Elam Alexander Academy

Elam Alexander Academy’s Administrative Team

Brooke A. Cole, Ed.S., Director

Brooke Cole is in the 8th year of her directorship at Elam Alexander Academy. Mrs. Cole earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Georgia College and State University in 2004. She then began her career at Elam Alexander Academy, and in her 18 years here, Mrs. Cole has served as a Support Therapist, Educational Therapist, Teacher with Special Duties, Assistant Coordinator, and Program Coordinator. During her tenure at Elam Alexander Academy, Mrs. Cole also obtained a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University in 2011, then a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Columbus State University in 2018. 

Mrs. Cole is dedicated to supporting the schools and students of Middle Georgia with high-quality educational and therapeutic GNETS services. 

Shondonette P. Horton, Ed.S., Assistant Director

Mrs. Horton is the proud Assistant Director of the Elam Alexander Academy. She brings over 13 years of experience in the field of education to the Elam Program. All of those years have been spent working with students with disabilities. Her teaching career includes teaching at the middle and high school levels. She has served as a Special Education Teacher/ Educational Therapist, Teacher with Special Duties, Assistant Coordinator, and Coordinator for Elam Alexander Academy Program. Mrs. Horton is married to Michael Horton and is the proud mother of 3 boys. She believes that education isn't just passing along information to students. It involves working towards continuing staff education through Professional Development/ Learning. She believes our jobs as educators should be to change the lives of students by providing them with the skills and tools necessary to build character and to achieve success for life after high school. One of her goals is to leave students with a positive impression of their education and to feel that the teachers they encountered honestly cared for them. Mrs. Horton believes that acting with integrity, having open and honest communication, and working collaboratively with families/ stakeholders is one of the best ways to ensure the success of all students.

"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn." (Ignacio Estrada)

Degrees/ Certifications

• Ed.S - Georgia College and State University in Educational Leadership
• M.A.- University of Phoenix in Curriculum and Instruction
• B.S.-University of West Georgia in Parks and Recreation Management

Janae Sams, Ed.S., Coordinator - Therapeutic Services 

Janae Sams was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. She attended Bibb County public schools and graduated from Central High School in 2002. She then attended Emory University, double majored in Psychology and Sociology, and earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology in 2006.

Following graduation, Ms. Sams began working at Elam Alexander Academy in 2006 as a one to one paraprofessional. The next school year, she entered the TAPP program and began teaching at Elam. She taught grades 2nd through 5th for four years.

For the 2011-2012 school year, she left the classroom to become a Teacher with Special Duties, a support role to teachers, students, and Administration. In 2013, she earned a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southern University.

In 2014, she entered Administration as an Assistant Treatment Coordinator at Elam. She became a Treatment Coordinator during the 2015-2016 school year and earned a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership in 2016. She worked as Treatment Coordinator for 6 years.  She has now moved into the role of Coordinator for Therapeutic Services for the Elam Alexander Academy program.

Ms. Sams is the mother of two precocious daughters. She is passionate about her faith, family, behavior analysis, and working with young people to help them overcome their challenges and lead productive lives.

Leah Watson, M.Ed., Coordinator - Burke Campus

Leah Watson joined Elam Alexander Academy in 2004, following a year of service within the Houston-Robins elementary school system. Her career began at Elam, where she taught behavior and Special needs in PreK- 12^th grade for seven years, to include students’ up to 21 years of age. She continued in a role of a Teacher lead outside of the classroom for 1 year. She then moved into an Assistant Coordinator position for 2 years. Currently, Ms. Watson serves as a Coordinator for the past 4 years.

Ms. Watson grew up in the Air Force moving about the world in new places her entire school career.  She graduated from Niceville High school in the Okaloosa-Walton school district in Florida. She received her undergraduate degree from Troy State University of Alabama in Sociology with a specialization in business. Ms. Watson earned her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University in 2017.

Ms. Watson’s passion and dedication to working with students of Special needs and behavior disorders continues as she learns about practices that most greatly influence student achievement and develop instructional leadership skills to better serve the students at Elam through collaboration with other school leaders and parents. Ms. Watson views a collaborative school environment as the key to creating successful teachers and students. She believes partnerships with parents and community partners are essential to enriching the experience at Elam Alexander Academy. During her free time, Ms. Watson enjoys traveling, hiking and spending time with family.

Steven Grant, Coordinator - County Classrooms

Doug Ward, Ed.S., Assistant Coordinator - Burke Campus

This year begins Mr. Doug Ward’s 16^th year with Elam Alexander Academy. In his time with Elam Alexander Academy, Mr. Ward has served in teaching and administrative positions across Elam Alexander Academy’s sites. Mr. Ward graduated from Georgia Southern in 1986 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Since then, he has earned Master's degrees in Public Administration and School Leadership, as well as a Specialist degree, both from Georgia College and State University. Mr. Ward enjoys seeing his students experience success as well as the opportunities that he as had to meet and work with a fantastic group of people over the years. In his spare time, Mr. Ward enjoys spending much time with his grandkids. He is also a Georgia Southern football fanatic.

Tonesha Battle, Ed.S., Assistant Coordinator - Adolescent Services

SaraRose Fields, Ed.S, NCSP, School Psychologist 

SaraRose Fields was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education in 2012.

Following graduation, Mrs. Fields began working at Elam Alexander Academy in 2012 as an educational therapist. She taught for the next five years, teaching students from 1st-8th grade. She received a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia Southern University in 2013. 

For the 2017-2018 school year, she left the classroom to become a Teacher with Special Duties in the School Psychology Department. In this role, she assisted the Lead School Psychologist in conducting psychological assessments. In 2018, she received a Master's Degree in School Psychology from Georgia Southern University, and in 2019, received her Specialist Degree in School Psychology. 

For the 2021-2022 school year, her 10th with the program, she has moved into the role of Lead School Psychologist for Elam Alexander Academy. 

Mrs. Fields has been married to her husband, Jacob, for four years. They have two spoiled dogs. Mrs. Fields enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family. 

Stacy Kramer was born and raised in Warner Robins, GA. She graduated from Warner Robins High School in 1991 and briefly attended a local college before transferring to Lee University in Cleveland, TN. She graduated from Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 2004. Mrs. Kramer returned to the Middle GA area and began working in the field of Social Work. Her first job was providing support services to adult residents with various disabilities. She then began working with children and families at the Bibb County Department of Family and Children Services and eventually at the Methodist Home for Children and Youth. Mrs. Kramer decided to further her education and began the master’s degree program at the University of Georgia. While pursuing her degree, she completed her internship at Elam Alexander Academy GNETS program. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 2004 with a Master of Social Work degree, she was offered a job as a School Social Worker at Elam Alexander Academy and has been with the program for the last 17 yrs. In 2018, Mrs. Kramer was promoted to Clinical Coordinator.

Mrs. Kramer has been married for almost 22 yrs. She has two sons. She enjoys all sports, especially UGA football. She likes to exercise and spend time outdoors: hiking; canoeing; white water rafting. Mrs. Kramer is active in her church.