Principal's Message

Marissa Wilson is a passionate educator who has spent the past 25 years supporting students in Fulton County Schools as a teacher, school administrator, assistant principal, and, for the past seven years, as a principal. In each of her roles, she has made it her priority to ensure the success of every student by providing high levels of instruction and support for academic growth, while also offering a well-rounded educational experience.

As a principal, Marissa Wilson has led schools to increases in CCRPI by 23 points, decreased suspension rates by 80%, improved gifted eligibility and continuous achievement by 102%, and earned recognition as a PBIS Distinguished School by the Georgia Department of Education. In addition, she is proud to have led the first school in South Fulton to receive authorization as an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) School.

Mrs. Wilson is committed to serving our students, partnering with parents, and supporting the community. She aspires to maintain the already established positive school culture that is built on collaboration, accountability, and shared decision-making. Paul D. West has a growing reputation for community and family engagement, and she is excited to embark on this journey to further cultivate relationships within the Panther family. Mrs. Wilson eagerly awaits the opportunity to meet and collaborate with all the stakeholders who make up this wonderful community. She will immediately begin hosting opportunities to engage students, parents, teachers, and community members in discussions about how best to support a collective, strategic approach to continued growth in student achievement.

Mrs. Wilson is both humbled and excited to serve as the new principal of Paul D. West Middle School. As a native of East Point, she is eager to once again lead in the community that shaped her and impacted her life in so many ways. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She also holds a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University. On a more personal note, Marissa Wilson is the wife of Robert Wilson, Sr., who is also an educator, and the mother of Madyson, Rhyan, Robert, and Londyn—who, like their parents, are proud products of the Fulton County School District.