Atlanta Public Schools announces new first day of school, 13 new principals
Summer vacation may be just a couple of weeks old, but school districts are deep into planning for the new year.
Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Board of Education announced an updated first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year. It will be Monday, Aug. 4.
The previous date was Friday, Aug. 1.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
APS has appointed 13 new principals for the new school year, effective July 1:
Gerard Latimore, Benteen Elementary School: Latimore has more than a decade of experience in education and leadership, including as an assistant principal and former instructional coach at Benteen.
Heather P. Stephenson, Bolton Academy: Stephenson's more than 20 years of experience includes serving Atlanta Public Schools since 2005 in a variety of roles, including teacher, special education lead teacher and assistant principal. She is currently interim principal at Bolton Academy.
Holly Brookins, Burgess-Peterson Elementary School: Brookins has more than a decade of school leadership experience. As a principal in a neighboring district, she has led her school to achieve state recognitions.
Keenya Jackson, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School: Jackson's wealth of experience includes roles as a teacher, instructional coach and curriculum support teacher. She is currently an assistant principal in a neighboring school district.
Chendra Dupree, Herman J. Russell West End Academy: Dupree's experience includes school and district roles, including instructional and literacy coach, as well as intervention coach. She is currently a high school principal.
Langston Longley, John Lewis Invictus Academy: Longley has served Atlanta Public Schools since 2004 in a variety of roles. He's been a principal for the past 10 years. He was named Principal of the Year by Communities in Schools in 2023.
Chante' Blackwell, Perkerson Elementary School: Blackwell brings a wealth of experience at the school and district levels, including as a leader support specialist and assistant principal. She is currently supporting the assessment office in a neighboring district.
Lami Ojezua, Scott Elementary School: Ojezua joined APS in 2007 and served in numerous roles, including continuous improvement coordinator, assistant principal, and most recently, interim principal.
Stacey Welsh Perot, Smith Elementary School: Perot has three decades of education experience, including teaching, instructional leadership and school administration. She's a former 'Teacher of the Year' and currently a principal at Garden Hills Elementary.
Phillip Braziel, South Atlanta High School: Braziel has been a classroom teacher, master scheduler, and assistant principal. He has been previously nominated for Assistant Principal of the Year and previously honored as a Teacher of the Year.
Octavius Harris, Therrell High School: Harris has severed in multiple roles within APS, including teacher, assistant principal and principal. He's currently a principal in a neighboring district.
Dante Edwards, interim principal, Garden Hills Elementary School: Edwards has served APS since 2002 in a variety of roles as a teacher and an administrator, including assistant principal, magnet coordinator and principal.
Kimberly Latchman, interim principal, Maynard H. Jackson High School: Latchman has more than 20 years of experience in education. At Maynard Jackson High School, she has served as an instructional coach and, most recently, as assistant principal.
The board previously announced seven other new principals last month: Brian Baron, Morningside Elementary School; Summer Clayton, E. Rivers Elementary School; Tiauna Crooms, Booker T. Washington High School; Shermain Jennings, Frederick Douglass High School; Angela Mitchell, North Atlanta High School; Kristy Reese, L.O. Kimberly Elementary School; and Adib Shakir, Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy.
TRENDING STORIES:
Giant tree crashes into another, sends it toppling onto Cobb County rental home
Swimmer seriously injured in boating incident on GA lake
Atlanta-area rapper sentenced for bringing stolen loaded 'machine gun' into hospital labor unit
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Atlanta Public Schools announces new first day of school, 13 new principals
Summer vacation may be just a couple of weeks old, but school districts are deep into planning for the new year. Atlanta Public Schools and the Atlanta Board of Education announced an updated first day of school for the 2025-2026 school year. It will be Monday, Aug. 4. The previous date was Friday, Aug. 1. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] APS has appointed 13 new principals for the new school year, effective July 1: Gerard Latimore, Benteen Elementary School: Latimore has more than a decade of experience in education and leadership, including as an assistant principal and former instructional coach at Benteen. Heather P. Stephenson, Bolton Academy: Stephenson's more than 20 years of experience includes serving Atlanta Public Schools since 2005 in a variety of roles, including teacher, special education lead teacher and assistant principal. She is currently interim principal at Bolton Academy. Holly Brookins, Burgess-Peterson Elementary School: Brookins has more than a decade of school leadership experience. As a principal in a neighboring district, she has led her school to achieve state recognitions. Keenya Jackson, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School: Jackson's wealth of experience includes roles as a teacher, instructional coach and curriculum support teacher. She is currently an assistant principal in a neighboring school district. Chendra Dupree, Herman J. Russell West End Academy: Dupree's experience includes school and district roles, including instructional and literacy coach, as well as intervention coach. She is currently a high school principal. Langston Longley, John Lewis Invictus Academy: Longley has served Atlanta Public Schools since 2004 in a variety of roles. He's been a principal for the past 10 years. He was named Principal of the Year by Communities in Schools in 2023. Chante' Blackwell, Perkerson Elementary School: Blackwell brings a wealth of experience at the school and district levels, including as a leader support specialist and assistant principal. She is currently supporting the assessment office in a neighboring district. Lami Ojezua, Scott Elementary School: Ojezua joined APS in 2007 and served in numerous roles, including continuous improvement coordinator, assistant principal, and most recently, interim principal. Stacey Welsh Perot, Smith Elementary School: Perot has three decades of education experience, including teaching, instructional leadership and school administration. She's a former 'Teacher of the Year' and currently a principal at Garden Hills Elementary. Phillip Braziel, South Atlanta High School: Braziel has been a classroom teacher, master scheduler, and assistant principal. He has been previously nominated for Assistant Principal of the Year and previously honored as a Teacher of the Year. Octavius Harris, Therrell High School: Harris has severed in multiple roles within APS, including teacher, assistant principal and principal. He's currently a principal in a neighboring district. Dante Edwards, interim principal, Garden Hills Elementary School: Edwards has served APS since 2002 in a variety of roles as a teacher and an administrator, including assistant principal, magnet coordinator and principal. Kimberly Latchman, interim principal, Maynard H. Jackson High School: Latchman has more than 20 years of experience in education. At Maynard Jackson High School, she has served as an instructional coach and, most recently, as assistant principal. The board previously announced seven other new principals last month: Brian Baron, Morningside Elementary School; Summer Clayton, E. Rivers Elementary School; Tiauna Crooms, Booker T. Washington High School; Shermain Jennings, Frederick Douglass High School; Angela Mitchell, North Atlanta High School; Kristy Reese, L.O. Kimberly Elementary School; and Adib Shakir, Michael R. Hollis Innovation Academy. TRENDING STORIES: Giant tree crashes into another, sends it toppling onto Cobb County rental home Swimmer seriously injured in boating incident on GA lake Atlanta-area rapper sentenced for bringing stolen loaded 'machine gun' into hospital labor unit [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
New principals appointed for Ridgewood and South Greenville schools
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Pitt County Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve M. Lassiter Jr. announced the new principal appointments for Ridgewood and South Greenville Elementary Schools. Effective July 1, 2025, Anitra Cook, an assistant principal at Wahl-Coates Elementary School of the Arts since 2022, has been promoted to take over the top role at South Greenville, while Katherine Swain has been promoted to principal status at Ridgewood after seven years as an assistant principal at Lakeforest Elementary. Anitra Cook will be leading South Greenville Elementary School after an overall six-year assistant principal tenure which included earlier service at Farmville Middle School from 2019-2022. Cook began her career with PCS as a media coordinator at Sam D. Bundy Elementary in 2014 where she managed all of the school's library and served as a county-to-school liaison for technology development. Anitra Cook; Photo courtesy of Pitt County Schools 'I am truly honored and humbled to accept the position of principal at South Greenville,' Cook said. 'I am thankful for the opportunity to serve a school with such a rich legacy and resilient spirit. Together, we will build on our strengths, foster a culture of excellence, and ensure that every child thrives.' Katherine Swain, who was selected as the 2025 PCS Assistant Principal of the Year in October of 2024, has eight years of administrative experience and 23 overall years in education. After completing the North Carolina Principal Fellows Program, she began her current position at Lakeforest in 2018. While at Lakeforest, she helped play a key role in the school's selection as a North Carolina Model STEM School of Distinction and as an AVID Elementary Showcase School. Katherine Swain; Photo courtesy of Pitt County Schools 'I'm honored to be joining the Ridgewood Elementary School family,' Swain said. 'Ridgewood has a strong tradition of academic success, supported by a dedicated staff and strong family and community partnerships. As principal, I look forward to building on this foundation to foster a supportive and inclusive environment where every child is challenged, valued, and inspired to reach their full potential. Go Sharks!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Reitz High School teacher awarded by American Association of Chemistry Teachers
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- A Reitz High School educator is named 'Teacher of the Year' by the American Association of Chemistry Teachers. Job Corp Centers react to ruling blocking closures Nora Walsh was recognized by the organization for her contributions to chemistry education. The American Association of Chemistry Teachers says Walsh stood out, as she is motivated by collaboration, and is in active teacher learning networks on social media. Walsh serves as an associate editor for Chemical Education Xchange, an interactive website for chemistry teachers, and is a two-time Indiana finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
