Administration

My name is Katie Neal, and it is an honor to serve as the principal of Buford Senior Academy. I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education (2007) from Piedmont College, a Master’s Degree in Post-Secondary Education (2008) from Troy University, and an Educational Specialist Degree in Teaching and Learning (2010) from Piedmont College.

My career in education began in Barrow County Schools, where I had the privilege of teaching fourth grade, first grade, and kindergarten from 2008 to 2015. In 2015, I joined the Buford Elementary School family, where I taught first grade and kindergarten until 2020. From 2020 to 2024, I served as Assistant Principal at Buford Senior Academy and Buford Elementary School. In 2024, I became the proud principal of Buford Senior Academy.

On a personal note, I have been married for 16 years to my husband, Chris. We are the proud parents of two daughters: Emmie Kate, an 8th grader at Buford Middle School, and Addie Gray, a 4th  grader at Buford Senior Academy. Our family is deeply committed to the Buford community, and we are excited to continue contributing to the growth and success of this wonderful district. Outside of school, we enjoy cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, lacrosse, traveling, and spending time at the beach. 

At Buford Senior Academy, we firmly believe that the key to student success lies in the strong partnership between home and school. When parents, families, and educators work together as a unified team, we create a supportive and enriching environment where students can thrive both academically and personally. I am committed to fostering open communication and collaboration with our families, as we know that together, we can make a lasting impact on the growth and development of each child.

I look forward to partnering with you to ensure our students experience a fulfilling and successful educational journey.

At Buford Senior Academy, we strive for our students to be happy and successful in a safe, positive learning environment. I am excited to be a part of the BSA administrative team for my third year. I also have 22 years of experience in education as a teacher in grades pre-K through 5th, and also served in various support roles as a gifted coordinator, special education co-teacher, and EIP teacher.

My husband, Casey, and I have been married for 25 years. He is a teacher at Buford High School. Our son, James, graduated from BHS in 2021 and is currently a student at UGA. Our daughter, Caroline, graduated from BHS in 2024 and is a student at Georgia Gwinnett College. We enjoy spending time with our 3 labradoodles, raising chickens, gardening, and traveling. We are proud to be a part of the Buford Community and Go Wolves!

My name is Stephanie Perry, and I am so excited to serve as Assistant Principal.  I live in Flowery Branch with my family who I treasure! I have been married to my husband, Randy, for seven years. My son, Carter, is in 12th grade at Buford High School. He turns 18 years old in November! He loves playing lacrosse and video games. I also have two awesome step-sons...Jackson is currently a senior at UGA! Ryland is in 12th grade at BHS and plays baseball. I love being a mom of boys!! 

I grew up in Buford and attended Buford City Schools from kindergarten to 12th grade! I graduated from BHS in 2000 with so many lifelong friends in my class. I then attended North Georgia College and State University (now known as UNG) where I earned my B.S. degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education in 2004. Not long after that, I attended NGCSU again for my Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2007. More recently, I graduated from Kennesaw State University, where I earned my Specialist Degree in Instructional Technology in 2016. 

I have taught a variety of grade levels and provided supportive services for the last 21 years. I began my teaching career in Hall County Schools, where I taught 2nd grade for four years. I then moved to Buford Academy in 2008 and transitioned to Buford Senior Academy in 2020. I have taught second grade, fourth grade, Special Education, ESOL, Gifted, EIP, and MTSS classes. In addition to my teaching degrees, I also have my Reading Endorsement, ESOL Endorsement, and Gifted Endorsement. I was honored to serve as Buford Academy's Teacher of the Year for the 2012-2013 school year. I love teaching and feel so blessed that I get to support teachers, parents, and students in a school system that I love every day!

I strongly believe that it takes a village to raise a child. I want to build our home-school connection so that we all can work together as a village to impact our children! Here at Buford Senior Academy, we strive to build community and family values in our students. My goal for this year is for students to make great academic gains while becoming responsible, independent learners. I also want my students to leave school every day knowing they are loved and cared for while in our school! It's going to be an amazing year!

My name is Dusty Sidwell, and I am thrilled to join Buford Senior Academy as the new assistant principal. Previously, I have served as a special education teacher, special education coordinator, and assistant principal serving third through fifth grades. After high school, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, which was a transformative experience for me. During my time in the military, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education from Georgia College and State University. I continued my learning and professional growth, earning a Masters of Education, an Educational Specialist degree in Special Education, a Tier II Leadership Certificate, and a Doctorate of Education.

I am dedicated to supporting our students, teachers, families, and community. I believe strongly in the power of partnership with parents to achieve the shared goal of educating all children. On a personal note, I am married to my beautiful wife Kaleigh Sidwell, who is also an educator. We are proud parents of two wonderful children, Jackson who is going into eighth grade and McKinleigh, who will be joining me at Buford Senior Academy in fifth grade. I am eager to bring my experience and passion for education to Buford Senior Academy and look forward to collaborating with all of you to support our students' success. Go Wolves!