Marrisa Merrell has been selected to serve as the principal for Radium Springs Middle School for the 2025-2026 school year. 

Merrell was named principal following a vote by the Dougherty County Board of Education and a recommendation from Superintendent Kenneth Dyer. 

Merrell replaces RSMS Principal Lakisha Bobbitt who was named principal at Dougherty Comprehensive High School. 

With a background in math education, Merrell has been the assistant principal at Dougherty High since 2022. Prior to that, she served as a mathematics interventionist and assistant principal at Dooly County High School in Vienna, a math teacher at Jackson High School in Jackson, an elementary school math instructional coach and high school math teacher and department chair in Macon. She also previously served as a consultant for the Georgia Department of Education.

"It is my mission to foster a culture of excellence where every student feels valued, supported, and challenged to reach their highest potential,” Merrell said. “Together, with our dedicated staff, families, and community partners, we will work to inspire success, cultivate leadership, and ensure a safe and engaging learning environment for all students."

Dyer called Merrell a “dynamic instructional leader,” and said he believes her blend of instructional and leadership skills will serve her and the students at RSMS well.

“Marrisa Merrell is a dynamic instructional leader with a strong foundation in both classroom teaching and school leadership. Her work as Assistant Principal at Dougherty Comprehensive High School—coupled with her deep expertise in curriculum, data-informed instruction, and student support systems—makes her uniquely prepared to lead Radium Springs Middle School,” Dyer said.