Educational Consultants

	Susan Halligan Assistant Director for Educational Services & Mathematics shalligan@fdresa.org Susan Halligan retired in June 2005 after 36 years as a mathematics educator in Georgia.  She is currently employed part time at First District RESA as Assistant Director for Educational Services and Mathematics.  Her experiences include teaching and consulting at the elementary, high school, and college levels.  She has participated in the development of numerous Georgia initiatives including GTEP and the original criterion-referenced tests.  She is particularly interested in data-driven decision making. Ms. Halligan holds a BS Ed., a Master of Science in Mathematics, and an Ed. S degree in Supervision from Georgia Southern University.

	Lisa Ammons School Improvement Specialist lammons@fdresa.org   Lisa Ammons is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. Her primary work includes reading and writing instruction and school improvement planning. Prior to her work with FDRESA, Lisa spent nine years as a classroom teacher in public, private, and charter school systems in Florida and Georgia. Lisa was also a part-time curriculum coordinator, part-time classroom teacher at Savannah High School. Lisa received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Flagler College, an M.A. in Integrated Studies in Education from Cambridge College, and is currently working on an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction at Nova Southeastern University. She also holds an endorsement in Gifted Education.

	Nelda Bishop, Ed.D. Education Consultant/School Improvement Specialist nbishop@fdresa.org   Dr. Nelda R. Bishop is an educational consultant with First District RESA. Her primary work includes mentoring the consultants new to First District RESA in assisting with the planning and implementation of professional learning experiences. Prior to her work with FDRESA, Nelda taught school in South Dakota, Texas, and Georgia in both regular education classrooms and as a reading specialist. After receiving a BS in Elementary Education with an emphasis in mathematics and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from The University of Texas, Nelda completed an Ed.S. in Reading from Georgia Southern University.  Nelda earned an Ed. D. in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University in 1997. Dr. Bishop holds L-7 and T-7 certification as well as endorsements in Reading, Assessment, and Teacher Support Specialist.

	Sharonda W. Johnson, Ed.D., NBCT School Improvement Specialist sjohnson@fdresa.org   Sharonda W. Johnson, Ed.D., NBCT Dr. Sharonda W. Johnson is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. Her primary work includes reading and writing instruction, school improvement planning, and leadership development. Prior to her work with FDRESA, Sharonda spent 10 years as a middle and high school reading/English language arts teacher and curriculum leader. She also serves in various leadership roles with the National Writing Project. After receiving a BA in English (Fisk University), an M.Ed. in Secondary English Education (Armstrong Atlantic State University), and an Ed.S. in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Sarasota), Dr. Johnson earned her Ed.D. in Instructional Leadership from the University of Sarasota. Sharonda’s professional credentials also include Educational Leadership and National Board certification.

	Laura Kipp School Improvement Specialist Laura Kipp serves as a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. She has eighteen years of classroom teaching experience, primarily in early childhood, and five years experience as an elementary Instructional Coach. In addition, she instructs pre-service educators through Atlantic Armstrong State University and has served as a Lead Teacher with the Partnership for Reform in Science and Mathematics (PRISM). Laura holds a BS in Elementary Education from Lebanon Valley College (Annville, PA) and a MEd in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University. She is a certified trainer for a number of research-based instructional programs and is also Teacher Support Specialist.

	Vondesa Lee School Improvement Specialist vlee@fdresa.org Vondesa Lee is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. Her primary work includes reading and writing instruction and school improvement planning. Prior to her work with FDRESA, Vondesa spent fourteen years as a classroom teacher. She also served as Literacy Coach and Lead Teacher for a total of four years. Vondesa received her B.A. and M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern University and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.

	Patricia Melton School Improvement Specialist pmelton@fdresa.org Patricia Melton is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. Her primary work includes Classroom Management, Teacher Support Specialist, elementary mathematics and language arts instruction, and school improvement planning. Patricia has thirty-two years of elementary classroom experience including twenty-six years in Vidalia. Patricia received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Samford University, an M.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Alabama, and an Ed. S. in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern University.

	Leslie Mills School Improvement Specialist lmills@fdresa.org Leslie Mills is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA.  Her primary work consists of mathematics instruction and school improvement planning. She has taught mathematics in Georgia for 31 years which includes teaching experiences in both high schools and middle schools. Leslie received her B.S. Ed. in Mathematics from Georgia Southern in 1975 and in 2006 received her MS with a specialization in Middle Grades Mathematics from Walden University.

	LaTonya Mitchell School Improvement Specialist lmitchell@fdresa.org LaTonya Mitchell is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. She conducts training related to school improvement requests and mathematics content. Prior to her work with FDRESA, LaTonya spent 14 years as a high school mathematics teacher in Evans County and Laurens County. LaTonya received a B.S. in Mathematics with an emphasis in Computer Science and a M.Ed. in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from Georgia Southern University.

	Dedra Shuman School Improvement Specialist dshuman@fdresa.org Dedra Shuman is a School Improvement Specialist with First District RESA. She conducts training related to school improvement requests and language arts content.  Prior to her work with First District RESA, Dedra spent twenty five years as a classroom teacher, primarily teaching middle school students. Dedra received a B.S. Ed. in Junior High Education, with emphasis in English and speech, and an M.Ed. in Reading from Georgia Southern University. She also holds an endorsement in Gifted Education.

	Sandi Fowler Secretary sfowler@fdresa.org

	Evelyn Joiner Secretary ejoiner@fdresa.org