MACE was invited to speak a second time at Georgia State University to future educators!

MACE visits some members from Macon's Westside High! (Mr. Brousseau is at center.)

The MACE Office is a child-friendly environment! The MACE lions don't scare Scooter!

MACE Marketing Director Robinson hands Janice Scott a $500 contest check!

Theron Ward (L) & Norreese Haynes relax after dining at The Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle!

Mr. Haynes & Dr. Trotter discuss the MACE itinerary for Greene & Hancock visit!

Dr. Trotter (center) visits members Eric Ritenour and Sheila Daniel at Southwest DeKalb HS!

Chief Operating Officer Haynes (R) gives trusted advice to MACE Chairman, Dr. Trotter!

John R. Alston Trotter, Ed.D.,J.D. Chairman & CEO   Dr. Trotter, a fierce and loyal friend to his friends but a fierce and feared adversary to his adversaries, is Georgia's undisputed champion of teacher rights.  He has always emphatically and unapologetically stated that "you cannot have good learning conditions until you first have good teaching conditions."  Dr. Trotter rightfully maintains that there are three major problems in public education in Georgia:  (1) defiant and disruptive students, (2) irate and irresponsible parents, and (3) angry and abusive administrators.  When asked why he fights so hard for teachers, Dr. Trotter states, "Because teachers matter."

Dennis Yarbrough, M.Div. Vice Chairman   Rev. Yarbrough joined MACE within the first month of its existence and has been a true and trusted trooper ever since.  He was an All-American football player in college and has a magnetic personality.  From a large and loving family in DeKalb, Rev. Yarbrough has been inducted into the Druid Hills High School Athletic Hall of Fame as well as into the Newberry College Football Hall of Fame.  After teaching for several years, he earned a Master's in Divinity and spent additional time at Emory's Candler School of Theology to become a nationally-certified chaplain.

Norreese Haynes Chief Operating Officer/Executive Director This native of Atlanta has lived in Clayton County since he was seven years old, the same county that recently elected him to its Board of Education.  Mr. Haynes serves as MACE's Executive Director, visiting members at their schools and picketing administrators outside their schools.  Mr. Haynes received an outstanding alum award at Clayton State University.  Formerly a basketball coach in Clayton County Schools, his teams won several county championships.

J. Anderson Ramay, Jr., Esq. (R) General Counsel   Attorney Ramay hails from a family of educators in south Georgia.  Both of his parents are MACE members.  He trained as an engineer at Georgia Tech, then matriculated at Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law.  Attorney Ramay and Chairperson Trotter were in the same section at Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law.

Jeff Cox Associate Executive Director Mr. Cox is usually the first person from whom a member will hear, as he heads up the initial contact team.  This native of Jonesboro does an outstanding job counseling the MACE members and is now into his fifth year as Membership Director.  He and MACE's founding attorney, the late William L. Woods, graduated at Jonesboro High School where they played football together.  Mr. Cox has a noted musical side as he is an accomplished singer and songwriter.  He formerly was the lead singer of the popular Poppa Bear Blues Band.

Renee Bishop Office Manager/Technology Director   Renee Bishop has recently taken over the responsibilities as Office Manager for MACE. Mrs. Bishop has done an excellent job as webmaster of MACE's website maintains our technological edge.  Renee attended West Georgia College and received her Bachelor of Science at Georgia State University. Renee, her husband and son live in Fayette County.  Her mother-in-law, Linda Crummy, is a Charter Member of MACE and served two terms on the Clayton County Board of Education.  (She was one of the wise members who did not "nut up" on the school board.)

Darryl Plenty Field Director   Mr. Plenty serves as the MACE Field Director and has been a long-time power picketer with the MACE Picket Squad. Originally from upstate NY , Mr. Plenty attended West Texsas State University.  Among his roles as the MACE Field Director, he represents teachers at investigation hearings, leads the MACE Picket Squad, speaks at school board functions, takes servcie calls to consult members, and is known for his "kick ass" approach of assisting teachers with tyrannical administrators. Mr. Plenty has a strong interest in High School sports, and especially has an interest  in the boxing arena. His father trained a cruiserweight world champion, Oneal Bell.

Michael Robinson Regional Director  He worked for several years as an accountant with a Fortune 500 Company and worked with a local school system before working with MACE.  Michael is originally from North Carolina where he was First Team (All Classification) All State as a running back before playing collegiate football.  He is very involved in the education of his children, serving as PTA president of their elementary, middle, and high schools.

J.B. Stanley Marketing Director   J.B has recently joined the MACE Team. His flexible role at MACE at the office and in the field  has allowed him to work in all aspects of  MACE operations.  You can find J.B. taking intial contact information from MACE Members, picketing, assisting in hearings, but his main role is Marketing.  He graduated  from West Georgia University and is proficient in the computer/web field. His mother is a retired Georgia teacher and his father was always a union man.

Benjamin Barnes Regional Director Ben Barnes, a native of Louisiana, is in and out of the schools are on a regular basis.  He is a stalwart on the MACE Strike Team, manning the picket line whenever the need arises and intervening at the central offices on the behalf of teachers.  Mr. Barnes is committed to the protection and empowerment of classroom educators.  He is the father of three children, Marquise, U’Nijzah, and Daniel.  Mr. Barnes often says;  “Teachers are the key to America’s future.  Without the influence of teachers, my life would have probably gone awry.  I would have given up a long time ago had it not been for the teachers in my lives.”

David Cochran Membership Director David Cochran, a native of Columbus, Georgia, is MACE’s Membership Director.  Mr. Cochran was a freshman at the same high school when Dr. Trotter was a senior at this school.  Mr. Cochran was a standout basketball player and played college ball for Dr. Trotter’s brother, Dan Trotter.  Mr. Cochran stands 6 feet, six inches tall, weighing 315 pounds.  He’s a big man, and he casts a large shadow on the picket line.  Mr. Cochran’s background in business includes opening up health clubs across the United States.  He and his wife, Michele, are the proud parents of two children, Alexander and Andrew, the youngest of whom is a star baseball player at East Coweta High School and the oldest, Andrew, is currently the reigning Mr. Georgia – Heavyweight Division.

Rafael Garcia Regional Director Rafael Garcia, a native of Colombia, was raised in the U.S.A. once his father, a medical doctor in Colombia, died when he was twelve years old.  By this time, he had mastered the English language, and his mother and brother settled in the Miami area.  A "D1A" football prospect at Miami Killian High School, he finally decided to attend Florida A & M University where he excelled on the offensive line.  He was invited to try out in the NFL, but he eventually decided on a teaching and coaching career.  Mr. Garcia is most gregarious and his out-going personality is infectious.  He never meets a stranger.  The Garcias (Rafael, wife Nekey, and son R. J.) live in Stockbridge.  Rafael serves as MACE's Regional Director.

Tom (Thug) Berry Regional Director  Thomas (Thug) Berry was born and raised in Chicago.  He graduated from Chicago’s Loyola University and started teaching in the tough Chicago schools.  After teaching seven years in Chicago, Mr. Berry moved to Atlanta and began his teaching tenure in the Atlanta Public Schools.  Mr. Berry’s wife, Betty, has been employed in the Library at Emory University for over 30 years.  Tom and Betty have two daughters,  Ashley and Thomasina.  Their daughters have always attended Parochial schools where Tom says that “discipline is always number one.”  Discipline should be number one in public schools, contends Mr. Berry.  Then, substantial academic achievement can take place.