Head of School and Leadership Team

Megan Cover brings to Girls Preparatory School years of experience as both a teacher and school leader.

“We were impressed with her understanding that within the GPS legacy lies its future, and that the challenges of today bring with them tremendous opportunities for teaching and learning,” says Mary Tanner, GPS Board of Trustees Member and Co-Chair of the Search Committee.

For the past 20 years at Tower Hill School (Wilmington, Delaware), Cover demonstrated excellence in teaching and outstanding initiative and leadership as Head of Upper School. While at Tower Hill, she was instrumental in launching signature programs, enhancing the experience of rising ninth-graders through summer programs, and facilitating improvements to service learning, environmental initiatives, and social justice and wellness programs for Upper School students. She tirelessly shepherded her Upper School’s monumental shift to remote learning during the pandemic, celebrated the Class of 2020 with an unforgettable 100th graduation ceremony, and oversaw innumerable details in the reopening of their campus in the fall of 2020.

Cover’s extensive school leadership experience, her commitment to academic excellence, and her ability to create innovative programming made her stand out among the candidates.

“Most importantly, she is regarded by her current students and peers alike for her collegiality, sincerity, and role as a champion for her school and students,” says Clay Watson, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Co-Chair of the Search Committee.

“As an all-girls school alumna (Agnes Irwin School), Megan experienced the transformative power of a school where from day one as a new student she felt she belonged,” says Dr. Becca Stimson, former Chair of the GPS Board of Trustees.

Cover now confidently steps into the leadership role as the 10th GPS Head of School with a desire for each GPS girl to know she belongs here.

During her tenure at Tower Hill, Cover served as a French and Spanish teacher and language department chair, created the lower school Spanish program, served as assistant head of upper school and dean of students, and even coached field hockey and lacrosse. She oversaw upper school programs in student life, advisory, leadership, student retention, career day, and new faculty cohorts and brought a discipline and student leadership board model to her school. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French with a minor in education from Denison University and master’s degrees from West Chester University (Spanish) and Middlebury College (French).

Cover and her husband, Ted, and their three daughters are excited to call Chattanooga their home.

“We are an active family who enjoy exploring the outdoors and were drawn to Chattanooga for the beautiful outdoors that combines both our love of mountains and the water coupled with a warm and welcoming community,” Cover says. “As a career educator who is a firm believer in the power and purpose of all-girls education and the mother of three daughters, I consider it an honor and a privilege to not only lead GPS into this next chapter of empowering young women of intellect and integrity, but also to join its community as a proud GPS family. I look forward to carrying the torch and raising it high."

Episode 1 | Olivia Burns

Episode 2 | Mary Kate Johnson

Episode 3 | Karen Kal

Episode 4 | Caroline Carpenter

List of 8 items.

Lynne Macziewski, Associate Head of School | Head of Middle School

Lynne Macziewski became the Head of Middle School in 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and secondary education and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from The University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul, Minnesota). She then obtained an M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) and holds a certificate in school management and leadership through a joint program from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School.
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Beth Creswell Wilson ’96, Head of Upper School

Beth Creswell Wilson ’96 became the Head of Upper School in 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Davidson College, a master’s degree in rhetoric and composition from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and a certificate in school management and leadership through a joint program from Harvard Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. She recently completed her doctorate in discourse studies and pedagogy from Old Dominion University.
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Ali Gant, Chief Advancement Officer

Ali Gant joined GPS in June 2019 with two decades of development experience in higher education, independent schools, and human services. Gant holds both a bachelor’s degree in English and Master in Public Administration & Policy (MPA) from the University of Georgia. She is also a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).
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Pamela Hammonds, Director of Communications and Marketing

Pamela Hammonds started her GPS career in 2017 along with her daughter, Mia, who joined the Class of 2021 as a freshman. Initially hired as the Senior Writer, she also held titles of Marketing and Communications Manager, Associate Director of Communications, and then Interim Director of Communications and Marketing before becoming the Director.
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Alice Smith Harris '03, Director of Admission and Enrollment Management

Alice Smith Harris, Class of 2003, received her Bachelor of Science in hospitality management from the University of Mississippi in 2007. Working for almost 10 years at The Episocpal School of Knoxville (ESK) in Knoxville, Tennessee, a Pre-K 3 through eighth grade school, Alice served as a classroom assistant, development associate, Director of Special Events, and the Director of Admission. She also coached middle school cross country, girls basketball, and coed soccer and helped start the school’s chapter of the national program Girls on the Run.
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Lisa Reynolds Shanahan '83, Director of Development

After volunteering in the GPS Development office for more than 15 years and serving on the Board of Trustees, Lisa Shanahan's love for GPS and passion for fundraising led her to the GPS Development team in June of 2018. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Tennessee Knoxville and a master's degree in organizational psychology from St. Mary's University.
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Mark Vosskamp, Chief Financial Officer

Mark Vosskamp holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Duke University, where he was a cum laude graduate certified to teach high school math. He then later pursued his Master of Business Administration degree (with a focus on finance) from ACC rival University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He remains a devoted Blue Devil basketball fan.
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Jay Watts, Director of Athletics

Jay Watts was named GPS Director of Athletics in 2017. He graduated from the College of William and Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He then completed his master’s degree in education/sports administration from Georgia State University (Atlanta). Watts also holds a Certified Master Athletic Administrator certificate from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association. He has served as a guest lecturer in the Sports Administration departments at both Georgia State and Kennesaw State University, and he is currently an adjunct professor in the Health and Human Performance department at UTC.
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