NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2016
News Media Contact: Communication and Media Relations, 678-301-6020
Back to School 2016:
GCPS welcomes new principals as students head back to school
As Gwinnett students and teachers return from summer break, many will find a
new school principal leading them to success. Fourteen educational leaders were
appointed this past spring and during the summer to lead schools for the 2016-17
school year, including those tapped to lead Gwinnett’s newest schools. New
principals for the 2016-17 school year include:
Dr. Brenda Johnson, Baldwin Elementary School
Dr. Brenda Johnson will open and lead the new Baldwin
Elementary School. Most recently the principal at
Centerville Elementary School, she also has served as an
assistant principal at Ferguson Elementary School and
Minor Elementary School. Dr. Johnson also taught at
Minor Elementary School and at Chamblee Middle
School in DeKalb County. A graduate of the 2012
Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, Dr. Johnson earned
her bachelor’s degree from Savannah College of Art & Design, a master’s degree in
Humanities from Central Michigan University, and a doctorate in Instructional
Leadership from Argosy University.
Jose DeJesus, Cedar Hill Elementary School
Mr. Jose DeJesus returns to GCPS as principal of Cedar
Hill Elementary School. The education veteran with 20
years’ experience spent the past year working as a
principal in the DeKalb County school system. Mr.
DeJesus’ service as a Gwinnett educator includes serving
as principal at Beaver Ridge Elementary for four years
and then Berkmar Middle School for a year. He also was
an assistant principal at Berkeley Lake Elementary School
for a year and Berkmar High School for three years before that. Mr. DeJesus spent
more than a decade teaching in school systems in Florida. A graduate of the 2007
Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, Mr. DeJesus earned
his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chapman University and a
master’s degree in Education Leadership from Florida Atlantic University.
Bonita Banks, Centerville Elementary School
Prior to taking the principal position at Centerville
Elementary School, Ms. Bonita Banks spent the last 11 years
at Partee Elementary School. Ms. Banks has held an assistant
principal position at the school for nine years and was a
teacher there for two years prior to that. A graduate of the
2015 Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principal
Program, Ms. Banks also spent 10 years teaching in the New
Orleans Public School District. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Elementary
Education and Print Journalism from Southern University, later earning a master’s
degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix as well as a
specialist’s degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.
James William (JW) Mozley, Jr., Coleman Middle School
Mr. James (JW) Mozley, a 10-year veteran Gwinnett educator
who most recently served as an assistant principal at Arcado
Elementary School, is the new principal at Coleman Middle
School Mozley began his career in GCPS as a teacher at Duluth
Middle School in 2005. He became an assistant principal at the
school in 2010 and then transferred to Arcado Elementary in
2015. A member of the 2016 Quality-Plus Leadership Academy,
Aspiring Principal Program, Mr. Mozley holds both a bachelor’s degree in
Mathematics and a master’s degree (concentration in Mathematics Education) from
Georgia College and State University. He currently is a doctoral candidate at Mercer
University.
Memorie Reesman, Jones Middle School
The new principal at Jones Middle School is an established
administrator having served in the assistant principal and then
associate principal roles at Norcross High School during the
last seven years. Prior to that, Ms. Memorie Reesman was a
Local School Technology Coordinator at Creekland Middle
School. Her career also includes 17 years teaching in Florida
and at several Gwinnett County Public Schools. The 2016
Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program graduate earned a
bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University, a master’s
degree in Middle Grades Education, Science and Social Studies from Breneau
University and an educational specialist degree in Educational Administration and
Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
Dr. Nicole White, Kanoheda Elementary School
After five years as an assistant principal position at
Meadowcreek Elementary School Dr. Nicole White moves to
her new position as the new principal at Kanoheda
Elementary School. Prior to her work at Meadowcreek
Elementary, Dr. White was a teacher at Oakland Middle
School for eight years. The graduate of the 2015 Quality-Plus
Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, Dr. White earned a bachelor’s degree
in English and a master’s degree in Visual Disabilities from Florida A&M
University. She also holds a specialist’s degree in Media from the University of West
Georgia and earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.
Guerlene Merisme, Lilburn Elementary School
Ms. Guerlene Merisme is the new principal at Lilburn
Elementary School. She won’t need directions to her new job
because the graduate of the 2015 Quality-Plus Leader
Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, has been an assistant
principal at the school for the last four years and taught at the
school for six years prior to that. Her educational career also
includes eight years as a teacher in New Jersey. Ms. Merisme
earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Rutgers
University and a master’s degree in Reading Specialization from Kean University.
She also earned a leadership certificate from the University of Georgia and
completed her specialist’s degree at Valdosta State University.
Dr. Scott Frandsen, Minor Elementary School
Dr. Scott Frandsen is a veteran educator who arrives at Minor
Elementary School after serving in the assistant principal role at
Hull Middle School for the last eight years. Dr. Frandsen’s
career as a Gwinnett educator also includes five years as a
teacher at South Gwinnett High School. A graduate of the 2014
Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, Dr.
Frandsen earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Teaching from
Brigham Young University, as well as a master’s degree in Educational Leadership
and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Mercer University.
Kassia Morris-Sutton, Norcross Elementary School
Norcross Elementary School’s new leader comes to the school
after having served as an assistant principal at Chattahoochee
Elementary School for a year and Trip Elementary School for
seven years. Ms. Kassia Morris-Sutton’s experience includes
three years teaching at Gwin Oaks Elementary and another
seven at schools in Florida. The 2014 Quality-Plus Leader
Academy, Aspiring Principal Program graduate earned both a
bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Educational
Leadership from the University of South Florida.
Elisa Brown, Stripling Elementary School
Ms. Elisa Brown has nearly three decades of teaching and
leadership experience. Stripling Elementary School’s new
principal spent the last four years as an assistant principal at
Minor Elementary School and six years before that as an
assistant principal at Hopkins Elementary School. The 2010
Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program
graduate spent seven years teaching at Simpson Elementary
School and another 11 years at schools in Dougherty County and Onslow County.
Prior to that she was a teacher/specialist in the Republic of Panama. Ms. Brown
completed her teacher certification in Spanish (K-12) at Albany State, going on to
earn a master’s degree in Spanish Education as well as an education specialist’s
degree in Instruction from Piedmont College. She also earned a leadership certificate
from the University of Georgia.
Dr. Taffeta Connery, Sugar Hill Elementary School
The new principal at Sugar Hill Elementary School comes
from Corley Elementary School where she was an assistant
principal for the last three years. Dr. Taffeta Connery taught
in DeKalb County for five years before beomcing an assistant
principal in the district. Prior to that, she taught in Duval,
Orange, and Osceola counties in Florida. A member of the
2016 Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program, Dr. Connery
earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bethune-Cookman
College, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern
University and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University.
Ryan Queen, Trickum Middle School
Mr. Ryan Queen is the new principal at Trickum Middle
School after serving in an assistant principal role at
Parkview High School for the past year. Mr. Queen has
been with GCPS for nearly two decades, having served as
Director of Instructional Resources and Support, an
assistant principal at McConnell Middle School and
Berkmar High School, a Local School Technology
Coordinator at South Gwinnett High School, and a Biology Teacher at Parkview
High School. Mr. Queen is a graduate of the 2015 Quality-Plus Leader Academy,
Aspiring Principal Program and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from
Oglethorpe University, a master’s degree in Science Education from Georgia State
University and a specialist’s degree in Educational Administration from Lincoln
Memorial University.
Dr. Dale Pugh, Walnut Grove Elementary School
Dr. Dale Pugh will lead Walnut Grove Elementary School,
bringing with him 16 years’ experience as an assistant
principal—10 years at Fort Daniel Elementary School and
six at Kanoheda Elementary School. A member of the 2016
Quality-Plus Leader Academy, Aspiring Principal Program,
Dr. Pugh’s career in education includes teaching posts at
McKendree Elementary School as well as public and private schools in Atlanta,
Lilburn, and Alabama. Dr. Pugh earned a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education
from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a master’s degree in Educational
Leadership from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in Educational
Administration from the University of Alabama.
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