Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Charlie McAdoo II.
Hi Dr. Charlie , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story is rooted in service, community, and a belief that purpose is revealed through consistency, not applause.
I was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, the son of a Methodist pastor and a special education preschool teacher. From an early age, I was immersed in faith, service, and advocacy, learning that success is never individual, it is communal. Those early lessons shaped my worldview and my lifelong commitment to education, mentorship, and civic engagement.
In the mid-1990s, drawn by the energy and culture of the city, I moved to Atlanta to attend Clark Atlanta University. From my dorm room window, I could see the Georgia Dome, and Atlanta quite literally became the backdrop for my future. While pursuing my undergraduate studies, I volunteered at the Georgia Dome, witnessing historic moments in Atlanta sports and developing a lifelong connection to the Atlanta Falcons. Even then, sports were never just about wins and losses, they were about people, relationships, and shared experiences.
After college, I returned to Atlanta permanently, where my wife, Dr. Billynda McAdoo, and I chose to build our family and careers. What began as civic engagement quickly became a calling. Over more than two decades, I have built a career as an educator, mentor, and advocate, with experience teaching at the middle school, high school, and postsecondary levels. My professional work is grounded in research interests that include workforce education, professional development, and needs assessments, areas that allow me to bridge policy, practice, and real-world outcomes for students and educators alike.
Today, I serve as a college and career coach and OneGoal program director at Decatur High School, where I work daily to support students with FAFSA completion, college applications, scholarships, and postsecondary planning. In addition to my direct work with students, I have served in leadership roles on school-based councils and district-level committees, helping to shape policy, strengthen family-school partnerships, and advocate for student-centered decision-making. My leadership is informed not only by professional expertise, but also by lived experience as a parent who has remained actively involved throughout my sons’ entire journey in public schools.
Beyond the classroom, my service extends across Decatur, Atlanta, Druid Hills, and DeKalb County. I am actively involved in youth sports and civic organizations, including Druid Hills Youth Sports, Jack and Jill of America, Phi Beta Sigma, ImpactDCD, and Glenn Memorial Church. Through these efforts, I support initiatives focused on educational access, equity, mentorship, community service, and youth development. I also serve as a volunteer coach, high school baseball and basketball commentator, and a consistent presence at school modernization meetings and community forums.
My leadership has been further shaped by professional development experiences such as the Georgia Department of Education Teacher Policy Fellowship and LEAD CTAE, which emphasize collaboration, policy engagement, and community-focused leadership.
That same spirit led to my selection as the 2025 Atlanta Falcons Fan of the Year, one of only 32 honorees nationwide. I was recognized for my commitment to mentorship, service, and civic engagement, and I will represent both the Falcons and the Decatur community on the national stage, including attending Super Bowl LIX in San Francisco and the 2026 NFL Draft. The NFL Fan of the Year program highlights the role sports can play in inspiring service beyond the game.
Despite the national recognition, I remain grounded in how I define myself and how I try to live each day:
“Do all the good that you can, by all the means that you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can.”
I do not see my journey as extraordinary, but those around me often do. Parents, colleagues, students, and community members describe me as someone who serves quietly, leads with integrity, and brings others with him whenever his name is called.
And that may be the clearest summary of my story: While the spotlight may land on me, the mission has always been, and will always be, about lifting the entire community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t been a completely smooth road and I don’t believe it was meant to be.
One of the biggest challenges along the way has been learning how to balance time. I’ve consistently worn multiple hats as an educator, mentor, coach, researcher, husband, father, and community member, and there are only so many hours in a day. That reality became especially apparent during my graduate work at the University of West Georgia and later while working on my doctorate at Valdosta State University. Managing coursework, research, professional responsibilities, and family life required intentional planning and constant recalibration.
It was during that time that I truly came to understand that the better you get, the tougher it becomes to get better. As I progressed academically and professionally, expectations increased, the work became more demanding, and the standard I held myself to grew higher. What once felt difficult eventually became the baseline, and continued growth required greater discipline, deeper focus, and a willingness to push through discomfort.
There were moments of fatigue, doubt, and frustration, especially when progress felt slow or the demands felt overwhelming. But those moments also sharpened my perspective. They taught me the value of prioritization, time management, and staying rooted in purpose rather than perfection.
In the end, those challenges didn’t deter me. They refined me. Learning to balance time, embracing the reality of growth, and understanding that sustained improvement requires sacrifice have all shaped how I approach leadership, service, and continuous learning today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m most proud of being a father and husband.
What makes you happy?
I’m happy when my family is happy.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Photo Credit – Tiaras Monet (Photos with white background)
