Jill Spiva, Principal

Jill Spiva is a product of the Cobb County School District attending Garrison Mill, Mabry and Lassiter High School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia and later went on to pursue her Masters Degree and Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership, at Kennesaw State University.

She began her teaching career in 2001 with the Cobb County School District. Over the past 20 years with the district, she has taught 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, as well as serving as an Academic Coach in two Cobb schools. She entered administration in 2014 as Assistant Principal of Shallowford Falls Elementary School and most recently Assistant Principal at Davis Elementary.

Jill has been married to her high school sweetheart, Jonathan, for 18 years and has 3 beautiful children: Hudson (12 years old), Grant (9 years old) and Harper (7 years old). When she is not busy chasing her kiddos around, she enjoys the outdoors, exercising, cooking and Georgia football.

Michelle Gillham, Assistant Principal

Michelle Gillham is a graduate of the Cobb County School District attending both Russell and Powder Springs Elementary, then Tapp Middle School and McEachern High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in Child and Family Development and Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia and later went on to pursue degrees in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University (Masters) and Berry College (Specialist). 

She began her teaching career in 2001 and served Atlanta Public Schools, Dekalb County Schools, and two non-profits before returning home to Cobb County School District in 2009. She joined Compton in 2015 as Assistant Principal and then Russell Elementary in 2018. 

On a weekend you will find Michelle with her husband, Matt, and two children, Owen, and Evan. Owen and Evan are involved in a range of activities from worship leadership at NorthStar Church to Tennis and NJROTC at Allatoona High School. As a family they enjoy boating, hiking, camping, or taking in a Braves or Georgia game.