Perry Middle School Administration
Dr. Heath Burch
Principal
Dr. Heath Burch is a graduate of Dodge County High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Georgia Southern University, a Masters in Education from Georgia College and State University, an Educational Specialist from Georgia Southwestern University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Liberty University in 2020.
Dr. Burch began his educational career at Houston County High School where he taught special education and physical education. In 2012 Dr. Burch moved to Warner Robins High School to become an assistant principal. After five years at WRHS, Dr. Burch was chosen to become principal at Perry Middle School.
He is married to Stephanie Burch who is a teacher at the Houston County Career Academy. They are the proud parents of three boys, Brody, Bryson, and Brooks.
Dr. Liz Harrison
Assistant Principal of Instruction
Dr. Harrison considers Houston County her home! She graduated from Northside High School in 1987 and attended Centerville Elementary School and Northside Jr. High School. After high school, Dr. Harrison went on to receive her undergraduate degree from GA Southern University (1992), a master’s degree from Valdosta St. University (1997), and an educational specialist degree from GA Southwestern (1999) in Mathematics and Science Middle Grades Education. Additionally, Dr. Harrison is certified in Educational Leadership and Elementary Education. In 2007, Dr. Harrison received her educational doctoral degree from GA Southern University in Curriculum Studies.
Dr. Harrison began teaching in 1992 in Thomasville, GA at Douglass Jr. High School which later became MacIntyre Park Middle School. In 1997, Dr. Harrison came back to Houston County where she taught mathematics (8th grade) and coached (softball and soccer) at Perry Middle School. After 10 years teaching mathematics, Dr. Harrison became a system-level Title 1 mathematics coach for grades K-8, and then grades 6-8. As a mathematics coach, she worked with students and teachers, as well as conducted professional learning for mathematics teachers throughout the county. Dr. Harrison returned to Perry Middle School in 2012 as the Assistant Principal for Instruction.
Dr. Harrison enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She also loves to golf, exercise and take care of her 3 dogs and cat!
Dr. Monique Lester
Assistant Principal of Discipline
Dr. Lester began her teaching career in 2011 at Huntington Middle School. There, she taught mathematics and language arts to both 7th and 8th grade students. She also served as the Relay for Life Coordinator, Team Leader, Mentoring and Character Education Program Coordinator, and more. After teaching at HMS for seven years, she began teaching at Perry Middle School. Perry is home for Dr. Lester, and she most recently taught mathematics to 8th grade students. Additionally, she served as the team leader for the navigators' team, a member of the leadership and PBIS teams, 7th grade girls basketball coach, and the student success coach for Houston Virtual Middle School Students.
Dr. Lester is passionate about teaching and learning and believes that education is the profession that makes all others possible. Dr. Lester is committed to student success and pursues student growth by learning and understanding the whole child.
Dr. Lester is a mother of five children. In her leisure time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, family, and friends.
Dr. Cynthia Hammond
Assistant Principal of Discipline
Dr. Cynthia Hammond graduated from Fort Valley State University (FVSU) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. She went back to college and obtained a Master’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from FVSU, a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia Southwestern State University, and a Doctorate Degree in Educational Leadership from Argosy University.
She began her teaching career at Byron Middle School, where she taught 6th grade math, science and social studies. Years later, she taught 6th and 8th grade students at Tabor Middle. In addition, Dr. Hammond was an assistant principal for five years in Houston County. During those five years, she worked at Matt Arthur, Westside, and Miller Elementary Schools. Dr. Hammond was selected as Georgia’s Outstanding Assistant Principal by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals for 2009 (GAESP).
Dr. Cynthia Hammond became the principal of Westside Elementary in 2009. During her tenure, she was selected as Georgia’s 2017 Distinguished Principal and received the highest honor by being named a National Distinguished Principal in 2017. She retired in May of 2023; however, she missed the profession and came back to Houston County to serve as the proud part-time assistant principal at Perry Middle School. Dr. Hammond is married to Allen and has three beautiful children, Branden, Kayla and Brittney.