New principals, literacy leaders named for Dalton Public Schools

Brady Hix, The Daily Citizen, Dalton, Ga.
·4 min read

Apr. 16—Familiar faces will be in new leadership roles for Dalton Public Schools during the 2024-25 school year.

The Dalton Board of Education this week approved 5-0 new principals for four schools and two people in new literacy roles.

"All have worked at Dalton Public Schools or are currently working at Dalton Public Schools," said board Chairman Matt Evans. "I just want to congratulate all of those individuals that are assuming leadership. Our board, we want to support you as frontline leaders because what makes Dalton Public Schools special happens under your leadership."

Alesa Smith, currently Roan School's assistant principal, will be Westwood School's principal in the fall. Smith will succeed Scott Ehlers, who will be retiring after 23 years in Dalton Public Schools.

As stated in a release from Dalton Public Schools, Smith brings a "robust background in elementary education" along with "18 years of experience and a specialization in literacy curriculum, instructional coaching and school administration."

Smith has previously served as an instructional coach at City Park School and in Whitfield County Schools at Valley Point Elementary School.

Brandon Headrick will take over the principal position at Park Creek School from Will Esters, who will also be retiring after a combined 26 years in Dalton Public Schools.

Headrick, currently an assistant principal at Hammond Creek Middle School, "brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role," the system said in a release.

"In a career spanning 18 years, Headrick has served in various capacities including third-grade educator, fifth-grade teacher, EIP (Early Intervention Program) teacher, Title I coordinator, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) lab teacher and eighth-grade teacher," the release states.

Dalton Junior High School students and faculty will welcome a new principal in Spencer Gazaway, who will follow Matt Phillips. Phillips will begin as principal for Catoosa County's Heritage High School in the fall.

With more than 20 years of experience in education, Gazaway has previously held assistant principal and principal positions at Bagley Middle School in Murray County, helping lead that school to receive a Silver Star Award for Academic Achievement and recognition as a National Model School.

The Dalton Academy will welcome Jessica Ashlock as principal after current principal Matthew Mederios begins in that role for Southeast Whitfield High School this fall.

Ashlock currently serves as an assistant principal at Dalton High School, where she "played a pivotal role in establishing the first Robotics Team at Dalton High School and implementing project-based learning initiatives within engineering standards," the release states.

The board also approved Ali Finley as the system's director of literacy and Amanda Weeks as literacy coach, two new positions that were created as part of the system's new Dalton Reads! literacy initiative. The initiative rolled out after the approval of Georgia House Bill 538 and Senate Bill 48 last year, which mandated the "implementation of structured literacy based on the science of reading" and which "embraces evidence-based practices to ensure that every child has the opportunity to become a proficient reader," system officials said.

Weeks previously taught at Park Creek and served as an instructional literacy coach at City Park School. She also serves as adjunct instructor for dyslexia endorsement for the Northwest Georgia Regional Education Service Agency.

Finley, who is the current principal of Blue Ridge School, has held several positions throughout her 22 years in education, including as an assistant principal, instructional coach, early intervention program teacher and fifth-grade teacher.

"Actively engaged in professional development, Finley has participated in leadership programs offered by organizations such as the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders, Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement," the release states. "As a key member of the Dalton Public Schools Literacy Team and Core Curriculum Team, Finley is poised to make significant contributions to literacy development across the district."

Evans said the system is making a "significant investment" in academics with the new positions.

"Our board has strongly prioritized the investment in literacy and the opportunity we have with the state law that has come out to improve in literacy, so I just want to congratulate the team and what's to come."