Interim Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Danielle Battle announced changes to the district’s senior leadership team on her first day in the role, Friday.
At the upcoming monthly meeting of the Atlanta Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, September 5th, Dr. Battle will present the following new appointments for approval:
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Dr. Timothy Gadson, Deputy Superintendent
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Erica Long, Chief of Staff
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Sherri Forrest, Special Assistant to the Superintendent
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Lyndsay Evans, Executive Director, Federal Programs
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Dr. Isaac Sparks, Executive Director, Office of Deputy Superintendent
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Sandra Murray, Senior Administrative Manager
Dr. Gadson brings a wealth of experience to the senior leadership team. He previously served APS as Associate Superintendent for High Schools. As Deputy, Dr. Gadson will provide strategic guidance to all district departments, especially Academics & Schools. He will provide direct oversight of the Schools Division, focusing on enhancing student literacy, numeracy, and overall student achievement.
Long will lead in a new capacity as Chief of Staff. An Atlanta native and Frederick Douglass High School graduate with eight years of experience leading the district’s policy and government affairs work, she is an expert in district policy and governance. She will continue to advise on these matters while working closely with Dr. Battle to implement the Board’s vision across all district divisions.
Forrest, who will serve as Special Assistant to the Superintendent, returns to the district from the Georgia Department of Education. She brings her experience as a former APS Director of Continuous Improvement who oversaw and supported academic initiatives in turnaround schools.
Evans will now lead the district’s Federal Programs work as Executive Director. In her eight years with APS, she has worked to support participation in several key federal programs, including Title I, Part A; Title II, Part A; Title IV, Part A; Title IV, Part B; Equitable Services; Title I – Homeless Set-Aside; School Improvement 1003(a) and School Improvement 1003(g).
Dr. Sparks returns to APS as Executive Director in the Office of the Deputy Superintendent. With a proven track record as a literacy leader, he most recently served APS as a Program Director. Dr. Sparks coordinated and led several district initiatives that improved graduation rates, increased the number of students participating in advanced academics, innovated credit recovery efforts, and improved college and career readiness.
Murray, who has effectively supported the Superintendent’s Office and the district’s policy and governance work, will be the new Senior Administrative Manager.
Dr. Battle spent 19 years in APS as a Principal and Associate Superintendent. Now as interim superintendent, she has laid out a vision for focusing on what matters most to the district:
- Literacy – Cultivating a district of readers.
- Resources – Shifting toward classroom success.
- Transparency – Openness and collaboration.
- Staffing – Empowering educators for success.
- Accountability – Personal commitment to excellence.
“The synergy of committed professionals who are laser-focused on a shared goal can create an environment where miracles are not just possible but expected,” Dr. Battle said. “We will be accountable to one another, transparent in our actions, and unwavering in our commitment to educational excellence.”