Principal's Message

With more than 20 years of experience in education and instructional leadership, Mrs. Whitaker brings a wealth of experience, a passion for student achievement, and a deep commitment to the South Fulton community. A proud graduate of S.L. Lewis Elementary School, Ronald McNair Middle School, and Creekside High School, she is especially honored to serve in the same community that helped shape her educational journey.

Mrs. Whitaker holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of West Georgia and a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction from Central Michigan University. She also holds a Reading Endorsement and Tier I Educational Leadership Certification. She is currently pursuing an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership at Georgia State University and is on track to earn both her degree and Tier II Leadership Certification in December 2026.

Throughout her career in both Fulton County Schools and Marietta City Schools, Mrs. Whitaker has served as a classroom teacher, Early Intervention Program teacher, Instructional Coach, Curriculum Support Teacher, K-5 Mathematics Coordinator, and Assistant Principal before stepping into this role as Principal. Her leadership has consistently focused on improving student outcomes through strategic planning, instructional excellence, and data-driven decision-making. As a Curriculum Support Teacher at Love T. Nolan Elementary School, she was instrumental in leading the school to a 17-point CCRPI increase in a single year, including double-digit gains in both literacy and mathematics achievement.

As K-5 Mathematics Coordinator for Marietta City Schools, she established a district K-12 Mathematics Leadership Team, guided the implementation of Georgia's new K-12 Mathematics Standards, and strengthened curriculum, instruction, and advanced content programming to drive sustained growth in student achievement. During her tenure, Marietta City Schools students consistently demonstrated growth and outperformed state averages in mathematics achievement, with more than 50% of students achieving Proficient and Distinguished performance levels across grades 3-5 on the Georgia Milestones assessment. In recognition of her impact on teaching and learning at the district level, she was honored with the Kiwanis GEM Award for Central Office Staff.

Most recently, as Assistant Principal at Hapeville Elementary School, she championed student achievement, school improvement, and positive school culture through collaborative leadership, data-driven decision making, and restorative practices that contributed to an 18% reduction in discipline incidents and a 20% reduction in out-of-school suspensions, while implementing data collection and analysis protocols that strengthened intervention systems and helped prevent recurring student behavior concerns.

Mrs. Whitaker's leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that a child's greatest predictor of success should be their effort and support, not their circumstances. She is passionate about building schools where students feel connected, families feel welcomed, teachers feel supported, and achievement becomes the expectation rather than the exception. She believes the measure of a school is not the challenges its students face, but the opportunities it creates for them to succeed.

As a South Fulton native, her commitment to public education is both professional and personal. Mrs. Whitaker is married and the proud mother of a rising senior who attends a South Fulton high school. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, traveling, listening to music, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Mrs. Whitaker is excited to partner with the students, staff, families, and community of College Park Elementary as they build upon the school's strengths, accelerate student achievement, and continue creating opportunities for every child to thrive.