Administrative Team

Principal P. Alexander Braziel, II brings a wealth of experience, having served in various roles throughout his educational career, including classroom teacher, master scheduler, and assistant principal. As an assistant principal, he has demonstrated strong leadership by guiding and supporting key school initiatives, strengthening school culture, and cultivating leadership among emerging educators within the building. His efforts have not gone unnoticed as he was nominated for Assistant Principal of the Year and previously honored as a former Teacher of the Year. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to academic excellence and student success.  Mr. Braziel also contributed to team efforts that successfully improved the school's graduation rate. Mr. Braziel's dedication and leadership make him well-prepared to lead South Atlanta High School into the next chapter of excellence and success.

Principal's Page

Now in her 24th year as an educator, Dr. Juliette Johnson is honored to serve as Assistant Principal at South Atlanta High School. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to helping students succeed, supporting teachers, and building strong school communities where excellence is the expectation.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Dr. Juliette  Johnson is the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants and a first-generation college graduate. She is an alumna of Florida Memorial University, Nova Southeastern University, and Liberty University.

Since joining Atlanta Public Schools in 2012, Dr. Johnson has served as a secondary English Teacher, Department Chair, Instructional Coach, and Testing Coordinator. 

Outside of school, she enjoys photography, listening to audiobooks, and spending quality time with her husband and their two children. She is honored to join the South Atlanta family and looks forward to partnering with students, families, staff, and the community to build on the school's rich tradition of excellence.

I am a wife, mom to four, and grandmother of three, and my family is the foundation of everything I do. For the past 29 years, I’ve dedicated my career to education—as a teacher, instructional coach, instructional liaison, certified educational trainer, and administrator.

I believe that building strong relationships allows accountability, ownership, and instructional excellence to take root. When trust is present, communication becomes honest, collaboration becomes meaningful, and students benefit from a unified team of adults working together on their behalf.

Across every role, I’ve committed myself to helping adults grow so that students thrive. That’s the heart of my work and the purpose behind my service.

Dr. Driskell Lang has served as a public-school educator for 30 years.  During this journey, he has worked as a teacher, professor, administrative assistant, instructional coach, youth development worker and assistant principal. He holds certification in Educational Leadership, Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Reading, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies. Dr. Lang is an active member of Professional Association of Educators and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Dr. Lang began his tenure in education at Mount Vernon Academy in Atlanta, where he served as a language arts teacher and department chair. After a year, he joined the staff at John F. Kennedy Middle School within the Atlanta Public Schools district.  He was later promoted to Assistant Principal at Sylvan Hills Middle School. He has been an Assistant Principal in both Fulton County Schools and Atlanta Public Schools. He has also taught as an adjunct professor for the past 12 years at Atlanta Metropolitan College and the University of Phoenix online.

Dr. Lang’s vision is of a world where people learn to respect, accept, and embrace the differences as the core of what makes life so fascinating. When Lang is not in the schoolhouse, he spends his time working in his yard, spending quality time with his family and traveling the world!

Mr. Major Jones is proud to serve as an Assistant Principal at South Atlanta High School. A passionate and dedicated educator, Mr. Jones brings over 15 years of experience spanning early childhood to high school. His diverse educational journey includes roles in nonprofit education, public school systems, and leadership positions at both the middle and high school levels.

Mr. Jones earned his bachelor’s degree from Fort Valley State University—Go Wildcats!—a master’s degree from Georgia College and State University, and an education specialist degree from Thomas University. His leadership is grounded in both educational research and real-world, field-tested experience.

Throughout his career, Mr. Jones has served as an ELA teacher, a middle school assistant principal, and now as a high school assistant principal. In every role, his core mission has remained the same: to serve teachers, students, and the community with integrity, vision, and unwavering commitment. He believes all students can and will succeed when surrounded by a network of support and high expectations.

Mr. Jones is excited to join the South Atlanta Hornets and is ready to make an immediate IMPACT—every single day.

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Michelle Coates has proudly called Atlanta home for the past 35 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Clark Atlanta University, a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School, and a certification in Teaching and Leadership from Mercer University.

Michelle began her career in education as a 6th grade Social Studies teacher, a role she held for seven years. Her passion for history and civic understanding led her to become a Social Studies instructional coach at both the middle and high school levels for 11 years. Currently, she is in her eighth year serving as a dedicated School Business Manager, bringing strategic leadership and operational insight to her school community.

Outside of her professional life, Michelle is a devoted wife and proud mother to a son and step-sons, as well as a loving pet parent to two fur babies. She is also an enthusiastic Atlanta Falcons fan, cheering on her team every season with unwavering support.