Headmaster’s Message :: Core Beliefs
The Board of Directors named Dr. Maury Wills, Headmaster in May 2006. Targeting educational issues, he immediately undertook new initiatives based upon three priorities: Better Student Achievement, Better Data, and Better Parent, Student, Teacher/and Community Relationships.
Currently, Dr. Wills is developing an outstanding educational team, creating and implementing an effective and comprehensive educational strategic plan and will produce improvements within Dekalb Academy’s operations and academic accomplishments; key steps to restoring community confidence and support of the “Charter Movement”.
Dr. Wills is a native of Austin, Texas and a graduate of Lyndon Baines Johnson Science & Liberal Arts Academy High School. Dr. Wills received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University; Specialist Degree from Clark Atlanta University; Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University; Bachelors Degree in Psychology from Morehouse College; Leadership Certificate Endorsement from University of Georgia, and Gifted Certification and Special Education Endorsements for the State of Georgia. Dr. Wills’ skills as an educator and educational administrator have developed throughout a successful career in various fields of education.
From 1994 until 2000, he was a teacher with the City Schools of Decatur (CSD) in Decatur, GA serving as a 1st grade, 2nd grade, 5th grade, and a Special Education teacher in grades 9-12; and from 2000 to 2006, he served as an Elementary School Principal and Principal on Special Assignment to the Superintendent with duties including, opening the Early Childhood Learning Center for (CSD), implementing the (CSD) Mentoring Program, operating the (CSD) Tutoring Program, and working with the initiative of closing the achievement gap for (CSD).
With a solid background in educational research and evaluation, Dr. Wills has also served as a consultant to, or member of, numerous educational organizations and initiatives including, Mercer University Educational Study Panel, William Fulbright Scholar Program, Georgia Association of Educators, Association of Curriculum and Instruction, and Association of Supervision and Instruction. He has also received numerous awards and honors including, Extra Mile Award Teacher of the Year, Administrator of the Year, Atlanta Constitution and Journal Teacher of the Year Recipient. Dr. Wills was also honored as a William Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar Recipient having the opportunity to study abroad in Japan, which he was only one of two Georgians selected for this prestigious honor. Recently, Dr. Wills has been invited as a guest lecturer to speak on behalf of the charter school movement in America in England.
Dr. Wills’ instructional leadership is deeply rooted in his philosophy of excellence and learning; “Every student will learn, given the opportunity to embrace a climate of high expectations, a committed support system, and connections to the context of the real world, the Three R’s: Learning with Relationships, Relevance, and Rigor!
