Cottrell Elementary School

Mr. Greg Bicknell

Physical Education Teacher

This is Greg Bicknell’s sixth year teaching physical education at CES and 19th year as a teacher. He has taught physical education, health, and special education throughout his career at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. His teaching degree was obtained from UNG back when it was North Georgia College and State University, and he also holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors’ University and an Educational Specialist Degree in Teaching and Learning from Piedmont University. Coach Bicknell currently coaches the high school softball team in the fall and the middle school baseball team in the spring.

Mrs. Melissa Bynum

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Melissa K. Bynum graduated from White County High School in Cleveland, GA. She later attended the University of North Georgia where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Bynum holds endorsements in gifted education, ESOL, math, and science. This is her 20th year teaching in Lumpkin County. In her free time, Mrs. Bynum enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her family.

Ms. Molly Denham

5th Grade Teacher

Molly Denham is originally from Columbus, Georgia. Ms. Denham moved to Dahlonega to pursue her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. After completing her student teaching in Lumpkin County, she immediately fell in love with the school system. She now works at CES teaching Kindergarten.

Mrs. Caroline Gable

Special Education Teacher

Mrs. Gable is a Dahlonega native and attended Lumpkin County Schools from kindergarten through sixth grade. She graduated from West Forsyth High School and went on to receive her bachelors degree from The University of North Georgia in 2014. She is a special education resource teacher for kindergarten and first grade students.

Mrs. Amy Garrett

5th Grade Teacher

Amy Garrett is a Dahlonega native. She is married to Chris Garrett and has a son named Addison. She has been a teacher at CES for twenty-one years.

Mrs. Nicole Gaudino

Kindergarten Teacher

Nicole Gaudino was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Nicole received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and Fine Arts from Hofstra University. She later received a Master of Science Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Hofstra University. Shortly after, Nicole relocated to South Florida where she taught for 15 years. In 2019, Nicole, her husband , Joseph, their daughter, Kayla and their son, Christian relocated to North Georgia. Both children attend Lumpkin County High School. Nicole now is a kindergarten teacher at CES.

Mrs. Micah Grizzle

Kindergarten Teacher

Micah is a kindergarten teacher at Lumpkin Elementary. She has a dual bachelor degree in early childhood education, as well as special education. She is currently working on her Master's Degree with an endorsement in gifted education. This is her sixth year teaching at CES. She has also coached middle school girls soccer, and currently helps coach the running club at CES. She is a Dahlonega native.

Mrs. Allison Woody Head

Kindergarten Teacher

Allison Head is a graduate of Lumpkin County High School. She attended the University of North Georgia where she received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education/special education. Allison later attended Piedmont College and earned her master’s in education. In addition to her degrees, Allison holds reading and gifted endorsements.

Mrs. Jenna Marshall

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Marshall grew up in Dahlonega, GA where she attended Lumpkin County Schools for Kindergarten through 12th grade before graduating in 1992. She is married and has one son named Jack. In 1998, she graduated from North Georgia College with a degree in Business Management. She then flew the friendly skies as a Delta flight attendant for six years. In 2003, she became a Kindergarten parapro while earning her teaching certificate and her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Specialist degree in Early Childhood Curriculum from Brenau University and her Gifted Endorsement several years later. She loves traveling and teaching the students about the world around them.

Mrs. Tracy S. McKinney

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. McKinney is a life-long resident of Lumpkin County. She attended North Georgia College and State University, with degrees in Sociology and a Master's degree in Special Education. She has been teaching for 13 years in both Lumpkin and Dawson counties. Mrs. McKinney enjoys traveling and adventures in the great outdoors.

Mrs. Morgan S. McCrary

1st Grade Teacher & LCMS Girl's Golf Coach

Morgan McCrary is a 2013 graduate of the Lumpkin County School System. After high school, she attended Brenau University on a golf scholarship majoring in early childhood education. She obtained her Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University in 2020. Morgan currently teaches first grade at CES and serves as Lumpkin County Middle School’s golf coach.

Mrs. Melissa A. Robinson

3rd Grade Teacher

Melissa A. Robinson has been a resident of Lumpkin County since the age of one, and completed her education in the Lumpkin County School System. After graduating from Lumpkin County High School, she attended the University of North Georgia, where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She began her career at LongBranch Elementary School, and after 4 years, transferred to CES where she has continued to teach. She received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont University in 2010, and is currently in her 27th year of teaching. Mrs. Robinson is presently a 3rd grade teacher at CES.

Mrs. Candace Sosebee

Computer Lab Teacher

Mrs. Candace Sosebee is a native of Dahlonega and attended school in the Lumpkin County School System. Upon graduation, she attended North Georgia College and State University (now the University of North Georgia) obtaining her Bachelor of Science degree. She then attended Piedmont College in Demorest where she obtained her Master of Arts degree. Mrs. Sosebee is currently the Instructional Computer Lab teacher at CES.

Mrs. Amy Sullens

1st Grade Teacher

Mrs. Sullens is a native of Lumpkin County. She graduated from Lumpkin County HIgh School. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of North Georgia and her Master's degree from Piedmont University.

Mrs. Bridget J. Wigington

Pre-K & Special Education Teacher

Bridget Wigington attended Lumpkin County Schools from Kindergarten to 12th Grade. She graduated from Lumpkin County High School in 2005. She received her Associates Degree at University of North Georgia (Formerly Gainesville State College) and then received a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education P-5 from University of North Georgia (formerly North Georgia College and State University) in 2010. Mrs. Wigington was a lead Georgia Pre-K Teacher from 2010-2021. Mrs. Wigington is a Special Education Pre-K teacher at Lumpkin Elementary School.

Mrs. Selina M. Williamson

Pre-K & Special Education Teacher

Selina Williamson is a graduate of Vidalia Comprehensive High School. She went on to receive in 2005 an associate of arts in education from Middle Georgia State University (formerly Middle Georgia College). In 2007, Mrs. Williamson graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University with a bachelor in science in special education. Mrs. Williamson serves as the lead special education teacher at CES. Mrs. Williamson lives in Dahlonega with her husband and two daughters.

Mrs. Jennifer L. Addison

Art Educator

Jennifer Addison began her life in Dahlonega, Georgia and has come full circle, moving back with her own family in 2018. Mrs. Addison obtained her Associate of Fine Arts degree from Young Harris College and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lipscomb University. Mrs. Addison started her Art career as a Textile Designer and Colorist, but felt called to teach, inspire, and share her love of the Arts. To achieve this goal, Mrs. Addison continued her education at Piedmont University, where she received a Master of Arts degree in Teaching, and holds certifications to teach Art Education (K-12) and Early Childhood Education.

Mrs. Amanda Barton

Director of Music

Amanda Barton grew up in Southern California and studied music at California Polytechnic State University. She then went to upstate New York for her Masters of Fine Arts from Bard College Conservatory of Music. This is Amanda's eleventh year teaching and seventh year at CES teaching music.

Mrs. Ashley W. Boegner

4th Grade Teacher

Ashley W. Boegner is graduate of both the University of Georgia and the University of North Georgia. She has an undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Georgia and a master's degree in early childhood education from the University of North Georgia. Ashley has been teaching for 11 years with 7 years here in Lumpkin county. Ashley is currently teaching fifth grade reading at Lumpkin Elementary School. She loves reading, hiking, camping, and traveling, but most of all she loves the Georgia Bulldogs. Go Dawgs!

Mrs. Beth Forrester

Special Education Teacher

Beth Forrester earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education and her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from North Georgia College, which is now the University of North Georgia. She has taught in the Lumpkin County School System for eighteen years. She and her family love living in Dahlonega!

Mrs. Dara Gastley

2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Gastley was born and raised in Bonifay, Florida. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Master’s in Education, she married Coach Jonathan Gastley & moved to Georgia. She is in her 19th year teaching. Mrs. Gastley teaches 5th grade at CES.

Mrs. Nicole S. Guy

1st Grade Teacher

Mrs. Guy is thrilled to be a part of the Lumpkin County Family. She is a Florida native and a graduate of Florida State University. Her certifications include Elementary Education, Special Education and ESOL. She has been teaching since 2002 and most of those years have been in Kindergarten. She loves being able to make a positive difference in the lives of her students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Staci Kiefaber

Kindergarten Teacher

Staci T. Kiefaber is from Chatsworth, Georgia. She is a graduate of Murray County High School. Mrs. Kiefaber earned both her bachelor's degree in Middle Grades Education and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Georgia College(formerly North Georgia College and State University.) Mrs. Kiefaber received her Educational Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University. Mrs. Kiefaber is currently in her 15th year of teaching. She is married to Ryan Kiefaber and has two children-Elliot and Davy.

Mrs. Tammy Martin

Kindergarten Paraprofessional

Tammy Martin, Georgia born and Georgia raised, grew up in Marietta where she completed her kindergarten through high school education. After graduating from high school she moved to the "Enchanted Valley" of Young Harris College and received her Associate of Fine Art degree. Furthering her education she received her Bachelor of Fine Art degree in Atlanta from The Atlanta College of Art. Getting married in the late 80's, Tammy and her husband moved to the beautiful hills of Dahlonega where in the mid 90's she began a career of teaching and serving the children of this community. Beginning with Mother's Morning Out at the Methodist Church she soon moved on to serve and teach in the public schools of Lumpkin County, first at Long Branch Elementary School, then Blackburn Elementary School, and today at CES where she continues to teach and serve the kindergarten children of this community.

Ms. Tracie M. Reed

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Reed graduated from Dawson County High School in Dawsonville, GA. She then attended NGSU where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Reed later attended Lincoln Memorial University and received a Specialist Degree in Education.

Ms. Tonya Ross

3rd Grade Teacher

Ms. Ross graduated from The University of Georgia with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and later returned to earn a Master's Degree in Middle Grades Education. This year will be her 17th year teaching. She loves to spend as much time as possible with her son, Landon.

Mrs. Tracey J. Spratt

Paraprofessional

Mrs. Spratt received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design from the University of Alabama in 1993. After having her daughter, she decided to be an at home mom. Mrs. Spratt was a substitute teacher for 8 years at CES before becoming a full time paraprofessional in 2016.

Mrs. Taylor Tritt

4th Grade Teacher

Taylor Tritt is a Hall County native. Mrs. Tritt received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont University (formerly Piedmont College). She also has her Gifted Endorsement. Mrs. Tritt played four years of college basketball at Piedmont, as well. She taught in White County for 2 years and Hall County for 3 years before coming to Lumpkin County in 2021. Mrs. Tritt is the Middle School Girl's Basketball Coach. Mrs. Tritt is married to her husband, Nathan, who is a Lumpkin County graduate. They have a son named Grady (2) and they welcomed their new daughter, Laurel Kate, in August of 2022. Her family lives here in Lumpkin County.

Mrs. Julie Windham

4th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Julie Windham grew up in Habersham County, but moved to Dahlonega after marrying Lumpkin county native Radford Windham. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of North Georgia. She also attended Brenau University, where she earned an Educational Specialist degree. Mrs. Windham has taught all grades kindergarten through fourth grade. She has also attained certification in gifted education. She and Radford have two sons.