throughout the school year. We brought together educators, community leaders, and advocates to explore effective strategies and share best practices for fostering a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for our students with lots of encouragement and great personal stories.
This session covered education and economic disparities, mental health stigma, mentorship, community empowerment, criminal justice reform, and civic engagement. Together, let’s imagine a future that fosters progress and equality.
Ronald S. Skeete, MSEd is an experienced not-for-profit executive with over fifteen years in the field. He holds a Master of Science in Education as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. Mr. Skeete began his career working on a National Science Foundation grant to replicate effective science and math programs in New York City. From there he joined Madison Square Boys & Girls Club managing prevention programs for youth ages 6 – 18 as Director of Operations. After relocating to Georgia with his family, Mr. Skeete expanded his nonprofit capacity building work through several organizations including the Atlanta Education Fund and Outward Bound Atlanta. With a desire to have broader impact, he subsequently took on regional roles including State Fidelity Manager for the Children’s Aid Society Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program and Director of The Salvation Army’s national initiative, Pathway of Hope. In that role he worked closely with over 200 sites across 16 states in the South to ensure consistency and quality in longitudinal social services programming focused on families.
Taking his talents to the national stage, Ronald joined Boys & Girls Club of America as Director of Leadership Development where he worked in collaboration with Club CEOs to increase their organizational effectiveness and strengthen the leadership pipeline across over 4,000 Clubs worldwide. Currently he serves as Vice President of Business Development for OneTen, a national nonprofit working with corporations to create skills first culture that closes the opportunity gap for Black talent and others who do not have a four-year degree.
Ron is a member of the Georgia Charter School Association, 100 Black Men of North Metro Atlanta, and when he is not trying to save the world or eating pizza, you can find Ron enjoying time with his beautiful wife Tameka and fun-loving children, Trinity, and Ronald.
Chief J.D. McClure became Chief of Police of the Gwinnett County Police Department in August 2021. Previously, he served as deputy chief, commanding the department’s Operations Bureau.
Chief McClure was appointed to Major in 2016 where he served as the Central Precinct Commander and the department’s Chief of Staff. He was also a dedicated member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team for more than a decade. Chief McClure was promoted to Lieutenant in September 2009 where he served as Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division and as the Commander of the Office of Professional Standards.
Chief McClure obtained an associate degree in Criminal Justice and is a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He believes in strong community and police-based partnership programs for our youth to help keep them engaged in positive activities.
Dr. Calvin Watts has served as superintendent of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) — Georgia’s largest school district and the eleventh-largest and seventh-most diverse district in the Nation — since July 2021. As a former GCPS leader who served in varied leadership roles for 13 years, Dr. Watts rejoined the district after serving as superintendent of Kent School District (KSD) for six years. KSD is the fifth largest and the second most diverse school district in Washington.
A graduate of The Broad Academy Fellowship (2018-2019), he has a demonstrated record of success as an instructional, operational, and community leader. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University, a master’s degree from the University of West Georgia, and his doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University. Dr. Watts’ leadership philosophy has always been to reach and teach all students as if they had his last name.
Issac Ingram is a native-born Metro Atlanta Georgia-based screenwriter, producer, father, husband and first-time director. He founded Team Freedom Outreach, an all-volunteer group of Christian men that mentors’ kids at youth detention centers. He wrote and produced an infomercial about Team Freedom Outreach which inspired an appearance and public service announcement endorsement from NFL quarterback Michael Vick.
Inspired by black creative directors and talents like Robert Townsend, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Ryan Cooglar and Ava Duvernay, Ingram found the courage to write and direct the short film ‘True Freedom”. Ingram is currently promoting the short film “True Freedom” with the hope mentor/mentee programs will use it to bring awareness to the negative effects of abandonment. He also hopes the short film will be made into a feature film one day.
Dr. Emmett Shaffer (AKA: Dr. E.) has held executive level positions with both the FultonCounty School System and United Way of Metro Atlanta. He is currently founder of The Mental Health Concierge, LLC (TMHC) specializing in Cognitive Based Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy to assist clients with thinking models that allow clients to experience a heighten level of wellbeing and work/life balance. Additional services include clinical supervision for hours toward the completion of the Licensed Professional Counselor credential (LPC). Prior to opening TMHC, Dr. E. worked in the fourth largest school system in Georgia, as a school counselor, assistant principal, and principal. As an executive director for school counseling, social worker, and graduation coaches, Dr E’s responsibilities included supervision and program evaluation for 400 school counselors , 75 social workers and 35 graduation coaches. Dr. E. also served as an area superintendent for the school district, supervising 30 principals PK-12, with a combined budget of more than 200 million dollars. Further, Dr. E. served as the Vice President for Education with United Way of Metro Atlanta, with a budget of 15 million dollars and supporting more than 50 non-profits across the Atlanta area. Dr. Shaffer earned a BBA degree in Business Administration, with a major in Management and Finance from National University in San Diego, California, a Master of Science degree in Counseling from San Diego State University, and a Doctor of Education degree in School Improvement & Leadership from the University of West Georgia. Dr. Shaffer is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Professional Counselor Supervision, and a Licensed Private Pilot. Dr. E. is a former content contributor on 104.1 radio, the Frank Ski morning show where he provided parents and adults with expert advice for daily challenges.
