At a special called meeting on Thursday, November 10, the Gwinnett County Board of Education named three principals and the new leader for one of the district’s six divisions. Dr. Linda Anderson, currently an Assistant Superintendent for School Improvement and Operations for Elementary Schools, will become the new Associate Superintendent for the Division of Human Resources and Talent Management. She fills the position recently vacated by Dr. Frances Davis who retired at the end of September. Melissa Madsen, an assistant principal at Britt Elementary School, will be the next principal of that school, succeeding retiring Principal Doris Jones. Lisa Rhodes, an assistant principal at Taylor Elementary School, will become the new principal of Pharr Elementary School. She will fill the position as current principal Mary Thomas retires at the end of December. And, Patrick Elementary School Principal Tyese Scott-Oates will transfer to the principal post at McKendree Elementary upon the retirement of Principal Dr. Loretta Denmark. The principal appointments will be effective January 1, 2017.
Dr. Linda Anderson, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Talent Management
GCPS Employment:
2015- Present Assistant Superintendent for School Improvement and Operations
2006-2008 Area Superintendent
2006 Executive Director for School Improvement
2004-2006 Principal, Level Creek Elementary School
1993-2004 Principal, Arcado Elementary School
1991-1993 Assistant Principal, Trickum Middle School
1990-1991 Special Education Teacher, Berkmar High School
Other Employment:
Prior to returning to GCPS as an assistant superintendent for School Improvement and Operations in 2015, Dr. Anderson had expanded her leadership experience as Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning for Atlanta Public Schools (2012-2015) and as Deputy Superintendent for Fulton County Public Schools (2008-2012). Her school leadership experience outside of Gwinnett also includes working as an assistant principal at Logan Junior High School in Bellevue, NE (1987-1990 and as Dean of Students at that same school (1986-1987). She taught at Logan Junior High School from 1984 to 1985 and also taught at an elementary school in the Bellevue area from 1980 to 1984.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Special Education Northeast Missouri State University
Master’s degree in School AdministrationUniversity of Nebraska
Specialist’s degree in Curriculum/Instruction Management and Administration Nova Southeastern University
Doctorate in Educational Leadership Mercer University
In addition to her 10 years in district leadership positions in several school districts, Dr. Anderson also has experience as an educator at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. As a leader in school improvement and curriculum areas, she also has accomplishments in the area of Human Resources and Talent Management. Those accomplishments include: serving as part of a team that developed principal supervisor standards; conducting teacher feedback sessions with elementary principals and assistant principals; developing and implementing professional development on interviewing strategies for principals, assistant principals, and teacher leaders; developing and supporting the implementation of school staffing guidelines for principals; and focusing on talent development at all levels through the development, implementation, and support of professional development for a number of initiatives impacting teachers and administrators.
Melissa Madsen, Principal of Britt Elementary School
GCPS Employment:
2007- Present Assistant Principal, Britt Elementary School
2004-2007 Local School Technology Coordinator, Britt Elementary School
2000-2003 Teacher, Snellville Middle School
1995-1998 Local School Technology Coordinator, Shiloh Middle School
Other Employment:
Ms. Madsen taught mathematics at Loganville High School (2003-2004) and at Putnam County High School (1998-2000). She also was a mathematics instructor at Georgia College and State University (1999-2000).
Education:
Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and History Transylvania University (KY)
Master’s degree in Middle Grades Education Mercer University
Specialist’s degree in Instructional TechnologyUniversity of Georgia
Ms. Madsen is a 2014 graduate of the Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principals Program.
Lisa Rhodes, Principal of Pharr Elementary School
GCPS Employment:
2008- Present Assistant Principal, Taylor Elementary School
2007-2008 Administrative Intern, Taylor Elementary School
2002-2007 Teacher, Taylor Elementary School
Other Employment:
Ms. Rhodes taught from 1998 to 2002 at Big Creek Elementary School.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood EducationUniversity of Georgia
Masters degree in Administration and PolicyUniversity of Georgia
Specialists degree in Educational LeadershipUniversity of West Georgia
Ms. Rhodes is a member of this years Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principals Program (Cohort 11).
Tyese Scott-Oates, Principal of McKendree Elementary School
GCPS Employment:
2011- Present Principal, Patrick Elementary School
2009-2011 Assistant Principal, Nesbit Elementary School
Other Employment:
Prior to joining GCPS, Ms. Scott-Oates served in a number of school leadership positions in Wilmington, North CarolinaPrincipal of Sunset Park Elementary (2003-2008), Assistant Principal at Dorothy B. Johnson Elementary (2000-2003), and Assistant Principal at Supply Elementary School (1999-2000). From 1996 to 1999 she was a teacher at Supply Elementary School and she began her teaching career in 1995 as a teacher in Wayne County Schools (NC).
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Master’s degree in School AdministrationUniversity of North Carolina at Wilmington
Ms. Scott-Oates is a graduate of the Quality-Plus Leadership Academy, Aspiring Principals Program (Cohort 5).
