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Welcome to Park Street Elementary School, Home of the Park Street Panthers!
Dear Panther Family,
With great excitement, I write to you as the new Principal of Park Street Elementary. I am honored to have the opportunity to lead a school with such amazing students, dedicated staff, and a supportive community. I have had the honor and privilege of being Park Street's Assistant Principal for four years. In the last four years, I have worked with the Park Street staff to ensure our school is a place where all our students can Learn, Grow, and Thrive.
This new school year will mark my 18th year in education. From 2005 to 2016, I taught Kindergarten through 5th grade in Cobb County as a general and special education teacher. I was proud to provide a safe, fun, and engaging learning environment for my students. In 2016, I became a special education administrator. Beyond the classroom, I led the yearbook, spelling bee, and talent show. I served as PTA Vice-President, PTA Co-President, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports lead teacher, and led professional development locally and on the district level.
I joined Marietta City Schools and Park Street in 2018 as an Assistant Principal. In this role, I helped facilitate the opening and operations of our new school building. I supported the work that saw significant increases in student achievement. Based on 2020-2021 MAP results, we were the only elementary school to grow in every grade and content area (grades 2-5) from Fall to Spring. I am proud of all that we have accomplished at Park Street, and I am excited by the opportunities ahead of us.
As a life-long learner, I want every Park Street student to feel the excitement of learning something new every day. I believe in supporting the whole child and making student-centered decisions. Our school and administration will be committed to making decisions that best serve our students.
In closing, author and former principal Roland Barth wrote, "The nature of relationships among the adults within a school has a greater influence on the character and quality of that school and on student achievement more than anything else." Our relationship, the relationship between school, family, and community, is vital to each of our student's success. I welcome and encourage you to become involved in our school community. My goal is to ensure Park Street is and will continue to be a place where all our students can LEARN, GROW, and THRIVE!
I may be reached at (770) 429-3180 ext. 7016 or asoto@marietta-city.org.
Your New Park Street Principal,
Alex Soto, Ed.S.
Querida Familia Pantera,
Con gran emoción, les escribo como el nuevo director de la escuela primaria Park Street. Me siento honrado de tener la oportunidad de dirigir una escuela con estudiantes tan increíbles, personal dedicado y una comunidad solidaria. He tenido el honor y el privilegio de ser el subdirector de la directora de Park Street durante cuatro años. Durante este tiempo , he trabajado con el personal para garantizar que nuestra escuela sea un lugar donde todos nuestros estudiantes puedan aprender, crecer y prosperar.
Este nuevo año escolar marcará mi decimoctavo (18) año en educación. De 2005 a 2016, enseñé desde el kinder hasta quinto grado en el condado de Cobb como maestro de educación general y especial. Estoy orgulloso de haber proporcionado un entorno de aprendizaje seguro, divertido y atractivo para mis alumnos. En 2016, me convertí en administrador de educación especial. Más allá del salón de clases, dirigí el anuario, el concurso de ortografía y el concurso de talentos. Me desempeñé como vicepresidente de la PTA, copresidente de la PTA, maestro principal de intervenciones y apoyos para el comportamiento positivo, y dirigí el desarrollo profesional a nivel local y distrital.
Me uní a las escuelas de la ciudad de Marietta y Park Street en 2018 como subdirector. En este cargo, ayudé a facilitar la apertura y las operaciones de nuestro nuevo edificio escolar. Apoyé el trabajo que vio aumentos significativos en el rendimiento estudiantil. Según los resultados de MAP 2020-2021, fuimos la única escuela primaria que creció en todos los grados y áreas de contenido (grados 2-5) desde el otoño hasta la primavera. Estoy orgulloso de todo lo que hemos logrado en Park Street y estoy emocionado por nuevas oportunidades por venir.
Como aprendiz de por vida, quiero que todos los estudiantes de Park Street sientan la emoción de aprender algo nuevo todos los días. Creo en apoyar al niño en su totalidad y tomar decisiones enfocadas en los niños. Nuestra escuela y administración se comprometerán a tomar decisiones que sirvan mejor a nuestros estudiantes.
Para finalizar, les quiero compartir unas palabras del autor y exdirector Roland Barth, quien escribió: "La naturaleza de las relaciones entre los adultos dentro de una escuela tiene una mayor influencia en el carácter y la calidad de esa escuela y en el rendimiento de los estudiantes más que cualquier otra cosa".
Nuestra relación, la relación entre la escuela, la familia y la comunidad, es vital para el éxito de cada uno de nuestros estudiantes. Les doy la bienvenida y los animo a que se involucren en nuestra comunidad escolar. ¡Mi objetivo es garantizar que Park Street sea y siga siendo un lugar donde todos nuestros estudiantes puedan APRENDER, CRECER y PROSPERAR!
Me pueden contactar (770) 429-3180 ext. 7016 or asoto@marietta-city.org.
Su nuevo director de Park Street,
Alex Soto, Ed.S.
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Carrie Madden, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Madden is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She joins Park Street as a new Assistant Principal. Mrs. Madden is a graduate of Georgia Southern University (ECE), Kennesaw State University (M.Ed.), and Lincoln Memorial University (Ed.S.). Mrs. Madden has been in education for over twenty years as a classroom teacher, ESOL teacher, and recently served as the Marietta City Schools K-5 ESOL Coordinator. She is proud to join our team as the newest Park Street Panther!
Mrs. Madden may be reached at (770) 429-3180 ext. 7014 or cmadden@marietta-city.org.
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Idris Johnson, Assistant Principal
Mr. Johnson began his career at Park Street in 2000 as a Kindergarten teacher. In his 20+ years, he has served as an Early Intervention Program specialist, Multi-Tiered System of Support Coordinator, 504 Coordinator, and now Assistant Principal. His academic background includes a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University, a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University. He looks forward to meeting and supporting all members of the Park Street and Marietta City community throughout the year!
Mr. Johnson may be reached at (770) 429-3180 ext. 7015 or IJohnson@marietta-city.org.
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Dr. Velisa Caldwell, Special Education Administrator
Dr. Velisa Caldwell is presently the Special Education Administrator (K-5). She has served for 22 years in Marietta City Schools. Her leadership experience spans across grades K-8. After earning her B.A. in Psychology in 1992 from the University of West Georgia, Dr. Caldwell worked in a hospital setting serving adolescents with emotional and behavior difficulties for five years. Shel entered Marietta City Schools in 1997 as a Special Education Teacher for students with Behavior Disorders. She has also served as the 8th grade girls' basketball coach and 9th grade girls’ volleyball coach. Dr. Caldwell earned a master's degree in Education from Central Michigan University in 1998, and in 2008 she received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Capella University.
In 2010, Dr. Caldwell transitioned from Marietta Middle School (MMS) to Park Street Elementary (PSE) as the Special Education Team Leader. She values the role of mentors in her life and she has enjoyed mentoring PSE staff members to help them become the best they can be. Dr. Caldwell believes all students will be successful with perseverance and a nurturing environment.
Dr. Caldwell may be reached at (770) 429-3180 ext. 7021 or vcaldwell@marietta-city.org.
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Sharon Worley, Academic Coach
Sharon Worley has been teaching for 30 years. She has known since elementary school that she wanted to become a teacher. After teaching students during the day, she would teach English to adults from various countries in the evenings. Sharon taught in grades 3-5. She received her National Board Teaching Certification in 2002. Sharon is originally from North Carolina and moved to Marietta, Ga in 2004.
Sharon began working at Park Street Elementary in 2004. While at Park Street she received several awards: Outstanding New Employee, Outstanding Certified Employee, Outstanding Marietta City Schools Employee, and 2012 Teacher of the Year. She has scored ELA items for the Georgia Milestone Assessment and helped develop curriculum maps for Marietta City Schools in Mathematics.
Sharon’s philosophy of education is simple. She believes that all children deserve and are entitled to the best education possible. She believes that all children can be successful if given the necessary tools for success. Working with classroom teachers and students has been a lifelong goal of Sharon’s and she is honored to be able to do this with the teachers at Park Street.
Ms. Worley may be reached at (770) 429-3180 or sworley@marietta-city.org.
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Barbara Hoffman, Instructional Coach
Ms. Hoffman began her teaching career in Ohio and moved to Marietta, GA in 1995. She has served the Park Street community for the past 27 years. Her instructional background includes teaching grades K-5, Early Intervention Specialist, Literacy support for primary grades, and mentoring new teachers. She has an undergraduate and master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and an Educational Specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Ms. Hoffman is excited to serve in her new role as Instructional Coach!
Ms. Hoffman may be reached at (770) 429-3180 or bhoffman@marietta-city.org.
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Doreen Tichenor, MTSS Coordinator
Doreen Tichenor is native of Louisville, Kentucky. A proud graduate of Kentucky State University and The University of Kentucky. In 2012, she earned her Ed.S from Lincoln Memorial in Curriculum and Instruction. She holds Reading and Teacher Support Specialist Endorsements. An Educator since 1996, with experience in Kentucky (Fayette), DeKalb, Cobb and Fulton Counties. She joined Marietta City Schools in 2015. Awarded Outstanding Certified Employee for Park Street 2017-2018. Throughout her career, she has held various positions including Teacher, EIP Teacher, New Teacher Coordinator, Teacher Mentor, Extended Day Coordinator, Primary Grades Summer School Coordinator, District Unit Planner, New Curriculum Trainer, Grade Level Chair, Math and RTI Lead.
Mrs. Tichenor may be reached at (770) 429-3180 or dtichenor@marietta-city.org.
