A foundation for our future

Alvin L. Atkinson

Alvin L. Atkinson is a 42+ year resident of Winston-Salem in which he worked in financial services industry as Vice President of Wachovia Bank and President & COO of Victory-Masonic Mutual Credit Union and in higher education at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) as the Executive Director for the University’s Center for Community Safety (CCS) and the Associate Director and Community Engagement Lead and of the Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM).

Throughout his time in Winston-Salem, Alvin has been active in the organization and implementation of community collaborations and initiatives whose purpose was improving the educational and economic mobility of individuals and families. His has also provided service through nonprofit boards and committees including Serendipity House, United Way, Smart Start, Forsyth County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, CPC, Neighbors for Better Neighborhoods the Boston-Thurmond Community Roundtable and the Winston-Salem Twin City Host Lions Club.

A 1981 Davidson College graduate, Alvin is married to Janet Atkinson, a former WSFCS principal and education administrator they are the parents of two WSFC high school graduates.

Donald Dunn

Donald Dunn is a committed advocate for children, families, and public education. Blending his professional experiences and volunteer affiliations has allowed him to create a lasting positive impact for individuals and groups. He and his family own two childcare centers in Winston-Salem, NC for more than 30 years. He has served on several non-profit boards.

Donald has held leadership roles with Parent Teachers Association at various levels including State President and National Officer.

Donald is a graduate of both Winston-Salem State University and Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He and his wife Ann have one adult daughter (Bria)

Lora Tiano

Lora Tiano retired from WS/FCS in June of 2022 after 31 years as an educator. After graduating from Glenn High School and then earning a B.S. in Mathematics from Appalachian State University, she began her teaching career at High Point Central High School. After 5 years she moved back “home” to teach at Glenn High School. She spent 16 years teaching mathematics and coaching cheerleading. She also served as the Curriculum Coordinator there. After earning her MSA from Appalachian State, she then served as an Assistant Principal at Glenn. She spent the last five years of her career as the Principal of Kernersville Elementary School. She now volunteers at various local agencies as well as her church, Canaan United Methodist Church. She has been married to Frank Tiano for 31 years who is an East Forsyth and UNCG alum, and works as a claims manager at National General Insurance. They have two children, Jamie and Drew, who both graduated from Glenn High and UNC and live in Charlotte.

Marilyn Parker

Marilyn Parker has been a Forsyth County resident for most of her life. She has been an Educator and Education Advocate and holds a B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Reading Education. She was a classroom teacher in Elementary School for eight years and the Director of Ardmore Methodist Preschool for thirty five years. She served on the WSFCS Board of Education for a total of almost twenty two years. She served four elected terms and was appointed  by the board to fill two vacancies on the Board of Education. During her tenure she served as both Finance Committee Chair and Curriculum Committee Chair. She also served for four years on the North Carolina School Boards Association Board of Directors.She is active and has held leadership positions in various education related groups within Forsyth County.

Outside of Education she is active and holds leadership positions at Ardmore Methodist Church and Reynolda Rotary. In her spare time she enjoys gardening,quilting, hiking and spending as much time outside as possible.

Marilyn moved with her husband to Forsyth County forty four years ago when they were married and it has been home for two Tennessee transplants. She is the mother of four grown children Three sons and one daughter who attended and graduated from the WSFCS K-12. She has been a volunteer in schools since the oldest began Kindergarten and has continued to volunteer in a WSFC School weekly since their graduation. Volunteering with children and seeing Educators work their magic is her happy place.

Neal Tackabery

Neal Tackabery has supported Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) for many years. His three adult children are all products of the school system and his wife, Jill, is a former member of the WS/FCS Board of Education.

He retired from his law practice at Blanco, Tackabery & Matamoros in 2023. In addition to his work as an attorney, he has been involved in the community for many years with service as Trustee of Centenary United Methodist Church, Chair of Centenary Local Outreach Committee, Member of the North Carolina Bar Foundation Endowment Committee, Director of Samaritan Ministries and Director of Arbor Acres United Methodist Retirement Community.

Neal graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University before moving south and receiving his law degree from Duke University. He enjoys spending time with his five grandchildren as well as playing golf and duplicate bridge.

Dr. Carol Montague-Davis

Dr. Carol Montague-Davis retired in 2022 after decades of experience serving Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS). She currently serves as a WS/FCS Liaison for Winston-Salem State University’s Gear-Up Program.

Throughout her career, Carol has worked in both middle and high schools in the classroom, as well as with the athletic programs. Carol has also served as an Assistant Principal, Principal and the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education for WS/FCS. Her love for children helped Carol make the decision to return to the school level prior to her retirement. She felt this was where she would make the biggest impact on young people’s lives.

Carol received her bachelor’s degree from Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) before earning her master’s degree from the University of Maryland and doctorate from Gardner-Webb University. She is an active member of the community serving on many committees including United Way Women United, Greater Triad ECSU Alumni Chapter, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Mount Zion Baptist Church of Greensboro.

Kimberly Jackson

Kimberly Jackson has significant experience with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) as both a parent and as a student. Two of her children are graduates of R.J. Reynolds High School. Kimberly graduated from West Forsyth High School before earning a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University.

Kimberly currently works for the State of North Carolina in the State Construction Office as an Electrical and Fire Alarm Design Review Engineer for all state building projects. In addition to being a licensed Professional Engineer, she serves as a Level 3 Electrical Code Enforcement Official. Kimberly has also worked at Duke Energy in both the Distribution Engineering and Commercial/Industrial Marketing departments, as well as at Wake Forest University Facilities as a Project Manager. Kimberly was appointed to the Board of Trustees at Forsyth Technical Community College in October 2022.

Her proudest achievement, however, is being the mother of three children. One daughter is a pharmacist for the Veterans Administration. Her other daughter is a public high school math teacher. Her son is a registered Professional Engineer.