Meet Principal Laura Strickling

On August 13, 2007, Ms. Laura Strickling was named as the Principal of Bolton Academy by the Atlanta Board of Education. She came to us from California Avenue and Northern Parkway Elementary Schools in Uniondale, New York where she served as Building Administrator. Prior, Ms. Strickling began her teaching career at Clear Stream Elementary School where she taught first and sixth grades. She cites the mentoring she received there as having had the most impact on her ability to teach effectively and manage instructional routines.

Ms. Strickling was born and raised in Queens, New York where she attended a diverse public school system with rigorous academic programming from elementary through high school. Upon graduating, she moved to Atlanta where she received her undergraduate degree from Morris Brown College. She then returned to New York where she attended Teacher’s College at Columbia University and received Master’s degrees in Education and Educational Administration.

Ms. Strickling believes that her greatest accomplishment as an administrator has been her commitment to students in providing a safe nurturing educational environment; and her support for teachers in assuring that they have access to resources, materials and professional development needed to develop their craft as excellent educators.

While at Bolton Academy, Ms Strickling has made it her goal to have the Academy achieve International Baccalaureate World School status. In June 2010, under Ms. Strickling’s leadership, the curriculum has been recognized as such. The Primary Years Programme impacts all facets of the elementary school experience, and is designed to promote children’s investigations into important ideas, identified by the teachers, and requires a high level of involvement on the part of the students.

Ms. Strickling is excited about promoting the trans-disciplinary framework of the IB curriculum at Bolton Academy, and continuing to present Bolton Academy as one of the true jewels of the Atlanta Public Schools District—while continuing to lead and support the goals of the students, staff and parents of Bolton Academy.