Supt. Marietta City Schools, Ret.
Board Member

OVERVIEW
Dr. Emily Lembeck served as Superintendent of Marietta City Schools (MCS) from 2005 until her retirement began on January 1, 2017, becoming just the 12th superintendent since 1892. Lembeck holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Administration and Supervision from Nova University in Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College in New York.

Under the direction of Dr. Lembeck, Marietta City Schools became one of Georgia’s first Charter School Systems; became one of only a few school systems nationwide able to provide the full International Baccalaureate (IB) (K-12) continuum; and launched Marietta Reads!, a citywide effort to foster reading and literacy that is now in its 20th year. For advancing student
achievement and support for learning she was named the Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association in 2012; and has received the Cobb NAACP “Living the Dream” Award, the Boy Scouts of America Whitney M. Young, Jr. Service Award, Blacks United for Youth (BUY) Justice Robert Benham Award, and the Marietta Daily Journal Cobb County Citizen of the Year Award – to name a few.

Dr. Lembeck has served on many professional committees and organizations including Leadership Cobb Class of 2000, Cobb Education Consortium, and the Governor’s Office for Children and Families Georgia Children’s Cabinet. Her service made a positive difference on the boards of the Marietta Schools Foundation, the Cobb County Boys and Girls Clubs, Cobb Community Services Board and Board of Health, United Way Regional Commission on Homelessness, Communities in Schools of Cobb/Marietta, Cobb County Library Foundation, and a long-term affiliation with the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education.

Upon her retirement and after working for decades to recognize the gifts and address the challenges of our youth, she decided it was time to work on behalf of others who deserved some needed recognition and attention. Our Veterans were at the top of her list. Married to Harry Lembeck, a USMC Vietnam Veteran, it was time to honor him and all who served at that time and those who came before and after in this important service to our nation. As with most other important aspects of our lives, education is critical, and the building of a Memorial will provide the place and focus to honor and support our Veterans and educate our citizens of all ages.

Additionally, she enjoys her family with 5 grandchildren, travel, painting, hiking, providing consultative support for charter systems state-wide, and volunteering at the Early Learning Center, which is named in her honor, and in the community through her long association with the Kiwanis Club of Marietta.