SSTAGE
Board of Directors

2024-2025

Executive Board

These are our wonderful Executive Board members for 2024-2025

Executive Director

Joan Whitehead
Retired, Bibb County School District

jwhitehead@sstage.org


Current President

Mandy Harper
Director of Special Education
Ware County Schools

president@sstage.org 

Past President

Dr. Kacia Thompson,
Douglass County School District

past-pres@sstage.org 

President Elect

Nikki Sutton
Muscogee County School District

pres-elect@sstage.org 

Secretary

Dr. Meagan Nalls,
Bartow County School District 

secretary@sstage.org

Treasurer

Anthony M. Chiles
Burke County Public Schools

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

Dane Heard
GLRS Director
Coastal Plains RESA

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