Community

One thing I've learned through every leadership transition is that it is the people the matter the most. Schools are always changing and growing, but continued success comes from building trust, listening to others, and working together toward a shared vision. As I step into Big Creek, I want to spend time learning from the staff, students, and families who make this school special. My experience has taught me that the best change doesn't happen to people, it happens with people. I look forward to building on the great work already happening here while continuing to find ways to help every student succeed.

I've always enjoyed being part of schools that are willing to try new ideas to engage students in their learning. What excites me about Big Creek is that innovation here isn't just about doing something new, it's about continually asking how we can better serve students. That's a mindset I value, and I'm excited to support teachers as they continue to learn, grow, and explore new possibilities.

The biggest thing I've learned is just how much people care about Big Creek. I've heard staff talk about how much they care for their students and their willingness to collaborate with one another. I've heard families share how much they value the relationships their children build here and the strong sense of community that exists within the school. Those conversations have reinforced the importance of being visible, approachable, and responsive. As we move through the school year, I want to continue listening, learning, and working alongside our staff and families to build on the strengths that already make Big Creek such a special place.

What excites me most about middle school is the opportunity to make a difference during such an important time in a young person’s life. They are at an age where relationships matter deeply, and I love that I get to help create a school environment where students feel valued, challenged, and supported. I also love the energy and possibilities of middle school. Every day brings an opportunity to make a difference, whether that is through a great classroom experience, a conversation in the hallway, a student finding their passion, or a staff member feeling supported and empowered.

My previous leadership experiences have taught me that creating a strong sense of belonging cannot be the responsibility of one person, one department, or one initiative. It takes all of us working together to ensure that every student has trusted adults, meaningful connections, and opportunities to contribute to the life of the school. I also believe that belonging begins with building strong relationships and is strengthened through transparency and trust. With strong communication, we can keep our community informed to partner together for the benefit of all our students.  For students navigating the many academic, social, and emotional transitions of middle school, knowing an adult believes in them and will advocate for them can make all the difference.

There is something special about a school community where people genuinely care for one another, and I am excited to build upon that strong foundation here at Lakeside. Our culture of leadership, attitude, kindness, and effort reflects our commitment to creating an environment where everyone who walks through our doors feels at home and knows they are an important part of our community. My hope is that we continue to foster a place where people feel connected and proud to be part of Lakeside- because Life is Better at the Lake!

Throughout my 20-plus years in education and nearly 10 years as an administrator, I’ve been fortunate to work across every level of K–12, giving me a unique lens into not only where our students are today, but where they are headed next. That experience has really helped me see the bigger picture like how their needs change as they grow and just how important the elementary years are in building a strong foundation for everything that comes next. I’ve learned that strong achievement and whole-child development really go hand in hand, and students succeed when they are known, connected, challenged, and supported. At Sawnee, we want to provide excellent instruction while also developing confident, capable students who are prepared for what comes next. That is a big part of our motto this year with "Rooted in Connection: Heart of a Chief."

This part of Sawnee feels very personal to me because I was raised in a community with the same kind of deep roots, traditions, and generational pride. I saw firsthand what happens when a school becomes more than a building, and it becomes part of the identity of a community. I’ve seen how tradition and legacy can really bring a school community together. When students, staff, and families feel connected to something bigger than themselves, it creates a strong sense of belonging and helps a school truly thrive. My years in leadership have taught me to listen first, honor what has made a school special, and then build upon those strengths. I want Sawnee’s history to remain a source of pride while we continue writing the next chapter together.

I think our greatest opportunity is creating a stronger sense of shared ownership where teachers, families, and students all recognize that they have an important role in Sawnee’s success. When partnerships are powerful, students grow, and I believe we can begin developing that ownership from their earliest years. For teachers, that means meaningful collaboration and shared responsibility for students. For families, it means creating opportunities to be informed, heard, and involved, and for students, it means giving them voice and opportunities to lead. When all three groups feel connected to one another, school becomes more than a place students attend. It becomes a community they belong to. 

As I have gotten to know the Daves Creek community, one of the things that has stood out most is the strong culture of excellence and the deep commitment to students. Daves Creek has a proud tradition of academic success, dedicated educators, and engaged families who care deeply about the school and one another.

Looking ahead, I see exciting opportunities to build on that strong foundation by continuing to strengthen student engagement, foster meaningful relationships, and ensure every student feels connected, supported, and challenged to grow. I am also excited to continue partnering with our families and staff as we work together to create exceptional learning experiences for every Dolphin!

It started with tutoring kids while I was finishing high school and putting myself through college, teaching the subjects I loved. What I expected to be a side hustle gradually became something I couldn't step away from. Families kept coming back, students continued to succeed, and the work seemed to grow organically. Over the years, that grew into a full mentorship platform called VMotiv8. Along the way, I noticed similar patterns emerging with almost every family. Strategies that supported one student often proved helpful for the next. At some point, it became clear I was developing a methodology. The Student Blueprint reflects that methodology as a product: 12 years of insights into what supports student growth, distilled into something designed to reach more families than I could reach individually.

Two things became impossible to ignore. First, most students between 6th and 10th grade are not behind; they are simply lost. The talent is there, but the roadmap is missing. Second, the system can't keep up by design. In Georgia, the average counselor handles more students than the recommended ratio of 1 to 250. That is a capacity problem, not an effort problem, and no team can out-work that math. The result is an equity gap: families who can afford private advising start earlier and finish stronger, while everyone else gets a smaller head start through no fault of their own. AI is what closes that gap. It lets us deliver the kind of personalized, year-over-year planning that used to cost tens of thousands of dollars to every student, at a scale a human team could never reach alone.

I see it making counselors more proactive instead of reactive. Instead of meeting a student for the first time when they walk in needing a recommendation letter, a counselor can pull up that student's full picture in seconds and immediately know the right next step. The Blueprint does the heavy lifting; the counselor does the coaching. For families, it puts visibility in their hands early, so a ninth grader understands that the experience they build now is cumulative and starts well before college. And for school districts, it's a way to ensure a student's opportunities don't depend on which school they attend. That's the part that matters most to us, and giving back is the whole point. It brings us immense joy.