West Manor Administration
- Dr. Reginald Lawrence, Principal
- Ms. Angela Thomas, Assistant Principal
- Ms. Brittany Tuesno, Instructional Coach
- Ms. Azuree Walker, International Baccalaureate PYP Signature Coach
- Ms. Kimberly Wilder, Instructional Coach
Dr. Reginald Lawrence, Principal
Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.
-Malcolm X
I love being an educator. I say this without reservation because my job has purpose. It is my goal to assist children to have better lives through education. I know that if students have a solid educational foundation all their goals are within reach.
I began working in Atlanta Public Schools in 1999 and although my positions have changed my purpose has remained consistent. Currently, I serve as the Principal at West Manor Elementary School. Under my direction the school has received national and state awards for student achievement. Additionally, the school has obtained International Baccalaureate authorization.
I have served as a Principal Mentor and as a member of the Principal Selection Committee. Prior to joining Atlanta Public Schools, I served Wake County Public Schools in North Carolina as a bus driver and as a Special Education Paraprofessional. During my youth I worked for the school system conducting janitorial services over the summers. Upon joining Atlanta Public Schools, I served as a History Teacher, Curriculum Specialist and an Assistant Principal.
It appears that I was born to be an educator as I have served in almost every capacity in a school district. I have had an abundance of individual and school awards during my time with Atlanta Public Schools, but I think the accomplishment that I cherish the most is the number of students that I have helped in some way shape or form to become successful in life. I take great pride in seeing students that I have had the privilege of working with become productive citizens. I cannot express the pride I feel seeing former students on the news campaigning for public office or seeing students that have chosen to become educators.
I am smiling as I write this paragraph because I am thinking of the feeling I get when I walk into the Bank or Post Office and hear that’s Mr. Lawrence, he was my favorite teacher. However, the college students that are still returning to West Manor just to give updates on how they are doing is very high on my list of accomplishments and is a key indicator that I am working in my purpose.
Ms. Angela Thomas, Assistant Principal
Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
~ Mahatma Gandhi
It is an honor to be a part of the West Manor Elementary School family as your Assistant Principal. I have been in education for twenty-two years, and I use my experience to support teachers and students in instruction and all facets of school life.
I am a native of Cleveland, Ohio. I have a bachelor’s from Ohio State. I did my elementary certification at Cleveland State University, and I completed my Master’s in Urban Teacher Leadership at Georgia State University. I have taught on all levels from adult education to middle school education, and finally elementary education. I have worked at the elementary level in Atlanta Public Schools for over twelve years.
Having worked at West Manor, I am no stranger to the hard work that students, teachers, and parents exhibit each day in order to maintain academic excellence each year. I am so proud of the work that students and staff do each year. As a result, our students are among the highest performing students in the district. It takes a team, and I am blessed to be a part of the West Manor team. I know that our students will continue to succeed and excel every year as well.
I have an open-door policy. Should you need to see me, please feel free to call me at (404)802-3356, email me at adthomas@atlanta.k12.ga.us, or stop by my office. Thank you for allowing me to serve your children.
Ms. Brittany Tuesno, Instructional Coach
Greetings,
It is truly an honor to serve the scholars, families, and staff of the West Manor Elementary community as the Readers are Leaders Coach. I have proudly worked in education for over 13 years, teaching grades 1 through 3 and serving as an Early Intervention Program Specialist for grades K through 5 before stepping into my current role.
Literacy has always been my passion, and I believe that reading opens doors to endless opportunities. In my work, I strive to empower teachers with effective literacy strategies and inspire students to see themselves as confident, capable readers and thinkers.
I hold a Reading Specialist degree and certification in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), which have strengthened my commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction and educational equity.
At the heart of my philosophy is one of my favorite quotes:
Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.
–Benjamin Franklin
Each day, I aim to involve our scholars in meaningful learning experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of reading. I am grateful to be part of a school community that values excellence, compassion, and growth, and I look forward to continuing to serve the incredible students of West Manor Elementary.
Sincerely,
Brittany Tuesno, Ed.S
Readers are Leaders Coach
brittany.tuesno@apsk12.org
Ms. Azuree Walker, International Baccalaureate PYP Signature Coach
I proudly serve our West Manor family as the signature coach by supporting teachers through the lens of the International Baccalaureate program. This includes having weekly meetings, co-teaching, and modeling lessons. These are a few of the ways I provide our staff with the knowledge, tools and resources so that they can continue to provide excellent instruction to our students. I also work closely with families, community partners and school and district leaders to ensure that we are providing a caring culture of equity, trust and collaboration so that our students are internationally minded, and college and career ready.
Regards,
Azuree Walker
International Baccalaureate PYP Signature Coach
Ms. Kimberly Wilder, Instructional Coach
My name is Kimberly Wilder. I am an instructional coach at West Manor Elementary School. As an instructional coach, I support teachers in analyzing and using data to improve instruction, implement the and provide direction with the district’s initiatives, conduct professional development on targeted topics, develop coaching plans for teachers to ensure student improvement, assist teachers with resources, materials, and tools to enhance classroom instruction. I also have the task of modeling lessons and conducting non-evaluative observations to provide feedback for a teacher’s professional growth and student success. Through the facilitation of weekly professional learning community meetings, I assist the teachers with developing differentiated lessons and assessments that are in alignment with the state standards and the International Baccalaureate Signature Program using the Atlanta Public Schools’ curriculum that will meet the needs of all students. It is my belief that all students can learn and be successful. We must reach them by teaching them on their academic level one day at a time.