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Faculty and Staff
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Administrative Staff |
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Valerie Mathura, Principal |
Biography |
Email |
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Sean
Dye, Assistant Principal |
Biography |
Email |
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Lucia Woods, Counselor |
Biography |
Email |
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Office Staff |
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Kathy Hinesley, Bookkeeper |
Biography |
Email |
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Kimberlee
Ogletree, Clerk |
Biography |
Email |
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Patty Morris, Nurse |
Biography |
Email |
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Kindergarten Team |
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Dana DeGennaro |
Biography |
Email |
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Diana Ferrante |
Biography |
Email |
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Lee Ann Kitchens, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Cheryl Richardson |
Biography |
Email |
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1st Grade Team |
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Linda Bohannon |
Biography |
Email |
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Kim Crawford, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Sue Deyo |
Biography |
Email |
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Lisa
Saunders |
Biography |
Email |
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2nd Grade Team |
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Janice Smith, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Dianne Copeland, |
Biography |
Email |
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Debbie Smith |
Biography |
Email |
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Diana
Robinson |
Biography |
Email |
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Marlie
Jennings |
Biography |
Email |
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3rd Grade Team |
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Colette Peaks, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Sharon Couch |
Biography |
Email |
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Leslie Hynson |
Biography |
Email |
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Heidi
Gamblin |
Biography |
Email |
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4th Grade Team |
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Robin Merriman |
Biography |
Email |
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Cora Reeves, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Kim
Folwer |
Biography |
Email |
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5th Grade Team |
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Mary Allen, Grade Level Chair |
Biography |
Email |
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Elnora Battle |
Biography |
Email |
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Angela Brown |
Biography |
Email |
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Meredith Clark |
Biography |
Email |
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After School Program |
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Mrs.
Gibson |
Biography |
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Judy McCullough |
Biography |
Email |
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Nikki
Powers |
Biography |
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Media/Technology |
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Ruth Cooper, Computer Lab |
Biography |
Email |
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Millie Garza, Media ParaPro |
Biography |
Email |
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Thad Spates, ETSS |
Biography |
Email |
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Joe Traylor, Media Specialist |
Biography |
Email |
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Cafeteria Staff |
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Tassell Orr, Cafeteria Manager |
Biography |
Email |
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Belinda Brownlee |
Biography |
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Bobbie Buck |
Biography |
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Tammy Freeman |
Biography |
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Patricia Johnson |
Biography |
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Ernestine Russell |
Biography |
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Suzanne Williams |
Biography |
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Certified Support Staff |
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Jim Andrews, Special Ed. |
Biography |
Email |
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Alice Johnston, EIP |
Biography |
Email |
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Anne Bond, EIP |
Biography |
Email |
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James Brantley, P.E. |
Biography |
Email |
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Susan Shaner, Special Ed. |
Biography |
Email |
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Tiffany Brown, Music |
Biography |
Email |
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Heather Corley, Art |
Biography |
Email |
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Julie
Aldridge, Speech |
Biography |
Email |
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Betsy Dunlap, Special Ed. |
Biography |
Email |
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Ann Headstream, EIP |
Biography |
Email |
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Grace Leroy, EIP |
Biography |
Email |
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Lisa Roberts, ESOL |
Biography |
Email |
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Jewel Simmons, Social Worker |
Biography |
Email |
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Tabatha
Haney,
REACH |
Biography |
Email |
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Classified Support Staff |
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Matthew Bailey, Permanent Sub |
Biography |
Email |
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Zella Carter, Kindergarten |
Biography |
Email |
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Cynthia Corbett, Special Ed. |
Biography |
Email |
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Marie Little, S.O.A.R. Lead TA |
Biography |
Email |
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Rhonda Lowery, Special Ed. |
Biography |
Email |
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Holly McKenzie, Kindergarten |
Biography |
Email |
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Rosa Pritchett, Kindergarten |
Biography |
Email |
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Dorothy Roberts, Kindergarten |
Biography |
Email |
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Phillene Robinson, Title 1 |
Biography |
Email |
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Julianne McKnight, Art |
Biography |
Email |
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Custodial Staff |
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Rochelle Brown |
Biography |
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Frankie Gray |
Biography |
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George Jones |
Biography |
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Norrice Jordan |
Biography |
Email |
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Mrs.
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
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she had growing up. She loves learning and
watching others learn, believes education is her
mission in life, and that working in the school
system allows her to fulfill her purpose. Mrs.
Mathura has been Teacher of the Year at Elm
Street, Ruth Hill, and Jefferson Parkway
elementary schools. She is a former Coweta
County Teacher of the Year, and State of Georgia
Finalist for Teacher of the Year. She is
presently completing her doctorate with Capella
University.
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Mr. Sean
Dye,
More
Information Coming Soon |
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Mrs. Lucia
Woods is the school counselor.
She was born in Kentucky and attended
Auburn University, Georgia Southern
University and The State University of
West Georgia. Mrs. Woods has two
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.
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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.
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Mrs.
Kimberlee Ogletree
More
Information Coming Soon
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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.”
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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.
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Mrs.
Diana Ferrante is a kindergarten
teacher. She was born in Troy, Alabama
and grew up in Albany, Georgia, where
she attended high school with Paula Deen.
She is a graduate of Georgia Southern
University, the University of West
Georgia, and Lesley University. Mrs.
Ferrante has four sons and a
granddaughter, and enjoys gardening and
reading. Her favorite quote is “One of
the best gifts you can give your child
is to read to them.” Mrs. Ferrante
became a teacher because she felt she
was born to teach.
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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.
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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. |
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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. |
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Mrs.
Brenda Clifton
is a first grade teacher. She was born
in Winterhaven, Florida and attended
Georgia State College and University in
Milledgeville, and the University of
West Georgia. Mrs. Clifton has three
children and two grandchildren, and
enjoys reading, traveling and relaxing
in her condo on St. Simons Island.
During the summer, she travels to
Romania and other countries to work with
children. Her favorite quote is “Trust
in the Lord with all of your heart and
lean not on your own understanding.” She
was inspired to teach by her first grade
teacher who lived across the street from
her. Mrs. Clifton was a Coweta County
Teacher of the Year in 1999, a Georgia
Teacher of the Year finalist in 2000, a
Presidential Award Winner of Excellence
for Math Teachers in 2002, and a
Fulbright Memorial Teacher Award to
Japan recipient in 2004.
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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.
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Mrs. Sue Deyo
is a first grade teacher. She
grew up in Pelham, Georgia and graduated
from Asbury College in Kentucky. She has
a daughter and two grandsons, and enjoys
gardening, home decorating, the piano
and art. Her favorite quote is “And in
the end, it’s not the years in your life
that count, it’s the life in your
years.” She was inspired to teach by the
several inspiring teachers she had in
elementary and high school. Mrs. Deyo
spent twenty five years teaching in
Canada before coming to Ruth Hill.
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Mrs. Lisa
Saunders,
More
Information Coming Soon
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Mrs.
Collette Peaks is a second grade
teacher. She was born in Durham, North
Carolina and is a graduate of The
University of North Carolina at Raleigh.
Mrs. Peaks has two children and enjoys
reading. She was inspired to teach by
the tremendous effect her fifth grade
teacher had on her. In 2007, she was
named Ruth Hill Teacher of the Year.
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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.
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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. |
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Mrs.
Dianne Copeland is a third grade
teacher. She has lived in Newnan all her
life and graduated from Newnan High and
The University of West Georgia. She has
two children and grandchildren, and
enjoys reading. Her favorite quote is,
“Can’t never could.” She was inspired to
become a teacher by her fourth grade
teacher, Mrs. Francis Brown.
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Mrs.
Sharon Couch is a third grade
teacher. She was born in Detroit,
attended Temple High in Carroll County,
and is a graduate of the University of
West Georgia. Mrs. Couch has one son and
two granddaughters, and in addition to
her grandchildren 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!).
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Mrs. Leslie Hynson is a
third grade teacher. Born in
Florida, she attended
Wewahitchka High School and is a
graduate of the University of
Maryland and the University of
West Georgia. She has two
daughters and a granddaughter,
and enjoys reading and cooking.
Her husband is also an
elementary school teacher. Mrs.
Hynson’s favorite quote is, “Do
not be afraid…I am your shield,
your very great reward.”
Intrigued by the education
process, teaching is the only
job she ever wanted.
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Mrs. Alice
Johnston is a fourth grade
teacher. She was born in Ohio and
attended Seton Hall University in New
Jersey. Mrs. Johnston has seven
children and four grandchildren and
enjoys reading, swimming and traveling.
Her favorite quote is, “Do as I say,
not as I do.” She was inspired to become
a teacher by her father.
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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.
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Mrs. Cora
Reeves
is a fourth grade teacher. She was born
in Newnan, attended Central High and the
University of West Georgia. Mrs. Reeves
has five grandchildren and enjoys
reading and crafts. She has always loved
teaching and the difference it can make
in a child’s life. |
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Mrs. Mary
Allen is a fifth grade teacher.
She was born in Natchez, Mississippi and
attended Alcorn State University and
Mississippi State University. Mrs. Allen
has two children and two grandchildren,
and enjoys reading and needle point. Her
favorite quote is, “It doesn’t matter
how many times you fall down. What
matters is how many times you get up.”
Mrs. Allen credits one very special
teacher, who made her feel that she was
special, with inspiring her to become a
teacher. She desires to inspire others
to achieve success by obtaining their
goals in life. |
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Mrs. Elnora
Battle
is a fifth grade teacher. She was born
in Alabama, attended high school in
Michigan and college in Minnesota. She
has four grown children and enjoys
collecting coins, reading and traveling.
Her favorite quote is, “The mind is a
terrible thing to waste.” She was
inspired to become a teacher by her
fifth grade teacher. |
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Mrs.
Angela Brown is a fifth grade
teacher. She was born in Warm Springs,
Georgia, was valedictorian of her
graduating class at Greenville High, and
is a graduate of the University of West
Georgia. Mrs. Brown has three children,
two of whom attend Ruth Hill, and her
husband is also a teacher at the school.
In addition to playing with her
children, she enjoys gardening or
relaxing with a good book. Her favorite
quote is, “Actions speak louder than
words so always lead by example.” Mrs.
Brown was inspired to teach by the
success she had teaching her dolls at
age five. Her mother also told her that
she was born to teach.
She has been an intern for former
Governor Zell Miller as well as former
Senator Sam Nunn. |
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Mrs. Brown was also
a National Student Teacher nominee in 1996, a
Leona Ingram Scholarship Recipient in 1998, and
Ruth Hill’s Teacher of the Year in 1999. |
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Mrs.
Meredith Clark is a Fifth grade
teacher. She was born in Newnan,
graduated from Newnan High and earned
degrees from LaGrange College and Troy
University. Mrs. Clark has a daughter,
one son,
and two step sons. She enjoys spending
time with her family, reading, walking,
house projects, and watching game shows.. Her favorite
quote is “God doesn’t require us to
succeed; he only requires that you try!”
Mrs. Clark always knew she wanted to
work with children and feels teaching is
something she can give back to the
world. She is a member of Macedonia
Baptist Church. |
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Mrs. Gibson
works in the After School Program.
She was born in Coweta County, attended
Central High and graduated from Fort
Valley State College. Mrs. Gibson has
two sons and enjoys gardening,
decorating, and perusing yard sales. Her
favorite quote is “Treat others as you
wish to be treated.” She was inspired to
work with children by a desire to help
others. |
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Mrs.
Judy McCollough is the After
School Program Coordinator. She was born
in Alabama, attended high school in
Macon, Georgia and graduated from
Georgia Southern University. Before
taking charge of the After School
Program, Mrs. McCollough was a Florida
sheriff’s deputy, DARE officer, Crime
Prevention Specialist, and Child Abuse
Investigator. She has been an elementary
art teacher and also worked in Ruth
Hill’s media center. She has two grown
children and enjoys reading, camping and
working in the yard. Her favorite quote
is “May you see that you are in a field
of unending green.” She became involved
in education because of her love of
children. |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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Mr. Thad
Spates is the school’s
Educational Technology Support
Specialist. He is a certified Microsoft
systems Engineer, Certified Ethical
Hacker, and has degrees in Computer
Science and Computer Information systems
management. Mr. Spates has two children
and enjoys kayaking, and watching
sports. His favorite quote is “To get
straight A’s you need a ruler.” |
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