Barrow is finalist for top state honor

The Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) has announced that Fayette County School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Barrow is one of four finalists selected to compete for Georgia’s 2016 Superintendent of the Year.

Nearly 20 nominations were received from local boards of education, staff and Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESA’s) from throughout the state. The GSSA selection committee, made up of past Superintendent of the Year winners, reviewed the nominations and narrowed the field to the top four candidates. They will now compete for title using the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) national-level, and highly challenging, application process. The other candidates vying for the award include Dr. Jason Branch, superintendent of Oconee County Schools; Scott Cowart, superintendent of Carroll County Schools; and Dr. Allen McCannon, superintendent of Madison County Schools.

The winner will be announced at the GSSA/Georgia School Boards Association winter conference in December. The 2016 Georgia Superintendent of the Year will represent the state at the national level in the AASA 2016 Superintendent of the Year competition.

Dr. Barrow is the school system’s second superintendent to be named a finalist in the state competition. The GSSA selection committee named Dr. John DeCotis a finalist in 2009.