Administration

Dr. Cedrick Gilbert is a native of Atlanta GA. He’s a graduate of Henry McNeal Turner High School and Morris Brown College. He started his career as an educator in 1997 with the Atlanta Public School System as an elementary school teacher. He has earned a Master of Arts in Education with majors in Educational Curriculum and Technology from the University of Phoenix. He has also earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in E-Learning from TUI University. Currently, Dr. Gilbert is serving in the capacity of a High School Assistant Principal with the Atlanta Public School System. In addition, he’s facilitated graduate courses as a professor with Argosy University, Ashford University, Columbia Southern University, Concordia University, and Central Michigan University. He’s a member of the Atlanta Association of Educators, Georgia Association of Educators, National Educators Association, ASCD, and The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. He is also the founder and chief executive operator of Once Upon A Time Productions, LLC.

His interests include spending quality time with family, vacationing, traveling, patronizing exclusive restaurants, and exercising. He is passionate about positively impacting the lives of children and he believes that “A finisher isn't afraid to fail; however, a failure is reluctant to finish."

Ms. Marsha Murray-Bunsie is a former English Literature teacher and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.  She relocated to Decatur, Georgia in 2007. This is her 19th year of dedication to teaching and learning. She prides herself as a dedicated Merchant of Hope activating students’ voices while they explore their literacy practices. Her favorite author is Toni Morrison, and reading her novel The Bluest Eye changed Ms. Murray-Bunsie's life as a reader, writer, and educator.  Her pastimes are watching basketball, listening to Hip-Hop music, and going to the movie theater. She affirms her purpose at Phoenix Academy with the words of bell hooks, “To educate as the practice of freedom is a way of teaching that anyone can learn”.

Dr. Clara Nosegbe Okoka is currently an assistant Principal at one of APS' finest high schools, Phoenix Academy. She received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science from Southern University in 1990, a Masters of Arts in Mathematics Education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1994 and a Ph.D. in Mathematics and Science Education from Indiana University in 2000. 

Prior to joining the APS family, Dr. Okoka taught at Georgia State University for 7 years, taught in Bloomington Indiana, New Orleans Louisiana, and Cedar Falls Iowa.  She has taught mathematics at elementary, middle, high and collegiate levels.  She has successfully implemented several grants funded by the Eisenhower Higher Education Act and the Improving Teacher Quality Grant Program as well as from the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant Program.  Her work focuses on teacher content and pedagogical knowledge and the impact on student achievement.  Dr. Okoka has 26 years of teaching experience in K-16 and has collaborated with several Georgia counties educators on different projects.  She has presented papers, talks, and workshops at the local, state and national levels. 

Her educational mission is to help every student improve the skills needed for success in life, and to bring to awareness in teachers a critical piece of educating children in a way that will allow them to act with thoughtfulness and to become successful in today’s society.

She believes in creating and maintaining high level of instruction that ensure all students will successfully acquire the knowledge, skills and values necessary for success in post-secondary education.

Dr. Okoka is married with three children.  Her children keep her grounded in this ever busy world.  She enjoys watching them revolutionize into their own individuals.