Forsyth school board names new directors for HR and instruction

The Forsyth County Schools Board of Education approved two senior leadership appointments at a called meeting on January 5, 2026, selecting Mr. Eric Ashton as Director of Human Resources and Dr. Megan Thompson as Director of Teaching and Learning for the 2026-2027 school year. The moves follow the retirements of Heather Gordy and Pam Pajerski and mark a notable transition for campus and district-level leadership.

Both appointees are long-time Forsyth educators. Mr. Ashton has led Daves Creek Elementary School since 2007 and served as principal of Sawnee Primary School in 2006-2007. His earlier roles include assistant principal assignments at Chattahoochee Elementary, Daves Creek Elementary, and Vickery Creek Middle School. Ashton began his career as an elementary teacher in Fulton County and holds a Bachelor of Science in History from SUNY Brockport, a Master of Science in Education from Nazareth College of Rochester, and a Specialist in Education in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia. As Director of Human Resources, Ashton will be positioned to shape recruitment, staffing and system-level personnel support across a district that serves more than 55,300 students.

Dr. Thompson moves from the principalship at Lakeside Middle School, a post she has held since 2020. She previously served as an assistant principal at Sharon Elementary and Lakeside Middle and began her Forsyth career teaching at South Forsyth Middle School. Her teaching career also includes experience in Chatham, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Dr. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science in Middle School Education and a Master of Science in Reading Education from Georgia Southern University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Walden University. In the Director of Teaching and Learning role she will lead district efforts around curriculum, instruction and professional learning at a time when the district emphasizes equitable outcomes for students across 129 countries of origin and 69 languages.

The immediate local impact is practical. Both Daves Creek Elementary and Lakeside Middle will face principal vacancies that the district will need to fill, potentially affecting school leadership continuity, teacher assignments and community relationships. For parents, staff and local stakeholders, the appointments signal a commitment to promoting from within the district and preserving institutional knowledge, while also triggering a hiring process that will shape school culture for the coming school year.

Forsyth County Schools staff and families seeking more information can contact Michele Dugan at mdugan@forsyth.k12.ga.us. The takeaway? These are internal promotions that prioritize continuity, but they also create openings at the school level that matter to parents and teachers. Our two cents? Follow the district hiring updates, attend school board sessions, and get involved through your local PTA to influence who leads your neighborhood schools next.