Jonathan Leon

I bring a lifetime of commitment to Atlanta’s children and schools. I’m a father with two sons in Atlanta Public Schools, a former APS teacher, and a lifelong advocate for education. I know firsthand what our students and families are facing every day. As a teacher, I stood in front of classrooms in this district and saw the brilliance and potential of our kids. As an APS parent, I’ve navigated the system myself and understand what families need from our schools. And as an education policy leader, I’ve fought for change that makes a real difference—like pushing APS to elevate family engagement to the chief level, organizing against harmful school takeover proposals, and working to establish the student voice policy that created the Student Advisory Council. At the state level, I helped win mandatory lead testing in schools and daycares, aligning Georgia to federal funding to keep kids safe. This work has always been rooted in my core values of love, justice, and equity—values inspired by my grandfather, a Georgia native who overcame systemic barriers to earn his diploma. Those values drive my belief that every child deserves what I call a “quality seat”—a school experience where they are safe, supported, challenged academically, nurtured socially and emotionally, taught by effective educators, and prepared for college, career, and life. I’ve seen what happens when we come together as a community of believers, and I know how to get results. That’s the experience and urgency I’ll bring to the Atlanta Board of Education, District 6.

Our schools are strongest when the community has a voice. I believe families, educators, and neighbors must be meaningfully involved in decision-making, ensuring policies reflect the real needs and hopes of the people they impact.

Philanthropy leader