Reginald Beaty is President and Co-Founder of Foundations for Educational Success grew up in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. Beaty found out early on the critical role that mentors play in a youth’s life. He was expelled from school at 14, ran with gang-oriented crowds, carried weapons and was ultimately incarcerated. Beaty found a mentor in Bobby Garrett, director of West End Academy, a non-traditional school in the Communities In Schools of Georgia system.  As a result of Garrett’s intervention, Beaty graduated from West End Academy, earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Stillman College and a Master’s in Aerospace Education from Middle Tennessee State University.  Next, Beaty built a 20-year career in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. For 10 years Beaty served as Chief Operating Officer with Communities In Schools of Georgia, where he helped to build the non-traditional schools Performance Learning Centers and Georgia’s “Graduation Coaches” initiative.