Several new principals among pending leadership changes at MCSD schools. What to know
Three schools will have different principals — including two new ones — and a central office director will be promoted in the Muscogee County School District if the school board approves the superintendent’s personnel moves next week.
During the board’s monthly work session Monday night, superintendent David Lewis recommended the following appointments:
- LaShonda Milledge-Miller to succeed Lisa Whitaker as principal of Hannan Magnet Academy. Whitaker would transfer to Johnson Elementary School to succeed retiring principal Stephen Hanner, Lewis told the board.
- Robert Ogburn to succeed Gayla Childs as principal of Veterans Memorial Middle School.
- Kelli McKenzie to succeed Susan Schlader as school nutrition director.
Childs and Schlader are retiring at the end of this month, Lewis told the Ledger-Enquirer.
The board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations during its May 17 meeting. They would go into effect July 1.
Lewis explained his selections in an emailed interview with the L-E.
“Mrs. Whitaker is a successful principal who has experience with the Autism program and will sustain its focus as well as building upon the foundation established by Mr. Hanner to expand the vision for Johnson Elementary School,” he said.
The following information about the new appointees is based on their resumes attached to the agenda:
LaShonda Milledge-Miller
Milledge-Miller is a 20-year educator. She has been Hannan’s assistant principal for the past two years. She was assistant principal at Double Churches Middle School for four years and an academic coach for one year.
She taught English language arts at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School (2011-14), Lewis Frasier Middle School in Hinesville (2005-11), South Regional Achievement Center in Albany (2003-05) and Worth County Middle School in Sylvester. She also was an officer in the Albany Police Department (1998-2002).
Milledge-Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Albany State in 1996, a bachelor’s degree in middle grades language arts and social studies from Albany State in 2001 and a master’s degree in instructional technology from American Intercontinental University in 2005. She also holds a doctoral degree in instructional leadership, curriculum and instruction from Argosy University in 2014 and a doctoral degree in ministry from Newburgh Theological Seminary in 2014.
“Dr. Miller has served as the assistant principal at Hannan Elementary and is familiar with both the school community and the Autism program housed there, which will ensure continuity,” Lewis said.
Robert Ogburn
Ogburn is a 15-year educator. He has been assistant principal at Godley Station School (K-8) in Savannah for the past two years. He previously worked in MCSD as academic dean at Arnold Magnet Academy (2018-19), a regular- and special-education teacher at Blanchard Elementary (2010-18) and a special-education paraprofessional at Allen Elementary School (2006-09).
He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Troy University in 2008, a master’s degree in elementary education from Columbus State University in 2014 and a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from CSU in 2018.
“Mr. Ogburn is a native of Columbus and a graduate of the MCSD and CSU,” Lewis said. “He began his career in the MCSD and served as a teacher and academic dean in our schools until accepting a promotion to become an assistant principal for middle grade students in Savannah. Following two rounds of interviews and reference checks, Mr. Ogburn distinguished himself as the primary candidate whose vision and experiences best align with the overall needs of Veterans Middle.”
Kelli McKenzie
McKenzie has been MCSD’s assistant director of school nutrition for the past five years. She was an intervention teacher in the district for one year and owned a family-operated restaurant, the Yogurt Shoppe Café, for 30 years.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Auburn University in 1992, a master’s degree in learning, leading and organizational development from the University of Georgia in 2019, and a school nutrition director certificate from UGA in 2021.
“Mrs. McKenzie has over 30 years of experience in the food service and restaurant industry with five years of service to our district in the role of assistant director for the School Nutrition Program, which set her apart from other applicants,” Lewis said.
This story was originally published May 11, 2021 at 12:02 PM.
