Dr. LaConya McCrae - Director of Special Education
Dr. LaConya Jenee McCrae joined Valdosta City Schools in 2004 and has fulfilled various roles throughout her career. The beginning of her educational journey began nearly two decades ago as a paraeducator. Mr. O’NeaL Bozeman, her former high school principal, hired her for her first teaching position as a sixth grade English-Language Arts and social studies teacher at J.T. Reddick Elementary in Tifton, Georgia in 1998.
Since relocating to Valdosta, she has served as a classroom and instructional lead teacher at Southeast Elementary School, an assistant principal and school improvement specialist at J. L. Newbern Middle School, assistant principal and principal of J. L. Lomax Elementary, and an assistant principal at W.G. Nunn Elementary School. Currently, she serves as the Teacher Induction Support Specialist for Valdosta City Schools. She is a graduate of Valdosta State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She furthered her education by receiving a Specialist Degree in Instructional Leadership and a Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida.
She has been happily married to Wade for nearly 20 years, and they have four amazing children: Brandon (Erica), Brittany (Tessler), Tyler, and Immanuel, and five wonderful grandchildren: Benjamin, Tessler, Ethan, Thor, and Timothy of whom they are extremely proud.
Dr. Cheryl Rice - Assistant Director of Special Education
Dr. Cheryl Rice is a Valdosta native who has been teaching in Valdosta City Schools since 1997. She and both her children graduated from Valdosta High School. She is a career special education teacher who has served as a VCS behavior specialist for the past nine years.
Dr. Rice graduated from Valdosta State University (VSU) and the University of West Georgia with degrees in general and special education and educational leadership/school improvement. She is a certified instructor for Mindset non-violent crisis student intervention and was trained in ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) through the Florida Institute of Technology. She has taught at VSU for many years and regularly presents at state and national conferences to help educators support all children–especially students with special needs.
In 2004, Dr. Rice represented Valdosta City Schools as the district’s Teacher of the Year and as one of the top ten finalists for Georgia’s State Teacher of the Year. She is a member of the inaugural class of VSU’s Teacher Hall of Fame and a member of several state and community organizations, including the Lowndes Interagency Coordinating Council, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and the Council for Exceptional Children.
Mr. Russell Jackson - PROMISE Program Director
Russell Jackson graduated from Valdosta High School and began his teaching career at J.L. Newbern Middle School where he served for 7 years. Subsequently, he continued his teaching career in Lowndes County Schools at Lowndes Middle for 14 years. Returning to Valdosta City Schools marked a significant chapter in his career, as he assumed the role of assistant principal at Sallas Mahone Elementary School, where he has served for the past 5 years.
His educational foundation includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from Valdosta State University. Eager to expand his impact, he pursued and obtained a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership Tier 1, followed by an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership Tier 2, both from Valdosta State University.
Maya Angelou stated, “I’ve learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back”. Mr. Jackson stated "I decided to throw my commitment to improving my community back into the system that propelled me on my journey of success. It is both an honor and a privilege to step into the role of the next Director of The PROMISE Program."