Mission-focused Leadership

Marni Langbert Eisner

Marni Langbert Eisner is the Executive Director of the Education Foundation for Winston-Salem Forsyth County Public Schools. She is a passionate advocate for high quality and equitable public schools for every child.

Previously, she served as a Director for Community Engagement at the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities, a division of Crossnore Communities for Children. In this role she worked with communities and organizations that were interested in learning more about the science of trauma resilience and embedding and embodying that knowledge in a way that changed their culture to be one that is healing centered. Before that she served as the Director for Great Expectations at MDC, a firm that helps organizations and communities close the gaps that separate people from opportunity.  Marni brings wide-ranging experience in advancing educational and health outcomes for children, which enhanced Great Expectations’ commitment to ensuring all young children in Forsyth County enter school ready to learn and leave set for success.  In her capacity as MDC’s GE Director, Marni guided MDC’s day-to-day work in Forsyth County and worked closely with the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.

Prior to moving to Winston-Salem, Marni led communications and development for Charlotte’s Freedom School Partners, a local version of the pioneering program of the Children’s Defense Fund, which focuses on improving the reading ability of economically disadvantaged children. Additionally, she previously served as Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Charlotte Council for Children’s Rights (CFCR), where she worked with a broad coalition of community partners to advance system-level and policy change to benefit the community’s children, birth to 18. Her past work also includes time in Richmond, Virginia, where she concentrated on prevention of family violence and on efforts to support that state’s medical community.

Marni is a mother of three sons who all graduated from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County public schools. She holds a BA from Brown University and a law degree from Vanderbilt University.

Xavier Acuña

Xavier Acuña is a proud Ecuadorian-American leader, born in Queens, New York, and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is passionate about building strong communities and creating meaningful opportunities for families to thrive.

Xavier began his career as an educator, working closely with children before expanding his focus to training adults in trauma-informed practices that promote mindfulness, resilience, and compassionate care. His experience has equipped him to build relationships across diverse communities while fostering environments where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported.

Today, Xavier serves as the Latine Communities Engagement Coordinator in Winston-Salem, where he works alongside families, community partners, and local organizations to strengthen connections, increase access to resources, and empower the Latine community through culturally responsive engagement. His work is guided by a deep commitment to equity, healing, and the belief that lasting change happens when communities are heard, connected, and empowered.

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.

Christine Bland

Christine has over 30 years in the financial services industry, predominantly in the private client advisory business.  She has been a relationship manager with First Horizon since May of 2007 and serves a diverse group of affluent clients, including many different professionals, with an emphasis in medical private banking. In 2010, Christine was honored with the Triad Business Journal’s Women in Business Award. She is the founder of WSFCS Free Prom Closet and serves as a WSFCS volunteer.

Iris Cole

Iris Cole is a Partner at M Creative, a values-based strategic communications firm located in Winston Salem, NC that serves the non-profit sector, educational institutions, healthcare, and philanthropy. She is a social entrepreneur, having founded several companies including She Raises the Bar, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability consulting firm, and Do Good Artist, a social impact design firm.

Her background includes 20+ years of experience working as an executive, CSR/sustainability, and communications consultant in both the public and private sectors. Over the course of her career, she has worked with investors, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations to help them leverage and execute more impactful social/environmental investment strategies, inclusive business models/cultures, and community engagement, as well as manage risk and identify strategic growth opportunities through the lens of their stakeholders. Her clients include multi-national, family-owned, and small businesses and start-ups across a broad range of industries.

Iris currently serves as the Co-President of the REACH Women’s Network and Chair-elect of Senior Services. She also serves on the boards of Piedmont Federal Savings Bank, Goodwill Industries of NWNC, Flywheel Foundation, Reynolda House, Leadership Winston-Salem, Arts Council, Crossnore Communities for Children, Project Space 411, WS/FCS Equity Advisory, and the Forsyth County Early Childhood Education Task Force. She is a member of the Leadership Winston-Salem Class of 2019.

Iris, her husband Brian, and their 3 children moved to Winston Salem in 2016 after 12 years abroad. The family is heavily involved in the arts, as well as the community at large.

Betsy Harris

Betsy Harris is a native of Winston-Salem and a graduate of R.J. Reynolds High School.  She is also the parent of two current Winston-Salem Forsyth County School elementary students and recently completed three years on the Whitaker Elementary Circle of Commitment board, including a two-year term as Treasurer.  In addition to her volunteer work at Whitaker Elementary, Betsy is a youth ministry volunteer at Centenary United Methodist Church. 

Betsy attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN for undergrad and received her Master of Accounting degree at UNC-Chapel Hill.  After several years in public accounting, Betsy now works as the Operations Manager for Piedmont Triad Partnership handling the accounting and investor relations for the non-profit economic development firm.

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.

Selester Stewart

Dr. Selester Stewart Jr. is a passionate leader committed to empowering individuals and communities through behavioral health services. As the founder and CEO of Georgia Health Partners since 2008, he has built a team-centered organization rooted in compassion, purpose, and service. Dr. Stewart received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from NCCU,  master’s degree in divinity from Shaw University, and a doctorate degree from Drew University with special emphasis in community and church development.  Dr. Stewart has spent his career helping others reach their fullest potential—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

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.

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.

Kristen Zaks

Kristen Zaks is the proud parent of two current Winston-Salem Forsyth County School students and recently completed her term as President of the R.J. Reynolds High School PTSA where she was named Volunteer of the Year. Kristen is currently serving as the Past President, Nominating Chair, and Student Services Volunteer Coordinator at R. J. Reynolds.

Kristen is an Executive Recruiter and Human Resources Consultant on a contract and volunteer basis and was a former Senior Executive with Accenture, a global professional services company. While at Accenture, Kristen was a part of Accenture’s Change Management and Human Performance practice and consulted with numerous Fortune 500 companies. After many years of consulting, Kristen led Accenture’s U.S. Technology Career Development programs.

Kristen received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and communications from Wake Forest University. In addition to her volunteer work at R.J. Reynolds High School, Kristen is on the Youth Leadership Council and Shining Light on Mental Health Committee at Centenary United Methodist Church. Kristen is a past board chair of the Ronald McDonald House, former President of the Friends of Brenner Children’s Hospital and former board member of the Wake Forest University Alumni Council and the Mental Health Association of Forsyth County.