Principal - Cissi Kale
Email: mary.kale@cobbk12.org
Welcome to Due West Elementary! I can’t wait to begin another year working with our students, staff, and community. The tradition of excellence has been well established at Due West, and I am proud to be a part of that success.
I live in Marietta with my husband, Jason, and our two wonderful sons, Avery and Sawyer. Sawyer graduated from Hillgrove High School in 2024, and he is attending Georgia Tech. Avery graduated from Hillgrove in 2022 and attends Ole Miss, University of Mississippi, in Oxford. My husband and I love cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs and our new teams—Ole Miss Rebels and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets…don’t worry we are Bulldawgs first!
I received my B.S.Ed. in Middle Grades Education from Georgia Southern, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University, and Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Berry College.
My professional background includes experiences as a teacher, math coach, and assistant principal. These experiences have truly prepared me to help lead Due West and continue the many traditions of this wonderful school. I was the assistant principal at Kemp Elementary School for five years, and I have served as assistant principal at Kennesaw Elementary School. I have been in CCSD for over 20 years, and I am so proud to continue this year as part of the Due West family.
My vision for Due West is to uphold the traditions that have been set while looking ahead to continue improvement. Due West has achieved great success, and I plan to continue the pursuit of excellence, while working collaboratively with staff and parents to support our students. Student success is at the core of all my decisions, and I will always put the needs of Due West students above all else.
I am honored to be at Due West Elementary as your principal. I look forward to continuing our work together to continue Due West’s vision of Preparing our Students for Future Success.
Assistant Principal - Sherry Trimble Smith
Email: Sherry.Trimble@cobbk12.org
My name is Sherry Trimble Smith. I am proud and honored to return for my fourth year serving our Due West community as your Assistant Principal! I will begin my 21st year in education and tenth year as an assistant principal for Cobb County School District. I am excited to bring my passion for STEM, Outdoor Learning, and PBIS to support in the traditions and academic excellence at Due West.
I am an Indiana Hoosier turned Georgia Peach that has found a love of the South, especially Cobb County. My husband and I reside in Kennesaw with our “fur baby” Bitzy.
In 2003, I earned my bachelor’s degree in Early Education with Liberal Studies from Carson Newman University in East Tennessee. When I moved to Georgia, I began teaching in CCSD at Fair Oaks Elementary. My teaching experiences varied from Kindergarten through Fifth grade as a grade level teacher, science lab teacher, and Early Intervention Program teacher. I earned my master’s in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University in 2008. In 2014, I served as School Leadership Intern for Bells Ferry Elementary for one year and was then appointed as assistant principal at Norton Park Elementary for six wonderful years.
Relationships with students, families, and the community are at the center of my heart. I am eager to continue to partner with each of you as Pioneer Family and will support Due West’s vision of Preparing our Students for Future Success.
Student Support Administrator - Dena Taylor
Email: Dena.Taylor@cobbk12.org
This is my 26½ year in Cobb County School District. I started my career at Powder Springs Elementary, then transitioned to middle school at Durham. Afterward, I pursued a leadership role at Barber Middle. Throughout my leadership career, I have supported multiple schools at all levels and now look forward to being a part of the Administration Team at McClure.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in special education from Troy State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University, and a specialist degree in educational leadership from Berry College.
My husband, Josh, and I have been married for 22 years. We have a son, Reed; a daughter, Dannie; a son-in-law, Cody; two grandsons, Kallum and Kieran; and two fur babies, Solo and Rex. Josh and I enjoy camping, concerts, college football, running road races, visiting wineries/breweries, and exploring botanical gardens.
Looking forward to another great year at Due West Elementary!
