Barrow County School System Achieves 2019 GSBA Exemplary School Board Status

Barrow County School System is proud to announce the achievement and status of the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) 2019 Exemplary School Board recognition.

The recognition program is designed to showcase best practices in school governance and leadership. GSBA recognizes good school board governance to foster educational community cultures in order to advance student learning and achievement.

Barrow County School System School Board met and/or exceeded the criteria set forth by GSBA to earn the honor of a 2019 Exemplary Board. Review the criteria for more information. This year 55 of the 180 public school boards earned the Exemplary Board status, the highest recognition possible.

The School Board for Barrow County Schools has earned this recognition all 4 times in the 4 years this award has been given to system boards – 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. (The program was temporarily suspended in 2017.)

Superintendent Dr. Chris McMichael stated, “This designation represents the amazingly high levels of hard work, dedication, time, and transparency the members of this Board of Education put forth on behalf of the citizens of Barrow County and the staff of the Barrow County School System. It is an honor to work side by side with these nine exemplary individuals in leading this school system.”

The Barrow County Board of Education is chaired by Lynn Stevens (District 5). Other elected members include Debi Krause (District 1), Garey Huff, Sr. (District 2), Lisa Maloof (District 3), Beverly Kelley (District 4), Rickey Bailey (District 6), Bill Ritter (At-Large District 7), Jordan Raper (At-Large District 8), and Stephanie Bramlett (At-Large District 9).

The GSBA Governance Team Recognition Program was developed by Georgia superintendents and board members based on the state board of education’s standards for effective governance to recognize exemplary leadership.

In 1998, the Georgia School Boards Association was one of the first school board associations in the nation to develop a program of standards for local boards of education. The GSBA Board recognition program is a three-tiered program.  For more information on the program, visit the GSBA website for awards and recognition or view the criteria for all tiers of the program.