Herron-Riverside High School Leadership Announcement
June 17, 2022
Having concluded another successful school year, we have some exciting news to share about our leadership team for 22-23.
Heading into next year, Katie Dorsey will transition from Herron-Riverside’s Head of School to a Herron Classical Schools network role leading strategic programming and instructional alignment.
Mrs. Dorsey is passionate about supporting and strengthening our unique instructional model as our schools continue to grow and evolve. However, as Riverside’s Founding Head of School, the move is very bittersweet. When asked about what this transition means to her, Mrs. Dorsey shared, “Being the Head of School at Riverside has been life-changing and the most rewarding work I have ever done. I am beyond grateful and proud. I am hopeful that my experience as Head of School will inform the work I do next - which will continue to be in service of ensuring that Riverside and all HCS schools can and will thrive.”
Susequently, we are pleased to announce that Emanuel Harper will become the next Head of School at Riverside, and Amanda Ratliff will move into the Assistant Head of School role.
Mr. Harper is ready. Having served as a French teacher, instructional coach, data analyst, director of Summer Academy, dean of students, and most recently, the founding assistant head of school at Riverside, he looks forward to bringing these experiences to support academic excellence and student leadership. We are grateful for this seamless transition as he and Mrs. Dorsey have worked side by side for the last five years. Mr. Harper has reflected, "It's a true gift working alongside Katie; she's a one-of-a-kind leader. I am excited to continue to partner with her in her new role. I am humbled and eager to serve as the next Head of School and look forward to growing our success.”
Amanda Ratliff has worked in our organization for five years dating back to 2009 as a math teacher at Herron High School before she moved out of state. Since then, she taught math in both charter and traditional public schools. In 2020, Mrs. Ratliff returned “home” to Herron Classical Schools to teach at Herron-Riverside before serving as a dean of students this past school year. She has worked with families, students, and teachers to organize events, support student and family needs, and maintain high expectations in our culture. “I have loved getting to know our community at Herron-Riverside High School,” Mrs. Ratliff shared. “The past two years as a teacher and a dean have confirmed that I truly consider Herron Classical Schools my home. I am so excited to continue to work and grow alongside our school in this new role.”
Together, Mr. Harper and Mrs. Ratliff have twenty-eight years of experience in education and over fifteen years with Herron Classical Schools. They are a great team, and we are grateful for their continued leadership at Riverside next year and beyond.
Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Dorsey, Mr. Harper, and Mrs. Ratliff on these new roles!