-
Dwight Hutson has been an educator for over twenty years in Atlanta Public Schools and has worked as an administrator for over a decade in the North Atlanta Cluster. He began his career as a high school Spanish teacher before venturing into elementary school as an ESOL teacher. His passion for languages and technology led him to work as an Educational Technology Specialist and Model Teacher Leader for World Languages. During those years, he presented at several conferences and was known as an expert at integrating new technologies into his World Language and ESOL classrooms.
No stranger to diversity, Mr. Hutson has lived in South America, Germany, and Mexico in addition to his numerous travels to other countries throughout the world. From a young age, his exposure to different cultures taught him to appreciate the rich and diverse traditions of the world.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, attending church, hiking, video editing, recording voiceovers, learning the latest technologies, and working with various non-profit organizations.
If you would like to email Mr. Hutson, please click here.
-
Andrea Almario is a fourth-grade Dual Language Immersion (DLI) teacher in her second year at Sarah Smith Elementary, where she has also been a parent for four years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Special Education from Georgia State University. Andrea is a proud mother of two children, Santiago (4 years old) and Rose (9 years old). Bilingual in Spanish and English, she is passionate about fostering a love for learning in her students. Outside of teaching, she enjoys CrossFit and running. If you would like to email Andrea, please click here.
-
Cimona V. Hinton Dirickson is a GO Team parent representative and serves as Vice Chair. She and her husband Darryl are parents to Darryl II (Class of 2027), and Daria (Class of 2030). She is also involved in Sarah Smith’s Multicultural Committee, and Sarah Smith School Tours. Cimona earned a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Meharry Medical College, and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. She is Professor of Biochemistry and a research leader at Morehouse School of Medicine. If you would like to email Cimona, click here.
-
Karla Lamar is a Go Team staff representative, and the Primary Years Programme Coordinator at Smith. Hailing from Georgia, Karla's roots and passion for education run deep, spanning a 23-year career in the field. With a rich educational background, Karla commenced her journey by earning a degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. She then expanded her knowledge and expertise by completing a Master's degree from Walden University and a Specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University. Notably, she also holds an ESOL endorsement, showcasing her commitment to diverse and inclusive learning environments. Karla's educational journey at Smith began in 2013, after a decade of teaching experience in Gwinnett County, where she taught 5th, 3rd, and Kindergarten classes. Her wealth of experience and expertise has positioned her as a valued asset at Smith, where she passionately advocates for the International Baccalaureate program and transdisciplinary learning. Driven by her dedication to fostering a lifelong love of learning, Karla is resolute in providing all students at Sarah Smith with an inquiry-based education. Her ultimate goal is to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful academic journey while nurturing their curiosity and passion for education. If you would like to email Karla, please click here.
-
Ben Miller is a GO Team parent representative. Ben and his wife, Rachel Miller, have three daughters. Two are currently enrolled in Sarah Smith's Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Ben's involvement as a Sarah Smith parent began in 2015 when his eldest daughter was in Pre-K, and he actively took part in initial meetings to establish the DLI program, including recruitment of families for the first year. Since then, he has served on the PTO’s multicultural committee and DLI committee. Ben earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in 2008, with a focus in labor economics and public finance. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration in international economics, and a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic linguistics. Ben is currently a Partner at Bennett Thrasher, an Atlanta-based public accounting firm. If you would like to email Ben, click here.
-
Ann Mintman is a GO Team parent representative and also serves as our secretary. Ann and her husband Mark have 4 children, three who currently attend Sarah Smith. Ann’s involvement at Sarah Smith began in 2020 when her family moved to Atlanta from Louisville, Ky and her oldest started Kindergarten. Ann is an active member of the Sarah Smith community. She serves as room parent, is on the tours committee, is one of the current chairs of the Teacher Appreciation Committee, the Room Parent coordinator, and she also is one of the Troop Leaders for the Third grade Brownie Troop. Ann earned her Master’s degree in Education from Bellarmine University with an Emphasis in Reading and Writing Instruction. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in English. She believes in the mission of public education and wants to build upon the strong school community at Sarah Smith. She wants to support the connection between school and home life, which will ultimately lead to engaged families, successful students and a thriving and impactful school. If you would like to email Ann, please click here.
-
Jennifer Moore is the GATE teacher at the Primary Campus, bringing 24 years of teaching experience to her role. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, an M.Ed. in Reading, and is Orton-Gillingham trained. Additionally, she is endorsed as both a Reading Specialist and Gifted teacher. Outside of her professional life, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her two adult children, Katie and Zach, as well as her beloved cat, Millie. Her hobbies include watching football, gardening, tackling DIY projects, reading, and taking trips to the beach.
-
Laquisha Smith is a GOTeam Community Representative with a background in Health Science, which ignited her path to entrepreneurship. She has been a wellness enthusiast and small business owner in the Atlanta community for 16 years.Mommy to Elle, 3rd Grade DLI, Laquisha is active within our Sarah Smith community, participating in various PTO volunteer activities and events including serving as a Friends Helping Friends (FHF) board member and many community initiatives. Beyond her professional achievements and community involvement, Laquisha enjoys traveling with her family, experiencing different cultures, being present at her daughter's extracurricular activities, videography, writing and visiting the local farmers around town.If you would like to email Laquisha, please click here.
-
Prissy Stewart is a GO Team Staff Representative and has been a librarian at Sarah Smith since 2014. She taught third, fourth and fifth grades for nine years and has been a librarian since 2001. Prissy earned her degree in History from Duke University, her Master’s in Elementary Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, and an add-on in Library Media Science from Georgia State University.
If you would like to email Prissy, please click here.
-
Elizabeth Zielinski is a GoTeam Parent Representative and also serves as Go Team Chair. She and her husband Clay have two children who attend Sarah Smith. Elizabeth’s involvement in Sarah Smith began in 2019 when her daughter started kindergarten. She has served as a room parent, school tour representative, and Read-a-Thon class representative. Elizabeth currently serves as the PTO Treasurer-Elect. If you would like to email Elizabeth, please click here.