January 26, 2023
Greensboro, Ga. — CMS Assistant Principal Mrs. Tanisha Wright has been named Associate Principal of Anita White Carson Middle School. Following the upcoming retirement of current CMS Principal Mrs. DeAndra Lanier in May 2023, Mrs. Wright will become the school’s Interim Principal for the 2023-2024 school year.
Mrs. Lanier is a native of Greene County and a 1990 graduate of GCHS. She began her career in education in 1994 as a 3rd grade teacher in Morgan County before moving to Union Point Elementary School in 2002. She was named GCSS District Teacher of the Year in 2007. In 2005, she became a gifted teacher for grades K-5 before moving into school administration in 2009 as Assistant Principal at Greensboro Elementary School.
Throughout Mrs. Lanier’s 21-year career in the Greene County School System, she has served as Principal and Assistant Principal at CMS, Interim Principal at GES, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction at GCHS, and several years in administration at GES prior. During her career, she has seen many changes to the teaching profession, most notably the integration of technology into the classroom. In 2007, she was the first teacher in the Greene County School System to use a SmartBoard in her classroom. Mrs. Lanier has demonstrated flexibility and a willingness to work wherever needed in the school system, moving schools 4 times in the last 8 years based on the needs of the system, and done an outstanding job everywhere she has served.
During Mrs. Lanier’s tenure as Principal at CMS, the school was named an Amazon Future Engineer School and launched a comprehensive STEM Program including coding and robotics, received the No Place for Hate School designation—a student-led school climate improvement and anti-bullying program that cultivates student leadership in sustaining positive school culture—and implemented the Academic Parent-Teacher Teams family engagement initiative, among many other achievements.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve as an educator and administrator at various locations in the Greene County School System over the past 21 years. My experience has allowed me to interact with many students, families, educators, and the community, and these interactions will be much cherished memories,” said Mrs. Lanier. “As I move into this next phase of life, I am grateful to know Ms. Tanisha Wright will continue to provide effective leadership to move CMS forward.”
Mrs. Wright is also a native of Greene County, and she, her husband Vincent of 21 years, and all of their children have graduated from Greene County High School. She brings to the table 17 years of experience in education over 9 grade levels, having begun her teaching career at Greene County Head Start before moving to CBJ Preschool in 2008, where she was named the school’s Teacher of the Year in her first year. She moved to Greensboro Elementary School in 2013 as a kindergarten teacher and was named GES’s 2015 Teacher of the Year. She served as the District MTSS Coordinator for two years before moving into school administration as Assistant Principal at GES in 2018. She came to CMS as assistant principal in 2019 and in 2021 received the Hal Beaver Georgia Outstanding Assistant Principal Award from the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals. This award is presented to assistant principals in Georgia who have demonstrated strong leadership in guiding their schools as an effective middle school as defined by state and national standards.
Mrs. Wright holds a Georgia Tier II Leadership certificate from the Professional Standards Commission and has 9 years of experience as a classroom teacher and an additional 5 years of elementary and middle school administrative experience. Given the depth of the current teacher shortage in Georgia, Mrs. Wright working hand in hand with Mrs. Lanier as Associate Principal for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year will give Mrs. Wright input in hiring staff for the 2023-2024 school year.
Mrs. Wright began her collegiate career at Athens Technical College and obtained an associate degree in Early Childhood Care and Education in 2006. In 2007, she began attending Piedmont College to earn her bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees, completing her studies in 2011. She is a member of the Lake Oconee Area Alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“I am humbled to be afforded the opportunity to serve in this capacity, and I am thankful to God for allowing my path to cross some extraordinary educational leaders who have poured a tremendous amount of time and knowledge into my profession,” said Mrs. Wright. “I am vested in this community and love working with students and their families. I am ecstatic to be able to continue supporting faculty and staff at Anita White Carson Middle School and will work to continue making a positive impact on student growth and achievement. I have high expectations for all members of the team, which is crucial for continuous improvement. I am looking forward to partnering with local businesses and working closely with all stakeholders to ensure the success and safety of all students.”
