Administrative Team
Principal: Mr. Matt Phillips
Assistant Principals: Mrs. Wendy Byerts, Mr. Chad Jordan, and Mr. John Patrick
Matt Phillips, Principal
John Patrick is an educator and coach with more than twenty-eight years of experience. He earned a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from the University of Georgia, a master’s degree in middle grades science from the University of West Georgia, and his gifted in-field certification through Northwest Georgia RESA. John began his career in education at Eastbrook Middle School in 1995 as an eighth-grade science teacher and football coach. He joined Dalton Public Schools in 1998 as a seventh-grade science teacher and the head eighth-grade football coach for Dalton Middle School. In 2000-2001, John Patrick was named not only as the DMS Teacher of the Year, but he also was honored to be named the district-wide Teacher of the Year. When Dalton Junior High opened in 2021, he transitioned to ninth-grade science, where he has served for the past two years.
John is married to Melanie Patrick, who has been teaching at Dalton High School for twenty years, and they have two children, Katie and Charlie, who both graduated from DHS. Katie has since earned a degree in dance from Kennesaw State University and is currently working as a dance instructor in the Dallas/Acworth area. Charlie will be a sophomore at Georgia Southern University this fall and is majoring in Business Logistics.
John Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role as an assistant principal. As a teacher in the classroom, he connected with students, found ways to bring out their strengths, and challenged them to grow continually. As an administrator, he looks forward to continuing these efforts not only with students but with the teachers and administrators he supports.
John Patrick, Assistant Principal
Wendy Byerts, Assistant Principal
Wendy Byerts steps into the role of assistant principal with three decades of teaching experience spanning grades six through twelve in English Language Arts at schools throughout Florida and Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Samford University and has added both Gifted In-Field and Middle Grades Social Sciences certifications. Wendy was honored to receive Educator of the Year in 2005 while serving at The First Academy in Florida and the Teacher of the Year Award at Bowdon High School during her time in Carroll County. In recent years, she decided to further her education by attending graduate school where she earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Piedmont College and an education specialist degree in curriculum and instruction from Piedmont University.
Originating in Florida, Wendy’s family moved to Georgia in 2011 and settled in Dalton in 2018, finding a home in a region they have always loved. Her husband, Doug, also works in Dalton Public Schools, teaching physical education. They have a son, Jacob, who graduated from Dalton High School, and a daughter, Nicole, who got married last year.
To Wendy Byerts, serving in the field of education is an immense responsibility and the fulfillment of a calling, not a career choice. Over the span of thirty years, she has served students on the frontlines in the classroom, where she brought great enthusiasm and passion stemming from her desire to help young people grow both academically and personally. Now, she is excited about the opportunity to transfer that passion to her new role as assistant principal, serving not only students but also administrators and teachers at Dalton Junior High School.
This year will be the start of Chad Jordan's 29th year in education. His first two years were at York Comprehensive High School in York, South Carolina where he taught history and coached football, 9th grade basketball and track. The next sixteen years were spent at Dalton High School, where he taught history and physical education and coached football, wrestling and golf. For the last ten years, Chad has been the athletic director at Christian Heritage School, where he also coached football and golf.
Chad has a bachelor’s degree in social studies education from Presbyterian College, a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Tusculum College and an educational specialist degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.
He is married to Beth Jordan, a former educator in Dalton Public Schools. They have two children, Katie Ray and Tucker. Katie Ray has just graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Sciences and Sociology. She is beginning graduate school at UGA in the Fall in Mental Health Counseling. Tucker will be a junior at the University of Georgia in the Fall and is majoring in Risk Management and Insurance.
Chad Jordan, Assistant Principal and Athletic Director
