The Ware County Board of Education conducted its regular monthly business meeting Tuesday, July 21.
Presentations during the session included recognition of FBLA Nationals participants, along with Golden Achievement awards for the Transportation Department and Central Office staff.
The board also considered routine report items of payroll and disbursements, the financial report, and the superintendent’s report covering enrollment, significant calendar dates, an overview of work session presentations, and other matters. Approval of minutes from prior meetings and the Local Board Governance Annual Training Report also were performed.
Other agenda items included:
• Approval of Rules of Conduct for Public Participation and Input
• Renewal of Georgia School Boards Association membership
• A revised Ware County Schools Media Specialist Handbook
• Agreements and memoranda of understanding with Georgia Southern University (field experience and internship) and the University of North Georgia (clinical placement)
• A facility use request from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
• Multiple school nutrition bids for the 2026-27 school year (bread; commodity processing; food, produce, milk, and paper products; and paper and chemical products)
• Purchase requests for nutrition, transportation, and safety
• Requests to seek external funding for PBIS support at Ruskin Elementary and Ware County High School, plus outdoor agriculture/learning initiatives at Ware County Middle School and Ware County High School (FFA)
Personnel & Staffing
After a planned executive session, the agenda called for action on a secretary position and the full personnel report (classified staff, certified staff, contracted services, coaching recommendations, and work-based learning student workers.)
Specific items required board approval for the employment of relatives of sitting board members for the 26/27 school year: Hannah Cochran, as CTAE Teacher/Coordinator at Ware County High School, Erin Harvey as Principal at Ruskin Elementary, Terence Harvey, as SpEd Resource/Assistant SpEd Coordinator at Ware County High, Philip Tyre, as CTAE Teacher at Ware County Middle, and Jenna Warren as Literacy Coach at Memorial Drive.
The board approved the administrators list and the certified staff list.
Classified Report Employment _ Todd Fanton, Bus Driver, Transportation
Transfers
_ Maribel Gonzalez, intra system transfer from School Resource Officer, Center to Williams Heights _ Lori Howell, intra system transfer from School Nutrition Assistant, Ware Middle to Waycross Middle _ Skylar Norman, intra school transfer from bus driver to Bus Driver/Trainer, Transportation _ Michelle Tatum, intra school transfer from registrar to school secretary, Ware High
_ Breanna Wilby, intra school transfer from Bus Driver/Trainer to bus driver, Transportation Resignations
_ Corey Brown, mechanic, Transportation effective June 17, 2026
_ Felicia Elmore, custodian, Ware High effective June 16, 2026 _ Bella Highsmith, SpEd paraprofessional, Wacona effective May 1, 2026 _ Natalie Jacobs, paraprofessional, Wacona effective May 22, 2026 Rescind Employment
_ Drew Daniel, groundskeeper, Maintenance Retirement
_ Jana Walker, School Nurse, Williams Heights effective May 22, 2026 Certified Personnel Report Employment _ Natasha Bergmann, ELA teacher, Waycross Middle (pending certification) _ Lexie Joiner, SpEd co-teacher, Memorial Drive _ Kristy Knowlton, SpEd coteacher, Wacona (pending certification) _ Kimberlee Marshall, SpEd coteacher, Ware Middle (pending release of contract) _ Amanda Meredith, ELA teacher, Ware Middle _ Leisa Saunders-Hollis, 49% elementary teacher, Ware Academy
_ Cindy Thrift, 49% ESOL teacher, Waresboro _ Suzanna Woodall, Culinary Arts teacher, Ware High (pending certification) Resignation
_ Dillon Durrance, elementary reacher, Ruskin effective May 22, 2026 Contracted Services
_ John Chancey, Student Achievement Consultant services _ Sharon Coleman, CTAE Test Proctoring & Administrative Services
_ Brenda G Miles, Test Proctoring Services for students with disabilities
_ Melissa Wheeler, Special Education Services
Coach Recommendations _ Skyy Green, volleyball community coach, Ware High
Work-Based Learning student workers _ Reagan Lairsey, student assistant, Ware High (pending background check) _ Aniston Mancil, student assistant, Ware High (pending background check) _ Reagan Middleton, student worker athletic trainer, Ware High (pending background check) Administrator List _ Dr. Lezley Anderson, Director of Human Resources/Personnel _ Julie Augustine, Ware County High School Principal
Dr. Lynn Barber, Superintendent of Schools ∞ Robert Benchoff, Director of Maintenance & Facilities ∞ Dr. Shawn Benefield, Director of Professional Learning & Testing ∞ Kim Callahan, Director of CTAE ∞ Mary Ann Chaney, Assistant Superintendent of Finance & Operations ∞ Paige Coker, Executive Director of Technology, Safety, and Communications ∞ Matt Collins, System Athletic Director ∞ Lisa Crosby, Director of Student Services ∞ Laura Deen, Director of Nutrition ∞ Dr. Bill Epps, Williams Heights Elementary Principal ∞ LeVar Garner, Center Elementary Principal ∞ Hildrick Garrison, Ware Academy Coordinator/ Administrator ∞ Dr. Erin Harvey, Ruskin Elementary Principal
∞ Mandy Harper, Executive Director of Student Support Services ∞ Loni Hines, Memorial Drive Elementary Principal ∞ David Hitt, Waycross Middle Principal ∞ Dr. Adriuna Johnson, Ware County Middle Principal
∞ Dr. Shawanna Johnson, Daffodil Preschool Director ∞ Dean Moody, Director of Federal Programs ∞ Max Stieve, Waresboro Elementary Principal
∞ Jeri Ray, Wacona Elementary Principal
∞ Alonzo Scott, Director of Transportation ∞ Donna Solomon, Director of Safety Operations & Strategic Partnerships ∞ Dr. Shelli Tyre, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning
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