Mrs. Bennett is a graduate of Georgia Perimeter College and North Georgia College and State University. Her certifications include Elementary Education, Special Education and a reading endorsement. She began her career in education as a para-professional in Dawson County Schools in 2003 and has taught across the North Georgia area. Her three sons have all attended Lumpkin County Schools. In her free time, she enjoys reading, being outdoors, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Boyce graduated from Miami University in 2002 and Liberty University with her Masters in Teaching in 2021. Mrs. Boyce was born and raised in Southern Ohio and calls Cincinnati the "home of her heart" but she has since lived all over the world with her active duty Army husband of 20 years. Mrs. Boyce has two children in the Lumpkin School system and loves traveling new places and experiencing new foods, reading as many books as she can, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Cayton graduated with a bachelors degree in early childhood education from Kennesaw State University. She also received her reading endorsement. Mrs. Cayton began her teaching career in Alpharetta teaching kindergarten. She also has experience teaching 1st grade. Mrs. Cayton was excited to join Lumpkin County Schools last year! She enjoys living in Dawsonville with her husband and two children.

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.

Ms Griffith graduated from Mississippi State University. She has experience teaching in Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Ms. Griffith has taught 4th, 8th, 7th, 2nd, and 5th grades. She loves spending time with her family and dog. When not at work you can usually find her enjoying the outdoors.

Ms. Jarrard graduated from Lumpkin County High School before pursuing her education at WGU, where she obtained both her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and her master's degree in Mathematics Education (K-6). Ms. Jarrard coaches softball at Lumpkin County Middle School. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends!

Mrs. McCrary is a 2013 graduate of the Lumpkin County School System. She attended Brenau University on a golf scholarship, majoring in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. McCrary began her teaching career in 2017 within the same school system that educated her. A fun fact about her is that before moving to Cottrell, her 2nd grade handprint was right outside her old classroom at Lumpkin County Elementary School. She earned her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University in 2020. Mrs. McCrary is also the Girls Golf Coach at Lumpkin County Middle School. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Daniel, and they have a son, Tate, and a daughter, Tenley. Mrs. McCrary loves sports, Mexican food, flowers, cookie dough ice cream, and being outdoors!

Mrs. Pollard was born and raised in Alpharetta, GA. She earned her Dual Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from UNG. This was when she fell in love with the town of Dahlonega. After teaching for nine years in Gainesville City, her family moved to Lumpkin County and she joined the CES family. She is married to Morgan Pollard (chef and new proud owner of Dreamcather Nursery) and they have a daughter named Oliani who is starting in Kindergarten at CES this year. She is thrilled to start her second year teaching in 5th grade.

Mrs. Sipsy was born and raised in Stone Mountain, GA. After high school, she went on to earn her Bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and a Master's degree from UNG in Early Childhood Education. She then earned her Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction and Tier I Leadership from Piedmont College. She is married to her college sweetheart and they have a daughter named Lexington.

Mrs. 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.

Mrs. 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.

Mrs. Caldwell is a Dahlonega native, and graduated from Lumpkin County High School. She started her career in Lumpkin County as a Kindergarten paraprofessional and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Brenau University, a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood from Piedmont College, and a Specialist Degree from Brenau University. Mrs. Caldwell also has endorsements in Gifted Education and Dyslexia. She has been an elementary teacher in Lumpkin County for the last 20 years, and is grateful to serve in the community where she grew up and raised her family. In her spare time, Mrs. Caldwell enjoys spending time with her family.

Mrs. Cochenour is in her 9th year of teaching. She previously taught in Forsyth County and at Georgia Cyber Academy. Samantha graduated from the University of North Georgia with a dual bachelor degree in early childhood education as well as, special education. She has a reading endorsement and became certified to teach Middle School Science. On the weekends you can find Mrs. Cochenour hiking in the mountains with her husband and two boys.

Mrs. Garrett is a Dahlonega native. She holds both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Brenau University. In addition, she holds an ESOL endorsement. Mrs. Garrett has been teaching since 2001. She is married to Chris Garrett and has a son named Addison.

Mrs. Grizzle graduated from Lumpkin County High School and continued her education at the University of North Georgia, where she earned a dual bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Education. She then pursued a master’s degree in Early Education at UNG. Additionally, Micah holds certifications in Reading, Gifted Education, ESOL, and middle grades reading and language arts.

Ms. Lomas grew up in Lawrenceville. She moved to Dahlonega to attend the University of North Georgia and fell in love with the town. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in Elementary and Special Education with a Reading Endorsement. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, camping, and cooking.

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 and has been in the field of education since 2002. Mrs. McKinney enjoys traveling, adventures in the great outdoors and spending time with her husband, Austin, and two sons, Will and Jack.

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. . She loves to spend as much time as possible with her son, Landon.

Mrs. Tritt is a graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville, GA. She received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont University (formerly Piedmont College). Mrs. Tritt played four years of college basketball at Piedmont, as well. Along with her degree, she has a Gifted Endorsement, P.E. & Special Education certifications. This is Mrs. Tritt's 9th year teaching, and 4th in Lumpkin County. Mrs. Tritt is the Middle School Girls Basketball Coach. Mrs. Tritt is married to her husband, Nathan, who is a Dahlonega native. They have a son named Grady and daughter named Laurel Kate.  She enjoys sports, hunting, and gardening with her family. 

With over 33 years in education, Ms. Wood has taught every subject from kindergarten to twelfth grade. As a parent of two children, Morgan and Gunner, and a proud grandparent to five wonderful grandchildren who bring her endless joy, she cherishes every moment spent in both family and educational adventures, like hiking and golfing.

Fun fact: she can name every rock and mineral found in Georgia!

Ms. Wood's educational journey includes:

• Earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Middle School Certification from the University of North Georgia in May 1992

• Pursuing ongoing coursework toward a Masters of Education since August 1995 at the University of North Georgia

• Obtaining a Gifted Endorsement from the University of North Georgia in 2001

• Recently completing a Dyslexia Endorsement from Truett-McConnell University in 2024

In her career, Ms. Wood has had the privilege of editing 'The End of the World as We Know It' by Kathryn Baltiff, a book now available in middle and high school libraries. She is passionate about fostering professional learning communities (PLCs) and helping educators deliver engaging and effective literacy instruction. Ms. Wood specializes in using data to tailor learning experiences, sharing proven teaching strategies, and working collaboratively with teachers to ensure every child reaches their full potential in reading and beyond.

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.

Mrs. Waters is a native of Lumpkin County. She began working for Lumpkin County Schools in 2005 at the Central Office. She is married and has a daughter and granddaughter.

Mrs Reece graduated from Lumpkin County High School in 1989. She attended North Georgia Tech and graduated with a diploma in Information Processing Specialist and Secretarial in 1990. She has been with Lumpkin County School System since 2010. She is married to Steven and they have 2 children, Matthew and McKenzie.

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.