Principal's Corner

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.

“I would like to thank Dr. Rogers, Dr. Brown, and the members of the Houston County Board of Education for the opportunity to serve the Lake Joy Elementary School community,” said Shorter. “To the staff, students, parents, and community – I am grateful and excited to love, serve, and care for each member of our school family. I look forward to building strong relationships and becoming an active part of the community as we work together to support continued student growth and success.”

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.