Our Leadership

Sardis is ran by a board of directors made up of a community of educators, business leaders, pastors, and parents.

Emily Goodwin

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Emily has been described as a firecracker mom on a mission. She has a background in education and is a mom to four boys, three with learning challenges. Over the past 11 years, she has tirelessly fought to find a way to educate her children that not only gave them skills that would be useful in life but also gave them a deep love for learning and the community around them. She tried different modalities and nothing fit. While living in Idaho, she watched her children awaken with a love for nature. She also discovered a classical hybrid program that included the arts. The combination of these things transformed her children’s educational experience and their family dynamic. It unlocked something in students that she had not seen before in all her years in education. The hybrid model built a community that far outreached those directly involved. When her family moved back home to Georgia, she knew Georgia needed something similar and Sardis was born. She fearlessly led Sardis through its opening year and built a skilled team that is committed to building a community that transforms families, education, the local community, and beyond. Emily holds an associate's degree in Education, a bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministry, and various certificates and trainings in leadership, different educational pedagogies, and various curricula.

Phillip Madrid, PE

Chief Financial Officer

Phillip is a professional engineer specializing in soils, foundations, and construction materials testing/inspection. He grew up in Lakeland, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida he spent two years with Campus Crusade for Christ ministering to college students in Paris, France. Phillip and his wife Danae heard about classical Christian education in 2021 and instantly knew it was the type of education they wanted for their children.  They love classical Christian education because it imparts the tools and love of learning, recognizing that all truth, goodness, and beauty is best understood under Christ’s lordship. When the Madrids decided to leave California in the summer of 2022 the opportunity to be part of the founding year of Sardis was the deciding factor to move to Athens instead of one of the other cities where Phillip had been offered a job. Phillip’s wife was a chemistry professor in California and now serves as the upper school math and science teacher at Sardis, and their oldest child is in grammar school. The Madrid family attends Faith Presbyterian Church in Watkinsville. They are avid DIYers around the home and are novice homesteaders, with chickens and a small garden. 

  • Jessica Braught

    Founding Chairperson

    Jessica is one of our founding board members. She, her husband Curtis, and their extended family have extensive experience and connections in nonprofit leadership and development. Jessica has spent the past eight years partnering with families and encouraging them in their educational journeys with their children. She was the founder and operations director of a large educational nonprofit in the Boise, Idaho area. She met Emily in Idaho at an educational program where their children were in class together. Everyone became fast friends and kindred spirits. When Emily moved back to Georgia and Jessica found out there wasn't a similar program in the area, she was the first to say she would help make it happen. She has two children whom she began homeschooling when her oldest was in first grade and they were moving frequently due to her husband being in the military. She is currently on staff at The Ambrose School in Idaho where her children now attend Ambrose's hybrid program. Jessica serves on the Sardis board remotely from Idaho. In her free time, she loves going on adventures with her family. In the colder months, they enjoy board games, movies, and indoor activities. During the summer, you’ll find them at the lake with their paddle boards soaking up the Idaho sunshine!

  • Brandon Smith

    Chairperson

    Brandon is a native Athenian having graduated Oconee County High School and the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. Brandon owns and operates several real estate related companies here in Athens and his wife, Kristi, is a teacher in a nearby county. He has been a behind the scenes advisor to the start up of Sardis since the first few months they opened their doors. Brandon and Kristi are involved with their church, Cornerstone, where Brandon has served as a board member for several years.

  • Bobby Malicoat

    Chairperson

    Bobby Malicoat was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana. After high school he spent 5 years serving in the United States Marine Corps and then graduated from Purdue University with degrees in Political Science and History. Instead of pursuing politics as he planned, God called him to serve as a pastor at Clear River Church in Lafayette, Indiana. In 2019 he and a team of people planted South Grove Church in Athens, Georgia where he currently serves as the lead pastor. Bobby and his wife, Brittany have been married since 2006 and have four amazing children. Bobby enjoys all athletic activities and is an avid board game player.

  • Clint DePriest

    Chairperson

    Clint DePriest is a native of Athens, GA, and a graduate of Athens Christian School. Shortly after high school, he went to work for a small family business in Winder, GA in the LP gas industry and was married shortly after at the age of 21. He and his wife Jessica quickly started a family and were blessed with four children. After 5 years in the LP industry, he and his family made a move to Western North Carolina. In North Carolina, he ran a successful fly fishing outfitter and guide company for seven years. After their time in North Carolina, it became clear that it would be best to move back to Georgia to be closer to extended family and continue the family LP business. After returning to Georgia, he wanted his family to continue the education track that they were on in North Carolina. After years of attending other educational programs they were frustrated with, his wife Jessica met Emily Goodwin. After much conversation and planning, their family was fundamental in the founding of Sardis. He currently has three children enrolled at Sardis. He and his family are actively attending and serving at Faith Presbyterian in Watkinsville. Clint and Jessica are going on seventeen years of marriage and are currently running a third-generation family business while raising their children in Winder.