Dr. Valerie Mathura is the principal of Ruth Hill where she once taught first grade.  She was born in Griffin, attended Forest Park High and is a graduate of Lee University and the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Mathura married her best friend (Allan) and they have two daughters (Jennifer and Kimberly) and a furry, white toy poodle they call Prissy. Her two sons-in-love are J.C. and Edward. Mrs. Mathura enjoys playing the piano, reading, spending time with her husband, loving on Prissy and studying educational trends. Her favorite quote is “In times of change, learners will inherit the world, while the knowers remain well-prepared for a world that no longer exists.” Mrs. Mathura was inspired to teach by all the memories of school and teachers

Dr. Maria Carlton

Dr. Lucia Woods is the school counselor. She was born in Kentucky and attended Auburn University, Georgia Southern University and University of West Georgia. She has been married for 25 years to Doug Woods. Mrs. Woods has three children and enjoys reading, shopping, watching her favorite TV shows and dining with friends. Her favorite quote is “Don’t shake hands with the devil ‘til you meet him on the street.” She views the school as one of the primary institutions that provides a foundation for the future of our county and world by educating our children, and wanted to be a part of this process.

Ms. Kathy Hinesley is the school’s bookkeeper. She was born in Newnan and attended Newnan High. Mrs. Hinesley has four daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter. She enjoys scrap booking and reading, and loves her work and the contact she has with students.

Mrs. Patty Morris is the school nurse. She was born in Miami, attended high school there, and graduated from Georgia Baptist School of Nursing. Mrs. Morris has three children. Her favorite quote is “For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

Mrs. Dana DeGennaro is a kindergarten teacher. She attended Lovejoy High School and graduated from Gordon College, the University of West Georgia, and Troy University. She and her husband are enjoying their first child, a son. She also enjoys reading and baking.

Mrs. Lee Ann Kitchens is a kindergarten teacher and the grade level chair for her team. She was born in Newnan and attended LaGrange College. Mrs. Kitchens has two children and enjoys reading and trivia.

Mrs. Cheryl Richardson is a kindergarten teacher. She was born in Ohio and received her teaching degree from the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Richardson has three children and enjoys reading and gardening. She represented our school as Ruth Hill's 2008 Teacher of the Year, a prestigious honor being selected by her peers. She presently serves as the Grade Level Chair for her Kindergarten Team.

 Ms. Linda Bohannon is a teacher of ELP (Extraordinary Little People). She also teaches first grade. She was born in Newnan and graduated from Newnan High and the University of West Georgia. Ms. Bohannon is an aunt many times over and enjoys word search, reading and television. Her favorite quote is “I can do all things through Christ.” She was inspired to teach by her first grade teacher, Mrs. Zelda Rice Griffin. Ms. Bohannon was Carrollton Teacher of the Year in 1987, and Ruth Hill Teacher of the Year in 2000. She is also a board member of the Teachers Retirement System.

Mrs. Kim Crawford is a first grade teacher. She graduated from Newnan High and The University of West Georgia. She has a son and enjoys singing, playing volleyball and collecting snowmen. Her favorite quote is “To teach is to touch a life forever.” She was inspired to teach by her love of children. Mrs. Crawford was Ruth Hill Teacher of the Year in 1993 and 2006.

More Information Coming Soon

Ms. Marlie Jennings is a second grade teacher. She has lived in Newnan all of her life. She graduated from Newnan High School in 2004 and began attending the University of West Georgia in the fall of 2004. She will complete her degree in May of 2009. She enjoys reading and walking. Her inspiration for teaching came from her second grade teacher, Mr. Steve Clark, who taught here at Ruth Hill. He made teaching fun, which is what she hopes to do.

Mrs. Debbie Smith is a second grade teacher. She was born in North Carolina where she graduated from high school at age sixteen. She has attended Francis Marion College, Charleston Southern University and the University of West Georgia. Besides education, Mrs. Smith has degrees in cosmetology and real estate. She has four children and two of her daughters are also elementary school teachers.  Mrs. Smith enjoys spending time with her family, walking, reading, and quiet time with God. Her favorite quote is “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Mrs. Smith was motivated to become a teacher by some of the ineffective teachers she experienced as a child.

Mrs. Janice Smith is a second grade teacher. She was born in Tennessee and attended East Tennessee University and the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Smith has two children and enjoys walking, reading and cooking. Her favorite quote is “The more you read, the better reader you become. The better reader you are the smarter you are.” Mrs. Smith was inspired to teach after studying John Dewey’s theory about children having to actually do things in order to grasp concepts and deciding to put this theory into practice. She grew up in a time when little hands on activities took place in schools and she wanted to give students this opportunity. Mrs. Smith was the 2004 Coweta County Teacher of the Year, is a Reading Renaissance Model and Master Teacher, and received a Disney Teacher of the Year nomination.

Mrs. Sharon Couch is a second grade teacher. She was born in Detroit, Michigan but moved to Georgia as a teenager. Mrs. Couch attended Temple High School in Carroll County and is a graduate of the University of West Georgia. She has one son and two grandchildren. In addition to her role as a grandmother she enjoys sculpting and reading. Her favorite quote is, “Patience is mine!” Mrs. Couch believes she is a natural facilitator and credits her loving family with molding her into a nurturing soul. One of her biggest accomplishments was not giving up on her dream of becoming a teacher (at age 40!)
 

Mrs. Kim Fowler serves as a fourth grade teacher. She comes to Ruth Hill Elementary School after several years of experience at a Carrollton County school. She lives in Newnan with her husband and one year old daughter. She graduated from Starr’s Mill High School and the University of West Georgia. She has added strength to her fourth grade team as she took on meeting and organizing responsibilities before her contract date.

Mr. Robin Merriman is a fourth grade teacher. He was born in California and earned a teaching degree from California State University (Fresno). He also has a degree in Sports Nutrition from Georgia State University. Mr. Merriman has two daughters and enjoys tennis, hiking, triathlons, and playing the guitar. His favorite quote is “Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiasm.” He became a teacher to pass on knowledge, skills and the stimulation of a never-ending challenge. Mr. Merriman spent eighteen days in Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Recipient in 2006. He has completed eight marathons (including Boston) and is a member of the Lutheran praise band, Graceflock.

Ms. Nikki Powers is a worker in the After School Program. She was born in Coweta County and attended Newnan High. Besides playing with her two children, Ms. Powers enjoys reading. She was inspired to work in a school because she loves working with children.

Mrs. Ruth Cooper is the computer lab teacher. She was born in LaFayette, Alabama and attended the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Cooper has two daughters and enjoys traveling and reading. Her favorite quote is “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” She realized at an early age that she wanted to teach and can’t imagine a more rewarding profession. Mrs. Cooper is a former Ruth Hill Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Millie Garza is an assistant in the media center. She was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Columbus, Georgia. Mrs. Garza has three children and in addition to her family, enjoys painting, gardening, cooking, sewing and reading. An avid baker, Mrs. Garza has baked over 100 wedding cakes and provided numerous spectacular cakes for staff birthdays and showers. Fluent in Spanish, Mrs. Garza is frequently called upon to interpret for our Hispanic families.  Her favorite quote is “Be nice.”  She was inspired to work with children by a wonderful childhood and her belief that guiding and caring for children is the most important thing a person can do. She is a former Catholic Woman of the Year.

Mr. Joe Traylor is the media specialist. He was born in LaGrange, Georgia and attended LaGrange High. He graduated from Young Harris College, LaGrange College, The University of North Georgia and The University of West Georgia. Mr. Traylor has two children and enjoys reading, messing about in boats, and Starbucks coffee. His wife is also an elementary school teacher. Mr. Traylor’s favorite quote is, “It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice.” He chose education as a career because he enjoys interacting with children.

Mrs. Tassell Orr is the food service manager. She has lived in Newnan all her life and has three children.

Ms. Belinda Brownlee is a member of the school’s cafeteria staff. She has lived in Newnan all her life.

Mrs. Bonnie Buck is a member of the cafeteria staff. She has two children and enjoys reading and scrap booking. Her favorite quote is “I can do all things through Christ.”

Mrs. Tammy Freeman is a member of the cafeteria staff. She was born in Newnan and graduated from Newnan High and Atlanta Area Tech. She has three children and five grandsons, and enjoys sports and reading.

Mrs.  Patricia Johnson is a member of the school’s cafeteria staff. She has lived in Newnan all her life and has two children.

 Ms. Ernestine Russell is a member of the cafeteria staff.

Mrs. Suzanne Williams is the lunchroom cashier. She was born in Fulton County and attended Fayette county High. Mrs. Williams is a Certified Nursing Assistant and Serve-Safe Certified. She has a daughter and enjoys reading and cross stitch. Her favorite quote is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”   

Mrs. Alice Johnston  serves as an EIP Teacher for Reading and Math support. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but has lived in Moreland for 21 years. She graduated from Marion Abramson High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her bachelor’s degree was from the University of Houston (Houston, TX) and her master’s degree was from the University of West Georgia. Among her other titles are wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and aunt. She has seven children and seven grandchildren. Mrs. Johnston enjoys reading, Girl Scouts, swimming, traveling, and training horses. A favorite quote is “Remember, happiness doesn’t depend upon who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think.” She is inspired to teach because she needs to make a difference in children’s lives, since they are our future. One of her accomplishments is that she has served as a foster parent for 12 years.

Coach James Brantley, affectionately known as “Radar”, has been the Physical Education Coach for 28 years at Ruth Hill Elementary School. He also serves as an Athletic Trainer for Newnan High School. He was born in Dublin, Georgia, but has lived in Newnan for 28 years. He graduated from Dublin High School in 1975 and from Troy State University in 1981. He is married to a CCSS teacher and celebrates his children, Asher (19) – a sophomore at Valdosta State, and Mason (14) a freshman at Newnan High School. Coach’s hobbies are fishing and yard work. His inspiration for working in education was his sister. His honors are Head Athletic Trainer for GA/FLA All Stars, 1987, Head Athletic Trainer for the South All Stars in 1999, and Georgia High Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2006.

Mrs. Lisa Roberts is one of the school’s ESOL teachers. She attended Newnan High and is a graduate of LaGrange College and the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Roberts has one son and enjoys working out, practicing her Spanish and reading. Her favorite quote is “The measure of life is not its duration, but its donation.” She decided to become a teacher because children make her smile and she loves to be a part of their learning.

Mrs. Phillene Robinson is a special education parapro. She was born In LaGrange, Georgia and attended high school in Nebraska, and graduated from the Newnan School of Radiological Technology. Mrs. Robinson has a son and enjoys reading and going to Starbucks. Her favorite quote is “Friendship is not something you learn in school but, if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you haven’t learned anything at all.” Watching a child grasp a new concept is what has motivated her to work in education.

Mrs. Rochelle Brown is one of the school’s custodians. She was born in Newnan and attended Central High. Mrs. Brown has four children and eleven granddaughters.