Education
Wesleyan School Celebrates 25 Years in Peachtree Corners- Mack Family
Four families share their stories
Walking through the grounds of Wesleyan School, it feels more like stepping onto a college campus. For those unfamiliar with the school, it may be surprising to learn that Wesleyan is actually a K-12 private college-preparatory nondenominational Christian school with an enrollment of 1,171 students.
Chris Cleveland, who has served as Head of School for nearly 20 years, describes Wesleyan as many do — a family. The Wesleyan family is made up of teachers, community members and, of course, students and their families.
The Mack family
Athletics were a big factor when it came to the decision for another family to send their two sons to Wesleyan. Audria and Chris Mack had been exploring their options and trying to find a fit for their two academically and athletically gifted sons for years before they stumbled onto the Wesleyan campus.
One day, the two were having lunch at a Wendy’s down the road when they saw a number of students filtering in on their lunch break. Curious about what nearby school the students might be from, the two drove through campus after their meal. The next day, they brought their oldest son, Charles, and showed him around to see what he thought of the school.
(Left to right, the Mack brothers. Jordan Mack with Chris Cleveland. Charles Mack.)
“The minute I drove him on campus he said, ‘Yep, this is where I’m going. This is where I want to go,’” recalled Charles with a laugh. “I was like ‘Son, hold on just a second, let’s find out all the ins and outs.’ And so we inquired a little bit more. But I don’t know what would have happened if he hadn’t gotten admitted here because he was already sold. That’s how we got here.”
Prior to attending Wesleyan, the Mack brothers had tried several other schools, mostly private Christian institutions in and around Atlanta. Living in Lithonia, the decision to enroll Charles and, later, his younger brother Jordan at Wesleyan was not taken lightly. For the Macks, it was of utmost importance to find a school that could provide excellence both in academics and athletics.
“We were willing to drive to Macon every day to pick them up if need be. We discussed that; we didn’t care if it was in South Carolina, if that’s where they needed to be that’s where we would take them. We were going to make sure that they got there if it was the right fit, that’s the main thing,” said Charles.
Fortunately for Charles and Audria, Wesleyan was just a bit closer to their home than South Carolina. A 21-mile drive from their driveway to the campus, this decision was made even easier when Charles was able to drive himself to school. When Jordan eventually enrolled as well, the two brothers would carpool to and from school. Both were active in football, so they had a number of extracurricular activities extending beyond the end of the school day.
It is clear from speaking to the Macks that they have always strived to provide the very best they could for their two talented sons. Despite the distance and cost of tuition, they prioritized not only finding an elite school, but also allowing them to have a say in which school they attended. As luck would have it, Wesleyan was a perfect fit for both boys who excelled and thrived during their years as students.
Since graduating, both Mack brothers received full scholarships to schools of their choice, a fact that Audria attests is in large part due to the excellent education they received at Wesleyan. “I think academics prepared them for the next phase, which was college. That’s what we were looking for. We were ready to make any trade-off to put them into this type of setting.”
During their time at Wesleyan, Charles and Jordan flourished on the football field, and thanks to close relationships with their teachers, they learned time management and gained personal development skills that continue to benefit them in their careers.
Today, 26-year-old Charles is a Graduate Assistant football coach under Bronco Mendenhall at the University of Virginia in Richmond, his alma mater. He was a four-year letter winner as a defensive back and played in 50 career games, posting a career-high 70 tackles in 2016 as a senior. He is also currently pursuing his master’s degree in social and philosophical foundations of education.
Jordan, now 23, also went to UVA and is a two-time ACC All-Academic Team member and a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection. He just departed the NFL over COVID concerns and subsequently took a job at the College Football Playoffs in Irving, Texas.
“For me, personally, I think they take more time listening to the kids’ individual needs here,” Charles said. “Because of their experience here, I feel like they were able to communicate better with the world.”
“They know that they have choices,” Audria added. “We wanted them to understand that, yeah, we are your mom and dad, and we may want things to go one way, but we want to put you all in a good setting and a good position in life so that you can succeed.”
Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett (Good Samaritan Gwinnett) has received state authorization from the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission (GNPEC) to officially launch Access Academy, a private, certificate-granting, low-cost postsecondary education program targeting students of low-income and/or minority households who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare but may lack the financial means to attend traditional college programs.
Access Academy is designed to meet the needs of students from underserved communities, providing healthcare-specific training at a fraction of the cost, thanks to charitable donations and volunteer-based faculty support.
Access Academy will initially offer a five-month medical assistant certification program. Graduates of the program will be able to enter the workforce without the burden of student loans, directly benefiting their household income and financial well-being.
“We are thrilled to launch Access Academy and open the doors of opportunity for those who need it most,” said Shameka Allen, CEO of Good Samaritan Gwinnett. “Our mission has always been to support underserved communities, and now, with Access Academy, we can extend that impact by helping students earn their medical assistant certificates and get their start in healthcare.”
A history of mentoring and education
Good Samaritan Gwinnett has a rich history of educating undergraduate and graduate students in health sciences. Since 2012, the organization has mentored nearly 450 graduate students pursuing medical and dental professional degrees. The cost of precepting just one midlevel student for an average of 168 hours amounts to $10,038, reflecting the organization’s dedication to training and education.
Greg Lang, chief financial officer of Good Samaritan Gwinnett, spearheaded the efforts to secure state authorization and launch Access Academy.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see Access Academy come to life after months of planning and preparation,” Lang said. “Access Academy is not just providing training — it’s offering hope, opportunity and the support needed to turn dreams into reality.”
An ongoing mission
The launch of Access Academy is part of Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s ongoing mission to expand its reach and make healthcare more accessible, both by providing direct patient care and by equipping future healthcare professionals with the skills they need to succeed. Since Good Samaritan Gwinnett’s inception in 2005, more than 52,300 patients have entered the clinic more than 300,000 times.
For more information about Access Academy, visit them at goodsamgwinnett.org/access-academy or email Greg Lang at Greg.Lang@goodsamgwinnett.org.
Pinecrest Academy, a private preK3–12 Catholic school serving north metro Atlanta, has once again been named to the College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) School Honor Roll, earning Platinum distinction.
The AP® School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while also broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness.
“We are so honored to have received this AP Honor Roll Award, as we strive each year to provide every student with a college preparatory experience, which includes the successful completion of challenging AP courses,” commented Amy Bowman, Pinecrest Academy high school principal. “The Platinum designation from AP speaks to the excellence that our faculty strives for in delivering challenging content that prepares our students for college.”
The numbers
During the 2023-2024 school year, Pinecrest had 89% of seniors taking at least one AP exam during high school, 82% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam and 58% who took five or more AP exams. Twenty-one AP courses were offered, representing 30 sections taught by 12 high school teachers at the school.
“Our Class of 2024 earned a 100% acceptance into the college/university of their choice,” Bowman said. “Since the school’s first graduating class of 2007, Pinecrest’s high school has maintained a 100% graduation rate every year.”
AP Access Award
Pinecrest Academy was also awarded the AP Access Award this year. Schools on the AP School Honor Roll may earn the AP Access Award, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework.
“AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement and potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “The schools have shown that they can expand access to these college-level courses and still drive high performance — they represent the best of our AP program.”
For more information, visit pinecrestacademy.org.
For more about the Advanced Placement® Program, visit ap.collegeboard.org.
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