Meet Our Administrators

GVA’s administrators have extensive experience in serving public and private enterprise. Together, they provide a strong backbone for the day-to-day operations of the Georgia Virtual Academy.

Matt Arkin, Head of School
Matt Arkin previously worked with Public Impact, a national education policy and management consulting firm, where he advised charter authorizers; charter management organizations; foundations; and federal, state, and local governments. Mr. Arkin’s work focused on charter schools, accountability, school finance, and education entrepreneurship. He also worked at Diamond Management & Technology Consultants, where he advised clients on strategic planning, operations, finance, and information technology. Mr. Arkin holds an M.B.A. and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and a B.S. in Computer Science (with highest honors) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Mayya Bryan, Office Administrator
Mayya Bryan previously worked for Americold Logistics as a centralized rate manager in charge of supporting more than 84 warehouses across the United States. She also implemented standard operating procedures for Americold and found several ways to complete large tasks in small amounts of time. Currently, Ms. Bryan is attending Shorter College in Riverdale and will graduate in January of 2008 with a bachelor's degree in Human Services. She started a master's program in February 2008.

Veronica Clemons, Operations Manager
Veronica Clemons previously worked for the Georgia Department of Education’s Georgia Virtual School Program. Ms. Clemons’s work focused on program finances, policies and procedures, and program promotions. She has served in Georgia public schools as a teacher, volunteer program coordinator, school improvement committee member, middle-grades assessment team leader, and in various positions with the Parent Teacher Student Association. She has a deep passion for education. Ms. Clemons holds a B.S. in Special Education from Albany State University and graduated with honors from Central Michigan University with an M.S.A. in Business Administration.

Lori Funk, Academic Administrator
Lori Funk has been in education since 1992. In 2001, she began her career in virtual education with K12 and the Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School (PAVCS), and was one of the first teachers in the country to help K12 build a virtual school model. While at PAVCS, and later Agora Cyber Charter School, Ms. Funk served on many committees and held various leadership positions to support grades K-8. Before her virtual teaching experiences, she was an elementary classroom teacher at one of the very first charter schools in New Jersey. She has directed a summer migrant education program, privately tutored homeschooled students, and directed several high school color guard programs. Ms. Funk graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education with elementary certification from West Chester University, and recently earned an M.A. in Education, with specialization in integrating technology in the classroom, from Walden University. She is currently working on her second M.A. in the area of Administration in Education.

Jermel Isaac, Special Education Manager
Jermel Isaac previously worked for Cobb County School District's and New York City’s Departments of Compliance. Ms. Isaac comes to GVA with 18 years of experience in the areas of special education and federal and state compliancy. She has served in various roles as a special education teacher, department chair, director of operations, student advocate, and district parent-teacher liaison for special education. Ms. Isaac is a professional member of G-Case, GAEL, and CEC. Her child-centered approach to educating and training both children and adults has served the State of Georgia well. Ms. Isaac holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a Master's in Education from the University of Phoenix, and is currently on course to complete her PhD in Christian Studies in May 2009.