My name is Cortney Philpot, and I am truly honored and excited to step into the role of Math and Science Instructional Lead Teacher at Hahira Middle School. Hahira Middle is a special place, and I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our students, staff, and families in this new role.

This year marks my tenth year in education. Over the past nine years, I have had the joy of teaching mathematics in grades 6–8, helping students build confidence, persevere through challenges, and discover that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. Before teaching math, I spent a year teaching science, which deepened my love for helping students explore, ask questions, and grow as learners.

I earned my Specialist degree in Middle Grades Education, and throughout my career, my passion has always been centered on middle school students. There is something so special about this age—their energy, humor, honesty, resilience, and the joy they bring into the classroom make education meaningful every single day. Middle schoolers have a unique way of keeping us laughing, learning, and inspired, and I feel blessed to continue investing in them in this new capacity.

My name is Melanie Merritt, and I am thrilled to work with students and teachers at Hahira Middle School as the ELA/Social Studies Instructional Coach. This will be my 31st year teaching with no retirement in sight, for I love what I do each day. Throughout my teaching career, I have worked with students of all ages in ELA and Social Studies. HMS is a family of teachers and staff that fosters student learning and I am excited to be part of this team.

I graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University and have a Masters Degree in Reading Curriculum with a specialization in Corrective Reading Strategies. My Specialist Degree is in Curriculum Instruction and Management.

My husband and I are longtime residents of Valdosta, and both of our daughters are products of the Lowndes County School System. I am looking forward to the 23-24 school year.