Since elected to the Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education in 2017, Erika Y. Mitchell has been "YOUR CHAMPION FOR OUR STUDENTS". When it comes to serving her community, Mitchell is an active Board Member and a strong believer in student, parent, and community engagement. She believes in meeting the students and their families where they are. Within Mitchell's first term in office, she developed the first electronic newsletter for her district, established community partnerships, advocated for the renovation of the district Planetarium, and advocated for the repurposing of vacated school buildings into community centers; she is a strong voice for the Food pantry program in each school, one-one digital devices for all students, and focused on student outcomes.
Mitchell has led the school board with her work in policy development. She wrote the first school district's Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Trauma-Informed Practices, and Restorative Justice Practice policies and co-wrote the Atlanta Public Schools Equity Policy.
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Mitchell served on the Atlanta Board of Education's Policy Review Committee, Board Development, and the Boards of Directors for the Atlanta BeltLine. In addition, Mitchell is currently on the Georgia Statewide Human Trafficking Taskforce Workgroup, Fulton County Citizen Court Watch for Zone 4, and was appointed by the City of Atlanta's Mayor Bottoms to serve on the Atlanta 2020 Census Committee. In 2019, Mitchell was selected to serve on the Fulton County Juvenile Court Judges section interview panel. Mitchell was also elected to the National School Boards Association's Council of Urban Boards of Education's Steering Committee 2019-2021 and vice chair in 2021. In addition, Mitchell served as the elected Secretary of the National Black Council of School Board Members 2020-2021, where she chairs the Policy & Resolution Committee for both Councils.

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Continue Education:

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Keller Graduate School of Management

Master Business Administration, Public Administration, Concentration in Government

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Human Rights Certification

US Institute of Diplomacy & Human Rights

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2021 Council of Great City Schools, Board Chair Cohort

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Georgetown University, Washington D.C

Certificate in Education Finance

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Harvard School of Business, Boston, MA

Certificate in Accelerating Board Capacity

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2019 School Board Partners Cohort

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RESPECTED PUBLIC SERVANT

 

The multi-talented professional and local public servant is a native of Atlanta and is committed to bridging the support gap between non-profit organizations and for-profit companies to better serve the diverse communities within the city. Mitchell has served as the Program Advisor for Fuel Up To Play 60 and on committees for the following organizations: NFL Alumni, NFL Players Association Metro Chapter, Caribbean American Advancement Foundation and the American Red Cross.

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Mitchell was awarded honored with several awards including the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc (The Greater Atlanta Chapter) Public Servant Award, the 2019 C.T Martin’s Public Servant Award, and was honored by Alabama State University’s “50 under 50” Class of 2018, 2018 America Caribbean Captains of the Industries, 2016 Barack Obama’s “President Lifetime Volunteer Service” Award, the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major” Award and the 2011 National Black Latino Council Community Organization of the Year.

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PRIOR TO CURRENT ROLE

 

Mitchell is currently the Managing Partner at Sports Unlimited Enterprise, LLC. Sports Unlimited Enterprise, LLC (SUE) which specializes in Event planning, Public Relations, Charities, Non-Profits and Branding for current and former professional athletes. SUE’s Mission is to bridge the gap between professional athletes and corporate companies that will engage athletes and or their charitable involvement with the youth and their communities. SUE provides a platform for athletes to leverage their brands to host or partner with fundraising and charitable events.

 

Mitchell is also the founder of Atlanta Women In Sports (AWIS), which salutes and honors Atlanta business women in sports who are blazing trails and redefining the position of “Sports Executive and Athletes” with their contributions to the Sports Industry. AWIS also provides a platform and networking opportunities for women to connect and engage professionals of various industries who carry a similar passion for the business of sports.

 

EARLY DAYS

 

A graduate of Alabama State University, Mitchell was able to take advantage of a full athletic scholarship. She won numerous awards for her stellar athletic performance including the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field South Western Athletics Conference (SWAC) Championships in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Mitchell earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Computer Information Systems yielding her the knowledge and opportunity to work for major global brands such as Coca Cola, Cbeyond, and Kodak as an Information Technology (IT) specialist.

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She furthered her education and received a full scholarship from Esani Paul Mitchell’s Partner School to become a Licensed Esthetics Educator. Shortly after completing her educators’ degree, Mitchell began a teaching career at AVEDA Institute, where she taught histology and physiology of skin, creating AVEDA’s first makeup artist curriculum and small business development. Mitchell also provided State Board certified Continuing Educational Units to professional cosmetologists and estheticians.

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Mitchell’s passion for volunteering led her to volunteer her time to International Pageants including Miss Africa USA, Miss Latina US, and the Miss Latin America Del Mundo pageant. Through her dedication to volunteer work, she managed to incorporate her business skills and her love for beauty and founded La Reina Pageant Productions in 2010. La Reina produces Atlanta Latino Fashion Week, Atlanta Caribbean Fashion Week, Miss Georgia Latina™ ,  Miss Teen Georgia Latina ™, Miss Alabama Latina and Miss Teen Alabama Latina pageants. As the Producer and state Director, her vision is to mentor and create opportunities for Latinas and Caribbeans to pursue their goals and dreams while impacting the community through culture sharing and most importantly, culture awareness.