My Home Away from Home

"My three years on Education Matters were the best three years of my life. When I first started I was a talkative soul, but while I was here I became more humble and more disciplined. One of my favorite lesson that I was taught here was that every thought doesn't have to be voiced. Which made me realize that most of my problems in life were about my mouth. Learning that will help me in my military career.

My experience with everyone involved with this program was like no other. This was, is, and forever will be my family. Education Matters is my home away from home. I've never felt more welcome by anyone to be open and be myself. Being apart of Education Matters has been one of life's greatest blessings. I am extremely thankful for being apart of the program, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world!" - U'Leiqua Walton (2015-2017)

Best Experience  E-V-E-R!

"Education Matters helped me in a lot of ways. One way, in particular, was  with my public speaking skills. I was always one to be outgoing and the leader type, but auditioning for the Education Matters show in front of a panel of professionals definitely put my public speaking skills to the test. Hosting the Education Matters show continued to open my eyes to all the important topics overlooked in the community that needed addressing! While interning, I also picked up some bookkeeping and other billing skills that I still use today! Thank you again for the opportunity. " - Selena Richie,  the first host of Education Matters

Hear it for yourself!

Success Stories

Troy Burgess and Dori Jones

Program success is measurable using a variety of factors. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 96% of our seniors graduated from high school.
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• 60% of the graduates went on to major in journalism, mass communications or marketing in college.

• In the first year of Education Matters (2010), the Clarke County School District high school graduation rate was 63%. That rate grew to 79.6% in 2018.

• Past interviewees include candidates for Georgia Superintendent of Schools, Clarke County School Board members, the 2016 National School Superintendent of the  Year, Tiny Harris (of Tiny & TI) and the 2012 Southeast regional campaign manager to re-elect President Barak Obama. ​

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I Found My Passion

"Going into my senior year of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to study in college, but I knew that I was going. There are so many things I wanted to do with my life but I didn’t have anything definite in mind. When Mr. Dunn came to my school and auditioned me for a position on Education Matters, I had no idea that I would find my passion, but I’m so glad I did. Because of the year I spent hosting Education Matters, I knew that I wanted to study communications when I went to college, and that’s exactly what I did.

Now, five years later, I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and working on my master’s degree. What I have learned, from working with Mr. Dunn and Education Matters, is that you (sometimes do not) know what your real passion is and sometimes it takes someone seeing something in you to bring out your passion. Education Matters not only helped me find my passion, but it gave me a voice. Through Education Matters, I was able to encourage other teens and use the training I was getting for college papers and internships. To some, Education Matters may just be a hobby but for me, it shaped me into the successful woman that I am today." - Inesha K. Howard (2011-2012)