MEET THE COUNSELING & WELLNESS TEAM

Rachel Kaney Weaver is a native of Atlanta, Georgia. Her career has been devoted to supporting children and families in the Atlanta area. Rachel earned her Bachelor's of Social Work from James Madison University, and received both her Masters of Social Work and Education Specialist degree in Professional School Counseling from the University of Georgia. Rachel began her career working directly with students and families as a social worker with the Department of Family and Children Services and subsequently transitioned to working with students as a high school graduation coach at South Atlanta High School. Rachel’s work has been devoted to identifying and building effective interventions to help students graduate from high school ready for post-secondary success.

Rachel joined Charles R. Drew Charter School’s founding Senior Academy faculty in 2013 and transitioned to the role of Director of College and Career Readiness in 2014.  In this capacity, Rachel developed and led a comprehensive school counseling program which ultimately graduated 100% of seniors in 2017, all of whom received acceptance to college. In 2019 Rachel transitioned to the Dean of College and Career Readiness position, where she continues her role leading the College and Career Team and serving multiple leadership roles within Drew Charter School. 

Rachel has a strong commitment to helping ensure equitable practices to eliminate the many educational barriers and obstacles that exist for students as they navigate post-secondary options. Rachel recently served on the Board of the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and currently serves on the Counselor Advisory Board for Georgia State University, Oglethorpe University, and Clark Atlanta University.  She maintains active membership in the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC), SACAC, and the Georgia School Counselor Association (GSCA).  Ms. Weaver is currently pursuing her Educational Leadership certificate and is expected to complete it in the summer of 2020.

Tara Davis is a Professional School Counselor at Drew Charter School and has worked in the school counseling profession over the last 10 years.  Not only does she provide academic support through scheduling and graduation status review, but Mrs. Davis also helps students with peer mediation, crisis intervention and facilitates individual and small group counseling.  

She is originally from New York and is a graduate of Hampton University.  Mrs. Davis discovered her passion for helping high school students after volunteering to assist high school students craft resumes and learn effective interviewing techniques while working in Human Services.    Since Tara’s move to Atlanta, she has obtained a master’s degree in School Counseling from Clark Atlanta University and an Educational Specialist Degree in school counseling from the University of West Alabama.

Rob Richardson is a dedicated Professional School Counselor at Drew Charter School, where he empowers students to achieve academic, personal, and post-secondary success. He is passionate about applying the principles of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, equipping students with practical skills for making effective, life-shaping decisions. This commitment extends beyond his school, as Rob also serves as a faculty member for the Glasser Institute for Choice Theory, teaching its core components to fellow counselors, educators, and families.

Rob's experience as a former teacher at Drew provides a unique classroom perspective that enhances his counseling practice, allowing him to connect deeply with students. A proud triple alumnus of Georgia State University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Education, a Master of Arts in Teaching, and a master’s in Counseling. He further honed his expertise with a Specialist in Counseling degree from the University of West Georgia and is a registered Associate Professional Counselor (APC) in Georgia. As an Atlanta native, Rob is deeply committed to supporting students in his community.

Emily Cusick is a College Counselor at Drew Charter School.  She was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where she developed her passion for education policy and advocacy.  She earned her  Bachelor of Arts degree in Education Studies and Politics, with a focus on Urban School Reform, at Brandeis University, just outside of Boston. Upon graduating, she worked as an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor at Brandeis.  In that role, Cusick coordinated comprehensive recruitment efforts in the Southeast, served on the admissions selection committee, conducted college application workshops, and oversaw numerous merit and talent-based scholarships. Cusick is also affiliated with several professional organizations including: Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) and National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).  She is excited to build collaborative, tangible partnerships between Drew and colleges and universities.

Mrs. Cusick's career has been dedicated to the pursuit of increasing access and retention to higher education for underserved students, and was drawn to the holistic, student-centered approach to education at Drew Charter.  She is thrilled to have moved to Atlanta to join the Drew Community, and looks forward to using her background in selective admissions to directly serve students and families to identify the right “fit” in a post-secondary plan.

As the Academic Support Coordinator, Charlie Copp facilitates Drew’s Senior Academy Academic Learning Lab. Here students take Study Skills classes for academic support in their core subjects. The Learning Lab also provides students in need of credit recovery the platform, time, and instruction to get back on track toward graduation. He also coordinates Drew’s Senior Academy Summer School.

Charlie graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Sociology. He obtained his teaching certificate in Special Education from Georgia State University and his Masters in Kinesiology from Georgia Southern University. 

Previous to Drew, Charlie has spent time as a Special Education Teacher and Graduation Coach (Decatur High School), Family Academic Support Liaison (Georgia Cyber Academy), and Learning Support Teacher (The Galloway School).

I am Akil Rashid, the Lead Social Worker at Drew Charter School. I have dedicated the past 21 years of my career to serving the Drew Charter School community. I hold a Master of Social Work from UC Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia State University.

In my role, I am responsible for a wide range of social work functions that support the well-being of our students and their families. This includes developing school wide mental health initiatives, implementing attendance interventions, providing student crisis support, reporting abuse and neglect to the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS). Additionally managing the Drew Opportunity Fund which links students and families experiencing financial hardship with essential resources. 

Beyond my work as a social worker, I'm passionate about soccer, a sport I've played since I was a child. In 2013, I founded the soccer program at Drew Charter, and I'm proud to currently coach the Junior Academy and Senior Academy teams. This past year, we made history by becoming the first Atlanta Public Schools team to win a State Championship. It's an honor to mentor and coach these young athletes, both on and off the field.

Miriam Denard received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Afro-American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2006. She earned her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Non-Profit Management from Georgia State University.

With over 17 years of experience working with high school students, Miriam has dedicated her career to the belief that students thrive when they are energized by joy, encouraged through positive reinforcement, and empowered to see their potential impact on the world. She strives to spark curiosity, confidence, and a sense of purpose in every student she meets, while inspiring families to join in celebrating and supporting their students’ journeys.

She joined Drew Charter School’s Senior Academy in 2020 as the Early College and Persistence Counselor, supporting students in their transition to postsecondary opportunities. In 2023, she transitioned into her current role as College and Next Steps Counselor, where she continues to guide students through the college admissions process and help them navigate a wide range of postsecondary pathways.

Miriam was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia and is passionate about coaching high school volleyball, exploring all things music, travel, and watching sports.

 Bio coming soon

 Angela Jiang is an Atlanta metro native and serves as the College and Next Steps Counselor at Charles R. Drew Charter School. She earned her B.S. in Environmental Science from Emory University, her Master’s in Education in Professional School Counseling from Georgia State University, and her Specialist in Professional Counseling from the University of West Georgia. She is also a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) and is currently pursuing her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential. At Drew, Angela also serves as co-sponsor of both the 21Club and the Asian Student Union.

Before joining Drew, Angela worked in the nonprofit sector as a Program Manager with the Sierra Club, the nation’s largest environmental nonprofit, where she discovered her passion for supporting young people. Since then, she has dedicated her career to helping students recognize their potential, navigate systems not always designed with equity in mind, and take confident, joyful steps toward their futures.

Angela’s counseling practice is rooted in a whole-person perspective that acknowledges the deep connections between mental health, identity, and post-secondary planning. She integrates Choice Theory, Adlerian, and multicultural counseling approaches in her work with students, offering a balance of challenge, care, and clarity. She has also contributed to research exploring antiracist counseling practices and mentoring systems for underrepresented youth, with a vision of serving as a future counselor-educator committed to equity and innovation in the field.

Outside of her professional life, Angela is an avid soccer fan and plays as a striker for her local recreational team, Peachtree Press FC.

Stephanie Puritt Cook is a dedicated Professional School Counselor at Charles R. Drew Charter School, where she has served students for the past ten years. With a strong belief in the power of relationships, she is passionate about helping students navigate their academic and personal growth. She strives to be a positive, trusted adult for all students, creating a safe space where they feel heard and understood. Ms. Cook is a firm advocate for implementing restorative practices to ensure students can learn from their mistakes and start fresh, while also teaching valuable conflict resolution skills to help them learn to effectively solve problems. Ms. Cook provides middle school students with comprehensive support, including college and career readiness, social-emotional development, and preparing eighth grade students for a seamless transition to high school. 

Ms. Cook’s experience as a teacher in both Tennessee and South America provides a unique perspective that enriches her counseling practice in educational settings. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and Child Studies from Vanderbilt University, a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Clark Atlanta University, and an Education Specialist in Professional Counseling from the University of West Georgia. Her commitment to the profession is further demonstrated by her status as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and Associate Professional Counselor (APC). Ms. Cook is committed to changing the stigma around seeking counseling services, advocating for mental health as a core component of student well-being. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, with the goal of supporting the next generation of school counselors.