Board Members

Mrs. Amy Heyer, Vice-President

Amy Heyer has served the community and the children of Tupelo as a volunteer and employee of the Tupelo Public School District. Mrs. Heyer has volunteered in various school and community organizations, including Joyner PTA President, Parent Council President, Community Coordinator of the Tupelo High School Senior Project, Board of Directors of Church After School Association, Board of Directors of the Association for Excellence in Education, Mississippi Parents Campaign, Citizens for Public Schools and The University of Mississippi Alumni Board of Directors. From 1997-2003, she served the Tupelo Public School District as the Community Support Officer. A graduate of The University of Mississippi with a Bachelor Degree of Social Work and The University of Southern Mississippi with a Master Degree of Social Work, Mrs. Heyer has been a resident of Tupelo since 1986. She and her husband, Rich have three sons. Tays and Jake are both graduates of Tupelo High School and Rich III is currently enrolled at Tupelo High School. The Heyer family is actively involved at First United Methodist Church.

Mr. Eddie Prather - Secretary

emprather@tupeloschools.com

Throughout his thirty years in public education, Eddie Prather has served in several positions. He recently retired as superintendent of the Okolona Public School District. Prior to that position, he was high school principal at Pearl (MS) High School. Presently, Eddie is an educational consultant with the Excellence Group where he works to assist school districts in improving student achievement. Eddie is a native of Tippah County, and holds an associate degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College, an undergraduate degree from Mississippi Valley State University, and a graduate degree from Mississippi State University. He is married to the former Priscilla D. Riley of Tupelo, MS, and they have two children, Latalia and Eddie, Jr. Eddie is a member of New Providence Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon and Sunday School superintendent.

Mr. Mike Clayborne

mkclayborne@tupeloschools.com

Mike Clayborne has served as President of the CREATE Foundation since September 1996. Mike is a native of Northeast Mississippi having been born and reared in Amory, Mississippi. He received a B.S. Degree in 1974 from Mississippi State University. Mike then graduated from the Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia, and the National Planned Giving Institute at the College of William & Mary. He and his wife, Julie, have two daughters, Kayla and Kelsey. Mike served as President of the Tupelo School Board and has been a member since 2000. Mike is a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Tupelo.

Mr. John Nail

jpnail@tupeloschools.com

John P. Nail is a certified public accountant and chief financial officer for Mississippi Methodist Senior Services, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that owns and operates retirement communities in ten Mississippi locations. Prior to joining Senior Services, he spent 31 years in public accounting. Nail is a graduate of the University of Mississippi. He and his wife Mimi are both graduates of Tupelo High School and their three adult children are products of the Tupelo Public Schools. Nail is a member of First Baptist Church in Tupelo where he is an adult Sunday school teacher and a former chairman of deacons. He serves on the Board of Directors of Good Samaritan Health Services.