Principal's Corner
Dear Cornelia Elementary Families,
I am so excited to lead Cornelia Elementary School this year as Principal. Born and raised in Fayetteville, Georgia, my love for teaching began in my best friend’s basement pretend classroom, where the neighborhood friends and siblings drew straws to decide who would be the pupil and which lucky child would be the teacher. In high school, my passion for teaching was ignited in the Teacher Cadet Program, where as a high school senior, each day was spent observing and helping classroom teachers. Upon graduating, I continued my pursuits of teaching at Young Harris College, earning my Associate of Science in Education degree. While at YHC, I also met and fell in love with Habersham native Brad Trotter.
After a brief time in Marietta, while Brad completed his engineering degree, our young family moved to Habersham County. I became a familiar face to many in the community while working at the family dance studio, Dance-a-Lott, and for John Jones Photography, while also volunteering with Camp Agape and MOSAIC Arts Camp.
In 2007, I decided to complete my teaching degree and pursue my passion for teaching. Upon graduation from Piedmont University in December of 2008, I began doing long-term substitute teaching. In January 2010, I was hired full-time at Baldwin Elementary when a teacher decided to stay home with her firstborn. In the fall of 2010, I was transferred to Level Grove Elementary where my elementary career continued teaching in third, second, and fifth grades, and finally as an ESOL teacher at both LGES and South Habersham Middle School.
In the Spring of 2016, Principal Patrick Franklin visited LGES and encouraged me to consider completing the Leadership Academy and pursue administration. Up until that point, I had never thought about being a school administrator. I lead a lot in my volunteer work, but I honestly had never considered being a principal. During the 2016-2017 school year, I completed the Habersham County Schools Leadership Academy and became excited about the opportunity to pursue school administration. To gain more leadership experience and help my church, I started working part-time as a Children’s Minister in the Summer of 2017. In the Spring of 2021, it was time to get serious about school leadership so I enrolled in Kennesaw State University’s School Leadership Masters program.
In August 2021 I was named Assistant Principal of Level Grove Elementary School serving under the leadership of Dr. Susan Davis and the next year under Principal Aimee Shedd. For the 2023-2024 school year, I served under the leadership of Dr. Darlene Hudson at Cornelia Elementary. All three of these wonderful leaders have taught me so many valuable lessons for being a skilled, servant leader. I am forever grateful for the unique opportunity to have learned from these three exceptional principals.
I am thrilled with the opportunity to lead Cornelia Elementary this year as principal. It is my goal to lead responsibly, respectfully, and relationally. My mission is to support the teachers and staff of CES, and lead our students to become readers and leaders in our community today and in the future.
I look forward to partnering with our community and families in leading CES to great things!
Please feel free to contact me 706-778-6526 or via email at [email protected]
