Coweta Superintendent Evan Horton to Retire Dec. 1

Coweta County School Superintendent Dr. Evan Horton will retire effective December 1, citing a treatable health issue that will require time and attention, the school system announced Wednesday.

Horton, who has led the Coweta County School System since June 2020, shared the news with principals during the district’s monthly administrative meeting at the Werz central office after recent conversations with members of the Coweta County Board of Education.

“I have treasured the opportunity to serve this community as Superintendent of the Coweta County School System, and I have been immensely honored to spend my career in this school system alongside some of the best educators and educational leaders in the state of Georgia,” Horton said. “Coweta has been much more than the place where I have worked. The people here have meant more to me than I can adequately express.”

Horton said he had intended to remain superintendent longer but decided to retire after confronting a health issue.

“I deeply regret having to make this decision at this time because I fully intended to serve the system longer in this role,” Horton said. “Recently, however, I have had to deal with a health issue that, while very treatable, is going to require some time and attention to move beyond it.”

He said the decision reflects both his responsibilities to the school system and to his family.

“I love this school system and the people in it, and I do not want a personal health matter to distract from the leadership our schools, employees, students, and families deserve, even for a short time,” Horton said. “At the same time, I love and have responsibilities to my family. In this situation, my family and health must come first.”

Horton was named superintendent by the Board of Education in March 2020 to succeed Dr. Steve Barker and began serving in the position June 1 of that year, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

His tenure began during one of the most disruptive periods in modern public education. Coweta schools returned to in-person instruction in September 2020, and the district continued navigating the effects of the pandemic before facing another major challenge following the March 2022 tornado.

The storm led to the temporary relocation of Atkinson Elementary School to West Central Technical College and the relocation and rebuilding of Newnan High School. The Newnan High project is the largest construction project ever undertaken by the school system.

Horton’s ties to Coweta schools began long before he became superintendent.

A native of Oxford, Alabama, Horton began his teaching career in 1998 at Maxwell Elementary School in Tuscaloosa. He came to Coweta County in 1999, teaching civics and history at Newnan High School while coaching basketball, baseball, and cross-country.

He later taught at Northgate High School, where he also served as an assistant football coach, head basketball coach, and assistant athletic director.

Horton became an assistant principal at East Coweta High School in 2006 and athletic director in 2008. He served as East Coweta’s principal from 2012 to 2015 before becoming the school system’s Assistant Superintendent for Student Services and Safety.

In that role, he oversaw transportation and food service, school safety and student discipline, and worked as a liaison between the school system, school resource officers, and law enforcement.

Horton earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and Human Performance Studies from the University of Alabama in 1998 and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Troy State University in 2005. He earned leadership certification from the State University of West Georgia in 2006, an Education Specialist degree in Administration from Georgia College and State University in 2009, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University.

Horton and his wife, Renee, have two daughters, Addyson and Brooklyn, and live in Turin.

“I am incredibly grateful for the support of my family, colleagues, our Board of Education, and the many people across Coweta who have allowed me the privilege of serving them,” Horton said. “Some of the most meaningful moments of my career have come from working alongside the people in our schools and seeing what they do every day for children. That is what I will carry with me.”

Board to begin superintendent search

Following Horton’s announcement, the Coweta County Board of Education said it will begin determining how to select the school system’s next superintendent.

The board has not yet announced details of that process.

“We recognize Dr. Horton’s outstanding leadership, and we celebrate his career and his many years of contributions given to the students of this district,” Board Chairman Buzz Glover said.

Glover said the board remains focused on maintaining effective leadership through the transition.

“The Coweta County School System is an exceptional institution, and we have been blessed for many years to have strong superintendents,” Glover said. “Our Board of Education remains focused on providing continued effective leadership of our school system as we move forward.”

“We are confident in this transition and in the strength of our current leadership team,” he added. “The Board will continue to provide appropriate oversight while ensuring our schools remain focused on our students and families.”

Glover said the board expects to provide more information about the superintendent selection process soon.

“Our board anticipates that we will be able to make an announcement regarding our process soon,” Glover said. “We appreciate our community’s trust and patience during this time.”

Horton will continue serving as superintendent through December 1 and said he intends to remain fully engaged in the district’s work until then.

“My commitment to Coweta has not changed,” Horton said. “Between now and December, I intend to continue giving this work and this community everything I have. We have important work ahead of us, and I have complete confidence in the people who serve this school system and in their commitment to our students.”