Her Story
About Tabitha
Tabitha Lewis, MPA, is a nonprofit and community-focused executive who serves as Regional Director for Communities In Schools of Georgia, Region 1. She has dedicated more than a decade to Communities In Schools, beginning as Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Troup County in 2012 before advancing to her current regional leadership role in 2024. Her professional background also includes experience with the Georgia Department of Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Department of Labor, and Disability Adjudication Services. Her areas of expertise include nonprofit leadership, community partnerships, student support, workforce development, program management, compliance, team building, and resource mobilization.
As Executive Director of Communities In Schools of Troup County, Lewis demonstrated significant organizational growth by rebuilding relationships with school district leaders, community partners, and other stakeholders. Through one-on-one relationship building, volunteer engagement, and demonstrating measurable outcomes, she helped expand the organization from two schools with a $66,000 budget to 13 schools with a $1.2 million budget and a larger staff. Her leadership has also involved coordinating student and family services, developing community partnerships, managing financial and human resources, overseeing staff development, evaluating programs, and supporting strategic and operational planning.
Lewis holds a Master of Public Administration in Public Management from Troy University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management/Economics from LaGrange College. She is currently pursuing a PhD and is also seeking to serve her community through a campaign for local city council. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes authentic relationships, service, perseverance, integrity, and community engagement. She believes that effective nonprofit leaders should become active members of the communities they serve, demonstrate their organization's impact, and build relationships that inspire others to invest in meaningful change.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tabitha
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to rebuilding relationships with the school district and the broader community. I went through existing records to reconnect with former partners, conducted one-on-one meetings, and invited people to volunteer and experience our work firsthand rather than immediately asking them for financial support. Persistence was particularly important during the first four difficult years. By consistently demonstrating our impact and outcomes, we were able to grow the organization from two schools with a $66,000 budget to 13 schools with a $1.2 million budget and a significantly larger team.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Some of the most influential career guidance I received came from my mother, who previously served as executive director of the organization and now serves as CEO and President of Communities In Schools of Georgia, as well as Jackie Curtis, a regional director who served as my mentor. Jackie was very matter-of-fact and direct and did not sugarcoat difficult situations. Her straightforward approach helped prepare me to navigate challenging days, make difficult decisions, and remain grounded as a leader.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to become familiar with your community and genuinely get to know the people who live and work there, particularly the key leaders and stakeholders. Develop authentic relationships rather than approaching people only when you need something from them. Let people see your organization in action and understand the impact it is making. When people can see and believe in the work firsthand, they are more likely to invest their time, resources, and support in the mission.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges in nonprofit work is creating sustainable funding and support, particularly in smaller and rural communities where needs can be significant and resources limited.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Service, relationships, integrity, perseverance, community, and creating opportunities for others are extremely important to me. I believe nonprofit leadership must go beyond simply asking a community for support. Leaders need to become part of the community, understand its people and needs, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to making a difference. For me, success is ultimately measured by the lives that are impacted and the meaningful relationships that are built along the way.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.