Email Mrs. Melanie Johnson

Mrs. Johnson has dedicated the past 23 years to education, with 17 of those years serving the students and families of Lowndes County Schools. For the past 7 years, Mrs. Johnson has served as the Assistant Principal and most recently the Principal of Dewar Elementary School, where she focused on fostering a positive school culture, building strong instructional teams, and supporting student success. 

Mrs. Johnson began her career as a classroom teacher in grades 2, 3, and 5, where she cultivated a passion for academic excellence and student growth. Her dedication to teaching earned her multiple honors, including being named Lake Park Elementary School Teacher of the Year, North Brooks Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and Brooks County School System Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Johnson is married and the proud mother of three children—one a recent graduate of Lowndes County Schools and two who currently attend schools in the district. She is excited to join the Westside Elementary family and looks forward to continuing her journey of service and student-centered excellence.

Email Dr. Purvis

Dr. Justin Purvis is an educational leader with more than a decade of experience serving students, educators, and families in Lowndes County Schools. Throughout his career, he has been committed to building strong relationships, supporting student achievement, and creating positive learning environments where all students can thrive.

Prior to school leadership, Dr. Purvis served as a middle grades teacher, Team Lead, and Content Lead, where he helped strengthen curriculum implementation and instructional practices, contributing to improved student outcomes. Most recently, he served as Assistant Principal at Hahira Middle School, providing leadership for instructional programs, operational systems, student services, and school improvement initiatives. As a member of the school’s leadership team, he contributed to initiatives that helped Hahira Middle School earn recognition as a Georgia Breakout School, a Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School, and a Georgia Seal of Preparedness School. He also served on the Lowndes County Schools Strategic Planning Team.

Dr. Purvis earned his Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Curriculum Leadership from Valdosta State University. His dissertation examined the relationship between school leaders’ beliefs/practices and mathematics outcomes for students with disabilities in rural schools. His professional interests include instructional leadership, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), and building systems that support success for every student.

Having worked with many Westside Elementary students as they transitioned into middle school, Dr. Purvis is excited for the opportunity to serve Westside students and families directly. He looks forward to partnering with staff, families, and the community to continue building upon Westside’s tradition of excellence.

Email Mrs. Sarah Merriman

Hi! I’m Sarah Merriman, and I’m thrilled to join the Westside Elementary family as your assistant principal. As a proud product of the Lowndes County School System and a dedicated supporter of the Mighty Vikings, it’s an honor to serve the community that helped shape who I am.

I bring 16 years of experience in education, including 13 years teaching middle grades at Hahira Middle School and the past 3 years as assistant principal at Hahira Elementary School. I hold a Master’s degree in Education from Valdosta State University and a Specialist degree in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University. I also earned my Tier 1 and Tier 2 leadership certifications from Thomas University.

I’ve been married to my husband, Austin, for 20 years, and we are proud parents to two wonderful daughters, Audrey and Molly. I’m passionate about building strong relationships, supporting teachers, and ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.

I look forward to an incredible year working alongside the students, families, and staff at Westside Elementary!