Administration

The Houston County Board of Education named Dr. Artia Shorter as Principal of Lake Joy Elementary School during its meeting on February 10, 2026. Shorter currently serves as the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Westside Elementary School, a role she has held since 2023. She will begin this new role in June, following the retirement of current Principal Dr. Tami Godman.

Shorter’s career in the Houston County School District spans over ten years and includes experience teaching kindergarten, second grade, and third grade, as well as serving as a Literacy Interventionist at Lindsey Elementary School. She was named Teacher of the Year at Lindsey Elementary in 2018. Shorter also served as the Assistant Principal of Discipline at Parkwood Elementary and Westside Elementary.

Shorter holds a Doctorate in Education from Liberty University, a Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont University, and both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Special Education from Fort Valley State University. She was named the 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders for District 11 and holds additional endorsements in science, math, reading, dyslexia, gifted education, teaching English language learners, and leadership. Outside of school, she enjoys reading and volunteering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

She and her husband, James, are the parents of two boys.

Coming from a long line of educators, Dr. Sandra Crow felt a natural calling towards the field of teaching and learning from an early age.   Deciding to pursue her calling and turn it into a career has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.  

Dr. Crow graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Valdosta State University; Master of Educational Leadership from Georgia College and State University, a Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction; and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont University.  Along with her education, she is certified in Early Childhood Education, Curriculum and Instruction, ESOL, Gifted, Teacher Support and Coaching, Middle Grades Language Arts, and Educational Leadership. 

With her career in education beginning in 2007, Dr. Crow has experience in both title and non-title schools. After her first 5 years of teaching for the Griffin-Spalding County School System, she joined the Houston County School District in 2012.  She has teaching experience in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades.  Prior to her current administrative role, she served as the Lead ESOL Teacher at Lake Joy Elementary.  She also has international teaching experience as she completed several teaching missions in the Philippines, Kenya, and Ecuador.  She is bilingual in English and Spanish.  

Providing a positive and safe learning environment that promotes productivity, high levels of student engagement, and success is one of Dr. Crow’s top priorities.  She embraces a servant leadership style philosophy and believes in the importance of sustaining a growth mindset.  Dr. Crow is an advocate for Culturally and Linguistic Responsive Teaching and increased family engagement. It is her passion and life's mission to help those within her care experience optimal levels of growth and success in their instructional endeavors. 

Mr. Cameron Barronton  graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University in 2009. He also earned his Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont College and a Specialist in Teacher Leadership from Georgia College and State University. He began his teaching career at Lake Joy Primary in 2011 as a Pre-Kindergarten teacher. He has also served as the Alternative School teacher at Lake Joy Primary and has spent the last 7 years teaching 2nd grade. Mr. Barronton was the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year at Lake Joy Primary, and a Houston County Top 10 Teacher of the Year. 

Creating a safe learning environment for teachers, students, and their families is one of Mr. Barronton's top priorities. His goal is to make Lake Joy a great place to learn every day and continue to strive for the precedence of excellence that has been established at both the school and in Houston County. He is a big proponent of STEAM education, technology in education, and helping all students reach their full potential.