RELATIONSHIPS • RELEVANCE • RIGOR

A 20-year legacy of scholars, innovation, and community.

DeKalb Agriculture Technology & Environment, INC. has been transforming K-8 education in Stone Mountain, GA since 2005 — building inquisitive scholars through hands-on, STEM-driven learning.

| OUR STORY

Who we are and why we exist.

At DeKalb Agriculture Technology & Environment, Inc. (D.A.T.E.), we believe that education is most transformative when it engages both hands and minds. Our philosophy centers on the conviction that scholars thrive in learning environments that are rigorous, experiential, and deeply connected to the communities and ecosystems around them.

We recognize that today’s learners need more than isolated knowledge; they require the ability to think critically, act responsibly, and make informed decisions that consider the sustainability of our environment, agriculture, and technological resources. By immersing scholars from grades K–8 in real-world, hands-on learning, we cultivate their curiosity, problem-solving abilities, and capacity for innovation.

Our philosophy is guided by the belief that education should be relevant, engaging, and relationship-driven. By connecting Georgia’s K-12 Standards to meaningful, applied instruction, we foster higher academic achievement, stronger engagement, and the development of responsible, informed citizens. We understand that learning is not confined to textbooks; it happens when scholars explore, experiment, and understand the impact of their choices on the world around them.

At D.A.T.E., our vision “Engaging Hands and Minds through Agricultural, Technological, and Environmental Sciences” is more than a motto; it is the essence of our educational philosophy. We are committed to nurturing scholars who are not only academically proficient but also equipped to navigate complex challenges with creativity, integrity, and an awareness of their role in sustaining the environment, agriculture, and technological innovation for the future. This vision is brought to life through a dynamic curriculum that bridges environmental science, agriculture, and technology with academic excellence.

| OUR BELIEFS

Relationships

family, community, and belonging at the center of everything we do

Rigor

excellence and the highest expectations for every scholar

Relevance

real-world, learning that connects to every student’s journey

| CEO DR. KEIDRA TAYLOR

Continuing the Legacy | Scaling Into the Future

Under the first Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Maury Wills, D.A.T.E. Academy established a strong foundation rooted in agriculture, technology, the environment, rigorous academics, and innovative learning experiences. For over two decades, the school expanded its programs, strengthened its instructional model, achieved STEM certification, and created opportunities for scholars to connect classroom learning to real-world experiences.

As D.A.T.E. Academy enters its next chapter under the leadership of the current Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Keidra Taylor, we are building on a strong foundation while expanding opportunities for scholars to be positive leaders and innovators.

Agriculture, Technology, and Environment remain at the heart of the D.A.T.E. experience. Through our Foci Instructional Model, rigorous academics, STEM/STEAM learning, project-based learning, ecosystem stewardship, community partnerships, and real-world experiences, scholars are empowered to investigate, innovate, and apply their learning in meaningful ways.

Continuing the legacy means preserving the valuable insight, practices, and celebrating the accomplishments that have made D.A.T.E. Academy one of the best charter schools in the state of Georgia. Honoring that legacy, we scale into a future that will challenge scholars to apply their STEAM knowledge to solve problems and lead innovative change in their local and global communities. With the support of strategic partnerships, our goal is to prepare scholars to thrive in an ever evolving world.

| Administration Team

Angela Venisee
Elementary Principal

Dr. Edward Wilson
Administrator On Special Assignment

Timothy Parker
Director of Student Services

Deva Hamilton
Director of STEAM & Community Partnerships

William Robinson
Chief Information & Operations Officer

View all faculty & staff

| BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Guiding D.A.T.E. Academy’s mission and future.

Our board of directors provides strategic guidance, financial oversight, and community accountability to ensure D.A.T.E. Academy continues to serve scholars and families at the highest level.