Youree Drive Middle School has a longstanding history of excellence and honor and it is my privilege and pleasure to serve as principal of such a great institution. My vision is to provide a safe and secure learning environment that focuses on quality instruction for students, support and sustainability for faculty and staff and positive school culture and community relations that fosters success for all stakeholders. Youree Drive Middle School is home to highly qualified staff who continue to provide academic and leadership opportunities that ensures a smooth transition to the high school setting. This school offers a variety of courses that caters to every kind of learner and allows each student to shine in their own way. I know that with the help of all stakeholders, YDMS will continue to flourish and reach even higher heights! I look forward to successful year!

Humbly yours,

Maria S. Edwards

Principal, Youree Drive Middle School

Kathryn M. Ferguson, Assistant Principal of Instruction, has served Caddo Parish Schools as an educator for 20 years and has been a proud YDMS Spartan since 2002.  Mrs. Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History from Louisiana State University in Shreveport and a Master of Education in School Administration and additional Certification in Supervision from Centenary College of Louisiana.  During her career, Mrs. Ferguson has served Youree Drive Middle AP Magnet School and Caddo Parish Schools in a variety of roles – District Social Studies Task Force Member, Mentor Teacher, Social Studies Department Chair, PBIS Team Leader, etc.  She has also worked with new teacher education programs in cooperation with area colleges and universities.  Mrs. Ferguson was selected as Middle School Teacher of the Year for the state of Louisiana in 2019. She has also been honored as Caddo Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year and twice as her school’s Teacher of the Year. She was also named a Louisiana PTA Educator of Distinction.  Placing an emphasis on continuing YDMS’s history of educational success as a positive, safe learning environment, Mrs. Ferguson endeavors to help all students, parents, faculty, and staff to have a “Super Spartan Day ” each and every day.

Mr. Elledge, Assistant Principal of Discipline, graduated from and played baseball at Airline High School in Bossier City.  He attended LSU-Shreveport, where he was a member of the Pilots baseball team for three years.  After receiving his Bachelor of Science in 1994, he began teaching in Caddo Parish with stops at Claiborne Magnet Fundamental and Southwood High School.  He has coached baseball collegiately at LSU-Shreveport and on the high school level at Southwood High School.  Mr. Elledge went back to LSU-Shreveport and received his Master of Education in Educational Leadership in 2008.  He served as Assistant Principal of Southwood High School from August 2008 until May 2021.  

Mr. Elledge enjoys watching sports, playing golf, and spending time with his family.  He is married to Alyssa Simmons Elledge, who serves as an elementary principal for Caddo Parish Schools.  Together, they have three children.

Gregory Grace is a veteran of Caddo Parish Public Schools with 27 years of experience in the district. His teaching and coaching career began in the Virgin Islands before he made Caddo Parish his home. He began his career in Caddo Parish as an Adaptive Physical Education and Special Education teacher. He continued his career as a Physical Education teacher and became a successful coach in the process before pursuing opportunities as a middle school Assistant Principal and most recently as an Administrative Assistant and coach for Youree Drive Middle School. Resourceful, focused, and dedicated, his tenure in schools in Caddo Parish is marked with his dedication to improving the development and well-being of students and teachers, while creating and implementing policies and procedures that ensure a safe school environment.