June 14, 2022–7:23 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE
Rome City Schools Board members voted to approve the appointment of John Fricks as the new associate principal at Rome High School.
Fricks has served the system as an Algebra I teacher and instructional technologist at RHS starting in 2013 until he was promoted to assistant principal in 2019.
Before beginning his career in education, he completed his B.S. in Secondary Math at Shorter University in 2013.
Fricks went on to obtain a master’s degree in Instructional Technology in 2018 from Kennesaw State
University and a specialist degree in Instructional Technology Leadership and Educational Leadership Tier I from the same university in 2021.
Fricks currently serves at RHS as one of the school’s assistant principals, a position he has had since 2019.
In addition to his work at Rome City Schools, Fricks also served the Floyd County Schools system as an education options coordinator.
Rome’s new associate principal brings with him a focus on learning using technology, and he has a strength in communication and collaboration with system stakeholders. He has also served on the superintendent’s advisory committee, graduation committee, and school leadership team.
Using his multiple certifications in technology, Fricks hopes to continue to build a strong foundation for RHS students by focusing on learning in the 21st century.
The school board also voted to approve the appointment of a new assistant principal at Anna K. Davie Elementary School, Chase Callaway.
Callaway holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a minor in Secondary Education from Berry College where he graduated in 2010. He also received his Master of Education in instructional technology from the University of West Georgia, finishing his studies in 2013. In addition to these degrees, Callaway earned his Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership from Valdosta State University in 2014, and he also earned an additional Education Specialist in Educational Leadership from Berry College in 2016.
Anna K. Davie’s new assistant principal currently serves the Rome City Schools system at Elm Street Elementary where he is the lead special education teacher. Some of his work includes planning with Elm Street educators to maximize the impact of inclusion and small group instruction, creating professional learning opportunities for faculty members, collaborating with administrators to ensure special education compliance, classroom instruction, and mentoring students with behavior challenges. He was also among the first group of educators selected to participate in the RCS Aspiring Leaders Academy.
Callaway has also served at LaFayette Middle School as a sixth-grade social studies teacher and at Summerville Middle School as a sixth-grade social studies teacher.
Also Tuesday, Kimmie-Ko Whatley was named the new assistant principal at Elm Street Elementary School.
She holds a B.S.from Shorter University where she graduated in 2000. She also obtained an M.A. in Education Leadership where she finished her studies at Troy State University in 2002. Whatley went on to graduate in 2008 with an Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision in 2008 from Georgia State University.
Whatley has served Rome City Schools as a Kindergarten teacher at Elm Street Elementary from 2013-to 2016.
She then worked in Polk County Schools from 2016-to 18 before returning to RCS as a math and science teacher at the Phoenix Learning Academy. Currently, Whatley teaches math at Rome High School where she finished the 2021-2022 school year.
Starting her career in 2001, Whatley taught Pre-K and first grade at West Newton Elementary School and at Heard Mixon Elementary School before returning to the RCS system in 2013. She brings to the table a strong focus on curriculum, relationship building, and creative ways to foster an engaging learning environment in her classroom.