Founder

In July 2012, Dr. Elaine Swafford took the helm as the CEO of the Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, the first all-girls public charter STEM school in the State of Tennessee. After being on the brink of closure prior to her arrival, the school has now earned Reward School Status, among other awards. As the Executive Principal, she successfully led the Howard School of Academics and Technology in turnaround reform efforts from 2004 to 2007. She left the Howard School to become Area II Superintendent for the Hamilton County Department of Education. Dr. Swafford was the founding CEO of the Chattanooga Preparatory School in 2016. Most recently, Dr. Swafford and team received approval to open and become the first Chattanooga public charter Montessori Elementary at Highland Park beginning August 2021.

Prior accepting her purposeful impact calling twelve years ago to lead CGLA, she returned in July 2008 to assume the position as the Vice President of Student Affairs at Chattanooga State, where she had previously served as Vice President of Economic and Community Development. Elaine is in her 42nd year of serving in both public and higher education. She received the 2021 NOBEL Women National Shining Star Award for Education.

Dr. Swafford’s community involvement during her career includes participation as a member of numerous local community boards and service organizations. She was recently appointed by the Governor to the State University of Tennessee Chattanooga Advisory Board. Dr. Swafford accepted the appointment as chair of the Tennessee Charter School Center Board of Directors. She was appointed as a Trustee of the Benwood Foundation. She was a member of Class V of Leadership Tennessee. She served as president of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary beginning July 2020. She served as the 2021-22 United Way Campaign Chair and Chair of the UTC Chancellor's Roundtable. Dr. Swafford has experience in building and implementing pioneering educational programs, geared to promoting academic progress for at-risk students and those who can achieve, but are often underserved. While at Chattanooga State, she created innovative programs to include Project AHEAD, Diploma Completion Program, the Middle College Collegiate High School, and the Building of Outstanding Service Scholars (Boss). She uses her educational experience, leadership ability, energy, and passion to inspire and motivate young people, while having a positive impact on the community. She was raised in Bakewell, TN.

Educational Consultant

Marj began her career with General Electric Company in California. She moved to Tennessee to take a position at TVA. Since that time Marj Flemming proven herself a serial entrepreneur with the founding of LaunchPoint Leadership – a leadership development business began in 1992. She is also the co-founder of the Women’s Leadership Institute in Chattanooga as well as the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga. In addition, she has owned two other small businesses along the way. She has authored books and training programs including Leadership Wisdom in a Nutshell, the Mentoring Certification Course, and Peace of Mind in a Nutshell (a book about attaining serenity through End-of-Life Planning)

Marj has served in an advisory role for many organizations to determine both strategy and succession and has served on several non-profit boards.