The Rockdale County Board of Education is composed of seven members who serve four-year terms. Board members are elected at large, bi-partisan by the qualified votes of Rockdale County. Elections are held every two years with two members being elected at one such election and five members being elected at the election two years later.
Mr. Wales Barksdale began serving his first term on the Board in January 2005. He served as vice chairman in 2007 and 2008, and as chairman in 2009 and 2010. He was recently elected to serve a second term as chairman for 2011 and 2012. He also serves on the Board Finance Committee, The Truancy Protocol Committee, and the RCPS Truancy Protocol Committee.
Mr. Barksdale operates Barksdale Law Firm in Conyers, Georgia.
Currently serving in her fourth elected term on the Board of Education, Mrs. Hotchkiss first took office in January 1997. Mrs. Hotchkiss served as vice-chair in 2003 and 2004, and as chair in 2005 and 2006. She currently serves on the Board's Finance Committee, The Board's Awards Committee, and the Magnet School Advisory Board.
Mrs. Hotchkiss is the practice manager for Hedrick and Dodson Dentistry in Conyers. She and her husband live in Rockdale County and are the parents of two boys.
Mr. McBrayer began his first term on the board in January, 2011.
A graduate of Georgia Southern College and Georgia College, Jim is a retired educator and was also a popular athletic coach at the high school level.
Jim and his wife are residents of Rockdale County.
Don McKinney began serving his first term on the Board in January 2009.
An active citizen in Rockdale County, Mr. McKinney has also served our country in World War II and the Korean War with the U.S. Marine Corps. He is a member of the American Legion Honor Guard and dedicated to the betterment of public education in Rockdale County.
Brad Smith began serving his first term on the Board of Education in January 2009. Mr. Smith currently serves on the RCPS Strategic Planning Team.
Brad is a firefighter in Covington. Brad is retired from the U.S. Air Force, having served in Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq. He is a member of the Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce, Conyers Main Street Program Promotions, The Olde Town Conyers Business Council, and American Legion Post 77 in Conyers. Brad is a lifetime member of the Air Force Sergeants Association.
He holds two degrees, Personnel Management and Aircraft Armament Systems Technology, from the Community College of the Air Force.
Mr. Smith also owns and operates Olde Town Awards & Engraving.
Mrs. Yontz is serving in her third elected term on the Board of Education. Mrs. Yontz first took office in January 2001. Currently serving as the vice chair of the Board, she also serves on the Board's Awards Committee. Additionally, she is the Board's representative on the GSBA Governmental Operations Committee.
Mrs. Yontz owns and operates Glen's Bar-B-Que in Conyers.
Currently serving in her second elected term, Ms. Young first took office in January 2007. Ms. Young was just re-elected for a second term which begins January 2011.
Katrina has been active in attending annual conferences with GSBA and the National School Boards Association (NSBA), including becoming a member of NSBA's Black Caucus and joining NSBA's Federal Relations Network She serves on the Board's Finance Committee and the RCPS Magnet School Advisory Board.
Mrs. Young is employed in the human resources department at General Mills in Newton County. She also serves on several community organization boards, including Building Strong Women and Hands On Newton.
Mrs. Young has been married for 26 years and is the mother of two children.