About us

Mari Early, Chief Executive Officer 

As the CEO of Legacy33 consulting, For over two decades, Mari has been dedicated to leveling the playing field for underserved communities across the United States, particularly in Georgia. As a school principal, Transformation Specialist, and Director of Leadership and Schools Support with the Chief Turnaround Office (Georgia Department of Education), she has consistently advocated for and implemented programs that address the needs of marginalized students, ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities necessary for success. Her support resulted in 70% of partner schools receiving the highest ever academic outcomes, a 47% decrease in the number of failing schools, and a 38% improvement in Climate Star Ratings. Mari’s deep understanding of the challenges faced by these communities makes her uniquely qualified to design an early learning center that truly serves all children, regardless of their background.  

Mari Early's extensive experience in public education, including her work in urban and rural schools, positions her as an expert in early childhood education. Her commitment to equitable systems, social-emotional wellness, and empowerment through education aligns perfectly with the goals of the new early learning center. Mari was selected twice as Teacher of the Year, received numerous Principal Awards for exemplary leadership. Legacy33, LLC, under her leadership, is committed to creating environments that foster academic excellence and personal growth for all students.

Mari Early has a wealth of experience working in partnerships with local school boards, local governments, the State Board of Education, and the nonprofit sector, including organizations like the United Way, Family Health Centers of Georgia, the Get Georgia Reading Campaign, and the Atlanta-Fulton Family Foundation. These collaborations have allowed her to win multiple partnership awards and tremendously strong place-based relationships that benefit children and communities. Her ability to navigate and coordinate among various stakeholders ensures that projects are aligned with broader community goals and that resources are effectively leveraged for maximum impact.

Dr. Dwight Rhodes, Senior Consultant

Dr. Dwight Rhodes is the CEO and Founder of Rhodes2Equity (R2E) Consulting headquartered in Atlanta. He has a proven track record for providing equitable outcomes for students by dramatically improving their schools and districts. R2E is the intersection of his learning as a 2017 Harvard doctoral graduate of educational leadership and a twenty-plus-year educator. 

As the former Chief Transformation Specialist for Georgia’s Every Student Succeeds Act plan to transform its lowest-performing schools, Dr. Rhodes’ leadership was instrumental in transforming historically “F” schools into nearly “B” rated schools within two years. He helped lead the transformation of schools and districts by getting to the root of problems and removing barriers for district and school-level leaders. To achieve this, he implemented a Design Thinking framework that created the space for district and school leaders to utilize research, ideation, and prototyping to reimagine how to improve academic outcomes for all students, particularly students of color.

Learn More about Rhodes2Equity: http://www.rhodes2equity.org/