Administration

Rosanna Mhlanga is honored to serve as the Principal at AMS, bringing 14 years of dedicated experience in education, including 8 years in school administration.
Rosanna began her teaching career in Atlanta, Georgia, working in the Fulton County School District, where she developed a strong foundation in instructional leadership. In 2019, she moved to Arkansas, where she led a K-5 charter school for five years, fostering academic excellence and student success.
 
Rosanna’s passion for education was shaped by her commitment to equity and student growth. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Tuskegee University, where she became certified to teach grades K-8 across all subject areas. She later pursued advanced studies, earning a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Argosy University Atlanta and a Master of Arts in Leadership (P-12) from the University of Arkansas Fayetteville.
 
Throughout her career, Rosanna has prioritized student-centered learning, strong instructional strategies, and collaborative leadership. She is dedicated to building a school environment where scholars thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She believes that every child deserves access to high-quality education and that strong relationships between educators, students, and families are essential for success.
Beyond her role as an educational leader, Rosanna is passionate about mentorship, community engagement, and fostering a culture of lifelong learning. She looks forward to working alongside the incredible AMS staff and families to ensure a thriving, inclusive, and academically rigorous environment for all scholars.

 

Michala Patterson is honored to assume the role of Elementary Assistant Principal at our school, bringing over eleven years of dedicated educational experience to our inaugural leadership team. Michala grew up watching the amazing educators in her family serve their communities and aspired to follow in their footsteps at an early age. Because of that inspiration, she went to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 2013 and received her master’s degree in Public Administration in 2017 from Arkansas State University.
Michala’s educational journey began at Ambassador Baptist Academy where she 
served as a third and fourth grade teacher. It was there she learned the love of 
teaching scholars with dyslexia indicators, where she learned the skill of reaching 
scholars both academically and socio-emotionally and fostering success at each level of learning and developing. She moved to Arkansas Lighthouse Academies where she served in various roles from classroom teacher to district dyslexia coordinator and ended her tenure there serving in dual roles as district’s Dyslexia Coordinator and Academic Dean. Her love for literacy granted her the opportunity to become a RISE 3-6 trainer of teachers, helping to ensure that future generations develop a love for literacy. Michala believes that with strong healthy relationships, consistency, and hard work, each scholar can achieve an equitable education. She understands that through proper inspection of the expectations both scholar and school community can foster inquisitive scholars that positively impact the world. Michala's commitment extends beyond the school setting—she dedicates time to working with children diagnosed with Autism, bringing joy and sunshine to their lives and families. Beyond her professional commitments, Michala is a passionate sports enthusiast, closely following Lebron, the Cowboys, and the Arkansas Razorbacks. In her leisure time, Michala enjoys journaling, writing poetry, reading, and exploring the intricacies of the enneagram. Ultimately, with the goal of becoming an enneagram coach. With her diverse interests, strong educational background, and unwavering dedication, Michala Patterson is a valuable and dynamic addition to our educational community.

 

Joanna Natera Veal, proudly serving as the Office Manager for AMS Little Rock. Her journey began when she relocated from Mexico to the United States at the age of 11. For over 17 years, she has called El Paso, Texas, her home, and it's there that her path to success truly took shape. Joanna's educational pursuit led her to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she not only acquired knowledge but also embraced the university's spirit as a true "Miner at heart”. In her professional journey, Joanna's has accumulated over a decade of managerial experience, she achieved new goals when she assumed the role of district manager for a finance company, a position she held for more than five years. Notably, Joanna made history as the first woman to be promoted to the position of district manager within the El Paso district. However, Joanna's journey didn't end in Texas. She took her expertise to Arkansas over three years ago, transitioning into the field of education. Starting as an administrator, Joanna's talent and dedication were quickly acknowledged, leading to her promotion within just six months to the role of registrar. As a registrar, Joanna honed her skills and took on significant responsibilities. She managed all aspects of the registration process, overseeing record creation, final exam scheduling, and student enrollment verification for an impressive student body of over 600 students. Joanna also loves spending quality time with her husband and two sons, aged 8 and 6, engaging in activities like playing video games together. Joanna enjoys photography and the craft of macramé, which serve as her hobbies, allowing her to express her creativity.