Michelle Palmer Griffith

School: Calhoun Hign School

Occupation: Cheif Human Resources Officer

Very few athletes letter all four years in high school in four different sports, but that is exactly what Michelle Griffith achieved during her tenure at Calhoun High School from 1986 to 1990. While also being a Top 5 Honor Graduate, her career in Tennis, Softball, Basketball, and Track would lead her to being named as a Georgia Female Scholar Athlete by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association.

In track, Michelle participated in several competitions during her four-year career. She participated in the discus, shot put, 800-meter individual, and the one-mile relay. She was named Team Captain her Senior year.

Griffith’s softball career earned her an All-State Honorable Mention by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association. She was named Team Captain her Senior Year and won the Defensive Award for a fielding percentage of 96.7.

As a tennis player, she would be named Most Valuable Player during her senior season. She would compete in the USTA and finished ranked #13 in the 18 & Under division.

As a basketball player, Griffith received several accolades for her efforts on the court. She was named Gordon County Co-Player of the Year and a member of the Rome News Tribune, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Tri-State, and NWGA Tip- Off Club All Area Teams as a Senior. During her senior year, she led the team with 17.2 points per game as the Team Captain, while also finishing 2nd on the team in rebounds and steals.

Griffith’s efforts would earn a scholarship in both tennis and basketball to Berry College. While at Berry, Griffith would be named Team Captain of the basketball team her Senior year and helped guide her team to the NAIA National Championship Game in 3 different seasons.

After graduating from Berry College, Griffith would earn a Master’s Degree at West Georgia, a Specialist in Education Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. Griffith returned to her roots and has worked for the past 25 years at Calhoun City Schools, where she is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer and Community Education Director. She has also had an opportunity to be the Head Coach in Tennis and Swimming at Calhoun High School. She served as an assistant coach for basketball and softball.

Griffith is the daughter of Jimmy and Darlene Palmer of Calhoun, GA. She has two brothers (Kevin and Tommy) and one sister (Christi Brown). Her son, Adam, was inducted into the Calhoun-Gordon County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 for his football career at Calhoun High School and the University of Alabama.