School Leadership

Ms. Denise Bringslid is proud to serve as the Principal of Mary Lin Elementary School, returning to the school community where much of her professional growth has taken place. She earned a Bachelor of Science in History, Technology & Society from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Education in Urban Teacher Leadership from Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at Georgia State University.

Ms. Bringslid began her career in education through Teach For America in the Mississippi Delta region, teaching middle school mathematics before joining Mary Lin Elementary as an upper-grades math teacher. She later served as an Instructional Coach at Mary Lin for five years, supporting teachers and strengthening instructional practices across the school - particularly in the area of mathematics.

She went on to serve as Assistant Principal at Springdale Park Elementary School, and subsequently as the founding Assistant Principal of Virginia-Highland Elementary School, the newest elementary school in the Midtown Cluster. In the 2024–2025 school year, Ms. Bringslid returned to Mary Lin Elementary as Principal.

Ms. Bringslid is deeply committed to instructional excellence, inclusive school communities, and building strong systems that support both student achievement and professional growth for educators. She enjoys spending time playing board games with her family. She has two children - a 2nd grader at Mary Lin and a rising Kindergartener who will join the Rocket family in the 2026-27 school year.

Katie Melia-Zubrowski brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the Mary Lin community, having previously served in as a fourth-grade teacher (5 years), kindergarten teacher for (6 years), MTSS Specialist (5 years) before spending three years as a District Student Support Specialist for the Midtown Cluster within Atlanta Public Schools.

Katie’s journey in education is marked by a strong focus on inclusive and effective teaching practices, student support mechanisms, and community engagement. She has played a pivotal role in mentoring new teachers, developing educational strategies, and implementing comprehensive behavior support plans.

Katie enjoys living in Tucker, GA with her wonderful husband of 10 years, and their delightful daughter who is a 2nd grader at Mary Lin who enjoys sports, baking, and traveling with family and friends.

Katie is thrilled to bring her expertise and passion back to Mary Lin as of the 2024-25 school year, where she aims to support the educational and personal growth of every student. Her vision is to foster an environment where both students and teachers thrive, creating a dynamic and supportive learning community at Mary Lin Elementary School.

Erika Kelly is a compassionate school counselor who supports all students through equity and equality. As a counselor she focus’ on supporting  her students in four key components: social, emotional, academic and career. She earned her Bachelors of science degree in psychology at Worcester State University in Massachusetts. Continuing her education,  Ms. Kelly obtained her Masters degree in school counseling from Clark Atlanta University. Atlanta public schools has been home to Ms. Kelly exceeding five years, and now she is a returning Mary Lin Rocket! 

Ms. Kelly brings a background in the mental health treatment environment as well as serving students at the elementary and middle school level; earning support staff of the year in 2021!  She comes with respect for autonomy, for students to create their own ability to make choices through a solution focused approach. Recognizing cultural sensitivity, Ms. Kelly provides a safe space for all students to expresses themselves creatively, intellectually, and emotionally in an innovative, entertaining, and caring manner.

Special Education Lead Teacher

Meet Gina Matias, a dedicated educator passionate about teaching and learning. Gina followed in the footsteps of her late mother Jacqueline Matias who retired from Atlanta Public Schools in 2002. Gina is a native of Atlanta and attended E. Rivers, Christ the King and St. Pius X Catholic School.  After graduation from high school, she attended Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta’s historic Atlanta University Center. She holds a bachelors’ degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in special education. While exploring opportunities to learn and grow, Gina completed a specialist degree in 2002 from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Gina began her teaching career as a general education teacher at Continental Colony Elementary School in 1995. She has teaching experience in elementary and middles school special education. She has also worked countless hours serving homebound students for the district.

Gina is the proud mother of one son Geno Matias- Smith and recently became a grandmother to Gracyn Renee Matias- Smith. During Gina’s spare time she enjoys shopping, traveling and eating good food. Gina loves teaching and learning and teaches Adult Education Classes at Georgia Piedmont Technical College.

Meet Saadia Thomas, a school social worker who is deeply committed and passionate about supporting students’ academic, social and emotional well-being. Saadia is a native of Atlanta, GA, and an alumni of Georgia State University where she received her BA degree in Social Work, and her MSW from Walden University. As a school social worker, she prides herself on fostering a safe and inclusive school community where every student can thrive, as well as feel seen, safe and heard, while bridging the gap between school, families and the community. While serving as a school social worker, her many skills and experience include providing resources to families, crisis intervention, and collaborating closely with educators and families to ensure a supportive environment for all students. She strives to continue her education and learning so that she may continue to develop and enhance her professional expertise and be a vessel of support to both students and their families. Outside of her phenomenal work and role as a school social worker, Saadia enjoys being a wife and mother, learning new things, traveling, and creating memories with her family and friends that will last a lifetime. One of Saadia’s favorite quotes is by “Marian Wright Edelman and Wayne Muller”.

“Service is what life is all about. As we serve others, we are working on ourselves; every act, every word, every gesture of genuine compassion naturally nourishes our own hearts as well”.