Sara Hand
Archway Professional, Colquitt County Archway Partnership
Sara Hand serves as the Archway Professional in Colquitt County. In her role, she connects her community with University of Georgia and other higher education resources to address critical locally identified needs and opportunities. She earned both her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Communication and a Masters in Agricultural and Environmental Education from the University of Georgia. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Administration from Valdosta State University with a focus on rural community development.
Lykesa Bridges
Assistant Head Start/Early Head Start Director, Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Inc.
Lykesa Bridges is currently employed as the Assistant Head Start/Early Head Start Director for Southwest Georgia Community Action Council, Inc. In this role she provides daily guidance and leadership to over 500 employees to ensure the organization’s child development program of 2,123 students and pregnant women achieve high standards of quality. Lykesa is also employed as a Community Research Partner for the University of Georgia’s Center for Family Research. In this position she supports the work of new initiatives and active research projects completed on African American Families.
Dr. Nick Chastain
Director of Student Support Initiatives, Colquitt County School District
Dr. Nick Chastain is the Director of Student Support Initiatives for Colquitt County Schools, Benjamin B. Tregoe Strategic Leadership in Education award winner, and an expert in equity in education. His research on equity in school discipline was published in the Journal of Education & Social Policy. Dr. Chastain's work on equity in education used discipline disproportionality to explore the implications of poverty, race, and achievement on student outcomes. He found that teachers would go to great lengths to improve their efficacy and increase student achievement. Dr. Chastain received his bachelor's degree from Troy University in 2009, a Master's degree from Valdosta State University in 2013, and Doctorate in Education from Valdosta State University in 2021. Before entering the field of education, he had a background in sales and marketing and served in the Georgia Army National Guard.
Erin Honeycutt
Assistant Director/Youth Services, Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System
Erin Honeycutt is the Assistant Director / Youth Services Librarian at the Moultrie-Colquitt County Library System. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Samford University, a Juris Doctor from The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, and a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Alabama. Erin left her career as a public interest attorney to begin her librarianship journey in 2011 and joined MCCLS as Children and Youth Services Librarian in 2018. As part of her responsibilities, Erin conducts weekly storytimes for babies and preschoolers, as well as monthly outreach visits to local childcare centers. She believes that making early literacy a priority ensures a brighter future for individuals, families, and the community.
Dale Rickett
