Meet Our Principals

Paula Wheeler

Principal

I am honored and excited to be your new principal at Varnell Elementary School.  My passion is to continue to lead and serve the students and staff at Varnell Elementary.  As a child, my education began at Varnell Elementary, then North Whitfield Middle School and graduated from Northwest High School in 1995.  My college career began at Dalton State College.  I then transferred to the University of North Georgia graduating with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Interrelated Special Education.  My Masters Degree from Central Michigan University is in Curriculum and Instruction and my Educational Specialist Degree is from Lincoln Memorial University.  This is my 23rd year in Whitfield County Schools.  After six years as an itinerant  special education teacher I became a special education teacher at Westside Elementary for nine years.  For the past seven years I have served as the Assistant Principal at Varnell Elementary.

My husband, Kevin, and I have been married for 22 years and have two beautiful children.  Our daughter Savannah is a sophomore  at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega studying to be a nurse and our son Dawson is a junior at Northwest High School.  My passions are spending time with my family,watching my son play football and fish, baking and cooking, working outside in my flower beds and garden,working on our Christmas tree farm, walking the beach with my mom and daughter and relaxing in the mountains. I am SO excited for this school year and making lots of wonderful new memories as a VARNELL COLT!

Annie Worley

Assistant Principal

Hi, my name is Annie Worley and I am so excited to be your assistant principal here at Varnell! VES is my home and it is an absolute honor to serve the families at Varnell Elementary. My heart is truly at home at here. I was a student at Varnell Elementary, so it is truly full circle to be able to be here each and every day. After Varnell, I continued my education at North Whitfield Middle School, and then Northwest High School, where I graduated from in 2008.

After high school, my education continued at Dalton State College where I obtained my degree in Early Childhood Education and ESOL Endorsement. I received my Master of Arts in Elementary Education and my EdS in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. I then obtained my Tier 1 Leadership Certificate from Piedmont University. I have been teaching thirteen years, all at Varnell. I taught second grade for seven years, first grade for two years, EIP for three years, and now I am honored to be serving as your assistant principal.

My husband, Levi, and I have been married for ten years. We have an eight year old son, Hank, who is in second grade, and a baby girl on the way. In my spare time, I love to go to church, watch my son Hank rodeo, spend time at the beach, shop, and spend time outside on our farm.

Go Colts!!