SSTAGE Board of Directors

2022-2023

Executive Board

Executive Director

Joan Whitehead

Retired, Bibb County School District

jwhitehead@sstage.org


Current Co-President

Dr. Paula Freer

Retired, Dekalb County School District 

president@sstage.org 

Current Co-President Elect

Dr. Donna Major

Walton County School District 

president@sstage.org 

Past President

Dr. Scott McManus, 

Dekalb County School District 

past-pres@sstage.org 

President Elect

Dr. Kacia Thompson, 

Douglas County School District 

pres-elect@sstage.org 

Secretary

Dr. Meagan Nalls, 

Bartow County School District 

secretary@sstage.org

Treasurer

Dr. Amy Reschley, 

University of Georgia

treasurer@sstage.org

Regional Representatives and Directors at Large

Region 1 Representative

Dr. Melissa Conway, 

Jackson County Schools

Region 2 Representative

Lindsey Lee,

First District RESA

Region 3 Representative

Dr. Hope Sowell,

Crisp County School District

Region 4 Representative

Mandy Harper,

Ware County Schools

Region 5 Representative

Kanessa Fain, 

Dekalb County School District 

Director at Large

Dr. Nikki Sutton

Muscogee County School District

Director at Large

Kristin Drake, 

Dekalb County School District

Director at Large

Katrina Cook,

Hart County Charter System

Non-Voting Board of Director Members

GaDOE Liason

Dr. Donna McClain

GaDOE MTSS Team 

GaDOE Liason

Dr. Tabathia Baldy

GaDOE Office of Whole Child Supports

Committees 

Governance & Nominating Committee

Dr. Kacia Thompson, Douglas County School District,  Chair

Dr. Melissa Conway, Jackson County Schools

Lindsey Lee, First District RESA

Lesley Greene,  Carroll County Schools

Mandy Harper, Ware County Schools

Kanessa Fain, Dekalb County School District

Communications Committee 

Anthony Chiles, Burke County Schools, Waynesboro Primary School, Co-Chair

Alana Anderson, Bryan County School System, Behavior Specialist, Co-Chair

Kanessa Fain, Dekalb County School District

Lori Alexander, Jefferson City Schools

Social Emotional Learning Committee (Student Connectedness & Well-Being)

Dr. Melissa Conway, Jackson County School System, Principal, West Jackson MS, Chair

Teresa Hearn, Pioneer RESA, Wraparound Services Coordinator

Pat Kennedy, Social Circle City Schools, School Psychologist

Dr. Hope Sowell, Crisp County MS, Professional School Counselor

Dr. Nikki Sutton, Muscogee County School District, Program Manager of MTSS/504 Coordinator/Dyslexia Pilot Coordinator



Professional Learning Committee/Research and Best Practice

Dr. Leigh Sears, Gainesville City School System, Elementary Schools Director

Tracey Compton (Retired), Dawson County School System,Director of School Improvement and Accountability

Lesley Green, Carroll County School System, Coordinator of Instructional Support

Teresa Hearn, Pioneer RESA, Wraparound Services Coordinator

Lindsey Lee, First District RESA, School Climate Support Specialist

Dr. Meagan Nalls, Bartow County School District, School Psychologist

Courtney Rogers, Carroll County School System, Principal

Kimberly Wilber, Newton County School System, RtI and Gifted Program Coordinator