Laura Akins is an attorney practicing in the areas of special needs planning, estate planning, elder law and probate with Nadler Biernath.

Assisting her clients in planning for family emergencies, finding solutions for complicated mixed family circumstances and for the end of life is where Laura has dedicated her entire legal career. After a loved one has experienced a catastrophe or passed away, Laura helps clients navigate through the probate procedure and legalities.

As a native Atlantan, Laura appreciates the opportunity to serve her hometown community. With patience and empathy, she guides her clients through the often overwhelming estate planning or probate processes. Laura finds it incredibly rewarding to connect with her clients and make difficult circumstances easier

Dr. Zelphine Smith-Dixon is the State Director for the Division for Special Education at the Georgia Department of Education and we are so thankful that she sat down with the YANA Nation podcast to discuss how COVID has interrupted the school curriculum for all children all over the State of Georgia. She has a longstanding history of improving achievement for schools in SC and GA and a global pandemic is not slowing her down. 

Dr. Smith-Dixon recognizes that since so many benefits and regulations weren't written for a pandemic, things are extra difficult for families with special needs children. Dr. Smith-Dixon encourages everyone to look at what the regulations are asking and bring innovation and bring a team approach.

"Families should still be able to expect faith," Dr. Smith-Dixon said. "There is still an expectation that students with disabilities need a free, appropriate, public education."

As the Tri-County Special Educator of the Year, Vance-Providence Elementary Teacher of the Year and Orangeburg Consolidated School District Three Alternate District Teacher of the Year, we know that the special needs students of Georgia are in good hands. In April 2018, Columbia College presented her with the Wil Lou Gray Outstanding Educator Award. Later, she served as the Columbia College Commencement Speaker in May 2019. 

Currently Dr. Smith-Dixon is President-Elect for the National Association of State Directors of Special Education. She serves in ministry at the dReam Center Church of Atlanta in Decatur, Georgia and is a member of the Covington Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Mr. Uitvlugt, co-founder of Eaton Academy, is the former Headmaster of Atlanta New Century School. He was also the Director of Fine Arts and Publications for Brandon Hall School. Mr. Uitvlugt, a graduate of the University of Michigan, served as the Executive Director of the Accrediting Commission for Independent Study in Georgia. He has more than thirty-one years' experience as a teacher and an administrator.

As a certified counselor with more than thirteen years of experience in the world of education, Kris Fix is the perfect person to lead the LEAP Program at the Eaton Academy, where the mission is to develop education solutions in a K-12 academic environment devoted to meeting students’ individual needs. Kris has served as a school counselor and professional life coach/transition counselor and is authorized by the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Association to provide services for adolescents, which he does so well within LEAP. Standing for "Learn, Experience, Adapt, Prepare," LEAP is an innovative post-secondary program designed for individuals who want to strengthen their overall life skills in order to achieve independence. Participants benefit from job readiness training, life skill development, and extensive social skill instruction.

The goal of the program is to produce independent young adults with developmental disabilities by helping them improve their job-related, social/emotional, and communications skills. LEAP fosters relationships with local businesses to help participants gain real-life job experience with the aim of obtaining employment upon completion of the program and evaluates participants’ specific skills and needs in order to help them create a plan for future success.

Even with the COVID pandemic changing the landscape of education nationwide, Kris and the LEAP team still made their Summer LEAP Program possible with the help of Google Classroom and virtual learning, and have worked tirelessly to provide participants with classes right from the comfort of home that touch on a number of topics, including: 

·  social skills

·  anxiety and stress management

·  art therapy

·  personal finance

·  job readiness / interview skills

·  communications and role-play

·  cooking

·  independent living skills

For questions regarding the program, reach out to Kris Fix at [email protected] or for more info on the program, please call 770-645-2673, ext. 242 to speak with Admissions Director Margie Cohan, or email her at [email protected].