Who We Are

Meet our Board

With a degree in Social Work, Carrie Cowles Assam is deeply committed to helping children and families thrive by championing practical, community-based solutions that make a lasting impact. She has been involved in nonprofit service, fundraising, and grant writing, and has served on boards supporting student enrichment, literacy, and STEAM programs.

Carrie’s journey has taken her through many types of schools—rural, private, homeschool, and large districts. This broad perspective has given her a deep understanding of where systems thrive and where the gaps are for students and families. One experience in particular stuck with her: watching how paying off school lunch debt had an immediate emotional and financial impact on the families affected. That moment planted the seed for School Lunch Angels.

Known for her practical leadership and administrative talent, she brings both vision and execution to every effort she leads. That same energy fuels her love for fundraising, where securing a grant or business sponsorship feels like Christmas morning. She channels that excitement into real results for students and schools.

After settling in Harris County, Georgia, Carrie was eager to dig in and make a difference. She looked for the gaps, recognized the needs, and recalled the impact she had witnessed in her previous community—an experience that sparked the launch of School Lunch Angels. She brought together a team of talented, educated, and passionate parents to form the board—each one bringing their own professional expertise and shared commitment to the mission. Today, she leads the organization with heart and purpose, determined to lift the burden of lunch debt and make school meals something every child can look forward to.

As a mother of five, Carrie knows the power parents hold when they come together around a shared purpose. She often returns to a favorite quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead. That belief fuels her vision for School Lunch Angels and her drive to turn compassion into action.

Carrie Cowles Assam
Founder and President

Kjiersten Layton, Vice President

Jessica VanValkenburgh Banks Treasurer

Kjiersten Layton
Vice President

Kjierstin Layton (KJ) is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of leadership and sales experience in the emergent technologies industry. She has focused on healthcare, education, and commercial sector most of her career. Her passion for service came from her early days as a grants specialist in the Western US for a small video conferencing company that was later acquired by Cisco Systems.

As Vice President of School Lunch Angels, she oversees strategic initiatives that drive mission impact, optimize operational efficiency, and strengthen donor and community relationships. Throughout her career, KJ has successfully led multi-million-dollar grant initiatives, developed cross-sector partnerships, and implemented programs that have positively impacted many rural School Districts, Healthcare organizations, and public sector entities. With a background and BA in Social Sciences and Political Science; public policy, social services, and corporate philanthropy all comes naturally. She has held prior board role positions for the USDLA, United States Distance Learning Association of America. She also currently serves on the Cisco Women’s Advisory Council, and Collaboration Advisory Board.

KJ is committed to advancing innovative solutions and fostering collaborative networks to address complex social challenges. She resides in Hamilton, Ga with her retired veteran husband, Zachary, and two daughters, and beloved labradors.

Jessica VanValkenburgh Banks is a busy wife and mom of four girls who fell in love with Harris County when home shopping in January 2020.

Professionally, Dr. Banks is an accomplished educator, researcher, and advocate for education, currently serving as Associate Professor of Middle Grades Education and Accomplished Teaching at Columbus State University. Jessica also coordinates the Middle Grades MAT, MED, and EdS programs and the K-12 STEM Endorsement. With over two decades of experience in teaching and teacher preparation, she brings a deep commitment to fostering inclusive, innovative, and research-informed practices in education. Specializing in parent and family involvement in education, Jessica has a passion for ensuring all students and their families have access to resources and knowledge students need to succeed inside and outside the classroom.

Dr. Banks earned her Ed.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University, where her dissertation focused on middle school parent involvement across rural South Carolina districts. She also holds an M.S.Ed. in Science and Math Education from the University of Nebraska Kearney and a B.S. in Middle Level Education from Winthrop University, where she was initially certified to teach Science and English.

Her scholarly work centers on science identity, family engagement, and teacher education, with publications in respected journals such as Middle School Journal, The Teacher Educators’ Journal, and Current Issues in Middle Level Education. She has also written book chapters and published an edited volume entitled Mentoring Students and Instructors for Retention and Success. She is a frequent presenter at national and regional conferences, including the National Science Teaching Association, the Association for Middle Level Education, the Georgia Science Teachers Association, and the Georgia Educational Research Association.

Her commitment to service and excellence has been recognized with awards including the CSU College of Education and Health Professions Online Teaching Award and Service Award, and Georgia Forward’s Young Gamechangers honor. In the community, Jessica served as Park Elementary’s PTO president from 2021-2024. She also represented Harris County on State Superintendent Richard Wood’s parent advisory board from 2021-2023.

A passionate advocate for students, Dr. Banks continues to shape the future of education through research, mentorship, and leadership.

Dean Boyer
Board Member, Chief Data Officer

Dean Boyer brings over four decades of leadership in data science, AI, and business strategy to the board. As a seasoned executive, strategist, and founder, Dean has a long history of transforming data into actionable insights that drive organizational growth, efficiency, and innovation. Currently serving as a Data Strategist with ProfitPoint.io and a teacher at Harris County Carver Middle School, Dean has led advanced analytics initiatives across healthcare, finance, and technology sectors, delivering measurable impact in revenue generation, cost reduction, and operational performance.

His expertise includes predictive modeling, machine learning, business intelligence, and strategic planning. Dean has also built and scaled technology practices, founded a successful healthcare software company, and served in C-suite and director-level roles at top firms. A recognized thought leader and mentor, Dean brings a unique ability to bridge technical expertise with visionary leadership—making him a valuable contributor to the mission and governance of the organization.

Cinnamon Williams
Board Member, Social Media Content Creator

Cinnamon Williams brings integrity, energy, and a heart for service into everything she does. Originally from Chandler, AZ, she discovered a passion for real estate at the age of 15 and has since built a multifaceted career in the industry. Cinnamon has worked in nearly every aspect of real estate—from representing buyers, sellers, and investors, to working in new home construction, property styling, and renovation projects including apartment-to-condo conversions and rehab work. Alongside her real estate experience,

Cinnamon has spent the past five years as a social media creator and manager, using digital platforms to tell compelling stories, grow communities, and promote both business and mission-driven causes. Her creative strategy and hands-on approach make her a valuable asset in both the real estate and nonprofit worlds. Since relocating to Columbus, GA in 2011 with her husband Chad—a former Special Operations Sergeant in the U.S. Air Force—Cinnamon has embraced a lifestyle rooted in faith, family, and service. Together with Chad and their 12-year-old daughter, she enjoys gardening, restoring their 1850s farmhouse in Hamilton, GA, and actively serving their local church and community.

As a former military spouse who has relocated multiple times, Cinnamon understands the challenges that come with transition and change. She uses that perspective to support individuals and families with empathy, creativity, and dedication—whether in buying or selling a home, or through broader community impact initiatives.

Our Location

We serve Harris County, Georgia, ensuring every child can enjoy nutritious meals without the burden of lunch debt.

Harris

Harris County, Georgia

Hours

Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm