Special Week Honors Georgia School Boards

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is joining in a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 13-17, 2023, has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education.

“For the second consecutive year, our board has earned the distinction of Exemplary Board, the highest possible recognition by the Georgia School Boards Association,” says Superintendent Autry. “To earn this distinction, our board members have gone above and beyond what is required of them for training, annual goals, and continuous improvement in our district. As elected officials, they deserve the appreciation of the entire community for their hard work and dedication to our students, families and staff. Our board continues to support innovative initiatives such as specialty programs, school choice and one-to-one technology so that our students have the opportunity to graduate with an advantage as we prepare them for college and careers.”

Board members are elected to be the community’s voice on education and represent a continuous commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education.

The men and women serving our school district and their years of service are:

Chairman Jim McBrayer, 6 years (January 2011)

Vice Chair Wales Barksdale, 12 years (January 2005)

Pamela J. Brown, 3 months (January 2023)

Tony Dowdy, 4 years (January 2013)

Heather Duncan, 3 months (January 2023)

Mandy North, 4 years (January 2013)

Katrina Young, 9 years (January 2007)

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) sponsors the celebration. The mission of GSBA is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education. Please visit www.gsba.com for more information.