Dougherty County School System sees leadership changes
ALBANY – As the Dougherty County School System closes out the 2024-25 school year, the Board of Education voted to make several leadership changes based on recommendations from the superintendent.
Thelma Chunn, the principal at Robert A. Cross Middle Magnet School, was named associate superintendent for district effectiveness. This decision was about two years in the making as the position sat vacant for a year. In this role, Chunn will be responsible for school and student improvement across the district, working closely with students and school staff to make data-informed decisions about ways to improve the school.
Dyer said Chunn was the ideal choice for the role because of the tremendous success she's had at the helm of Robert Cross. Under her leadership, the school was consistently ranked among the top middle schools in Georgia. In 2023, the school was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.
Dyer said the school soared in academic growth and achievement. The Governor's Office of Student Achievement recognized Robert Cross for both gains and high performance.
Prior to her time at Robert Cross, Chunn served as principal at Dougherty International Education Middle School from 2001 through 2005, where she previously had served as assistant principal. She's also served as a teacher at Dougherty Middle and Westover Comprehensive High School.
'Dr. Chunn is one of the best educators in the country,' Dyer said. 'We're looking forward to her sharing that leadership in a more normal way with our colleagues throughout the district to help them continue to grow and become better as we meet the needs of our students.'
For Chunn, the promotion may mean a new role, but she said she intends to stay true to the values and attitude that led her to professional success.
'As I transition into this new leadership role, I remain committed to those same values and look forward to collaborating with schools across the district to ensure every student has access to rigorous and relevant learning experiences,' she said.
Christopher Sharpe, the current principal of Northside Elementary School and former assistant principal under Chunn at Robert Cross Middle, will take the lead as principal at Robert Cross.
'He's familiar with the Robert Cross way of doing school,' Dyer said. 'He's familiar with the employees there, faculty and staff, and familiar with the things that make Robert cross the school that it is. And so we're looking forward to him continuing that legacy of excellence.'
Among the leadership changes throughout DCSS, the BOE named three people to serve in the newly-created Middle School Content Coordinator Roles.
Shaun Foreman was named Middle School Studies Coordinator. Foreman has been with the district since 2008 when he served as middle school math/social studies teacher at Southside Middle. He most recently has served as an instructional support specialist.
Ci'Andrea Jones was named Middle School Math Coordinator. Jones has been with the district since 2014. She served as a math teacher at Radium Springs Middle Magnet School of the Arts and was named the 2021 District Teacher of the Year. She has served as an instructional support specialist since 2021.
Delisa Long was named Middle School English and Language Arts Coordinator. Long has been with the district since 2004 and has served as a middle school ELA teacher, literacy coach, instructional coach and now serves as an instructional support specialist.
Before creating these roles, the distinct used secondary content coordinators who provided support for grades six through 12. Content coordinators work to support teaching, learning and developing curriculum that aligns with state standards and provides guidance for teachers. They also work with teachers who need support in instructional strategies.
'Our teaching core looks different than it did 20 years ago,' Dyer said. 'We have more and more teachers across the country who are coming in from alternative career paths, who haven't gone through a traditional teacher prep program. We felt that splitting up secondary to middle and high school would allow our district support folks to provide more support with smaller grade bands they're responsible for.'
Other leadership changes include: Yvette Simmons, the principal at Sherwood Acres Elementary School, will transition to serve as the district's director of the exceptional students programCheryl Smith was named the executive director for the CTAE (Career, Technical and Agricultural Education) Program, a post she's been serving in as interim director since 2024. Shanekia Williams, the current principal at Merry Acres Middle School, will become the district's next director of curriculum and instruction.Calvin Poole, currently principal at Sumter County Middle School in Americus, will serve as the principal at Merry Acres Middle School for the 2025-2026 school year.Amanda Holmes will become the new principal at Sherwood Acres Elementary School after serving as assistant principal. Khadijah Ali, who currently serves as athletics director, school administration manager and head girls basketball coach for Dougherty Comprehensive High School, has been named district athletics directorWhitney Webb, currently assistant principal at Merry Acres Middle School, was selected as the district's new early literacy coordinator
DCSS is in the process of finalizing revision to its strategic plan as the current plan ends June 30. This process includes focus group meetings and steering committee meetings.
'The strategic plan is what guides us, and so once we finalize our strategic plan, we'll be in a better position to talk about specific goals for each of the divisions that we have in the school system,' Dyer said.
Dyer said he is excited for the way forward for the DCSS.
'I think we have people who are highly capable,' he said. 'They have demonstrated their commitment to servant leadership, to provide support for our teachers as they help our students become the best they can be in terms of learning with a rigorous and relevant education experience.'
The Dougherty County School System's annual graduation ceremonies will be held at the Albany Civic Center.
Friday – May 23, 2025: Dougherty Comprehensive High School (6:00 PM)Saturday – May 24, 2025: Monroe Comprehensive High School (9:00 AM)Saturday – May 24, 2025: Westover Comprehensive High School (1:00 PM)
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