ESE/Student Services Staff

ESE/Student Services Staff

Melinda Richie

Coordinator of ESE, Mental Health & Student Services
Phone: 850-973-1562
Melinda Richie currently serves as the Coordinator of ESE, Mental Health & Student Services for the Madison County School District.  She is a graduate of Charlton County High School in Folkston, GA.  She received her Bachelors of Science in Special Education and Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University as well as her Masters in Special Education and Early Childhood Education from Valdosta State University.  Mrs. Richie began her career in Brooks County as a Special Education teacher for three years and has worked in the Madison County School District since 2007.  She is married to Eddie Richie of Madison and has three beautiful children.

Melissa Cherry

ESE Staffing/Program Specialist
Phone: 850-973-1567

Melissa Cherry is a lifelong resident of Madison County. She graduated from Madison County High School in 1993 then attended Florida A&M University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Cherry began her teaching career at Pinetta Elementary School then transferred to Madison County Central School as the MTSS/RTI Specialist. She loved school so much she went back and earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Saint Leo University  She is currently working in the Exceptional Student Education Department as a Staffing/Program Specialist for Madison Creative Arts Academy and EXCEL Alternative Education Center. Mrs. Cherry has been married to her highschool sweetheart for 22 years. They have three children, three dogs, and three cats. As a family they enjoy camping, crafting, and serving in their community.

Leigh McNutt

ESE Staffing/Program Specialist
Phone: 850-973-5026

Leigh Sherrard McNutt was born and raised in Madison, FL and attended Madison County Schools. She attended Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida where she earned a Bachelor of Education in Elementary Education and a Master Degree in Educational Leadership.

Leigh has been employed with Madison County School District since 1995 and has served in the positions of, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, First Grade Teacher and currently as an Exceptional Student Education Staffing/Program Specialist for the District PreK Program for Madison County Schools.

Leigh is married to Kevin McNutt and has two children, Dalton and Savannah. She is an active member of the First Baptist Church in Madison, Florida. 

Jodie Price

ESE Staffing/Program Specialist
Phone: 850-973-5717

Jodie Price has lived in Madison County for over 50 years. She attended Florida State University and earned her Bachelor's degree in social work. She worked for the Department of Children and Families for 16 years and decided on a career change. She started working for Madison County School District working full time in 2004 in numerous positions at the district level. Mrs. Price was an ESE Support Teacher for 8 years, retired one year and came back to work as an ESE Support Teacher. She was then employed as an ESE Staffing Specialist at Madison County High School, James Madison Prepatory High School, Waypoint School and Bridge Alternative School. Mrs. Price is married to George A Williams, Jr.

Jodie enjoys working with the students at the various schools and has been committed to serving the Madison community for numerous years in various roles.

Renae Williams

ESE Receptionist Clerk
Phone: 850-973-5029
Renae Williams, born and raised in Live Oak and moved to Madison in 1992 when she met the love of her life Jayson Williams, Renae serves as the ESE Receptionist/Clerk, at the Madison County Central School, for the Madison County School District. She is a graduate of Suwannee County High School. Renae earned a degree in the nursing field but quickly discovered that the field of education and helping others had her heart. She has been working for the school district since her oldest daughter started school in 1994, she has worked in a variety of positions including Substitute Teacher, Paraprofessional and now Receptionist/Clerk which she loves.
Renae is married to Jayson Williams and they successfully have run Jayson’s Heating and A/C in Madison since 1992, she also has three daughters, 3 amazing son in loves, and 5 grandchildren who she takes her every breath for! In her spare time, she loves to spend time with her family especially her grandchildren!  Renae also loves hunting, being on the water and traveling near and far.
Renae & Jayson are members of Hickory Grove Methodist Church.

Mary Ellis

ESE Administrative Assistant
Phone: (850) 973-1566
Mrs. Mary Ellis was born in Orlando and raised in Madison County.  She attended schools in Madison and completed her secretarial training at North Florida Jr. College in 1988.  She worked as a secretary for Dixie Packers for 16 years and worked for Smithfield for another 2 years until plant closure in 2006.  She began working with Arc Big Bend in 2006 as an administrative assistant and remained for 15 years.  Mary joined the ESE Department in September 2021 as the Administrative Assistant to the ESE Coordinator, Melinda Richie.  Mary has been married to Frank Ellis for 33 years and they have three children and five grandchildren.  She enjoys spending time with her family, shooting ASA bow tournaments with her husband, and vacationing at the beach.  She is a member of Lee United Methodist Church.