Monika Davis | Information Technology
Monika Davis is currently the Chief Information Officer of DeKalb County School District, which has over 118,000 technology users. Ms. Davis started her career in the DeKalb County School District as a technology paraprofessional at Murphy Candler Elementary school in 1994. She has spent all 26 years of her vast career in educational technology working closely with all areas of Information Technology. Prior to her role as a district leader, Monika held many positions ranging from technician to school technology specialist to district-level instructional technology specialist.
Ms. Davis’s graduate education includes a Master of Science degree in Instructional Technology and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership both from Georgia State University as well as an Education Specialist Degree in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University. Her interest in technology started as a student at Redan High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia where she excelled in coding, computer math, and graphics design. Upon graduation from Redan High School, Ms. Davis attended Georgia Institute of Technology where she studied Computer Science for three years. As fate would have it, K – 12 education beaconed changing her career and higher education trajectory.
Ms. Davis has worked with local school districts as an employee and consultant including DeKalb County, Fulton County, and Atlanta Public. She also has industry experience providing technical support and technology-related instructional design for businesses both stateside and abroad. She has facilitated multiple sessions covering various educational technology topics with collaborative learning groups, such as the Explorer’s Guild, Tech and Learning, and The Learning Counsel. Ms. Davis is also no novice to the technology conference circuit, having served as presenter, panelist, steering committee member, and keynote speaker for events such as Georgia Educational Technology Conference, International Society of Technology in Education Conference, and RTM CIO Congress.
Being a life-long learner is critical in a field as dynamic and constantly evolving as information technology. Ms. Davis embraces this challenge and believes it is her job to empower stakeholders by connecting the dots between information technology and education through leadership, strategic planning and execution, and ongoing advocacy. Ms. Davis is currently fixated on continuing the district’s digital transformation journey with a focus on enhancing security and operational effectiveness.
Our job is to facilitate unique collaborative partnerships between our customers – students, teachers, staff, parents and the community. The results are improved student achievement and optimum business processes, to establish and maintain a technology-rich teaching and learning environment where students and staff develop 21st century skills to be successful citizens in a global community.
Erick Hofstetter | Operations Officer
Mr. Byron Schueneman | Chief Financial Officer
As the Chief Financial Officer for the DeKalb County School District (DCSD), Mr. Byron Schueneman brings over 13 years of experience in school system finance.
He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Berry College and a Master of Accountancy from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Before joining DCSD, Mr. Schueneman served as the Chief Financial Officer at the Clarke County Board of Education and the Baldwin County Board of Education and was an Auditor at the Georgia Department of Audits.
In his current role, he is responsible for developing and managing the District’s budget, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal financial regulations, and providing expert fiscal guidance to the Board of Education and District leadership. In his free time, Mr. Schueneman enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his friends and family.
- Accounting
- Accounts Payable
- Payroll
- Purchasing
Ms. Stacy E. Stepney | Chief Academic Officer
Stacy E. Stepney, Chief Academic Officer, supports and offers guidance to all district level staff, local school staff, parents/guardians, students, and community stakeholders. As the Chief Academic Officer, she analyzes formative and summative data, conducts formal and informal learning walks, collaborates with educators to make instructional adjustments, facilitates professional development trainings and workshops, and shares curricula updates and research-based practices to improve student performance outcomes. She fosters a culture that focuses on student learning, high expectations, innovation, and collaboration.
Ms. Stepney began her career in 1993 as a long-term substitute in science at Dunwoody High School. Throughout her professional career at Dunwoody High School for 15 years, she was a substitute, paraprofessional, teacher, assistant principal, interim principal, and principal. In 2002 at the age of 31, Stacy was named principal; she was the youngest principal in the DeKalb County School System at that time. Ms. Stepney served as principal at Dunwoody High School for six years.
Ms. Stepney joined the Division of Curriculum and Instruction in 2008 as the Director for High School Instruction. Over the last ten years, Ms. Stepney has focused on teaching and learning while serving as the Director for Electives and Special Programs, Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, and Interim Chief Academic Officer. In May 2018, Ms. Stepney was appointed Chief Academic Officer.
In an effort to stay abreast of best teaching practices consistent with educational trends, Stacy is a member of ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). She is also an active member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators.
Ms. Stepney is a native of Grenada, Mississippi. She graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School in 1989 as the co-valedictorian of the class. Stacy furthered her education by earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minor in Chemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1993. She graduated with honors in English, math, and history. She continued her graduate studies at Georgia State University in 2000 and earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. Also, Ms. Stepney attended the Harvard Public Education Leadership Project, a summer leadership institute sponsored by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School.
Student Support & Intervention
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Dr. Kishia K. Towns | Deputy Superintendent, Student Support and Intervention
Dr. Kishia K. Towns is currently the Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention for the DeKalb County School District, overseeing the Division of Student and Equity Empowerment.
The Division of Student and Equity Empowerment is comprised of several departments including After-School Extended Day Programs, Counseling and Mentoring, Psychological Services, School Social Work Services, Student Health Services, Migrant Education, Student Advancement, and Student Relations. Collectively, the departments provide an array of services to support families, school administrators, teachers, and community stakeholders.
Dr. Towns has over twenty-five years of experience in education and specifically student support services. Prior to her current role, she served as a teacher, district coordinator, and director in the DeKalb County School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Fisk University and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry from Georgia State University. Dr. Towns was the first Black woman to receive a doctoral degree in chemistry from Georgia State University in 1997.
As the Deputy Superintendent of Student Support and Intervention, she is responsible for identifying and mitigating academic, affective, medical, behavioral, and societal factors that could potentially impede the academic success of students. The goal of the division is to support the mission of the district by ensuring student success, leading to higher education, work, and lifelong learning.
Dr. Towns serves as an active partner in the community as a member of the DeKalb County Juvenile Court Rebound Drug Court and Secretary of the Rebound Advisory Board. She is also a member of the DeKalb County Student Attendance Protocol Committee, DeKalb Board of Health, DeKalb Child and Adolescent Coalition, Atlanta Restorative Practices Consortia, and the DeKalb Judicial Screening Committee.
Dr. Towns’ passion is supporting and nurturing the whole child in all areas of development and learning from social-emotional and cognitive skills to literacy while ensuring a safe, positive learning environment for all students.
The Division of Equity and Student Empowerment staff work tirelessly to help identify and mitigate academic, affective, medical, behavioral, and/or societal factors that could potentially impede the academic success of students. The Departments’ goal is to support the mission of the district by ensuring student success, leading to higher education, work, and lifelong learning.
- After School Programs
- Counseling & Mentoring
- House Bill 91
- Migrant Education
- Psychological Services
- Social-Emotional Learning
- Social Work Services
- Student Advancement
- Student Health Services
- Student Relations
- Title IV
Area Assistant Superintendents
Area 1 Elementary
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Melanie Pearch, Area 1 Elementary
Melanie Pearch is the Area 1 Elementary Area Assistant Superintendent for DeKalb County School District. She started her educational career in DeKalb County School District in 1994 as a Spanish teacher at Redan High School. She continued as a Spanish teacher at both Redan and Stephenson High, where she also coached softball and sponsored numerous extra-curricular activities. She improved her Spanish skills each summer by living with native families and taking intensive language courses throughout South and Central America.
In 2001, she transitioned to an administrative role at Cary Reynolds Elementary School. She remained in the Cross Keys cluster for 15 years serving as principal of Cary Reynolds and Woodward Elementary. During this time, she earned recognitions of Superintendent’s Excellence in Parental Involvement, Department of Education Outstanding Achievement School, Title I Distinguished School, Title I High Progress School, Georgia Family Friendly School, and Region I Principal of the Year. She transferred to Kingsley Elementary in the Dunwoody cluster in 2016. Her focus has always been on developing leaders and “doing the right thing, even when no one is looking”.
Originally from New England, Mrs. Pearch graduated from the University of Rhode Island and earned her Master’s degree from Georgia State University. She currently resides in Region I with her husband and two middle school children.
- Ashford Park ES
- Austin ES
- Cary Reynolds ES
- Chesnut ES
- Doraville United ES
- Dunwoody ES
- Hawthrone ES
- Henderson Mill ES
- Hightower ES
- Huntley Hills ES
- John R. Lewis ES
- Kingsley ES
- Montgomery ES
- Oak Grove ES
- Pleasantdale ES
- Sagamore Hills ES
- Vanderlyn ES
- Woodward ES
Area 2 Elementary
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Mr. Trenton Arnold, Area 2 Elementary
Trenton Arnold is a second-generation graduate from the DeKalb County School District’s decommissioned Avondale High School. He began his career with the District teaching Language Arts to Grade 6 students at Fairington Elementary School before middle schools became fully operational in DeKalb. Once Grade 6 students moved to middle schools, he transitioned to Stone Mountain Middle School to work in the same content area and grade level. In 1999, he became an Assistant Principal at Cedar Grove Middle School and then Assistant Principal for Instruction at McNair Middle School.
In 2005, Mr. Arnold became Principal of Sequoyah Middle School where he served for four years and then went to work as Principal at Stone Mountain Middle School for almost two years. After serving as Principal, Mr. Arnold was the Executive Director for Research, Assessment, and Grants where he led the District in meeting requirements associated with state assessments and accountability.
Mr. Arnold received his undergraduate degree in English from Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, and his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia.
He enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Christy, and his two daughters, Lauren and Molly.
- Avondale ES
- Briar Vista ES
- Briarlake ES
- Brockett ES
- Dunaire ES
- Evansdale ES
- Fernbank ES
- Hambrick ES
- Idlewood ES
- Indian Creek ES
- Jolly ES
- Laurel Ridge ES
- Livsey ES
- McLendon ES
- Midvale ES
- Museum School
- Rockbridge ES
- Smoke Rise ES
Area 3 Elementary
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Area 4 Middle School
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Jacqueline Taylor | Middle Area
Jacqueline Taylor serves the DeKalb County School District as the Middle Area Assistant Superintendent. She began her educational career with DCSD in 1993 as a teacher and coach at Dunwoody High School. In 2000, she began serving the DCSD as an Assistant Principal for 6 years at Druid Hills High School and 7 years at Druid Hills Middle School. In 2013, she became the Principal of Druid Hills Middle School.
Mrs. Taylor is originally from Tennessee. She graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1991 with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and Political Science. In 1993, Mrs. Taylor earned a Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education, also at ETSU. In 1999, she completed the Educational Leadership Program at the University of Georgia.
Mrs. Taylor describes herself as an experienced leader whose passion is working collaboratively: to assist in the delivery of quality instruction; create a safe and orderly school environment; support leaders in reaching their full potential; and engage community stakeholders in the life of the school.
- Cedar Grove MS
- Chamblee MS
- Champion Theme MS
- Chapel Hill MS
- Columbia MS
- Druid Hills MS
- Freedom MS
- Henderson MS
- Miller Grove MS
- Peachtree MS
- Redan MS
- Sequoyah MS
- Stephenson MS
- Stone Mountain MS
- Tucker MS
Area 5 High School
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Dr. Norman C. Sauce III | High Area
Dr. Norman C. Sauce III began serving the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) as Region IV Superintendent in November 2022. In this position, he supervises and supports the 17 schools and centers within Region IV, and their principals, to inspire our community of learners to achieve educational excellence. He also supervises and supports the Region IV Micro-Cabinet in their pursuits to facilitate success within Region IV schools and centers. Before returning to DCSD, Dr. Sauce served the Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) in the positions of Executive Director of Student Support Services and as Executive Director of Elementary Education. As Executive Director of Student Support Services, he supervised and supported GSCS’ Departments of Student Services, Exceptional Students (Special Education), Mental Health and Positive Student Supports, and Counseling Program. As Executive Director of Elementary Education, Dr. Sauce supervised and supported the 11 elementary schools and principals within GSCS, and the District’s Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K) program, English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program, elementary Gifted Education program, and elementary counseling program. Previously, Dr. Sauce served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD, and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. He served as an assistant principal and social studies teacher at schools in his native Southern California, prior to moving to Georgia. He earned his Doctor of Education degree from the University of Southern California, his Master of Education degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from California State University Long Beach. Dr. Sauce is the proud husband and father to his wife and twin boys.- Arabia Mountain HS
- Chamblee HS
- Cedar Grove HS
- Clarkston HS
- Columbia HS
- DeKalb Early College
- DeKalb HS Tech-South
- DeKalb School of Arts
- Druid Hills HS
- Dunwoody HS
- Lakeside HS
- Lithonia HS
- Margaret Harris Comprehensive School
- Miller Grove HS
- M. L. King Jr. HS
- Redan HS
- Southwest DeKalb HS
- Stephenson HS
- St Mountain HS
- Tapestry Charter
- Tucker HS
- Warren Technical School
Dr. Triscilla Weaver | High Area
Dr. Triscilla Weaver has twenty-five years of educational experience with the DeKalb County School District. Her experience includes nine years as a classroom teacher, three years as an assistant principal, eleven years as a principal and she was named Region IV Superintendent on April 1, 2015. Prior to becoming Regional Superintendent, Dr. Weaver served as principal of Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School. Under her leadership, Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School received the honor of being named a Title I High-Progress School. This honor is given to the top 10% of Title I schools in the state that made the most progress in improving the performance of all student subgroups over a three year period of time on the statewide assessment.
As an instructional leader, Dr. Weaver spends a great deal of her time strengthening the instructional capacity of others. She works with teachers and school leaders in the areas of data analysis, effective teaching strategies, differentiated instruction, and effective classroom rituals and routines for academic success. She currently serves as one of the co-chairs for the CIA2 Committee, which is dedicated to building instructional capacity in building leaders in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment and accountability.
Dr. Weaver received a Bachelor of Science in Education, Master of Education and Specialist in Education from Georgia State University. She also earned her Ph.D. from Georgia State University in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in mathematics. Her Dissertation topic was: “A Case Study of Two Master Teachers of Mathematics of African American Males.” Dr. Weaver has received several outstanding community service awards and is a former DeKalb County’s Middle School Teacher of the Year.
- Bethune MS
- Browns Mill ES
- Cross Keys HS
- DeKalb Alternative
- Dresden ES
- Elizabeth Andrews HS
- Fairington ES
- Flat Rock ES
- Flat Shoals ES
- Montclair ES
- Oakview ES
- Panola Way ES
- Peachcrest ES
- Pine Ridge ES
- Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy
- Ronald E. McNair High School
- Ronald E. McNair Middle School
- Salem MS
- Shadow Rock ES
- Snapfinger ES
- Stone Mill ES
- Stone Mountain ES
- Stoneview ES
- Towers HS
- Woodridge ES
Dr. Michelle Jones | Specialty Area
- Bethune MS
- Browns Mill ES
- Cross Keys HS
- DeKalb Alternative
- Dresden ES
- Elizabeth Andrews HS
- Fairington ES
- Flat Rock ES
- Flat Shoals ES
- Montclair ES
- Oakview ES
- Panola Way ES
- Peachcrest ES
- Pine Ridge ES
- Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy
- Ronald E. McNair High School
- Ronald E. McNair Middle School
- Salem MS
- Shadow Rock ES
- Snapfinger ES
- Stone Mill ES
- Stone Mountain ES
- Stoneview ES
- Towers HS
- Woodridge ES