CCSD names new principals

The Clarke County School Board names a new principal for Clarke Middle School: Dr. Amanda Gorham has been interim principal since December of last year. The Board named Dr. Carletha Pearson as the next principal of Winterville Elementary School. She replaces former Winterville principal Dr. Donna Elder, who is now working as the Clarke County School District’s Executive Director of Federal Programs.

From the CCSD website…

Dr. Gorham was named following an extensive selection process that included interviews with Clarke County School District administraton and representatives from the CMS Local School Governance Team (LSGT).

“I am excited to continue serving as principal of Clarke Middle School and look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with all of our school’s stakeholders,” said Dr. Gorham. “I believe that all students are capable of success, and it is the job of educators to discover what fuels a student’s fire and to then guide them toward achieving their goals and dreams.”

Dr. Gorham brings to CMS two decades of experience serving students in Title I public education. She worked as a teacher, coach, guidance counselor, assistant principal, and principal in rural, urban, and suburban schools districts in grades pre-K-12 and was principal at Macon County Middle School prior to joining CCSD in 2018 as an associate principal at Clarke Central High School.

She later became Director of Alternative Education for the district, supporting students at Classic City High School and the CCSD Learning Center. Under her leadership, Classic City High’s graduation rate increased by 16%, and the school graduated 80% of its seniors who started the 2020-21 school year, most of whom transferred from their home schools credit-deficient.

Dr. Gorham holds a bachelors degree in Middle Grades Education and a masters degree in Guidance and Counseling from Fort Valley State University and received her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership degree from the University of Georgia. She also holds an Educational Specialist in Educational Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University.

“Dr. Gorham’s passion and advocacy for her students and her proven success in empowering them academically, socially, and emotionally will continue to serve Clarke Middle School well,” said CCSD superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas. “In her own words, she is ‘committed to creating an environment that serves the whole child,’ and with her leadership and the hard work and dedication of her staff, we know we will see positive outcomes at CMS.”

Dr. Pearson, who currently serves as assistant principal at Whitehead Road Elementary, will officially start in her new role June 1. She replaces former Winterville principal Dr. Donna Elder, who was hired as the Clarke County School District’s Executive Director of Federal Programs in January 2022. Dr. Melanie James, who has served since then as interim principal, will resume her role as assistant principal next school year.

“I am honored and humbled to serve as the new principal of Winterville Elementary School,” said Dr. Pearson after the school board approved her hire. “I have learned and heard many great things about the ‘Winnerbees’ and am excited to work alongside the dedicated staff, scholars, families, and community members to provide a world-class educational experience that will continue to inspire every child to achieve at high levels and become lifelong learners with the knowledge, skills, and moral character to positively impact the city of Winterville.”

Dr. Pearson is a 12-year public education veteran and has been in her current role as assistant principal at Whitehead since July 2013. Prior to her time in Clarke County, she spent three years with the Osceola County School District in Kissimmee, Florida, first as a district Title I program specialist and then as a literacy coach at Pleasant Hill Elementary School.

Dr. Pearson earned a bachelors degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso, a masters degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and then earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia in May 2021.

“We are delighted to see Dr. Pearson step into her new role at Winterville Elementary and continue her excellent work in Clarke County schools,” said CCSD superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas. “She is a data-driven leader who will work with her school’s parents and stakeholders to uphold Winterville’s strong tradition of achievement and its outstanding culture.”

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