It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton High School graduate Leah Cagle!

While Leah Cagle attended Dalton High School, she was very involved in both academics and athletics. She participated in varsity softball, tennis, Beta Club, and National Honor Society. One of her greatest achievements while participating in extracurriculars was winning region in tennis during her sophomore year. Leah is most proud, however, of how she used her high GPA and completed credits to begin a cosmetology dual enrollment program, allowing her to get a head start on her future career. One of Leah’s favorite memories from her time at Dalton High was when her DHS Spanish class took a trip to Spain, which she described as an eye-opening experience that allowed her to see what she had learned in the classroom come to life. She will now attend Georgia Northwestern Technical College, where she will continue her path in the cosmetology program. Driven by a lifelong passion for helping others, Leah chose this field so she can help others feel more confident and beautiful in their own skin. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Leah’s drive and heart, and we cannot wait to see her succeed in this next chapter.

Way to go Leah!

It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton High School graduate Layla Smith!

During Layla Smith’s time at Dalton High School, she showed a profound commitment to academic success and community involvement. Throughout her four years, Layla maintained straight A’s, earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Honor, and ranked within the top 10 of her graduating class. Aside from her academic schedule, she was a dedicated member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Interact Club, Pep Club, and Dancers’ Workshop. Looking back at her time at Dalton High, Layla’s favorite memories are the unforgettable moments she made with her best friends. Her motivation created the path to her biggest accomplishment: being accepted into her dream school. Layla will attend the University of Georgia to pursue a degree in psychology, driven by a genuine fascination with human nature. She chose to major in this field because she loves understanding the deeper reasons behind why people behave and think the way they do. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Layla’s outstanding achievements and cannot wait to see the incredible impact she makes in the future!

Way to go Layla!

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It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton High School graduate Blakely Thornton!

Blakely Thornton is one of many accomplished graduates in the Class of 2026. During her time at Dalton High School, she was involved in many clubs and programs, including National Honor Society, National Beta Club, United Way Youth Council, and the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program. She also served as president of Pep Club during her senior year. Throughout the past four years, Blakely was also an outstanding athlete, participating in varsity sideline and competitive cheer. While competing, she and the cheerleading team placed in the top six in the state twice. In addition to her athletic and community involvement, Blakely also excelled in the classroom, graduating in the top 10 of her class. She was also recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction. Lastly, in an accomplishment that brings great pride to both Blakely and Dalton Public Schools, she was accepted to her dream school, the University of Georgia, where she will begin studying psychology. Dalton Public Schools is excited to celebrate Blakely’s success and wishes her the very best as she begins this next chapter.

Way to go Blakely!

It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton Academy graduate Lizeth Avila!

While Lizeth Avila attended The Dalton Academy, she was involved in many community-based organizations, including FCCLA and DECA. She was also involved in TDA’s Student Council, where she served as a representative for the senior Class of 2026.

During her senior year, Lizeth enrolled in dual enrollment classes, which both she and school faculty believe helped improve her leadership and academic discipline. Lizeth continued to strengthen these traits by attending Mrs. Quick’s community service class, which later resulted in her being recognized with the Presidential Service Award for Outstanding Community Service.

In addition, she received the Young Georgia Authors Award, where she was recognized by the district for submitting an excellent piece of literature. When Lizeth reflects on her time in high school, she feels that her biggest accomplishment was receiving the Dalton Rotary Club Award and Scholarship.

Dalton Public Schools is excited to see all that Lizeth will accomplish as she continues her journey at Dalton State College, where she plans to major in accounting and minor in business administration.

Way to go Lizeth!

It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton High School graduate, Benjamin Charles Parsons

Benjamin was not only a dedicated student but also extremely talented in the fine arts. During his time at Dalton High School, he participated in theater, chorus, mock trial, FCA, concert band, and marching band. While performing alongside the Dalton High theater troupe, he had the opportunity to perform "Hadestown" at the Shuler Awards. He also competed in the GHSA Literary competition, where he won region for dramatic interpretation. Although those were some of his favorite high school memories, Benjamin is most proud of the connections he made with his peers and the lifelong relationships he created. Because of his experience, he recommends that all rising underclassmen get involved in extracurricular activities and take advantage of opportunities to make memories and build friendships. As Benjamin prepares to start a new chapter, he will attend Georgia Tech, where he plans to study chemical engineering while continuing to make new friends and memories. As Benjamin takes this next step, Dalton Public Schools celebrates his accomplishments and looks forward to seeing all that he will achieve in the future.

Way to go Benjamin!

It’s officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldn’t be more proud to shine a light on some of our recent graduates!

Today we’re featuring Dalton High School graduate Daenna Vasquez!

During her time at Dalton High School, Daenna Vasquez truly showed dedication, balance, and commitment to doing her best. Her schedule included being a dedicated member of National Honor Society, the Humane Society, and the DHS Color Guard team, where she celebrated winning Grand Champions with the 2026 Color Guard team. She also received a Young Georgia Authors Award for her written submission. As Daenna looks back on her time at Dalton High School, her favorite memories revolve around the high energy of Homecoming week, where she enjoyed seeing Dalton High School students and staff show their creativity and school spirit. Alongside her many extracurricular achievements, her proudest accomplishment was maintaining a high GPA so she could fulfill her dream of receiving her diploma for her mother. This fall, she will attend Georgia Gwinnett College to major in criminal justice and law, aiming to build a career centered on bringing equal justice to all people regardless of race, gender, or age. Dalton Public Schools is incredibly proud of Daenna’s achievements and cannot wait to see her thrive in this next chapter!

Way to go Daenna!

Meet the DPS Cabinet ✨

Our cabinet members play an important role in supporting our schools and helping ensure students and staff have what they need to succeed.

Today, we’re highlighting Brandi Moore, Associate Superintendent of Academics.

We asked Mrs. Moore a few questions about her role, what she enjoys most about Dalton Public Schools, and a little about who she is outside of work. Here’s what she had to say 👇

"As Associate Superintendent of Academics for Dalton Public Schools, I lead districtwide teaching and learning efforts focused on improving student achievement and strengthening instructional excellence across all schools. My work includes supporting principals and educators, leading curriculum and instructional initiatives, advancing high-quality Tier 1 instruction, coordinating professional learning, and guiding strategic academic planning. I work to ensure schools and educators have the resources, support, and research-based practices needed to create rigorous, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences for all students. Through collaboration and continuous improvement, I am committed to helping every student succeed and be prepared for future opportunities."

"What I enjoy most about working in Dalton Public Schools is the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on students, educators, and schools each day. It is truly an honor to give back to the school system and community that invested so much in me throughout my own educational journey. I deeply value the strong sense of community, the relationships built with leaders and educators across the district, and the collective commitment to ensuring all students are successful. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is supporting initiatives that strengthen teaching and learning, build educator capacity, and create opportunities that positively impact the future of our students and families."

"I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Demond, for 22 years. We both graduated from Dalton High School in 1997 and are proud parents of two wonderful children, Madison and Mayson. Madison is pursuing a career in education and will graduate from the University of West Georgia with a degree in elementary education, which means the world to me. I could not be more proud of her passion for students and teaching. She already reminds me of myself when I first began my career in education. Mayson currently attends Dalton High School, where he recently earned a Scholar Athlete award. He enjoys playing basketball and golf, and most weekends are spent in the gym cheering on Mayson and his AAU basketball teammates. He definitely keeps our family busy with his demanding athletic schedule. Outside of my family, one of my proudest accomplishments is becoming a published author in 2021. I had the honor of co-authoring the book Math by the Book with Sue O'Connell, published by Heinemann. The project took two years to complete, and one of the most rewarding aspects was collaborating with outstanding educators and respected mathematicians while building lasting relationships throughout the writing and publishing process. I enjoy reading, singing, and dancing. I was a ballerina for 14 years, and one of my most cherished experiences was performing as the soldier doll in The Nutcracker for several years. I also have a strong passion for learning and continuously seek opportunities to read, study, and stay current with educational research and trends. One of the most exciting aspects of being an educator is that the learning never stops, and there is always an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally."

"My career started in December of 2001."