Administrative Appointments Announced in June 2023
June 29, 2023
Please note: This article was originally posted during a previous school year. Information and/or dates from past events
may be not be relevant for the current school year.
Director of Elementary Schools
Amanda Nicks has been selected as a Director of Elementary Schools, serving with Jessica Harris, Director of Elementary Schools, as they support CMCSS’ 26 elementary schools. Currently, she serves as the Professional Learning Coordinator for CMCSS. Nicks has over 25 years of experience in education, serving as a principal, K-12 Literacy Coordinator, Instructional Coach, and teacher for kindergarten, second, and fourth grades. She has been named both Principal of the Year and Teacher of the Year in Dickson County School District and Graduate Student of Year at Austin Peay State University. She earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and B.S. in K-8 Education from Austin Peay State University. Nicks holds certifications as a McRel Balanced Leadership and Classroom Instruction that Works facilitator; Classroom Organization & Management Program facilitator; Franklin Covey 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and 6 Critical Practices for Leading a Team facilitator; and she completed instructional rounds with the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Interim Director of High Schools
Christy Houston has been selected as the Interim Director of High Schools. During this interim role, Houston will continue to serve as the principal of Montgomery Central High School while providing support to CMCSS’ 8 traditional high schools, 3 high schools of choice, and Alternative School until a permanent Director of High Schools is selected. Houston has served as the principal of Montgomery Central High School for nearly 20 years and as the CMCSS Lead High School Principal since 2019. She began her career in public education in 1996. Before entering the principalship at Montgomery Central High School, she served as an assistant principal and as a teacher, cheerleading coach, and volleyball coach at Kenwood, Clarksville, and Rossview high schools in CMCSS and East Robertson High School in Robertson County. Houston earned her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Trevecca Nazarene University and B.A. in Foreign Languages from Austin Peay State University.
Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation
Jennifer Menees has been selected as the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation. Currently, she serves as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction Pre-K-5. Previously, she has served as the Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction and as an assistant principal at Glenellen Elementary School. Before entering school leadership, she taught at Sango and Rossview elementary schools. She joined CMCSS in 2005 as a teacher after almost a decade of experience in restaurant management. Additionally, she has served on several district- and state-level curriculum and assessment committees. Menees earned the Teacher of the Year award in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2016, and the Distinguished Classroom Teacher of the Year award in 2010 and 2012. She earned her M.A.Ed. in Educational Leadership, M.A.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, and B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Austin Peay State University, and earned her Special Education endorsement from Trevecca Nazarene University. Menees completed the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy and Leadership Development Class Series. She is a Nearpod Certified Educator and holds the Microsoft Inclusive Classroom Specialization and Innovative Educator certifications.
Student Transportation Manager
Elizabeth Kong has been selected as the Student Transportation Manager, replacing Ron Garner who is retiring after 21 years of service in CMCSS. Currently, she serves as the Assistant Student Transportation Manager. In her current role, she is accountable for the daily performance of over 400 employees as well as the implementation of key strategic initiatives in student transportation. Kong began her career in CMCSS in 2001 as a school bus driver and has also served as the Driver Safety Manager and a Driver Trainer. She is a graduate of the CMCSS Leadership Academy and holds a Third-Party Examiner Certification for CDL testing. She is President-Elect of the Tennessee Pupil Transportation Association.
Moore Magnet Elementary School Assistant Principal
Chelsea Ogan has been selected as the Assistant Principal at Moore Magnet STEM School. Currently, she serves as an Academic Coach at Moore. Ogan began her career in CMCSS 10 years ago as an elementary teacher and has eight years of teaching experience in second, fourth, and fifth grades. She has been named a Green Apple Teacher of the Year and twice received the Distinguished Educator Award. Ogan has served in several school- and district-level leadership roles, including Lead School-Based Reading Language Arts Teacher and as a member of the Dyslexia Committee. She earned her Ed.S. in Administrative Leadership from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and her M.A. in Reading and B.S. in Elementary Education from Austin Peay State University. Ogan earned her Lean Six Sigma certification at Vanderbilt University, and she is a graduate of the CMCSS Aspiring Administrators Academy.