Administrators

Mrs. Brandi D. Nichols is a dedicated educational leader with 20 years of experience in education and is currently serving in her 4th year as a principal and 2nd year as Principal of Briar Hills Elementary School (BHES). Since joining Fulton County Schools in 2012, she has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to student achievement, staff development, and building strong school communities.

Prior to her current role, Mrs. Nichols served as principal of Parklane Elementary School. She also spent seven years as an assistant principal in both South Fulton and Roswell, where she developed a reputation for fostering collaborative cultures and supporting instructional excellence. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of educational roles, including fourth-grade teacher, seventh-grade teacher, administrative assistant, curriculum support teacher, assistant principal, and principal.

A native of Orlando, Florida, Mrs. Nichols earned her bachelor's degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, her master's degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, and her Education Specialist degree from Kennesaw State University.

Outside of school, Mrs. Nichols enjoys spending time with her husband, who is also an educator, their three children, and grandson. She loves traveling, reading, and watching football.

As a transformational leader, Mrs. Nichols is passionate about building authentic relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners. She believes that strong relationships are the foundation of a thriving school culture and is committed to empowering others to reach their fullest potential. Through high expectations, collaboration, and a relentless focus on student success, she works to ensure that every child receives an exceptional educational experience.

Mrs. Nichols is honored to serve the Briar Hills Elementary community and remains committed to creating a supportive, engaging, and high-performing learning environment where all students can thrive.

Ms. DeShunta Adams is an experienced educational leader entering her 19th year in education and her 11th year in Fulton County Schools. Originally from North Carolina, she is passionate about creating positive school cultures, strengthening instructional practices, and ensuring every student has access to high-quality learning experiences.

Ms. Adams currently serves as Assistant Principal at Briar Hills Elementary School. Throughout her career, she has served in a variety of leadership and instructional roles, including Assistant Principal, School Improvement Coach, lead teacher for the Horizons Program at Woodward Academy, and classroom teacher across Kindergarten through third grade. Her experience includes coaching teachers, leading Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), supporting school improvement initiatives, and developing systems that promote both academic achievement and student success.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Education and a Georgia Tier I Leadership Certification and has completed several prestigious leadership development programs, including the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement Aspiring Principal Program, Fulton County’s Aspiring Assistant Principal Pathway, and Metro RESA’s Tier I Leadership Program.

Ms. Adams is recognized for her collaborative leadership style, strong communication skills, and commitment to developing both students and staff. She believes meaningful relationships, clear systems, and a focus on continuous growth are essential to building thriving school communities.

Outside of school, Ms. Adams enjoys reading and spending time with family. As a proud mother whose children attended and graduated from Langston Hughes, she values the partnership between schools, families, and communities in supporting student success.

Mrs. Hodge-Kelly is an accomplished educator hailing from the Bronx, New York. With a deep commitment to advancing education, she earned an undergraduate degree from Spelman College, where she developed a strong foundation in academic excellence and leadership. Her pursuit of knowledge continued at Central Michigan University, where she obtained a master’s degree, further enhancing her expertise in the field of education.

Since 2003, Mrs. Hodge-Kelly has dedicated her career to serving the county, passionately engaging in curriculum development and educational initiatives. She believes that a robust curriculum is essential for fostering a love of learning and empowering students to achieve their full potential. Her work reflects a steadfast commitment to creating inclusive and dynamic learning environments that inspire both students and educators.

With a wealth of experience and a fervent desire to champion educational excellence, Mrs. Hodge-Kelly continues to make a significant impact in the field, advocating for innovative teaching methods and lifelong learning.

I am an educator with 10 years of experience serving students from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of learning needs. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of teaching in general education, interrelated special education, and deaf education, with seven years dedicated to supporting students who are deaf or hard of hearing.

My educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to be seen, valued, and supported to reach their fullest potential. I believe that strong relationships, high expectations, and a supportive learning environment are the foundation of student success. Every student brings unique strengths, perspectives, and abilities, and I am committed to helping students recognize their potential while developing the confidence to achieve their goals.

I value collaboration, continuous growth, and building meaningful connections with students, families, and colleagues. I strive to lead with empathy, purpose, and the unwavering belief that every child can succeed when given the support, encouragement, and opportunities they deserve.

Demetria Hall is a dedicated educator with 11 years of experience in education, including the past three years with Fulton County Schools. She currently serves as a School Improvement Coach for Literacy at Briar Hills Elementary School, where she partners with teachers and school leaders to strengthen literacy instruction and improve student achievement. Mrs. Hall is deeply passionate about fostering a love of reading and writing in both students and educators. She is committed to building collaborative relationships, promoting teamwork, and cultivating a positive, growth-oriented learning environment. Hall believes that continuous learning and professional growth are essential to educational excellence. 

Tammy Cooke is a dedicated educator and literacy leader with 20 years of experience in education. She spent 12 years in Atlanta Public Schools as a kindergarten and third-grade teacher, EIP teacher, and Reading Specialist before joining Fulton County Schools, where she has served as a Literacy Coach for the past 8 years. She has also led as the Extended Learning Program Coordinator and Beta Club Sponsor, helping students earn state and national recognition.

Mrs. Cooke holds bachelor's degrees from the Georgia Institute of Technology and St. Leo University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Phoenix, and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cambridge College.

Passionate about literacy, equity, and student success, Mrs. Cooke works closely with educators, students, and families to foster a culture of learning and achievement. As Briar Hills embraces the theme "Stronger Together: Growing the Buffalo Circle," she is committed to strengthening the connections and collaboration that make the Briar Hills community a special place to learn, grow, and thrive.

I'm Antoinette Patterson and have been a dedicated educator with 16 years of experience and a deep passion for supporting both teachers and students. Originally from Miami, Florida, I am proud to be a product of Fulton County Schools and now have the privilege of serving the Atlanta community, where my professional journey has continued to flourish.

I am a proud graduate of Bethune-Cookman University, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree, and of Nova Southeastern University, where I received my Master’s degree in Elementary Education. I am committed to lifelong learning and ongoing professional growth.

My career spans 14 years in the classroom as a teacher and the past 2 years as an Instructional Literacy Coach. In this role, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with educators to enhance instructional practices, support data-driven decision-making, and ultimately improve student achievement.

Outside of my professional role, I am a proud wife and mother of four wonderful children, three energetic boys and one amazing daughter. Balancing a busy family life with a career in education has strengthened my commitment to the meaningful work we do each day in schools.

As an Instructional Coach, I believe in the power of collaboration, reflective practice, and equity in education. I support teachers through modeling lessons, co-planning, coaching cycles, and facilitating professional development, all with the goal of creating engaging and effective learning environments.

My mission is to empower educators, build instructional capacity, and help every student succeed—one classroom at a time.

Ms. Tiffany Stewart is entering her 21st year in education and her second year as a Math Coach. She is a dedicated and passionate educator committed to empowering teachers, strengthening instructional practices, and ensuring high levels of learning for all students. Ms. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction.

Her educational career began in 2006 with Atlanta Public Schools, where she served in a variety of leadership and instructional roles, including classroom teacher, mentor teacher and Saturday School Coordinator. In 2019, she joined Fulton County Schools, where she has continued to make a positive impact as an EIP teacher, team lead, Literacy Coach and Math Coach.

As a Math Coach, Ms. Stewart is dedicated to supporting teachers and students through collaborative coaching, data-driven instruction and effective mathematics practices. She remains focused on helping educators grow professionally while fostering student achievement and confidence in mathematics.

Outside of school, Ms. Stewart enjoys spending quality time with her family, adding to her sneaker collection, completing word searches, visiting the exploring new restaurants and listening to music. She looks forward to continuing to work alongside staff, students, families, and community members as we grow the Buffalo Circle, recognizing that we are stronger together and that collective effort leads to greater success for every student.

I am NeShasta Taylor, and I am excited to support our Briar Hills family as the School Counselor. With 12 years of experience in education as a teacher in both the general ed. and inclusion classroom setting, and now as a School Counselor, I look forward to serving our Buffalo community. Through partnership with students, educators, parents, and community stakeholders, The Briar Hills Elementary School Counseling Department believes and strives to prepare students to become productive members and leaders of society by providing students with the knowledge and skills to accomplish academic and career goals while fostering positive social-emotional development.

Hello, my name is Mevis Swain, I am the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and 504 Support Specialist at Briar Hills Elementary School. I collaborate with educators, families, and community partners to develop and implement academic and behavioral support that help all scholars thrive and actively engage in their educational journey. My goal is to ensure that every student has access to the resources and interventions needed to achieve success.

I bring 28 years of experience in education with Fulton County Schools, serving in a variety of leadership and instructional roles. Throughout my career, I have worked as an elementary classroom teacher across multiple grade levels, an Early Intervention Program (EIP) Lead Teacher, Student Support Team (SST) Facilitator, GoTIP Advisor, and Recruitment Team Member.

I earned a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University.

My professional philosophy is rooted in the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I firmly believe that strong partnerships among schools, families, and the community are essential to student success. I am excited to join the Briar Hills Elementary School community and look forward to working collaboratively to support the academic, social, and behavioral growth of all scholars.