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

Mr. Sean Dye,

More Information Coming Soon

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.

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. Kimberlee Ogletree

More Information Coming Soon

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.  

 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. 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.

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.

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.

Mrs. Lisa Saunders,

More Information Coming Soon

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.

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. 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.

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!).

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.

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.