Administration

Mr. Kooi is GCA's Governing Board Executive Director. Mr. Kooi began his career as a commercial litigation attorney before moving on to work as an attorney for the Florida Department of Education defending many of the education reform initiatives for then-Governor Jeb Bush. Mr. Kooi later served as Policy Chief for Education in the Florida House of Representatives under then- House Speaker Marco Rubio, as Executive Director of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools, and as Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice at the Florida Department of Education. In 2013, Mr. Kooi came to Atlanta and served as Education Division Director for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Office of Planning and Budget. Most recently, Mr. Kooi was Managing Director of Capital Education Solutions, LLC.

Mr. Kooi is GCA's Governing Board Executive Director. Mr. Kooi began his career as a commercial litigation attorney before moving on to work as an attorney for the Florida Department of Education defending many of the education reform initiatives for then-Governor Jeb Bush. Mr. Kooi later served as Policy Chief for Education in the Florida House of Representatives under then- House Speaker Marco Rubio, as Executive Director of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools, and as Executive Director of the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice at the Florida Department of Education. In 2013, Mr. Kooi came to Atlanta and served as Education Division Director for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal’s Office of Planning and Budget. Most recently, Mr. Kooi was Managing Director of Capital Education Solutions, LLC.

Mr. Hopewell has extensive finance experience across multiple categories and disciplines within consumer, corporate, manufacturing, and education finance. Before joining the Georgia Cyber team, he was most recently a Regional Senior Finance Manager at K12 Corporation for five years. There he was responsible for about $100M in gross revenue across a number Southern Regional Program Schools. Prior to K12, Andre gained Big 4 consulting experience as he progressed through several Project Consultant roles at Deloitte and Touché, LLP where he managed account level clients worth over $360M across more than 30 projects. Previous to his Senior Project Consultant role, he spent over six years at General Electric where he held several financial planning and analysis roles in Philadelphia, Houston, and Atlanta while graduating from their Financial Management MBAE/Program. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting from Southern University.

Jennifer Mitchell started her journey as an educator in the Georgia public school system in 1996. She joined the GCA family as a Learning Coach in 2008. In 2010, Mrs. Mitchell joined the GCA staff as it began its induction of the high school. Since joining the GCA team, she has served as a high school mathematics instructor, lead teacher, mathematics chairperson, 8^th grade mathematics teacher, new teacher trainer, assistant administrator, SIS administrator, and most recently as District Operational, Compliance, and Accountability Director. She believes in GCA and the opportunities afforded to the students who attend. In fact, her own family has continued to re-enroll year after year since 2008.

Dr. Arthur began her career in education working with at-risk students in Title 1 schools through the Teach For America program. In Georgia, she has worked in both the DeKalb and Clayton County school districts in both the public and private sector. She received her BA from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a dual degree in Communication and Ethnic Studies. After working for 12 years as an educator at both the middle and Elementary School levels, Dr. Arthur earned her Master’s degree from Harvard University Graduate School of Education with a degree in Instructional Leadership and was awarded the Intellectual Contribution Award for her cohort. After receiving her Ed. M from Harvard, she began her doctoral program at the University of Southern California’s Rossier School of Education and graduated in 2018 with a degree in Educational Leadership and was the Dissertation of the Year award winner.

Upon her return to Georgia, Dr. Arthur was hired at Georgia Cyber Academy as the Instructional Support Services Director to develop the district’s Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (RTI/MTSS) and Section 504 plan programs. Her dedication to improving student achievement and equitable opportunity and access to education has driven her career and brought her to GCA. Dr. Arthur is an advocate for culturally and socially responsive education and passionate about providing students with the instructional tools they need in order to achieve academic and lifelong success.

Mrs. Blanda is committed to providing individualized education, improving student academic outcomes, developing positive classroom environments, and creating a cohesive partnership with our families to propel our high school program to a new level of achievement.

Kristen Blanda started with Georgia Cyber Academy in 2007 as a teacher and during her nine-year tenure served in many different roles, including those of Middle School Principal, Interim High School Principal, and District Academic Administrator. Over the past two years, she has been supporting teachers at various K12 schools as an instructional coach and has had the opportunity to witness many innovative and effective virtual instructional approaches that improve both students' academic outcomes and their classroom experiences.

Mrs. Ross graduated from the University of Colorado with a BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology. Prior to becoming a professional school counselor she was a mental health professional, counseling youth in residential treatment facilities. She served as a Behavioral Specialist, Transition Coordinator and the Director of Life Skills Development and Transition Program. Mrs. Ross graduated from Cambridge College with a M.Ed. in Professional School Counseling in 2008 and immediately began working as a High School Counselor in the Atlanta Public School District. She has been with Georgia Cyber Academy since 2013. Since joining the GCA team Mrs. Ross has served as a High School Counselor, Faculty Advisory Council Member, Lead Counselor and now District Counseling Services Director.

Mrs. Ross is a committed Advocate for the importance of educating the "whole child". There are emotional, social and academic needs of every student. It is paramount for all stakeholders to understand that meeting the needs of the “whole child” at GCA directly impacts our student’s success in school and life.

Mrs. Watson has served in many areas of education since 1988. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a B.S. in Organizational Leadership. Mrs. Watson has been involved with multiple facets of Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) since her arrival as a Learning Coach in 2007. She officially joined FAST as a Family Academic Support Liaison (FASL) in 2010, after three years as an engaged, passionate Learning Coach who was excited about GCA's unique method of delivering K–12 education virtually. Since then, she has worked with all grade levels within FAST and has served as a FASL lead for both middle school and high school where she helped design and implement the school's FASL program. Mrs. Watson served as the Family Academic Support Team (FAST) Assistant Administrator for two years, assisting in overseeing FAST's advisement, FASL, truancy, family engagement, and social work programs. She has served as the Family Engagement Director for the past few years where she works hard to reach her ultimate goal for all positions within FAST to support GCA's at-risk and struggling families, ultimately leading to their success within GCA's virtual environment.

Mrs. Blencowe joined Georgia Cyber Academy (GCA) in 2013 as Family Engagement Coordinator where she supported GCA families toward becoming active partners in their student’s education, provided parent training and support, and helped partner families with the GCA Community through regional connections, school culture initiatives, district communications, website development, video production, and digital media. Mrs. Blencowe has been involved as a volunteer with GCA since becoming a Learning Coach in 2008 including Parent Booster, Parent Volunteer, Regional Parent Leader, and GCA PTSO Treasurer.

In 2018, Mrs. Blencowe accepted the role of Communications, Marketing, and Public Relations Director where her passion for effective school-family communications as well as her desire for a vibrant school culture continues to provide support to GCA families, students, and staff.