Meet the Counselors

Joy Hancock
Registrar  

Joy Hancock is the Registrar at JHS.  She graduted from Washngton-Wilkes High School and Middle Georgia College.  She came to us in April of 2005 from Gwinnett County, where she was a high school SASI/Records Clerk.  Prior to that, her background included working for investigators and attorneys for the Federal Government.  She has been in the public school system since 1998.

Mrs. Hancock is married to Tom; they have two children.  Her son, Ross, is a Gwinnett County Policeman, and is married to Lorie. Ross and Lorie have three children:  Breannah, Spencer, and Reece.  Her daughter, Elizabeth, is a senior at North Georgia College, majoring in Psychology.

Mrs. Hancock loves being outdoors, reading mysteries, and spending time with family and friends. 

 

Donna Shaw
Secretary/Attendance


Donna Shaw is Department Secretary and Attendance Clerk at JHS.  She is married and has three children:  Josh, a JHS and UGA graduate, currently working and living in the Atlanta area; Amber, a JHS and North GA graduate, recently married, and currently teaching and living in Jackson County; and, Summer, currently an eighth grader at JMS.  Mrs. Shaw enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, being outdoors, traveling, reading, and crafts. Her favorite place to go on vacation is the beach, and her favorite foods are Mexican and Italian. Some of Mrs. Shaw’s favorite movies include The DaVinci Code, The Rookie, and The Wedding Planner.

 

Jim Synan
Professional School Counselor

Jim Synan is one of the new counselors at the high school this year.  Mr. Synan is at the high school half-time and at the middle school half-time.  He comes to us from Franklin County High School .  He has also worked in Student Support Services at Athens Technical College for five years prior to working at Franklin County High School .  He received his master’s degree in counseling from the University of Georgia in 1991 and is currently pursuing his Ed.S. degree in School Guidance and Counseling from UGA. 

Mr. Synan’s wife, Sharon, is a teacher in the Jackson County School system.  He has two daughters; one in the sixth grade and another in the second grade.  He is a huge fan of the Georgia Bulldogs, and also enjoys tennis (past member of the USTA), golf, softball, swimming, and music.   

Regarding Jefferson High School , Mr. Synan says, “I am very excited to be working at Jefferson High School .  As I am working here half-time and at the middle school half-time, much of my focus will be on working with the ninth grade students as they are making the difficult transition to life in high school.  Please let me know if I can help in any way.”

Mr. Synan is at the high school on Monday mornings, and all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays.