Meet The Team
GCHS Alumni Task Force
Raven DeRamus-Byers
Class of 2012
Raven DeRamus-Byers is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2012 graduate. She completed her B.A. in English, with concentrations in African-American Studies and Teacher Preparation, at Princeton University in 2016. DeRamus-Byers then began teaching, later returning to GCHS as an English teacher and the Titan Danceline choreographer. In 2020, she completed her M.A. in Politics and Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she worked as a writing consultant and instructional coach. Additionally, DeRamus-Byers worked as a research associate at Columbia Law School’s Center for Public Research and Leadership, helping to publish a report on the roles of families in student learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, DeRamus-Byers works to diversify the educator workforce as a PreK-12 program associate and coordinator of the National Grow Your Own Educators Network at New America in Washington, D.C. She also operates DeRamus Learning Lab, a writing consultation service.
Alethia Russell
Class of 2011
Alethia Russell is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2011 graduate. She completed her M.A. in Higher Education Administration at The University of Alabama, and also received a B.A. in Journalism from Auburn University. Currently, she is a doctoral student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Program at Indiana University where she serves as a Project Associate for the Center for Postsecondary Research, and a graduate intern with Undergraduate Admissions. Russell has work experience in communication and journalism, admissions, university recruitment, and student involvement and engagement. Her research interests focus on recruitment and retention strategies in honors programs for high-achieving Black students at four-year institutions.
Shanika Thomas
Class of 2011
Shanika Thomas is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2011 graduate. She completed her B.A. in Communicative Disorders, at The University of Alabama in 2015 and M.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Alabama A&M University in 2017. Currently, she works as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in a skilled nursing facility and in an acute care setting. Prior to beginning work in the skilled nursing and acute care settings, Thomas worked in Birmingham City Schools as an SLP serving pre-k through 12th grade populations. Thomas is currently enrolled in a graduate level Strategic Healthcare Management and Administration program, at Athens State University, in hopes of transitioning to an upper level management role in healthcare.
Dr. Chelsea James Amerson
Class of 2012
Dr. Chelsea James Amerson is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2012 graduate. Amerson attended Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans on a four year academic & athletic scholarship. She graduated from Xavier’s College of Pharmacy in 2018 with academic honors and three NAIA Conference Championships in Track and Field. Amerson worked at CVS and Parker’s Pharmacy as a pharmacist in Baton Rouge and realized it was time to return home to Alabama with the goal of giving back to her community. Dr. Amerson is licensed as a registered pharmacist in Alabama and Louisiana. She now practices at Quality of Life Health Services, Inc. as a Clinical Pharmacist at multiple locations company-wide, and was recently awarded “Pharmacist of the Year”. She is grateful for the opportunities God has placed before her and plans to follow in His footsteps to continue to make a difference.
Dr. Caitlyn Jones
Class of 2008
Dr. Caitlyn Jones is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2008 graduate. Dr. Jones attended the University of Alabama, receiving a B.S. in Biology in 2012. She then attended Samford University’s McWhorter School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama, earning a second B.S. degree in Pharmacy Studies in 2015 and a Doctorate of Pharmacy 2017. While there, she served as President of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA) and as a member of the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society. Dr. Jones continues to serve as a pharmacy preceptor for multiple pharmacy student organizations at various community events. Currently residing in Fort Myers, Florida, she works as both a Staff Ambulatory Care Pharmacist in the Lee Health Hospital System and as a Pharmacist for Walmart Pharmacy. Aside from spending time with her daughter (Cayden) and significant other (Trooper Howard Morris) exploring Southwest Florida, Dr. Jones’ most rewarding pastime is giving back to her community as a role model and mentor for the future leaders of the world.
Kasey Langley
Class of 2011
Kasey Langley is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2011 graduate. She completed her B.A. in Media Studies at Auburn University in 2015. Currently, she is the social media marketing specialist in the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University of South Alabama. Previously, she worked in similar marketing roles at Texas A&M University, Gadsden State Community College and Camp ASCCA. Langley has more than six years of work experience in social media, photography, videography and web design. Through her work, she strives to tell the unique stories of others through a variety of creative outlets.
Carl J. Byers
Class of 2011
Carl J. Byers is a Gadsden City High School Class of 2011 graduate. Byers first attended Gadsden State Community college, earning an A.A.S. in Electronic Engineering Technology in 2013. He then attended Auburn University, receiving his B.A. in Media Studies in 2015. For more than 6 years, Byers has worked for numerous photography companies, and currently runs his own photography and music production company by the name of Mach 5 Productions. Additionally, he has been a musician for nearly 15 years and also works for Guitar Center as a Pro Audio Sales Associate. Byers' creative mission is to provide people with high quality content through top-tier media production and customer service.