Yolanda Briggs-Johnson
Fayetteville,Georgia
Summary
Executive leader with deep experience driving organizational success and fostering collaboration. Skilled in strategic planning, financial oversight, and stakeholder engagement. Known for adaptability, resilience, and delivering results in evolving environments. Strong interpersonal skills, effective communicator, and results-driven approach.
Overview
1
1
Certification
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director Student Services
Fayette County Board Of Education
Fayetteville, GA
12.2024 - Current
- Direct multiple departments including Social Work, Section 504, Title IX Compliance, McKinney-Vento, and Psychological Services.
- Oversee district-wide programs: Migrant Education, Hospital Homebound, Enrollment Center, and Foreign Exchange.
- Manage regulatory compliance for Open Records Requests, FERPA, and Office for Civil Rights (OCR) inquiries.
- Serve as liaison for student services-related community partnerships.
- Provide oversight on program compliance, strategic planning, and staff supervision.
- Serving on the district’s Executive Cabinet.
- Leads strategic initiatives to enhance educational programs and community engagement across Fayette County schools.
- Implement policies to improve operational efficiency and student performance district-wide.
- Ensuring resource allocation aligned with district goals and priorities.
- Facilitates training sessions for leadership teams, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
- Establishes partnerships with local organizations to expand resources available for students and families.
- Monitors compliance with laws and regulations to protect organization from legal liabilities and penalties.
- Represents the organization to the local public by giving presentations and speeches and participating in community events.
- Collaborates with external organizations including non-profits, businesses and government agencies to create mutually beneficial partnerships.
Principal
Fayette County High School
Fayetteville, GA
06.2018 - 11.2024
- Directed school operations to support academic programs for 1,340 students alongside 135 faculty and staff.
- Drove graduation rate improvement from 81% in 2018 to 93% in 2024 to support student outcomes.
- Tracked and improved graduation outcomes for students with disabilities, increasing rate from 57% in 2018 to 72% in 2023.
- Coordinated growth of advanced placement offerings from 20 to 26 courses across a 3-year period.
- Reviewed end-of-course assessments for Level 3s and Level 4s to evaluate academic performance, resulting in 52% in Biology, 52% in U.S. History, and 43% in American Literature.
- Monitored and ensured CCRPI achievement targets for American Literature at 67%, U.S. History at 75%, and Biology at 73%.
- Delivered differentiated instruction and accommodations to improve student access and performance in American Literature, Biology, and U.S. History.
- Coordinated school-day reorganization during COVID-19 to support consistent operations across four learning modules.
- Codified student and teacher attendance to strengthen PBIS implementation and consistency.
- Launched Schoology MTSS rollout, coordinated One-to-One device implementation, and advanced Tiger Plus instructional focus.
- Planned and established Tiger Plus (Saturday School) and Tiger Wednesdays to maintain support for instructional enrichment and remediation programs.
- Created 9th grade Tiger Academy in 2019 to support improved academic performance and behavioral outcomes.
- Enhanced 9th grade promotion outcomes by 25% and supported improved student conduct by reducing discipline by 33%.
- Crafted yearly vision statements aligned with school improvement plan goals for academic student growth and achievement.
- Designed professional learning aligned with school improvement plan to support implementation across faculty and staff members.
- Built school improvement plan with administrative team and teacher leaders to analyze and address trends from previous school year’s CCRPI and local data from SL/D and FCBOE.
- Hosted district and local professional development for leaders and staff to strengthen student achievement and behavior.
- Established local school mentor program to deliver instructional and operational reinforcement for novice and veteran teachers, supporting student growth and achievement.
- Coordinated planning and hosted faculty and stakeholder recognitions to support engagement and appreciation.
- Engaged stakeholders through weekly newsletters and social media content to support visibility into day-to-day school operations.
Assistant Principal/ Registrar
Whitewater High School
Fayetteville, GA
06.2012 - 05.2018
- Planned and facilitated school-wide professional development on formative assessment practices to improve learning outcomes, support student achievement, and align with the school improvement plan.
- Created master schedule and coordinated with department leaders to establish professional learning communities for each grade level.
- Delivered coaching and training for school content leaders to support leadership growth and development.
- Coordinated professional development team to analyze school data and develop three-year schoolwide learning plan to support ongoing faculty and staff planning.
- Coordinated curriculum night events to communicate course offerings and academic and CTE program requirements to all stakeholders.
- Managed online application process for Advanced Placement courses and developed AP resources to support countywide access and consistent usage.
- Designed and developed inaugural WHS STEM program branding and concept to launch program operations in 2016.
- Launched STEM bus program to support WHS STEM student collaboration and learning development through sharing STEM activities with elementary and middle school students.
- Developed gratitude program for student and teacher recognition; led initiative and ensured program adoption within PBIS plan.
- Partnered with ECS department to analyze student data and evaluate intervention and strategy options to support improvement in ECS student learning outcomes.
- Reviewed and finalized FTE (Full Time Equivalency) process to maintain accurate student data.
Local Educational Administrator for Exceptional Children Services ( LEA)/ Speech Language Pathologist
Bennett’s Mill Middle School
Fayetteville, GA
08.2007 - 05.2012
- Achieved enhanced communication skills for grades 6-8 students with autism and Down syndrome through targeted speech language pathology interventions. Elevated collaboration efforts among educators for self-contained classrooms, fostering an inclusive environment for students with emotional and cognitive challenges. Championed initiatives as chairperson for exceptional children services department, promoting best practices in special education.
- Directed exceptional children services department and established workshop frameworks and data management platforms to enhance testing strategies and departmental communication, fostering growth in professional learning communities. Formulated individualized education plans tailored to students’ psychological evaluations. Collaborated with educators to create and refine strategies aimed at supporting students' learning challenges.
- Delivered instructional support to classroom teachers to facilitate informal evaluation processes, professional learning initiatives, and curriculum management.
- Distributed countywide IDEA-related updates to faculty and staff, communicating new trends and changes affecting Individuals with Disabilities Education Act compliance.
- Partnered with teachers, counselors, and parents to manage student progress updates during eligibility and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
- Ensured accurate education student records through ongoing maintenance to meet federal and state legal requirements.
- Reviewed testing results with teachers and administrators, compiled and shared information with parents, and applied assessment data to design and implement targeted student interventions and academic strategies.
- Collected, organized, and reported demographic data for Bennett’s Mill Middle School full time equivalent (FTE) reporting impacting instructional funding for students with disabilities.
- Codified Bennett’s Mill Middle School master schedule entries for Exceptional Education program students.
- Led mentor program for development of novice teachers.
Speech Language Pathologist
Bennett’s Mill Middle School
Fayetteville, GA
08.2007 - 05.2012
- Assessed and delivered speech and language therapy for students meeting eligibility criteria to support communication needs through tailored therapy services.
- Reviewed, organized, and codified eligibility reports and individual education plans (IEP) to support student education planning.
- Co-taught language arts, reading 180, science, and social studies alongside exceptional education and general education teachers, applying in-class strategies and techniques.
- Planned and delivered community-based instruction by integrating therapeutic techniques and instructional strategies across the Autism Triad Program and moderate intellectual classes.
- Led adolescence skills classes for sixth graders, enhancing their study and social skills. Developed and delivered tutorials to support students in achieving academic success. Collaborated with educators in social skills classes for students with emotional behavior disorders across grades six to eight.
Speech Language Pathologist
Cleveland Elementary School and JC Booth Middle School
Peachtree City, GA
08.2006 - 05.2007
- Identified communication disorders through comprehensive speech and language assessments. Enhanced understanding of student needs by gathering language samples and integrating teacher and parent feedback. Achieved accurate evaluations of communication skills through structured formal testing.
- Contributed to Student Support Team (SST) meetings to assess language deficits, define remediation plans, and deliver language support strategies to students, teachers, and parents.
- Collaborated with special education professionals to implement language-focused instructional strategies across various settings. Led community-based learning initiatives aimed at enhancing student engagement and skill development. Oversaw instructional activities designed to support students with intellectual and autism spectrum challenges in community contexts.
Speech Language Pathologist
Cleveland Elementary School and JC Booth Middle School
Peachtree City, GA
08.2006 - 05.2007
- Identified communication disorders through comprehensive speech and language assessments. Enhanced understanding of student needs by gathering language samples and integrating teacher and parent feedback. Achieved accurate evaluations of communication skills through structured formal testing.
- Contributed to Student Support Team (SST) meetings to assess language deficits, define remediation plans, and deliver language support strategies to students, teachers, and parents.
- Collaborated with special education professionals to implement language-focused instructional strategies across various settings. Led community-based learning initiatives aimed at enhancing student engagement and skill development. Oversaw instructional activities designed to support students with intellectual and autism spectrum challenges in community contexts.
Education
Specialist - Education Leadership
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant, MI2007
Master of Education - Speech Language Pathology
South Carolina State University
Orangeburg, SC1997
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood
Columbia College
Columbia, SC1995
Skills
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Operations management
- Partnership development
- Budgeting and financial management
- Leadership development
- Compliance and regulations
- Human resources
- Program development
- Community engagement
- Organizational leadership
- Policy implementation
- Analytical thinking
Affiliations
Governors Leadership Support Program 2023
Certification
Educational Leadership Tier II 2007, Support Specialist 2000
Awards And Accolades
- GaDOE STAR Award for Promising Practices Best High School, 2018, 2022
- 12% increase in graduation rate
- US News and World Report Best HS in America and Best HS in Ga
- College Board AP Access & Support School, AP Merit School, AP STEM School, AP STEM Achievement School
Timeline
Executive Director Student Services
Fayette County Board Of Education
12.2024 - Current
Principal
Fayette County High School
06.2018 - 11.2024
Assistant Principal/ Registrar
Whitewater High School
06.2012 - 05.2018
Local Educational Administrator for Exceptional Children Services ( LEA)/ Speech Language Pathologist
Bennett’s Mill Middle School
08.2007 - 05.2012
Speech Language Pathologist
Bennett’s Mill Middle School
08.2007 - 05.2012
Speech Language Pathologist
Cleveland Elementary School and JC Booth Middle School
08.2006 - 05.2007
Speech Language Pathologist
Cleveland Elementary School and JC Booth Middle School
08.2006 - 05.2007
Specialist - Education Leadership
Central Michigan University
Master of Education - Speech Language Pathology
South Carolina State University
Bachelor of Arts - Early Childhood
Columbia College