Board Members
Meet your MCS Board Of Education Members
Jeff DeJarnett
WARD ONE
jdejarnett@marietta-city.k12.ga.us
(404) 626-1744
Jeff DeJarnett has served on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education since November 2021. He is the Managing Broker of the Harry Norman Realtors Marietta office and previously worked as a sales associate with the firm for more than 14 years, specializing in residential, land, and equestrian properties.
A native of Marietta, Jeff attended Marietta High School before earning a degree in Music Education from Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky. He returned home immediately after college and spent ten years teaching instrumental music in both Cobb County and Marietta City Schools.
Jeff and his family later lived for 11 years in the suburbs of Paris, France, where he helped organize musical events for local Protestant and Catholic churches. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Cobb Association of Realtors.
Jeff and his wife, Kibbie, live near Marietta Square and are active members of Stonebridge Church. They have four children, all graduates of Marietta High School, and 11 grandchildren, four of whom attend Marietta City Schools.
Laura Holder
WARD TWO
friendsoflauraholder@gmail.com
A Marietta native, MHS alum, and longtime MCS parent, Laura has served in multiple volunteer leadership roles, including the MCS District PTA and the A.L. Burruss School Governance Team.
She brings deep community roots and a commitment to advocating for students, supporting strong academics, and helping Marietta remain a leader in literacy, graduation, and school safety.
Laura and her husband Nathan are the proud parents of three children, two of which attend MCS. They are active members of Christ the Redeemer Church, where Laura serves in the children's ministry.
Jeff Collins
WARD THREE
Jeff Collins is a Marietta native and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science Education from Auburn University. His career in the Class 8 truck industry spans over 25 years, where he currently serves as a fleet account manager.
Jeff and his wife, Ivy, raised their two children in Marietta City Schools. An avid supporter of his children’s extracurriculars, Jeff has volunteered for the Hickory Hills Dragon Players, and the Marietta High School Cross Country and Track & Field teams. He served on the Marietta Touchdown Club Board of Directors for two years, and is a member of the “Chain Gang” for the Varsity Football team at Northcutt Stadium. He and his family attend Christ the Redeemer Church in Marietta.
Jeff is the newly appointed liaison for the Marietta Schools Foundation Board. He is committed to advancing academic excellence, promoting fiscal responsibility, and strengthening collaboration across the Marietta City Schools community.
Jaillene Hunter
WARD FOUR, CHAIR
jaillenehunterward4@gmail.com
(770) 688-5003
Jaillene Hunter has served on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education since November 2021 and serves as Board Chair. She is the Executive Director of the Georgia Press Association and also serves on the Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Regional Health Board. Previously, she served for four years on the Marietta Mentoring for Leadership Board.
A passionate advocate for early literacy and a parent who understands the challenges some students face in learning to read, Jaillene was appointed to the State of Georgia’s Council on Literacy. In this role, she supports statewide efforts to improve literacy outcomes and is committed to ensuring all students become confident, successful readers, regardless of background or learning style.
Previously, Jaillene served as Communications Director for former Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, where she helped develop and implement Georgia’s Charter Systems and College and Career Academy programs. That experience gives her the insight and commitment to keep Marietta’s College and Career Academy among the best in the state, preparing students for college, careers, or military service.
Jaillene is the mother of four sons, who are sixth-generation Marietta students, and the wife of Marietta High School graduate Mitch. She and her family are active members of Stonebridge Church.
Angela Orange
WARD FIVE, VICE-CHAIR
aorange@marietta-city.k12.ga.us
(404) 375-9653
Angela Orange has served on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education representing Ward 5 since 2017. She grew up in a large family of twelve children in a small farming community in southwest Georgia, an experience that shaped her values of service and commitment to education. She brings a strong dedication to public education shaped by both classroom experience and extensive nonprofit leadership.
Angela previously worked as a middle school teacher in a Title I school, where she taught English Language Arts, literacy, and math. She has more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and education sectors, with a career focused on organizational leadership, talent development, and community impact. During her tenure on the Board, Angela has championed initiatives focused on early learning for 3 and 4-year-olds, literacy improvement, educator development, student safety, and responsible stewardship of district resources.
Angela serves on the boards of CulturedAg, the SafePath Children’s Advocacy Center, and the Georgia School Boards Association. She is a graduate of Leadership Cobb, Class of 2025, and remains actively engaged in civic and community leadership initiatives. She holds degrees from Emory University and the University of Georgia and is a proud Coca-Cola Scholar Alumna.
Angela is a longtime attendee of Zion Baptist Church of Marietta and also enjoys supporting the ministries and programs of other congregations throughout the local community.
Christina Rogers
WARD SIX
Christina Rogers is a certified Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) registered nurse at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital, where she has spent more than a decade caring for critically ill infants and supporting families during some of their most difficult moments.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and an Associate degree in Nursing, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at LSUA. Prior to her nursing career, Christina worked for more than a decade as a zookeeper at Zoo Atlanta, focusing on conservation education and public engagement.
Christina is the mother of two teenage children who attend Marietta City Schools. She is committed to creating safe, inclusive learning environments, supporting strong academics, and ensuring that every student feels welcomed, supported, and challenged to succeed.
Irene Berens
WARD SEVEN
irene.berens@gmail.com
(678) 386-1008
Irene Berens has served on the Marietta City Schools Board of Education since 2001. A graduate of Georgia Tech, she is also a retired ballet teacher with the Georgia Dance Conservatory.
She and her husband, Bob, a Marietta High School graduate, have three children, two of whom also graduated from Marietta High School. They are proud grandparents to six grandchildren, one of whom currently attends Marietta Middle School.
Board Of Education Duties
- Enact policies that guide the operation of the system;
- Adopt programs of study and evaluate program effectiveness;
- Annually evaluate the performance of the Superintendent;
- Employ staff members upon recommendation of the superintendent;
- Approve budgets, financial reports and major expenditures;
- Provide funds for operation;
- Establish and maintain a system of records and accounts;
- Plan for the expansion, improvement and financing of the capital building program;
- Keep the public informed on school issues;
- Act as a tribunal at certain employee and student hearings.
Board Quick Links
School Board Members vs. Other Elected Officials
Find Your Ward
Your City Council ward is the same as your MCS Board of Education ward.