ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Byron D. White – Principal
Dr. Byron D. White is principal of Westlake High School, which is located in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia. He was the founding Principal of Tech High: an innovative Atlanta Public School Math, Science, Technology, and Business Leadership charter school. He is noted in the field of secondary educational leadership for strategic planning, student achievement analysis, curriculum innovation, motivational speaking, educational programming, and instructional leadership. Prior to becoming the first Principal of Tech High, Dr. White served as the Westlake High School Freshman Academy Principal and the administrator of the Math & Science Magnet Program.
Dr. White's educational and professional career is diverse and replete with many accomplishments. He started his post-secondary life with the US Marines in 1981. After serving his country honorably both at home and abroad, he entered college at Florida A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduating, Dr. White began a progressive career as an engineer for Motorola and travel abroad to train the Taiwanese engineering in Taipei, Taiwan. Within a few years, however, his passion for helping children improve their odds for success in life led him to obtaining a Master of Science degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Georgia State University and entering the teaching profession. Dr. White went on to earn an Educational Specialist degree from the University of Sarasota and a Doctor of Education degree from Argosy University with “both degrees in Educational Leadership”. Among his honors and recognitions are: Tandy Technology Champion of the Classroom Award, 1997-1998 and 1998-1999; NASA Engineering Scholarship; General Electric Foundation Scholarship for Minority Engineers and Who's Who Among Teachers. Dr. White was appointed by Governor Roy Barnes to his P-16 Committee for Curriculum and Instructional Reform. He also participated in the Georgia Department of Education New Leaders Programs and the Deming's Total Quality Management and Continuous Improvement Program.
Dr. White is a member of the Eta Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, Incorporated. He is married to Anece Baxter-White (Senior Assistant District Attorney of Clayton County, Georgia). He and his wife are the pride parents of two children, Bryce Omar White and Braelynn Selma White.
Dr. Dorothy H. Arnold – Assistant Principal
Dorothy H. Arnold is the wife of Rev. Earl N. Arnold and together they have three sons and one granddaughter. She is a native of Metropolitan Chicago. Dr. Arnold holds a Doctor of Education from Clark Atlanta University, Master of Education from Emory University, and Bachelor of Science from the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. Dr. Arnold's teaching profession has taken her from Services for Exceptional Children classrooms of Des Moines, Iowa to Avondale High School in DeKalb County. She began her Fulton County Schools career at McNair Middle School as a teacher, team leader, grade level chair, coordinator of TAG\Language Arts, and Curriculum Specialist Teacher. Dr. Arnold has served the Sandy Springs community as an assistant principal at North Springs High School.
She is proud to be a part of the Westlake High School community as the Curriculum Assistant Principal. During her tenure she has doubled the Advance Placement courses and continues to add to the course selection each year. Doc is the number one WHS basketball fan and can be found in the third row behind the team at most of the team's game. She serves faithfully with a smile.
Dr. Kelvin Griffin – Assistant Principal
Dr. Kelvin Griffin, a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, has been a professional educator since 1996. He began his career as an educator teaching mathematics. After teaching for nine years and coaching Track & Field for seven years, three of which were at Westlake High School, Mr. Griffin became an assistant principal in the Paulding County School System for three years. Dr. Griffin then returned to Westlake High School as a school leader. Dr. Griffin is excited and elated to be a Westlake Lion again!
Dr. Griffin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, a Master Degree in Education from Mercer University with an add-on in Administration & Supervision from the State University of West Georgia. Mr. Griffin is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership at Mercer University.
Dr. Griffin's philosophy as a school leader is to promote a comfortable and welcoming environment in which students feel safe, respected and competent, and where teachers are empowered and appreciated. Dr. Griffin knows that it is vital to have a collaborative partnership with parents and the community in order to provide a school culture where nurturing, communication, and student achievement thrive.
Mr. Jerome Stevenson – Assistant Principal
Mr. Jerome Stevenson is a native of Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . He is a proud graduate of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.
Mr. Stevenson completed his graduate work at Clark Atlanta University earning a Masters Degree in School Guidance and Counseling from the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services. He also holds a Specialist in Education Degree (Ed. S.) from the State University of West Georgia. He also completed his certification in School Administration and Leadership from the West Georgia University .
Mr. Stevenson has 13 years experience in the Fulton County School system. He served as a school counselor at Westlake High School from 1997 thru 2005. In this capacity he coordinated and supervised student testing and also developed a comprehensive mentoring program. Most recently Mr. Stevenson served at Creekside High School from 2005 to 2009 spearheading the Creekside College Club and serving on the Georgia Tech High School admissions advisory board.
Mr. Stevenson has spent his adult life aiding the academic, social, emotional and professional development of our young people. He volunteers in youth athletics in the community. Mr. Stevenson interests include Jazz Studies and African American History.
Ms. Kisha Howard – Assistant Principal
In 1997, Howard began her teaching career in Broward County Florida. She served as a Social Studies Teacher for Parkway Middle School under the leadership of Retired Area Director, Mr. Willie Dudley and a Reading Coach at Cypress Run Alternative School under the leadership of retired Principal Mr. William Lyons. During her tenure in the Broward County School system, Howard successfully formed Top of the Class Tutorial Services, successfully serving thousands of students through companies such as The Urban League of Broward County, Henderson Mental Health, SOS Children's Village, Several municipalities, and private clients for over 10 years. Arriving to Georgia in October of 2005, she served as an Introduction to the English Language (IEL) teacher in the Cobb County School System. In August of 2006, she then became apart of the Fulton County School system. As a valuable member of the Fulton County School system, she served as the ESOL Lead Teacher at Bear Creek Middle School (2006-2007), 8 th Grade Administrator at Renaissance Middle School (2007-2008), and 10 th and 12 th Grade Administrator at Westlake High School (2008-2010). She also served in several administrative capacities, such as the Extended Learning programs and PLATO Credit Recovery, which assisted Westlake High School in meeting Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in 2008-2009.
Becoming an Administrative Assistant at Westlake High in 2008, Howard has worked closely with the principal to enhance academic achievement, professional accountability, strategic planning, and stakeholder relations. She also has implemented an effective proactive student discipline program and worked with the community and district level officials on numerous endeavors.
Howard graduated with honors and holds degrees from Florida A & M University (B.S. in Political Science education) and the University of Phoenix (Masters in Education Administration). She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) from the University of Phoenix .