October is National Principal Month. Meet the last three top administrators of the month:

Karisa Young is currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Liberty College and Career Academy. Mrs. Young worked in the counseling arena before entering the field of education where she has been for the last 15 years. Growing up as the only girl with 3 brothers has greatly influenced her love for sports, especially football. She attended Old Dominion University where she attained a Bachelor of Science in Counseling. She later attended East Central University where she received a Master of Education in School Counseling and Valdosta State University where she received her Educational Specialist degree in Leadership. Mrs. Young spent eight years as a Professional School Counselor and seven years as Assistant Principal prior to being named the Chief Executive Officer of LCCA. She has served in the Liberty County School System for eight years. Mrs. Young is married and has three wonderful daughters. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, attending cultural events, watching movies, and exploring new restaurants. As the CEO of Liberty College and Career Academy she receives great joy from preparing students for tomorrow's workforce where their goal is for associates to learn the skills needed to get a job, do a job, and keep a job.

Chris Anderson is currently in his twelfth year serving as the Principal of Liberty Elementary and in his twenty-sixth year of teaching. Prior to the start of his educational career, he attended Armstrong State College where he received a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences Education. He was a classroom teacher at the high school level for six years and later went back for a Master's Degree in education, which he received from Cambridge College. His leadership studies were completed at Georgia Southern University where he received an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership, Administration and Supervision. He spent eight years as an Assistant Principal prior to being named Principal of Liberty Elementary in 2007. Mr. Anderson is proud of the work being done at LES where the focus is on improving academic achievement through successful student engagement, building strong character, and developing citizenship in a safe, friendly environment. He is extremely encouraged with the work being done at LES as they strive to achieve their goal of meeting and/or exceeding all of the state’s performance targets. Last Year LES was recognized for earning the Georgia Department of Education’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program certification. Mr. Anderson continues to be inspired by his wife, family, and colleagues. He feels he is blessed to work with the staff and students of Liberty Elementary and the surrounding community and considers it an honor and privilege to work for such a wonderful group of children, teachers, support staff and parents. He looks forward to continued success at Liberty Elementary.

Roland Van Horn has served as the Principal at Snelson-Golden Middle School for the past five years. He is the product of an urban school district with 1.5 million people in the county and a drop out rate of 50%! Mr. Van Horn believed that he would be a professional basketball player much like many of his students today do. His family expected him to get a job straight out of high school and going to college was not an option. However, he had a teacher who saw more in him than he saw in himself and motivated him to join the military and capture GI Bill funding to attend college. Mr. Van Horn became a proud military veteran as well as the first high school and college graduate in his family! Mr. Van Horn earned his Bachelor of Science and Masters degree in Middle Grades Education and his Educational Specialist degree in Administration. He served as a science teacher at Midway Middle School and as an Assistant Principal at Bradwell Institute prior to becoming the Principal at Snelson-Golden Middle School. Mr. Van Horn is married to an educator and his daughter, a graduate of the Liberty County School System, is currently in college studying to become a registered nurse. He believes that every child can learn and we as educators must meet them where they are and take them where we want them to go. He is a people person who loves to solve problems and he is driven by S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time bound) goals. During his tenure at Snelson-Golden their CCRPI score has increased by more than 17%.