Leadership Team

Greetings Black Knight Families,

I am excited to continue serving as principal of Jordan Middle School while remaining part of a community known for its pride, dedication, and commitment to student success. I bring 25 years of experience in education, having served as a teacher, assistant principal, and an assistant director at the district office.

My journey into education began with a deep passion for music. Music taught me discipline, accountability, a passion for excellence, and the joy of achieving shared goals with a committed team. These lessons shaped the foundation of my teaching career and continue to guide my work today. They remind me daily of why I chose to serve others through education—to help students develop the skills, habits, and character that will carry them far beyond the classroom.

I envision a school where every student is proud to call Jordan Middle School home—a school that fosters a safe, inclusive environment where consistent daily excellence drives both academic achievement and strong character. At Jordan Middle School, excellence isn’t accidental; it is built through intentional daily habits that move our school forward together.

Jordan Middle School has a strong history of success, and I trust our dedicated teachers to continue “Making Learning Happen” as we build upon the solid foundation that has made JMS one of the top schools in Gwinnett County.  I believe deeply in open communication and welcome your partnership and input as we shape the future of our school.

Thank you for the opportunity to continue serving this incredible community.  I look forward to another outstanding year together.

With gratitude,
Hunter McRae
Principal, Jordan Middle School

Dr. Sonya Franklin Burney

Dr. Sonya Burney is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and comes from a family legacy of educators. She began her educational career in 2012, bringing her background in publishing and music performance into the classroom to positively impact the lives of students. She firmly believes that every child possesses innate gifts that are developed through living out their purpose, creating opportunities for themselves and others.

Literacy is at the heart of Dr. Burney’s educational philosophy. She believes that without literacy, there is no freedom. As a passionate Language Arts educator, she views education as a powerful tool for empowerment that can transform the trajectory of life, regardless of age or circumstance. She often reflects on the belief that once a person acquires knowledge or a valuable skill, no one can ever take it away.

Dr. Burney earned dual bachelor’s degrees in English and Music from the University of Michigan. She later completed a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) from Trevecca Nazarene University and an Educational Leadership doctorate from Lipscomb University, both in Nashville, Tennessee.

After spending 19 years in Nashville, Dr. Burney relocated with her family to Lawrenceville, Georgia, to pursue new opportunities for both her family and her professional growth in instructional leadership. She joined Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) as a veteran Language Arts teacher leader, serving at both the middle and high school levels. During her time at Richards Middle School, she served as Department Chair, Literacy Bootcamp Facilitator, Vertical Literacy Representative, New Teacher Mentor, and Teacher of the Year Finalist. In total, she has more than a decade of experience teaching Language Arts to diverse learners across middle and high school settings.

While in Georgia, Dr. Burney earned her Gifted Certification and Tier I Leadership Certification. She is also a graduate of the GCPS Aspiring Leaders Program, Cohort 13 (March 2022). Her capstone project, The Neural Downshift for Teachers, was inspired by Mike Rutherford’s book The Artisan Teacher. Additionally, she served on the GCPS Cross-Divisional Task Force for Teacher Retention through the Division of Human Resources. One piece of advice has guided her throughout her GCPS career: “Never forget what it is like to be a student or a teacher.”

From 2023 to 2026, Dr. Burney served in her first leadership appointment as Assistant Principal at Lilburn Middle School. In this role, she supported the school’s mission and vision through a variety of leadership responsibilities focused on student achievement, teacher support, and school culture. Among a couple of her proudest accomplishments was helping Lilburn Middle School earn PBIS Distinguished Status from the State of Georgia in 2025 and that same year,

supporting the LMS band chorus and orchestra students earn the highly coveted Esprit de Corps award from Six Flags Music in the Parks for the first time in the competition’s history!

Dr. Burney is excited to join Jordan Middle School as Assistant Principal for Language Arts within the Fine Arts Cluster of Central Gwinnett. She deeply respects the strong history and foundation established at Jordan Middle School, the legacy of the Jordan family, and looks forward to partnering with Principal McRae, the leadership team, dedicated faculty, staff, students, and families to continue leading a community of excellence during the 2026–2027 school year. Go Black Knights!

Dear Jordan Middle School Families,

I am excited to introduce myself as one of the Assistant Principals at Jordan Middle School. This year, I look forward to building strong relationships with our students, families, staff, and community while supporting every child’s growth and success.

This year marks my 19th year in education, all within Gwinnett County Public Schools. Throughout my career, I have served as a classroom teacher, ESOL teacher, connections teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. These experiences have strengthened my belief that every student can thrive when surrounded by high expectations, meaningful support, and caring relationships.

As an Assistant Principal, I support our 6th Grade Team, Mathematics and Social Studies Departments, and Multilingual Learners. I am passionate about helping both students and teachers reach their full potential. I value the work of PBIS and MTSS because they allow us to meet individual student needs, celebrate growth, and ensure every child has the support necessary to be successful academically, socially, and emotionally.

I earned my Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from Central Michigan University, a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Mercer University, and an Educational Specialist Degree from the University of Georgia—Go Dawgs! I also hold endorsements in Gifted Education, ESOL, Instructional Coaching, and Educational Leadership.

Outside of school, I am married and the proud parent of four amazing children. I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family, especially exploring the beautiful North Georgia mountains.

I am truly excited to serve the Jordan Middle School community and build lasting partnerships with our families. Please know that I am here to support you and your child. Together, we can ensure every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their highest potential.

Warmly,
Danelle Chamberlin
Assistant Principal
Jordan Middle School

Greetings Families of Jordan Middle School!

I am happy to be joining the Black Knight family and leadership team as a new assistant principal at Jordan and in GCPS.  I am looking forward to getting to know you and your children this school year at JMS and helping to holistically support them toward success.

I bring 30 years of educational experience to this position as a former teacher, assistant principal, and principal in both Texas and Missouri. I began my career as a 5th grade teacher in Texas and served as an assistant principal for four years. Following this, I spent two years as a private school Head of School for a K-8 campus before returning to public education as a principal at a Head Start through a 6th grade campus. In 2010 we moved to Missouri, where I homeschooled my children for two years before returning to administration as a head principal in Fort Zumwalt School District until 2016. 

 In 2018, I moved to Georgia from Singapore. Living outside of the United States fostered a deep value and appreciation for all cultures from all around the world. Furthermore, these experiences fuel my excitement to work with children and families of diverse cultural backgrounds while providing support, information, teaching and partnership that help to better the whole child.

I hold an earned Doctorate in Education from Nova Southeastern University, with a specialization in Curriculum and Instruction. For the last five years, I have worked at Hull Middle School as a 7th grade Science teacher, gifted education coordinator, and professional learning facilitator for classroom teachers. I have been happily married for 27 years and have two children who are graduates of Gwinnett County Public Schools, and both have matriculated on to the university level, with my oldest child having recently graduated from Tuskegee University.

I am incredibly excited to join the Jordan Middle School community, where I look forward to building lasting relationships that will positively impact our students' lives while offering support and care to the entire school family.

Please let me know how I can help or support you, your child, or family while attending Jordan. Your involvement and support mean the world to us being able to make the most intentional difference in the life of your child. Thank you for entrusting us with your babies.

Sincerely,
Dr. Cristie McClain
Assistant Principal, Jordan Middle School