Evansdale Education Foundation

Expanding Opportunities For Our Children

Our Mission

EEF is a non-profit organization committed to providing direct financial support to help the Evansdale Elementary School realize its full potential.  Every dollar raised and decision made is driven by our love and passion for current and future Evansdale students.

Why a Foundation?

The Evansdale Education Foundation (EEF) was established in 2010 to partner with parents, administrators and teachers to support our beloved school.  As an independent body we have the capacity to fund staff and other vital school needs over and above what can be funded by DeKalb County and the Evalansdale PTA.  Since 2010 we have employed supplemental teachers, provided equipment, and funded entire modernization projects.  The EEF serves a vital role in maintaining the quality of education we aspire for our children.

Guiding Principles

Higher Education Sustainability

Community Parter

to act as a voice of the Evansdale Community, faculty, and PTA

Identification

to identify, prioritize, and address the most critical needs for our school

Enrichment

to expand student academic enrichment and interpersonal experiences

Empowerment

to promote student diversity, compassion, creativity, and discovery

Inclusion

to operate with openness, inclusion, respect, and integrity

Transparency

to provide clear guidelines and financial oversight on long term achievements

Evansdale Education Board

Contributing our time for a better Evansdale

The board of the Evansdale Education Foundation, according to its bylaws can be as few as 3 and as many as 21 members. Some members serve as chairs of committees, while other members are considered “at large members” and contribute their time serving on multiple committees, stepping up to volunteer for tasks as needed, or simply learning the ropes.

​The foundation board usually meets once a month. However, during “crunch” times, such as Eagle Trek, board nominations period, or during the hectic time when the school receives its staffing information for an upcoming school year, the board might meet 2 or more times a month. Likewise, particular committees sometimes meet more often when working towards a deadline or goal.

All Evansdale Education Foundation members welcome input, comments, and suggestions about how we can better work with you to achieve our mission.​

Evansdale Education Foundation, Candice Gardner

Candice Gardner

President

Candice Gardner joined the Evansdale Education Foundation Board in the 2021-2022 school year. Candice believes volunteering is the most immediate way to give back to the community in which she lives and works. Candice is an Atlanta native and moved to the Evansdale community in October 2019 with her husband Ricci, daughter Savannah and son Dion. Savannah, 6, attends Evansdale and is in the French Immersion Program. Dion, 3, attends the Coralwood School. Candice graduated from Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration. Her career has spanned multiple industries including Hospitality, Banking and Consulting. She currently works as a Project Manager for an Electric Utility Co-op based in Tucker. When she’s not working she enjoys spending time with her family, trying new restaurants, traveling and gardening.

Evansdale Elementary Principal, April McCarthy

April McCarthy

Principal / School Liaison

April McCarthy has been working in education for eighteen years, fifteen of which have been in the DeKalb County School District. She came to Atlanta from Gainesville, FL with her family in 2005 and began working at Coralwood School and Diagnostic Center as a special education teacher. After working at Coralwood for 10 years, Mrs. McCarthy moved to Briar Vista Elementary School as the assistant principal from 2015 – 2019. During the 19-20 school year, Mrs. McCarthy served as the assistant principal at Pleasantdale Elementary while they prepared for a big move to a new building. In July of 2020, Mrs. McCarthy was named the proud principal of Evansdale Elementary school! She is so excited to be part of this dynamic and diverse community!

Evansldale Education Foundation, Secretary

Natalie Culpepper

Secretary

Natalie Culpepper is Secretary for the Evansdale foundation and the proud parent of two Evansdale Eagles. Natalie’s relationship with the foundation began in 2011 when her oldest child began Kindergarten at Evansdale. Through the last 11 years Natalie has volunteered with the foundation for yearly events, has served as an At-Large member of the foundation and currently as a Co Secretary. Natalie believes the dedication and partnership of the foundation with Evansdale Elementary continues to support a thriving community for all students at Evansdale Elementary.

Evansdale Education Foundation Community Representative, Melissa Bachmann

Melissa Bachman

Community Representative

Melissa Bachman has been working in education for 32 years and has worked as an Academic Coach and Teacher at Evansdale since 2016.  She lives in the attendance zone, and all three of her children are Evansdale alumni.  She has provided school leadership for the Evansdale School Improvement Plan as well as STEM initiatives and certification.  She is passionate about the Evansdale community and dedicated to helping every Evandale student succeed.

Evansdale Education Foundation, Investment Chair

Mike Niebuhr

Investment Chair

Mike Niebuhr joined the Foundation during the 2020/2021 school year and became the Investments Chair in 2022. He and his wife share a commitment to strengthening public education, and see the Foundation as a key way to do that in partnership with our community. His son, currently in 4th grade, has been an Evansdale Eagle since kindergarten. Mike graduated from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland with an M.A. in International Relations and Modern History. He currently works for a major Atlanta based airline.

Evansdale Education Foundation, Co-Secretary

Dana Bamford

Co-Secretary

Dana Bamford joined the Evansdale Education Foundation Board during the 2021-2022 school year. Dana is a graduate of the University of Georgia and completed her graduate work in School Psychology at the University of Southern Mississippi. Dana and her husband Mike moved into the Evansdale area in 2013 and have two children Declan, 9, a 4th grader in the French Immersion Program and Margot, 5, a Pre-k student at Evansdale. Dana is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and spent many years working at the Marcus Autism Center but is currently a BCBA for Atlanta Public Schools. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, watching football, specifically the Georgia Bulldogs and Pittsburgh Steelers, and attending Broadway shows.

Evansdale Education Foundation, Treasurer

Susan Richardson

Treasurer

Susan Richardson joined the EEF board in the 2022-2023 school year and is the proud mama of two Evansdale Eagles. Susan graduated from the University of Georgia with her BBA in Accounting and a Masters of Taxation. She is a CPA and the tax director at a software company.  Susan is also involved with the PTA and is passionate about helping our neighborhood school thrive.

Evansdale Education Foundation, Webmaster

David Hunt

Systems Architect / Webmaster

David Hunt was raised in the area, graduated from Lakeside High School, and in 2013 moved back with his wife Katie to raise a family.  David found a passion for Evansdale and joined the Evansdale Foundation in the spring of 2022, contributing to the success of the first Eagle Trek event held since the start of the pandemic in 2020.  David attended Georgia State University and channels his love of engineering into his local software development firm.  You’ll often find David chasing his boys at the parks around Tucker, enjoying time with friends at Tucker Brewery, or knee deep in one-too many house projects.
Evansdale Education Foundation, Teacher / Faculty Representative

Michael Vo

Teacher / Faculty Rep

Interested in serving?

Our foundation is made possible by the hard work and contributions of parents and community members like you.  Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering, or complete our Foundation Interest Form if you would like to fulfill a vacancy on our board!