My name is Melinda Banks, and I'm excited to teach at Kelly Mill Elementary School!
I began working in the Early Childhood industry right out of high school while I attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Even though I received my BS in Business Administration, I always knew I wanted to be a classroom teacher!
I taught for 8 years in private schools in Virginia, before moving to Texas in 2015. In Texas, I taught for another 6 years in public school in the 4th and 5th grades.
I married my high school sweetheart, David, and we have two amazing children and a daughter-in-law. We moved to Georgia this summer to be closer to them, as my son, Austin, and his wife, Lexi, live in Flowery Branch, and my daughter, Alexa, attends the University of Tennessee (Go Vols!).
I am thrilled to teach 5th grade this year and can't wait to meet everyone!

Hi! I'm Jason Collins and I'm excited to be teaching 5th grade. I have a Bachelor's degree from Penn State University and a Masters Degree from Troy University. This will be my 19th year teaching and my 7th at Kelly Mill. In my classroom my goal is to create a nurturing environment where my students feel inspired and empowered to explore their full potential. We're going to learn a lot, and have fun doing it! I'm looking forward to making a positive difference and celebrating achievements. It's going to be a great year.

My name is Casey Cornett, and I am so excited that I will be teaching 5th grade English DLI at Kelly Mill this year! I have ten years of teaching experience in elementary education. I hold a bachelor's degree in elementary education from KSU, a master's degree in elementary mathematics, as well as endorsements in reading and ESOL. My husband and I have two amazing children, Daniel (5) and Jonah (3), as well as a Great Dane named Duke and many fish. When I am not teaching I enjoy traveling with my family, reading, and relaxing by the beach, lake, or pool. I am looking forward to an amazing year at Kelly Mill!

¡Hola!
I'm Francis Geiger, and I am so excited to be part of the 5th grade team at KME. This is my second-year teaching 5th grade DLI in Spanish.

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Hearing Deficiencies and Speech Problems with a specialization in Special Education from Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador. I pursued my Master’s Degree in Spanish Language and Culture at the University of Salamanca in Spain.

Outside of teaching, my greatest treasures are my two daughters who are currently attending Georgia State University and UGA. They are my motivation and keep me grounded.

Teaching is my passion, and I am dedicated to encouraging my students to stay positive, take risks, and strive to be the best students they can be.

I am so thrilled to be at Kelly Mill. I received my Bachelor's in Middle Level Education from Clayton State University and my Masters/Gifted Endorsement from Kennesaw State University. My husband and I have been married for almost 20 years and are the proud parents of four Kelly Mill Colts. We also have the best dog in the world, our golden doodle, Bucky-the Winter Solider. After several years of teaching DLI students, I am now part of an amazing fifth grade team. I can’t wait to get our colts ready for middle school!

Hello Colts! My name is Sarah Leonard. I'm so excited to be on the 5th grade team at Kelly Mill! I have been teaching for 13 years. This will be my 8th year in Forsyth County Schools. My family resides in Forsyth County! I have two boys at North Forsyth High and my daughter is a Colt at Kelly Mill. I hold a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin Pierce University in American Studies and elementary education. I have a Masters of Science in Remedial Reading and Language Arts from Central Connecticut State University. When not at school you will find my family on a ball field and loving on our two dogs (Yogi and Thurman)! Being a transplant from CT, I love to cheer on the Yankees, Giants and UCONN! I am looking forward to an AWESOME school year at KME!

I am super excited to begin my teaching career in 5th grade at Kelly Mill!

The 2024-2025 school year will be my first year in education. This past spring, I graduated from Young Harris College with a BS in Elementary Education and an endorsement in Autism. Over the last four years, I have performed many hours of student teaching at Hayesville Elementary, Union County Primary School, and Union County Elementary.

In June, I will be marrying my fiancé, Logan, making my official name Mrs. Samples! We just recently moved into a new neighborhood in the Dawsonville city limits! While at Young Harris I played women’s lacrosse, and I will continue to grow my passion for lacrosse as a coach at West Forsyth High School this upcoming school year!

My name is Matthew Westbrook and I am excited to be part of the fifth-grade team this year! This will be my 13th year as an elementary school educator, and I have been honored to be at Kelly Mill since its opening. I have a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University. I love science and math and have had the privilege of leading the Kelly Math Club over the last several years.
I live in Roswell with my wife, Laura, and our four-legged child, Olive. My wife is a Kindergarten teacher in Forsyth County. As a family, we enjoy the outdoors. We love spending time boating, traveling, and camping. I look forward to another great year at Kelly Mill!