Consultant – Tamara Irving

Tamara Irving
ArtsNOW Dance Consultant

Tamara Irving, an esteemed arts educator and performer, boasts a rich background in dance. Her impressive career includes performances with the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Opera, and lead roles in Disney's The Lion King. With 12 years as the former dance director at North Atlanta High School and adjunct roles at Kennesaw State University and Brenau University, she's a pillar in arts education.

Consultant – Simone Liberty

Simone Liberty
ArtsNOW Dance Consultant

Simone Liberty specializes in arts-integrated programs for students in grades K-8. She holds a Master's in Public Administration and an Arts and Cultural Management certificate. Simone has developed and led creative curricula through in-classroom, afterschool, summer camp, and homeschool formats. As a strong advocate for the belief that art is for everyone, Simone is passionate about developing methods and programs that break down barriers to access the arts.

Consultant – Keighly Brown

Keighly Brown
ArtsNOW Dance & Theater Consultant

Keighly is an Atlanta actor, singer, dancer, and musician. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music, where she honed her music, dance, and theatre skills. Keighly has lived and auditioned in both New York City and Atlanta and actively performs gigs locally in the Atlanta area. She is deeply passionate about the arts and advocates for its vital role in the academic classroom. Keighly inspires others by demonstrating the transformative power of creativity, encouraging individuals to express themselves and embrace their unique talents.

Consultant – Katy Betts

Katy Betts
ArtsNOW Visual Arts Consultant

Katy Betts is an artist and educator with over ten years of experience teaching core subjects and visual art in the public school system. She served as department chair and yearbook adviser in her previous school for several years and has been a teacher leader throughout her career. Katy has worked with students of all ability levels to integrate their art experiences with literacy and math throughout her time as a teacher. Additionally, she has taught private art lessons to students and works as a local artist out of her home studio. Katy earned her bachelor's degree in Visual Art from Berry College in 2007. In 2012, she earned her Master of Arts in Teaching from Georgia State University. Her passion is to awaken creativity and utilize visual art to engage all students in the learning process.

Consultant – Ashley Drake

Ashley Drake
ArtsNOW Music Consultant

Ashley, a former music educator with over 14 years of public education experience, is a Shorter University graduate with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction: Integrated Arts. She is also a former Teacher of the Year.

She was a co-author of revising teaching standards and developing new course titles for the Georgia Board of Education's Performance Standards. She has also designed and developed performance evaluation assessments for Gwinnett County Public Schools and instructor-led training for adult learners at the annual Georgia Music Educators Association in-service conference.

Ashley is passionate about music education and believes it is essential for a well-rounded education.