"I am

delighted to welcome Mark Ballou to the role of Coordinator, Business

and Community Relations with us at CEC," said Whitlock. "Mark

will have an important opportunity to help us strengthen our relationships

with local businesses. He will have much work to do to help CEC take those

next steps necessary in order to serve the business community better."

Ballou, originally

from Nashville, has 14 years administrative experience, including 10 years

administrative experience at the high school level. He began his career

in Putnam County Schools near Daytona Beach, Fla., where he worked 12

years, including service as a high school assistant principal.

He came to

Coweta County Schools in 1995, as an assistant principal at Newnan High.

Ballou was given the principalship of the newly built Arbor Springs Elementary

School in 1999, opening the school and steering it through its first year.

For the last

three years he has served as principal of Atkinson Elementary School.

Ballou earned his B.S. in education from Middle Tennessee State University,

and earned his master's in education leadership from Nova Southeastern

University.

Ballou follows

outgoing CEC administrator Andy Peryam, who will retire at the end of

this school year after a 28-year career in education. Peryam, a native

of Wyoming, began teaching psychology and sociology at Newnan High School

in 1974.

Peryam was

a grad student in psychology at the time "and I planned to teach

for five years and go back and get my doctorate in clinical psychology.

But I enjoyed teaching so much I decided to stay here."

Peryam later

shifted to teaching electronics. When the Central Educational center opened

three years ago, Peryam joined the school as an administrator with a focus

on technology.

CEC's Director

of High School Program position has not been filled, and interviews for

the position are ongoing.