Amber Bryant

Co-Founder and Assistant Head of School for Learning, The Forest School

Amber was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where she attended Frederick Douglass High School. Upon graduation she attended Georgia Southern University and graduated with a degree in Human and Environmental Sciences. After several years of managing and overseeing the renovation and construction of both residential and commercial properties, Amber changed careers to open a family shipping business and oversaw the first stage of operation. During this time she married NFL Cornerback Fernando Bryant, and began actively participating in his 25-Sports Foundation, which supports the encouragement of inner-city youth.

Through the Foundation, she was able to participate in community clothing and food drives. This is where Amber found her passion for working with children. “Fernando’s Commando’s,” a group of high performing middle school students, was the brainchild of Amber. From the love to see children succeed, Amber began to volunteer at Meadowlands Montessori school and decided to pursue her certification in Montessori Middle Grades Education. She has served the Henry and Fayette County communities as a Montessori guide and assistant in both the Upper and Lower Elementary classes.

Amber visited her high school alma mater and was shocked at the environment she encountered. This led her to start The Odyssey Program in hopes bringing the family environment she left at Douglass High School back to the forefront. The program focuses on essential life skills for high school students to carry into adulthood and become successful, contributing citizens to their community. She still volunteers with the students from Douglass. Fernando and Amber have been married for 14 years and raise Fernando’s older children, Amber’s nephew, and together have a 8 year old daughter, Griffin.