New Trustees appreciate Trinity’s elementary-only focus

News

New Trustees Isha Damani, Winnie Smith, Jackie Coleman, and McKnight Brown ’92

New Trustees

appreciate Trinity’s elementary-only focus

By Margaret Douglas, Director of Advancement

Trinity School’s Board of Trustees welcomes four new members this year. We thank each of them for their commitment to Trinity’s mission and vision for the future.

McKnight Brown ’92

In addition to being a Trinity School alum, McKnight Brown ’92 and his wife, Alice, are parents to three Trinity students: Third Grader Madison, First Grader Ward, and Kindergartner Nealy. McKnight thinks it is an exciting time to be joining the Board. It has been his impression, as a Trinity parent, that the Board and administration work very effectively together. He says, “The last few years have really demonstrated the tremendous capabilities and range of the School’s current leadership. It has been impressive to watch this collective group navigate unfamiliar territory while successfully executing on its strategic priorities. I look forward to beginning my service and working to support the Board’s vision for Trinity going forward.” McKnight believes that Trinity’s greatest strength is its elementary-only focus and that it is the foundation for all the tremendous moments, experiences, and growth that happen during a student’s time at Trinity. He says, “There is so much value and intentionality at every step. I see the reverence my children have for the older students, and I’m reminded of those same feelings during my time at Trinity. I think there is a natural cultivation of confidence, responsibility, and leadership that takes place during a student’s time at Trinity that thoroughly prepares them for middle school and beyond.” Equally important, McKnight believes the people at Trinity are a tremendous asset and that the faculty and staff are very caring, skilled, and dedicated to the School’s students and mission.

McKnight has enjoyed being mystery and guest readers in the classrooms and supporting his wife’s volunteerism with the Trinity School Parents’ Association and Spotlight on Art. He serves on the W.C. Bradley Company’s board of directors and chairs the audit committee and serves on the executive, real estate, and shareholder committees. He also oversees business operations for GoodSteps, an online footwear and apparel social enterprise founded by his wife, Alice. Previous professional endeavors for McKnight include 10 years with Comcast/NBC Universal in various regional executive roles and more than five years of organizing private investment partnerships and consulting for venture-stage businesses. After graduating from Trinity, McKnight attended Pace Academy, The University of Richmond, and the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Jackie Coleman

Jackie Coleman and her husband, John, have three Trinity students—Third Grader John Wyatt, Second Grader Olive, and Early Learner Josie—and their youngest child, Paxton, is two years old. Education and child development have been passions of Jackie’s for decades. She says, “Joining Trinity’s Board of Trustees is an incredible opportunity to be involved in ensuring that all Trinity students have an extraordinary experience during their early educational years. I feel honored to serve the School in this capacity.” In previous years, Jackie has enjoyed serving as a Room Parent, and this year, she is also serving as one of the Community Life and Engagement Committee chairs. Jackie will never forget picking her kids up after their first day at Trinity in 2018. She says she had to hold her laughter back when John Wyatt got in the car and with a very serious look on his face said, “Mom, bad news. Trinity is a fun school, not a learning school.” While the Colemans know Trinity is a “learning school,” with a sole focus on elementary education, they said they see the teachers, faculty, and staff doing a masterful job at making learning exciting and fun and that their children can’t wait to get to school every day. Jackie and John both believe that having such a magical, warm, and fun learning environment is a gift to each family and lays a strong foundation for each student’s lifetime love of learning.

A real estate investor and education advocate with a background in early childhood education, child and family psychology, and college access, Jackie graduated from the University of Georgia with her bachelor’s degree, then received a master’s degree in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta. She later graduated with a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In her free time, Jackie writes for Harvard Business Review, in which she has published various articles and book chapters. She also coaches figure skating at Center Ice in Atlanta and serves on Skyland Trail’s adolescent advisory council.

Isha Damani

Isha Damani and husband, Anil, have twins in the Third Grade at Trinity. Nora and Adam began their Trinity Experience when they were in Pre-K. Isha says, “It is such a privilege to serve on Trinity’s Board of Trustees and contribute to creating the best possible environment for our future generation of learners and leaders.”

Being an elementary-only school, Trinity has the ability to allocate all of its resources and efforts toward children at this fundamental learning age range, and Isha believes that to be the School’s greatest strength. She also believes that keeping children healthy and safe has been a core strength of Trinity’s. Isha has enjoyed being an active volunteer at Trinity and has served as a media center volunteer, a Room Parent, and a Spotlight on Art volunteer. She also enjoys organizing events to celebrate diverse cultures and holidays in the classrooms. Additionally, Isha and Anil currently serve on the Inspire Excellence campaign committee and have been wonderful advocates for the facility enhancements happening on campus. In addition to Trinity’s Board of Trustees, Isha serves on the boards for two other nonprofit organizations. She is the lead relationships manager for the Aga Khan Foundation’s Southeastern region and a founding member of 27 Cares. Isha has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Behavioral Science and a Master of Business Administration. She is a consultant for commercial real estate at 27th Group Properties and organizes and promotes events to uplift and empower children and women in diverse communities.

Winnie Smith

Winnie Smith and her husband, Brendan, are the proud parents of two Trinity students, Fifth Grader Barrett and Fourth Grader Winston. Winnie joins Trinity’s Board of Trustees after serving in many volunteer roles at the School, including Trinity School Parents’ Association President and Vice President, Grade Level Representative, Room Parent, Uniform Committee Chair, Trinity Fund Class Caller, and Grade Level Community Service Coordinator. Winnie believes that Trinity has done an excellent job striking the right balance between meeting its near-term goals for any given academic year and remaining focused on preparing for the future. She says, “I have enjoyed serving in a number of volunteer roles at Trinity to help ensure our children’s experiences are the absolute best during the school year. I am now excited to have the opportunity to contribute to shaping the policies and strategies of our school for the long term so that Trinity remains the leader in early childhood education for many years to come.” Winnie knows firsthand that there are so many wonderful things about Trinity, and she believes the unique elementary-only environment and the strong sense of community are truly special. “Trinity is a place where young children are cherished and feel welcomed, loved, and accepted,” she says. “When combined with the rich educational experiences provided by our amazing teachers, administrators, and staff, our children are provided with all the necessary support they need to build a strong foundation for the future.” Winnie was raised in Pennsylvania, attended Blair Academy in New Jersey for high school, and received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Bucknell University. She currently serves as senior vice president of investor relations and corporate sustainability at Global Payments in Atlanta.