The Dougherty County Board of Education has hired former Assistant Exceptional Students Program Director Gordina Porter to serve as ESP director for the 2019-2020 school year.

Porter has served as an assistant ESP director since 2017. Prior to that, she served as the assistant principal of the  8th/9th Grade Academy in the Mitchell County School System. She is a former director of the Mitchell County School System’s ESP program and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a Master’s Degree in Interrelated Special Education from Albany State University and Education Specialist Degree from Valdosta State University.

"Mrs. Porter has a strong background working with exceptional student populations across Southwest Georgia and I'm confident that this experience will help to elevate our ESP program on the whole," Superintendent Kenneth Dyer said. "Our Exceptional Students Program is critical to ensuring that all of our students, regardless of whatever their physical, emotional or cognitive abilities may be, have the support they need to grow and access to high-quality academic programs. I'm grateful that we have the opportunity to keep Mrs. Porter on as part of our team."

Porter, who is a former Mitchell County Middle School Teacher of the Year, a member of Southwest Georgia’s 40 under Forty, a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educator’s Teacher Academy for Rising Leaders and was a collegiate All-American Scholar, said she’s excited for the opportunity to serve as an advocate for students in Dougherty County.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the students, parents, staff, and stakeholders of Dougherty County Schools,” Porter said. “We will continue working together to move the district forward to greatness.”