Savannah-Chatham County schools welcomes eight new principals for 2020-21
If the beginning of every school year is a chance to start over and try something new, 2020-21 is on course to one-up every other year. In addition to a new grade, maybe a new school, staff and students must now work online. Each school’s principal must manage staff and students remotely. And each must not only accept the challenge, but embrace and excel at it. Savannah-Chatham County Public School System welcomes the following new principals in 2020-21:
James Heater, SCELA
Savannah-Chatham E-learning Academy (SCELA) welcomes James Heater as its first principal. The district’s 100% online school for grades 3-12 was formed in spring 2020 for parents and students who want to complete their education completely online.
Heater has been with the district for more than 20 years, most recently in the district office as the interim executive director of middle schools. He was the principal of Esther F. Garrison School for the Arts, Bartlett Middle and Heard Elementary; assistant principal at Gadsden Elementary and Spencer Elementary; and teacher at Marshpoint and Gadsden elementary schools.
Educational background: Heater earned his education specialist degree in educational leadership from Georgia Southern University; a middle grades certificate from Armstrong Atlantic State University; a human resource management and development graduate certificate and an MBA from Chapman University, Orange, California; and a BS with honors in aeronautical studies (management) from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona.
Interesting fact: “I have served our country and retired in 1997 after 21 years of service in the U. S. Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4,” says Heater. “I had the pleasure of being a rotary wing and fixed wing pilot!”
Andrea DeShazo, Coastal Georgia Comprehensive Academy
Coastal Georgia Comprehensive Academy, the district’s pre-K through 12 special education school, welcomes Andrea DeShazo as its new principal. DeShazo has been with the district for 28 years -- most recently in the district office as the executive director of federal programs. She previously served at Mercer, Hesse, Hodge, and Isle of Hope.
Educational background: DeShazo earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of South Alabama; teaching certificate from Roanoke College, Roanoke, Virginia; master’s degree from Georgia Southern University, specialist certificate from Cambridge College, and a doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida.
Interesting fact: “I feel that I have now come full circle in my career and the job I have enjoyed most is that of principal,” DeShazo said. “The staff at CGCA has been very welcoming and have been greatly impressed me with their commitment to the students they serve. I look forward to helping our families navigate this challenging year!”
Garrett Brundage, Windsor Forest High School
Windsor Forest High School (“The Castle”) welcomes Garrett Brundage as its new principal. Brundage joins SCCPSS from Rockdale County Public Schools in Conyers, where he was an assistant superintendent. Prior to that position, he was the chief of educational services officer. Brundage replaces Derrick Butler, who accepted the principal position of Islands High School.
Educational background: Brundage earned his bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University, a master’s of education from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville; and a doctor of education from Argosy University.
Interesting fact: “I grew up in Eatonton. I received the first Putnam County Board of Education scholarship,“ Brundage said. ”After college I returned to my hometown to teach high school math for six years before starting an 18-year administrative career in Rockdale County Public Schools.“
Saroya Pendleton-Brown, Pulaski Elementary
Saroya Pendleton-Brown was named the interim principal of Pulaski Elementary. Prior to this position, Pendleton-Brown was the assistant principal at Butler Elementary.
Prior to coming to Savannah, Pendleton-Brown served with the Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge (ADEC), K-12 principal & testing coordinator, United Arab Emirates (UAE); founding high school principal and K-12 testing coordinator, Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait: Hoke County Schools, assistant principal and testing coordinator, Raeford, North Carolina; and Cumberland County Schools, principal intern/CTAE teacher, Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Educational background: Pendleton-Brown earned her bachelor’s degree from Baker College in Flint, Michigan; her master’s degree from Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, North Carolina; and her doctorate from Walden University, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Interesting fact: “I am the only woman in the world to ’Beat Magic Johnson’ in a free-throw contest and won a scholarship to Michigan State University,” Pendleton-Brown said.
Derrick Butler, Islands High School
Butler moves to Islands High School from Windsor Forest. Prior to his position at Windsor Forest, Butler was at Johnson High and Oglethorpe Charter School. He has been a principal, assistant principal, instructional coach and a teacher.
Educational background: Butler earned his Ed.S degree from Georgia Southern University.
Interesting fact: “I am a former All-American football player at Georgia Southern University, and Leadership Savannah Graduate 2016-2017,” Butler said.
Kerry Coursey, Building Bridges Academy High School
Kerry Coursey moves to Building Bridges Academy High School from Islands High School, where she had been the principal since 2014.
Coursey is beginning her 30th year with the district. She taught at Myers Middle School and was also an assistant principal; and assistant principal and principal at Coastal Middle School, and principal at West Chatham Middle School.
Educational background: After graduating from Johsnon High School in 1987, Coursey earned a bachelor’s degree in education health and physical education from Armstrong State College, a master’s in health and physical education and master’s in school leadership from Georgia Southern University; and an education specialist post-graduate degree in school leadership also from Georgia Southern.
Interesting fact: “In 2013 I was nominated by the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals for the National Distinguished Middle School Principal Award and was selected to represent the state of Georgia in Washington, D.C.,” Coursey said. “I had conversations with some of the most amazing principals from all 50 states which in turn made me a better principal.”
Monique Hazzard-Robinson; Robert W. Groves High School
Monique Hazzard-Robinson was most recently a district teacher specialist for secondary mathematics in the district. Her previous administrative and teaching experience in the district includes assistant principal positions at West Chatham Middle and Groves High School. She taught at Savannah Arts Academy, where she was named 2014 Teacher of the Year; and also Oglethorpe Charter School.
Educational background: Hazzard-Robinson earned her BA in mathematics from Savannah State University, a master’s of education from Armstrong Atlantic State, and a doctor of education from Walden University, based in Minneapolis.
Interesting fact: “As a proud 1990 graduate of SCCPSS, I am excited to have the opportunity to serve as the principal of Groves High School and continue the legacy of providing excellence in education,” Hazzard-Robinson said.
Antonio Byrd, Isle of Hope K-8 School
Antonio Byrd moves to Isle of Hope from Pulaski Elementary. Byrd has been with the district for more than 20 years as a first-grade teacher, intervention specialist and assistant principal at East Broad Street Elementary, Southwest Middle and Thunderbolt Elementary schools; and most recently, principal at Pulaski Elementary.
Educational background: Byrd earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in early childhood education from Georgia Southern University and an Education Specialist degree from Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida.
Interesting fact: “I am the youngest of nine children which taught me how to effectively work with various personalities and behaviors, well before embarking into the field of education,” Byrd said.
