Question: Why are you excited about joining the Dickerson school community?
Answer: “I am thrilled to come back to East Cobb! After serving Timber Ridge Elementary for five years, I know this community and our students, and in many ways, I feel like I’m returning home. The opportunity to serve Dickerson is an honor and privilege I take very seriously, and I believe my years in this profession and school district have led me to Dickerson with great intentionality. Dickerson is such a special place, and to be a part of this community and connected to this exceptional school is so special.”
Question: What most impresses you about the students at Dickerson?
Answer: “What’s most impressive about Dickerson students is not only how hard they work academically, but especially how they support each other by being empathetic with the daily and unique challenges of middle school students. Dickerson students are impressive as they live by the Dickerson vision, ‘Leading by Example,’ and come to school each day with a ‘I can’ attitude. Dickerson students are goal-oriented and focused on their future.”
Question: What does student success look like for you?
Answer: “For our world, we need students that are motivated and confident. For students to be successful, we must encourage dreams and urge our students to chase them. Student success is not demarcated by test scores and graduation rates, but rather about accomplished dreams. Furthermore, student success is about the creativity, thinking, and learning that occurs along each student’s journey. We have to provide enrichment opportunities for exploration and discovery to broaden their worldview.”
Question: What do you like most about being a principal?
Answer: “The best part of being a principal is the kids! Kids always lead the list! I began my career in education because I love children and want to expose them to the joys of learning. After eight years of being a school administrator, it’s awesome to be able to share that children are still the most rewarding part of my job. I love working with teachers, collaborative opportunities, chances to dialogue over best practices, to work through pedagogical approaches, and to share in the excitement of planning new units of study. Likewise, working with parents brings delight, too, particularly when we’ve helped a parent see their child as they ‘really’ are and when we have worked together as a team to make something wonderful happen for their child. However, as much as I love working with passionate and committed educators and involved parents, it’s definitely the students themselves that provide continual inspiration and happiness. There simply is nothing more invigorating or humbling than to connect with a student in a way that changes that student’s life.”
Question: Outside of school, where might students, parents or staff members run into you?
Answer: “When I’m not at school, I love to entertain at my home in Smyrna. I like trying out new restaurants in and around Atlanta, traveling, and experiencing other cultures, movies and theater. I really enjoy my family’s beach home on 30A, taking long beach walks, and paddle boarding.”
Reprinted from the Cobb County School District website.
