Mount de Sales Academy is pleased to announce the following administrative changes that will take effect beginning July 1. Mrs. Kari Alderman who has served as the Middle School Division Head for the past 11 years will transition to the Upper School as the college counselor. Dr. Mike Franklin, Upper School Division Head, will lead the Middle School, and Mrs. Emily Brown, the current college counselor, will become the Upper School Division Head. “The professional experience and fresh perspectives of each of these talented leaders in their new positions will further align our divisions and strengthen Mount de Sales’ robust academic curriculum,” said Mr. Held.

Mrs. Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in history at the University of Georgia and a master’s in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University. Mrs. Brown has been at Mount de Sales for 21 years. Before joining the counseling staff in the Upper School, Mrs. Brown taught American History for 14 years in the Middle School and spent one year as the director of the Academic Resource Center. Mrs. Brown graduated from Mount de Sales in 1994.

Dr. Franklin has been teaching for over thirty-five years in both independent and public high schools and colleges. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English in 1981 from Berry College and a master’s degree in English from Louisiana State University in 1985. In 1999, Dr. Franklin completed his doctorate in English at Georgia State University in Atlanta, specializing in Renaissance studies. Dr. Franklin also holds state endorsements in gifted education and curriculum development. Before coming to Mount de Sales, he was headmaster of The Westfield Schools in Perry and had served as curriculum coordinator for Houston County High School. 

Mrs. Alderman is in her 19th year at Mount de Sales and taught science, math, STEM, and technology before becoming the Middle School principal in 2010. She has education degrees from Hanover College and Georgia College & State University. Prior to her tenure at MDS, Mrs. Alderman was named Teacher of the Year in 1993 in Knox County, TN and an Apple Distinguished Educator in 1995; she subsequently traveled extensively leading teacher workshops for Apple Computer.