On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals (GASSP) announced their Top Six Finalists for this year’s Principal of the Year. Coffee County Schools is proud to announce that Mrs. Sherry Berry, principal of Coffee Middle School was named as one of the finalists.
The Principal of the Year program recognizes principals that excel in educational leadership, resolving complex problems, developing self and others as well as community service. Selected from a large pool of applicants Mrs. Berry traveled to Athens, Georgia this past weekend to participate in an individual interview with the GASSP interview committee. In addition to a personal interview, the GASSP Interview Committee also reviews performance data from the respective administrators’ school.
The Principal of the Year recognition program is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals and Association Member Benefit Advisor (AMBA). The Georgia winner will represent the state in the competition for National Principal of the Year sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
Mrs. Berry has been the principal of Coffee Middle School for the past seven years. Under her leadership, Coffee Middle School has exceeded the state average in test scores for the past three years. In addition to Coffee Middle School, Mrs. Berry served on the campus of Nicholls Elementary for 10 years. She was the Assistant Principal for Instruction for six years and served four years as the school’s principal.
Mrs. Berry is an alumnus of Coffee High, South Georgia College and Valdosta State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education and Educational Specialist in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Berry has participated in the Professional Association of Georgia Educators’ Principal Leadership Network for several years. She also represented Coffee County on three different GLISI Teams, serving as Leadership Performance Coach. Mrs. Berry is completing her 31st year in education having begun her career with Coffee County Schools serving as a teacher at West Green Elementary. She has also taught on the campuses of Indian Creek Elementary and Satilla Elementary.
Mrs. Berry is married to Mr. Michael Berry, agriculture teacher at Coffee High, who is also an educator of 31 years. She and Michael have two sons, Kody and Dake.