Rachel Ernst
Monroe,GA
Summary
Highly skilled education leader prepared to drive academic excellence and organizational growth. Demonstrates strong focus on fostering team collaboration and achieving measurable results. Well-versed in curriculum development, strategic planning, and student-centered learning. Known for adaptive leadership and effective communication, ensuring all stakeholders are engaged and supported.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of School
Loganville Christian Academy
08.2020 - Current
- Reports to the Board of Directors
- Oversight of the Leadership Team; Dir. of Finance, Dir. of Operations, Lower School Principal, Upper School Principal, Dir. of Marketing, Dir. of IT, Athletic Director
- Directed staff professional development programs, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
- Led curriculum development initiatives to enhance student engagement and academic performance.
- Goal setting and priority alignment
- Evaluations
- Weekly meetings with accountability and direction
- Responsible for over 90 team members
- Hiring and retention
- Responsible for a $10M budget
- Culture development
- Casting vision
- Engaging team members, students, and families in the development of a strong academic culture
- Navigating social and educational trends
- Community Engagement & Donor Management
- Serving on the Walton County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
- Collaborate with local public school district to budget for and utilize federal funds
Upper School Principal
Loganville Christian Academy
04.2018 - 08.2020
- Responsible for a 6th through 12th grade faculty and staff of 30 people
- Teacher and staff evaluations
- Hiring, retaining, and on-boarding of new faculty members
- Responsible for over 300 Upper School students
- Monitoring academic progress
- Managing discipline
- Curriculum Map development, revision, and implementation process
- Review of standards, pacing, and assessment process
- Developed and implementing a CTAE track for students
- Scheduling for all middle and high school students
- Graduation requirements
- Guidelines for various Math tracks
- Work with various colleges and universities for Dual Enrollment programs
- Oversight of the Athletic Department
- Student athlete eligibility
- Transition from GISA to GHSA
- Other duties as assigned
Principal
Starling Elementary Gwinnett County Public Schools
07.2017 - 04.2018
- Responsible for a faculty and staff of 100 people; 2 Assistant Principals, Office staff, Teaching staff, Custodial and Cafeteria teams
- Leading a school of 1000 children in grade K-5th
- Safety and Security
- Educational Programs
- Parent Involvement
- Community Partnerships
- Planning and implementing professional development
- Staffing according to district allotments
- Ongoing data analysis to ensure high levels of student achievement as well as monitoring teacher effectiveness
- Responsible for budgeting and monitoring spending to ensure we meet all district, state and federal guidelines
- Planning for, administering and communicating the results for all district, state and national assessments
Assistant Principal
McConnell Middle School, Gwinnett County
07.2011 - 06.2017
- One of 14 administrators selected to participate in the 11th Cohort of the Aspiring Principal Program, September 2016-July 2017
- Discipline Coordinator
- Title IX Coordinator
- Testing Coordinator
- Responsible for all state, local and national assessments for grades 6-8
- Work with special education teachers to ensure that all testing accommodations are planned for and provided
- Supporting the implementation of online testing
- Provided training for leaders and teachers as we transitioned from CRCT to Georgia Milestones during the 2014-15 school year
- 2016-present- Certified item writer for the Georgia Center for Assessment
- Math Curriculum Coordinator
- Support the math department through curriculum meetings and vertical planning
- Staff Development Coordinator
- Developing and implementing a plan for professional development at the local school
- Working with Archer cluster school leaders to plan cluster vertical team professional development
- Completed Formative Instructional Practices (FIP) Leader training in 2014 and have since supported school-wide FIP training for all teachers as well as vertical alignment of FIP through Archer cluster Vertical team meetings.
- Developing and implementing a New Teacher Mentoring program to recruit and retain quality staff members.
- Gwinnett Teacher Effectiveness System evaluator
- Responsible for the year-long evaluation process for 25 staff members. This included clerical staff as well as teachers.
Title I Assistant Principal
Rosebud Elementary School, Gwinnett County
07.2009 - 06.2011
- Budgeted and accounted for all Title I funds
- Ensured that Title I programs met local, state and federal guidelines
- Developed and supervised an after school program to support low performing students
- Worked with the Parent Instructional Support Coor. to plan community events increasing parent involvement
Teacher
McConnell Middle School, Gwinnett County
07.2003 - 07.2009
- 7th grade Math and Social Studies Teacher for one year
- 8th grade Math and Social Studies Teacher for 5 years
Education
Ed.S. - Educational Administration & Supervision
Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN07.2008
M.Ed. - Middle Grades Education, Math & Social Studies
Brenau University
Gainesville, GA10.2005
B.S. - Middle Grades Education, Math & Social Studies
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA05.2003
Skills
- Efficient
- Dependable
- Effective communicator with all stakeholders
- Strong Instructional Leadership Skills
- Able to multi-task and prioritize
- Positive attitude, even when faced with adversity
- Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Pipefy, Asana
- Online conferencing and instruction via Zoom, Google Meets, and Microsoft Teams
- Visionary thinking
- Strategic leadership
Accomplishments
- Achieved re-accreditation by completing portfolio and site visit with accuracy and efficiency.
- Completed the Van Lunen Fellows Program for Executive Management in July 2025.
- Current member of the Board of Directors for the Walton County Chamber of Commerce.
- 2025 Graduate of the Leadership Walton program
Timeline
Head of School
Loganville Christian Academy
08.2020 - Current
Upper School Principal
Loganville Christian Academy
04.2018 - 08.2020
Principal
Starling Elementary Gwinnett County Public Schools
07.2017 - 04.2018
Assistant Principal
McConnell Middle School, Gwinnett County
07.2011 - 06.2017
Title I Assistant Principal
Rosebud Elementary School, Gwinnett County
07.2009 - 06.2011
Teacher
McConnell Middle School, Gwinnett County
07.2003 - 07.2009
Ed.S. - Educational Administration & Supervision
Lincoln Memorial University
M.Ed. - Middle Grades Education, Math & Social Studies
Brenau University
B.S. - Middle Grades Education, Math & Social Studies
Georgia State University