Maggie Combs, the new District 4 Board of Education member, aims to be a positive leader for Greene County students and their families.
“To the voters of District 4, I would like to say thank you. My message and goals really resonated with the voters of District 4 and I am honored to have the opportunity to act on my ideas now that I am elected,” Combs said. “I have three young children in the school system, and I believe the voice of parents is more important than ever when it comes to modern challenges facing our schools. I am proud to be one of two parents serving on the BOE and am excited about the opportunity to be a positive voice for the children of Greene County.”
Combs’ professional experience has focused on helping needy communities with education and social services. She has spent over 20 years investing in programs worldwide that drive change for youth, particularly marginalized youth who need support.
During her tenure, Combs taught English to immigrant and refugee children and served in the United States Peace Corps, focusing on education reform programs in Eastern Europe. She holds a master’s degree in public administration and was an education policy fellow with a Georgia education nonprofit.
“I have seen very complex and challenging communities create a thriving environment for their children through the right support and collaboration,” she shared. “Professionally, I have invested hundreds of millions of grant dollars into education programs worldwide, and I am incredibly excited to have the opportunity to focus on my own community. Greene County is incredibly unique, and there is so much opportunity to continue bringing our community together for the children.”
One opportunity she has highlighted since her early campaign days is an in-depth countywide needs assessment for all of Greene’s schools.
While partnering with the Athens Area Community Foundation to bring resources and services to Greene County, Combs noticed the need for an assessment to identify resources and plan local policy change.
She launched the Greene Wellbeing Project this month with a research team from the University of Georgia.
The project, funded by local businesses and individuals, kicked off this week with focus groups featuring leaders from all community sectors. The assessment’s recommendations will be made available to the public once the research is complete.
According to Combs, the research outcomes will provide “invaluable insight” into future education planning in Greene County.
“The goal is to empower our community with meaningful data that will lead to more informed decision-making and improvements in service delivery, creating a comprehensive snapshot of our county’s unique needs. The outcomes of this project will identify gaps and opportunities for our children across the county. Still, the data will provide critical insight for businesses, local government, and our hard-working nonprofits,” she explained.
Combs noted the community interest and support have been “incredible” and thanked supporters who helped the project move quickly, including the Greene County Development Authority; Reynolds Lake Oconee; BankSouth; Baker & Lassiter, Inc.; Harbor Club; Greene County Chamber of Commerce; Lake Country Board of Realtors; Lake Oconee Area Builders Association; The Well; Spencer Bradley Foundation for Mental Health; Vincent Lewis; Susan Dufford; and Michael Tompkins.