Itās officially Senior Spotlight season, and we couldnāt be more proud to shine a light on some of our upcoming graduates!
Today weāre featuring Dalton High School senior, Xander Sane!
During his time at Dalton High School, Xander demonstrated academic excellence while pursuing his unique passions with vigor. He was an active member of the Dalton High School Marching Band, a District Honors Band member, and a member of the Atlanta CV Drum Corps after his 10th-grade yearāan achievement he is immensely proud of. Alongside his artistic pursuits, Xander earned the honor of AP Scholar with Distinction by scoring a 3 or higher on at least five Advanced Placement exams, an honor achieved by approximately 4% of graduating seniors nationwide. In addition, he was a member of the Dalton High School varsity tennis team, where he created some of his favorite memories. This fall, Xander plans to attend the University of Georgia to pursue a major in Management Information Systems. Xander would like to thank his teachers for their support throughout his high school journey. We also want to thank Xander for being an integral member of the Dalton High School community and an exemplary member of the Class of 2026.
Way to go!
Happy National School Nurses Day! Today we celebrate our incredible team of school nurses who go above and beyond to care for and support our students every day. Thank you for your compassion, dedication, and the vital role you play across our district!
Our cabinet members play an important role in supporting our schools and helping ensure students and staff have what they need to succeed.
Today, weāre highlighting Lauri Johnson, Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
We asked Mrs. Johnson a few questions about her role, what she enjoys most about Dalton Public Schools, and a little about who she is outside of work. Hereās what she had to say š
"My primary support is to our secondary schools and the Cyber Academy. In that role, I mostly spend time with principals as a thought partner, problem solver and to celebrate the great things happening in our schools. Additionally, I am a part of the Teaching and Learning team to support the secondary aspects of our instructional programming. I am also a secondary voice on cabinet, using that lens as operational issues are discussed."
"Our students light up our hallways each day with their energy and joy, and our talented teachers and staff bring a deep passion to their work. Being part of Dalton Public Schools means being part of something truly special."
"One crazy thing about me is that my circadian rhythm is off by a couple hours, meaning I wake up REALLY early. I can't say that I am tremendously productive during the early hours, but it allows me time to read and reflect on the day ahead of me. One of the first things I do each morning (after grabbing my first cup of coffee) is look at my Substack, which is filled with authors who focus on educational issues and health/wellness. I also exercise before work and am currently focused on Pilates. Even if my focus changes at times, I always like to get my workouts done BEFORE work since by the end of the day I just want to go home and hang out with my husband and pets. The fall that we opened Hammond Creek a semi-stranger gave me an orange cat, so I named him Hammie which is the Tiger mascot's name at Hammond Creek. Two years later, a black cat showed up at the doors to Hammond Creek and two students smuggled him in. Of course he ended up joining the family, as well--being named "Dosi" as he was the 2nd HCMS cat. While several more cats tried to win my heart on that campus, no others ended up coming home with me."
"This is my 29th year working in education."
š Read it here: https://daltonpublicschoolsga.edurooms.com/engage/dalton-public-schools/newsletters/paws-in-print-may-edition
This Teacher Appreciation Week, we celebrate the champions in our classrooms who make a difference that lasts a lifetime. Because of you, something truly special is always taking center stage in our schools. Thank you! #DaltonPublicSchools #LearnLeadSucceed #TeacherAppreciationWeek
Dalton High School Drama Players present Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: High School Edition ā and there are still 2 more opportunities to see this incredible production!
š May 2 at 7:00 PM
š May 3 at 2:00 PM
Donāt miss your chance to experience the magic, talent, and hard work of our amazing students. Purchase tickets at dhsplayers.ludus.com!
No registration required. Just stop by and enjoy a healthy meal.
Find more information and view summer meal locations here: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/page/summer-feeding-program
Read more about our Summer Programs: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2842502
Meet the DPS Cabinet āØ
Our cabinet members play an important role in supporting our schools and helping ensure students and staff have what they need to succeed.
Today, weāre highlighting Dr. Robert Shaw, Associate Superintendent of Student Services.
We asked Dr. Shaw a few questions about his role, what he enjoys most about Dalton Public Schools, and a little about who he is outside of work. Hereās what he had to say š
"I am privileged to serve Dalton Public Schools as the Associate Superintendent of Student Services. In this role, I have the opportunity to support many important areas, including counselors and social workers, transportation, school safety, teacher and staff observations, MTSS, crisis protocol and response, Georgia Climate Surveys, attendance, and student discipline, including the Code of Conduct. Like so many in education, I wear a lot of hats, but I truly enjoy the work and feel grateful for the chance to support our students, staff, and schools each day."
"There is so much I appreciate about Dalton Public Schools. We have incredible professionals who serve our students and community every day, and no matter their role, each person is important and deserves to know they are valued. I also love our students. They are warm, kind, and even though most of them may not know who I am, I am almost always met with a smile when I speak to them. Having worked in much larger districts, I especially appreciate that Dalton is large enough to offer unique opportunities for students, while still being small enough to be flexible and responsive when change is needed."
"I have been married for almost 30 years, and my wife and I have three daughters. They are adults now, but as we all know, you never stop being a parent. We also have two grandchildren, ages 2 and 5, and I absolutely adore them. I spoil them whenever I can and love being their "Pappy." I also enjoy watching sports, and in the little downtime I have, I like playing a few games on Xbox: EA SPORTS Madden NFL 26, EA SPORTS College Football 26, and MLB The Show 26."
"My first-year teaching was 1996-1997 at Avondale High School in DeKalb County, Georgia. Next year will be 30 years (and it does go very fast)."
The Board recognized 2025 Convocation Sponsors and members of the districtās Advisory Councils, including teachers, students, and parents, for their dedication to supporting student success and school improvement. Students were also honored for excellence in leadership and academics, including Dalton Project Achievement 4-H participants, TDA 19 Under 19 honoree Esmeralda Rios, and Georgia Thespians Hall of Fame inductee Alana Sane.
The Board celebrated athletic accomplishments, recognizing the Dalton High School Girls Basketball Team and the first Dalton Academy wrestlers to qualify for the state sectional, Tomas Gonzalez and Cesar Barrera. Literary and fine arts achievements were also highlighted, including Dalton High School Literary State Champions, The Dalton Academy Literary Region Champions, and students recognized in the Northwest Georgia High School Shakespeare Showcase and Poetry Out Loud, where Anslie Wright was named a state finalist.
In addition, the Board honored student excellence in career and technical and visual arts, including winners from the GASTC State Technology Competition, participants in the Creative Arts Guild SAE 2026 Student Awards, and students recognized through regional and state showcases.
The Board congratulates all honorees for their hard work, creativity, and commitment to excellence in Dalton Public Schools.
Join us in celebrating the Class of 2026!
š The Dalton Academy ā May 20 at 7:00 PM | The Dalton Stadium
š Dalton High School ā May 21 at 7:00 PM | Harmon Field
City Park Schoolās 4th grade students recently brought a March Madness twist to reading in Nicole Gillispieās classroom.
Students voted on their favorite books from each Savvas unit, creating a bracket-style competition. Using Google Forms, the entire 4th grade participated to help determine the winning title. The winner was "Trombone Shorty," by Troy Andrews.
What a great example of engaging students in reading through creativity and collaboration. Special shoutout to Kassie Ayers for creating the display!
Today, we celebrate and appreciate the incredible administrative professionals at Dalton Public Schools. Your dedication, hard work, and attention to detail keep our schools running smoothly every day. From supporting staff and students to ensuring everything behind the scenes is in place, your contributions do not go unnoticed.
Thank you for all you do to make DPS a great place to learn and work!
Marsh, who plans to major in Political Science, was chosen for the distinguished scholarship in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements, leadership, and potential for future impact. The Woodruff Scholarship is awarded to a select group of students who demonstrate exceptional promise and commitment to excellence.
As a Woodruff Scholar, Marsh will receive a comprehensive merit-based award covering full tuition, fees, and room and board, totaling $93,854 for the 2026ā2027 academic year. The scholarship extends across all eight semesters of undergraduate study, including time at both Oxford College and Emory University.
Dalton Public Schools congratulates Andrea Marsh on this remarkable achievement and wishes her continued success in her academic journey.
Read more about Andrea here: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2828830
Last week, the Dalton High Catamounts and Hammond Creek Tigers hosted the annual āGrand Slamā Baseball Tournament at Dalton High School, and it was truly a special event. This year was even more exciting with Park Creek Cheetahs students joining in on the fun!
From start to finish, the field was full of smiles, cheers, and incredible teamwork. Every swing and every play showed the heart and determination these students bring to the game.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a meaningful tradition.
Join us for an unforgettable show full of energy, laughter, and amazing student talent. You wonāt want to miss it! šāØ
š Performance Dates:
ā¢ Friday, April 17 at 6:00 PM
ā¢ Saturday, April 18 at 6:00 PM
ā¢ Sunday, April 19 at 2:30 PM
We hope to see you there!
We extend our sincere thanks to the student-athletes from Dalton High School and The Dalton Academy for volunteering their time and supporting our younger athletes with mentorship and encouragement throughout the day.
A special moment of the event was the presentation of two awards from the Sotelo Family in memory of Lance Sotelo, honoring student-athletes who demonstrate strong work ethic, dedication, and a commitment to the sport.
A big shoutout to the Carpet Capital Running Club for their generous support! This event would not have been possible without you! Special thanks as well to Jeff Talley, the coordinator extraordinaire from City Park, and to Hannah Talley for her spirited emceeing!
Our cabinet members play an important role in supporting our schools and helping ensure students and staff have what they need to succeed.
Today, weāre highlighting Mendy Woods, Chief of Human Resources.
We asked Mrs. Woods a few questions about her role, what she enjoys most about Dalton Public Schools, and a little about who she is outside of work. Hereās what she had to say š
"As Chief of Human Resources for DPS, I oversee all core HR functions, including recruitment and onboarding, certification, compensation, benefits administration, retirement, employee training, state reporting, and personnel records management. I lead efforts to ensure our workforce is highly qualified, well-supported, and aligned with district goals and initiatives. A key part of my role is managing employee relations, including conflict resolution and fostering a positive and professional work environment. As a member of the executive cabinet, I work closely with district leadership to develop staffing strategies, ensure policy compliance, and support organizational effectiveness. I also serve as an advisor to the Superintendent, providing guidance on workforce planning and long-term strategic initiatives."
"I love working closely with administrators and staff to find thoughtful, practical solutions to challenges. I value helping facilitate clear, effective communication and serving as a steady resource when navigating complex situations. It is especially meaningful to reflect on our practices and continuously improve how we support teachers and staff, knowing that strong adult support ultimately benefits our students. I am committed to ensuring that the human resources department is a trusted, reliable source of accurate information and responsive service for the entire district."
"Outside of work, I'm usually with my family. You'll find us at a local Mexican restaurant on Fridays and church on Sundays. I read whenever I get the chance - I set a goal to read 50 books last year and was very happy to accomplish it. The beach is my favorite place to relax and recharge, and I try to get there as often as I can."
Mrs. Woods has worked in education since 2005.
The Georgia Scholar program identifies high school seniors who demonstrate exceptional dedication to academic rigor, leadership, and service. Honorees maintain exemplary course loads throughout their high school careers, achieve outstanding academic success, actively participate in extracurricular and community activities, and serve as leaders in their schools and communities.
Dalton Public Schools commends Leslie Garcia and Alaina Peterfreund for their hard work, leadership, and commitment to excellence. Their recognition as Georgia Scholars reflects not only their individual accomplishments but also the strength of the Dalton High School community.
Read more about the 2026 Georgia Scholars: https://www.daltonpublicschools.com/article/2799187
We are excited to invite you to an important Rising 6th Grade Parent Meeting for Hammond Creek Middle School. This is your opportunity to learn what to expect, ask questions, and help your child start this next chapter with confidence.
š Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
ā° Time: 5:30 ā 7:00 PM
š Location: Hammond Creek Middle School
330 Pleasant Grove Drive
Dalton, GA 30721
Whether this is your first time navigating middle school or youāve been through it before, this meeting will provide valuable information to help your family prepare.
We hope to see you there as we welcome our newest Hammond Creek Tigers!
