Influential Woman · Education Advocacy
Ophelia Nnorom
Education Advocate, Unmuted Ed Mom
Riverdale, GA 30296
Her Story
About Ophelia
Ophelia Nnorom is an Education Advocate with over six years of experience dedicated to advancing equitable access to quality education, particularly for neurodiverse learners.
Her journey into advocacy began on a deeply personal level following her son’s autism diagnosis, which exposed significant gaps within the special education system.
Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, she began her professional career as a police officer before transitioning into the beauty industry as a licensed Esthetician. After relocating to Georgia, she redirected her focus toward education. After firsthand experience navigating school systems, revealed both systemic challenges and opportunities for meaningful reform.
What began as school-based volunteer work quickly evolved into formal leadership and district-level engagement. Ophelia served on her school council, including participation in principal selection processes, and later joined her district’s School Board Advisory Council, collaborating directly with education leaders to address systemic needs. She currently serves on the District Superintendent’s Advisory Council and has been an active participant in GeorgiaCAN’s advocacy training program, where she was selected as a parent fellow for her county. In this role, she has worked to connect families with critical resources while amplifying parent voices in policy and education discussions. Her advocacy has contributed to significant statewide impact.
She played a key role in supporting the Georgia Promise Scholarship, standing alongside state leadership during its signing into law, and has testified in support of an innovative education model that led to the approval of Georgia’s first locally approved charter school in over five years—an inclusive institution serving both neurodiverse and general education students through a co-taught model. Ophelia also co-organized the first Special Education Day at the Georgia State Capitol and continues to collaborate with state legislators on advancing Special Education reform. Through her service on the Tapestry Public Charter School Board and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Region 3 Advisory Council, she continues to bridge grassroots advocacy with policy-level change across Georgia’s education landscape.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ophelia
01What do you attribute your success to?
For me, advocacy isn't just a career, it's truly my calling. I started this journey because of my son, who was diagnosed with autism at a young age. Navigating the school systems and getting his individual educational plan. I realized there were so many gaps and so many things that parents didn't know, because I was clueless. I didn't know anything. I had to learn along the way, and then I decided that I wanted to be a resource for other parents. I'm originally from Trinidad and Tobago, where I was a police officer, and then I got into skincare and became a licensed Esthetician. That was always my passion, skincare, beauty, makeup, because I was also a makeup artist, so that was my path. But when I moved to Georgia, it just completely flipped, and I got into advocacy, which is something that I absolutely love, and I think this is truly my calling. What I've enjoyed the most is just being on the ground, engaging with the people. I always say I'm a grassroots person, so on the ground, engaging with people., that is my love. I've formulated relationships with district-level leaders in the school system and state-level House and Senate, so it's a partnership. My advice to others is to persevere and not give up, because I will tell you, the road is rough. There are going to be a lot of tears, there may be sleepless nights, but don't give up, because you can make a difference. I never did. If anybody told me that I would be here today, I would say, no, not me. Because first of all, I have an accent, I'm from a foreign country, I wasn't born here. I was adopted by America. But I persevered, and that's the key. Don't be intimidated by your skin color, your accent, whatever background you come from. Just put yourself out there, because you might just be the loudest one and the most impactful one in the room.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I received is from Steven Quinn, GeorgiaCAN’s State Outreach Director and my mentor from afar. He would say, “ Build bridges Ophelia!” I carry that in my heart always, because I have seen first hand how crucial it is to building and sustaining long term relationships.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to persevere and not give up, the road is rough. There are going to be a lot of tears, there may sleepless nights. You may even feel unappreciated. Never feel intimidated by your skin color, your accent, whatever background you come from. You know, just put yourself out there, because you might just be the most impactful one in the room.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The greatest challenge right now is not enough parents being willing to step up and go the distance. In order for change to happen there needs to be action. Another challenge is the lack of funding that would help drive resources to lower income and minority districts.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values that are most important to me in my work and personal life is firstly my faith. It’s through God that I am here and all the opportunities that are before me.
My family is important to me, they are the reason I do this and do it to the very best of my ability.
I also value honesty and integrity and I strive to be that way in this work. Those are traits that set you apart.
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