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Press Release – February 16, 2012
Smokey Road Principal Laurie Barron named Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year
Dr. Laurie Barron, principal of Smokey Road Middle School, has been named the Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year, by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals (GASSP).
Barron learned of the honor in a surprise visit by local and GASSP officials during her school’s staff meeting Wednesday afternoon, held in the school's media center. GASSP Executive Director Melton Callahan made the announcement to Barron and her entire staff.
Superintendent Steve Barker, Associate Superintendent Jerry Davis and Student Services Director Marc Guy were on hand for the surprise announcement, as were Barron’s husband Daniel and their three daughters.
“We’re proud of her,” said Superintendent Barker. ‘We are proud of you, because we know this is a group effort,” he told Smokey Road teachers and staff at the announcement.
“It’s everyone here” who deserves the award, said Barron. “All the credit goes back to the staff and teachers here. There’s no school that can be effective without a strong, high-quality staff, and this honor represents all the good things that the people here do.”
“This was one of the few times in my life when I have been left truly speechless,” said Barron. “I look forward to representing our school and system and state at the national level.
And to have my family here to share in this made it really wonderful.”
Smokey Road Assistant Principals Aaron Corley and Wanda Pettaway were in on the surprise visit, and had hidden a cake to celebrate the accomplishment with the gathered Smokey Road teachers and staff.
Barron was selected by GASSP as the 2012 Principal of the Year from among finalists including Russell Brock, of Loganville Middle School in Walton County, and Chuck Lundy, of Clifton Ridge Middle School in Jones County.
As GASSP’s Middle School Principal of the Year, Barron is a candidate for National Middle School Principal of the Year. She will attend the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) annual conference in Tampa in March, as a guest of GASSP, and will attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in September to represent Georgia in NASSP’s Middle School Principal of the Year competition.
Dr. Barron has served as the Principal of Smokey road Middle school since 2004. A 16-year educator, Barron taught English at Newnan High School for six years before becoming an assistant Principal at Arnall Middle school and moving to the principalship at Smokey Road. She earned her B.A. from the University of Georgia, her Masters in Administration and Supervision from the State University of West Georgia, and her Specialist and Doctorate degrees in Educational Leadership from the University of Sarasota.
Barron currently serves on the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Partnership Council and is an active member of the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals and the Georgia and National Association of Secondary School Principals, and has recently served on the Governor’s Education Advisory Board for Principals. She has also received the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders Outstanding Middle Level Educator Award and the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals Exemplary Leadership Award. Barron is also a National Board Certified teacher and was Newnan High School Teacher of the Year in 1999 and NHS STAR Teacher 2000 and 2001. Barron lives in Newnan with her husband Daniel and their three daughters.
Smokey Road Middle School is a state of Georgia Title I Distinguished School and a Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals Breakout Middle School. The school has made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for six consecutive years.
GASSP’s Principal of the Year recognition program is sponsored by NASSP and MetLife. The Principal of the Year program recognizes principals that excel in educational
leadership, resolving complex problems, developing self and others, and community service.
Dr. Laurie Barron, principal of Smokey Road Middle School, has been named as Georgia’s 2012 Middle School Principal of the Year, by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.
Smokey Road Middle School Principal Laurie Barron, center was named as Georgia’s 2012 Middle School Principal of the Year during her school’s staff meeting on Wednesday. Making the announcement was Georgia Association of Secondary School Principal’s Executive Director Melton Callahan, left. Barron’s husband, Daniel, at left with camera, and Coweta Schools Superintendent Steve Barker, right, were among those present for the announcement.
