Vidalia Schools Announce Administrative Changes
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Vidalia City Schools is working to prepare for the 2026/2027 school year, as they have announced three changes in the district’s administration.
These changes were approved at the lunch meeting of the Vidalia City Schools Board of Education on Friday, January 30, as a part of the district’s ongoing efforts to “Restructure Resources to Maximize our Goals for Improvement.” As a result of this approval, current Vidalia High School Assistant Principal Steve Freenor will assume the role as Vidalia High School Principal, Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Principal Brandon Boston will become the school system’s Director of Elementary Education, and Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Assistant Principal will rise to the role of Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Principal.
Vidalia High School
Freenor is no stranger to administrative work in the district, having worked at Vidalia City Schools for six years, and having served as the Vidalia High School Assistant Principal, Vidalia High School Interim Principal, and Vidalia City Schools Alternative School Administrator. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Benedictine College in Kansas, a Master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, and a Leadership degree in education from Georgia College and State University. He currently lives within the area with his wife Michelle and enjoys spending time with his three sons – Christopher, Steven, and Tanner – and three grandchildren.
He will succeed current Vidalia High School Principal Ellis Strobridge, who announced in November that he would be retiring at the end of the school year.
“Mr. Freenor has been a steady presence and strong leader within our school system. His commitment to students, staff, and our community has been evident throughout his service,” remarked Vidalia City Schools Superintendent Sandy Reid. “We are confident that Vidalia High School will continue moving in a positive direction under his leadership, and we are excited for what the future holds for our school.”
Freenor commented on the opportunity. “I’m honored to be named principal of Vidalia High School. VHS has long been the standard academically, in the arts, and in athletics, thanks to our exceptional staff, supportive parents, and students with tremendous potential. We will continue to intentionally and proactively seek out opportunities to showcase our students’ talents and provide meaningful experiences that prepare them for success after graduation. VHS graduates will leave prepared to lead and recognized as the standard. I’m excited to build on this legacy and serve the Vidalia High School community,” he emphasized.
Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Principal Brandon Boston has been in administrative roles within the Vidalia City Schools District since 2015, having served as an Assistant Principal at J.R. Trippe Middle School and Sally D. Meadows Elementary School and Principal at J.D. Dickerson Primary School, and having led Sally D. Meadows Elementary School as the principal for the past two years.
Boston will now step into a new role as the Director of Elementary Education, where he will oversee educational operations at both J.D. Dickerson Primary School and Sally D. Meadows Elementary School.
“I am truly honored and excited to serve as the Director of Elementary Schools for the Vidalia City School System,” Boston shared. “This school system has been home to me for more than a decade, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving our students, staff, and families in a new capacity. This role allows us to provide unified leadership across our elementary schools, ensuring strong instructional practices, consistent behavior systems, positive school culture, and a high-quality school experience for every child from Pre-K through fifth grade.”
Current Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Assistant Principal Michael Johnson will fill the vacancy caused by Boston’s move to a new role, as Johnson has been named the next Sally D. Meadows Elementary School principal.
Johnson graduated from Vidalia High School in 2009, and went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia Southern University. He returned to work at his alma mater in 2014, serving as a special education teacher at J. R. Trippe Middle School and Vidalia High School Assistant Band Director. He completed his Educational Specialist degree in Leadership at the University of West Georgia in December 2022 and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership in May 2025.
He has served as the Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Assistant Principal since 2019.
Johnson spoke about the change. “I’m honored, humbled, and grateful to serve in this role and thankful for the trust placed in me,” he said. “I have plans to continue the work that Mr. Boston has led, in alignment with the district and the Sally D. Meadows Team. Vidalia is home for me, and I am looking forward to leading change in a new way! I have had great examples, experiences, and mentors along my journey in education that have prepared me for this time.” “Ultimately, my focus is on leading our team and continuing to build a school culture at Sally D. Meadows where every student feels supported, challenged, and valued!”
Superintendent Reid added, “This shift allows us to strategically restructure leadership by utilizing the expertise of Mr. Boston and Dr. Johnson, all without any additional cost to the school system. We are maximizing leadership development, building capacity across our schools, and strengthening succession planning. By aligning the strengths of our leaders with the needs of our campuses, we are investing in our people and building a strong, sustainable leadership pipeline for the future.”
Timeline
These administrative changes will become effective at the end of the current 2025/2026 school year, as Freenor, Boston, and Johnson move into their new positions.
