25 LC 129 0490
House Resolution 972
By: Representatives Lumsden of the 12
th
, Dempsey of the 13
th
, and Barton of the 5
th
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending the 2025 Awards of Honor recipient, Stephanie Dean; and for
1
other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Stephanie was born and raised in Rome, Georgia, received her bachelor's degree3
in education from Jackson State University where she attended on a soccer scholarship, and4
received her master's degree in educational leadership from Columbus State University; and5
WHEREAS, Stephanie is Co-Founder & CEO of Mike Dean Athletics (MDA); and6
WHEREAS, Stephanie and her husband, Mike Dean, serve about 400 student athletes at their7
gym, MDA Sports Academy located in Rome; and8
WHEREAS, prior to starting MDA, Stephanie was the former Assistant Principal at Main9
Elementary where she made her mark raising student achievement, improving teacher10
retention, streamlining budgets, and decreasing student disciplinary issues; and11
WHEREAS, Stephanie was named the Rome City Schools District Teacher of the Year in12
2019, and West Central Elementary's teacher of the Year in 2018. 13
H. R. 972
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WHEREAS, she also served as a Rome City Schools professional development instructor
14
and facilitator for several years; and 15
WHEREAS, Stephanie served as the Director of Youth at New and Living Way Church for16
13 years; and17
WHEREAS, Stephanie serves the community through her volunteerism with Hospitality18
House, Good Neighbor Ministries, The Boys and Girls Club, Floyd County Teen Plus19
Center, Bloodline Believers REACH Ministries, United Way, Backpack Buddies, Murphy20
Harpst, Habitat for Humanity, Extra Special People, Restoration Rome, Keep Rome21
Beautiful, and Youth College and Career Expo; and22
WHEREAS, Stephanie also serves the community through her business, MDA Sports23
Academy by collecting new and gently worn shoes for Soles Desire Shoe Drive, the MDA24
Thanksgiving Community Feast, Winter School Daze, Blessing Bags, Luv Michael, MDA25
Eats Fund, Open Gym Nights, Georgia Milestones Bootcamp and MDA Scholarship Fund.26
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that27
the members of this body recognize Stephanie Dean for her outstanding dedication to the28
community, commend her as a recipient of the 2025 Heart of the Community Awards Honor29
Recipient, and extend the most sincere best wishes for continued success.30
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized31
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to32
Stephanie Dean.33
H. R. 972
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