Dr. Annie Turman will take over as principal of Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School at the start of the 2024-25 school year. Turman has worked at the school since 2014 and has collaborated with BHL social studies department teacher Justin McCalla in her role as assistant principal from 2021-24. “Her energy is contagious,” McCalla said. “She tries to create an atmosphere everyday that is welcoming to all students, faculty and staff as well as all stakeholders as parents and any other members of the community.” Photo by Aza Khan
Dr. Annie Turman was announced as the 2024-25 Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School Principal on June 13.
Dr. Annie Turman was approved as Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School’s new principal at the Clarke County School District Board of Education meeting on June 13.
Turman has worked at BHL for ten years, serving as assistant principal since 2021 and as an English teacher before that. Turman will take over for former principal Dr. Makeba Clark at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year. BHL social studies department teacher Justin McCalla has worked alongside Turman throughout his three years as assistant principal.
“I’ve known (Turman) for more than 20 years. She’s fair, she’s a wonderful delegator and she is extremely personable,” McCalla said. “She takes her job very seriously and wants everyone else to do the same for the better of the students.”
With Turman being recognized as the 2017-18 BHL Teacher of the Year and showing past dedication to the school, McCalla hopes that her experience will lead to positive improvements at BHL.
“I’m hoping that (Turman) will give us a more open-door policy with stakeholders and parents. Dr. Clark did an amazing job,” McCalla said. “I know that Dr. Turman, under her leadership and in her own right, is going to come in and further engage more parents and community members and more opportunities for teacher leadership within the building,”
“I’ve known (Turman) for more than 20 years. She’s fair, she’s a wonderful delegator and she is extremely personable.”
— Justin McCalla,
Burney-Harris-Lyons social studies department teacher
As Dr. Turman officially starts her new role as the principal of BHL on August 1, she intends to focus on relationships within the community in order to improve the school.
“I pledge to support the growth and well-being of the whole child by employing wisdom in using resources available to me,” Turman said in a June 6 CCSD press release. “As we launch into a new school year, I look forward to collaborations that will develop and progress made as a result.”
