North Oconee principal will be next Jackson Co School Supt

The principal at North Oconee High School has been named as the sole finalist to be the next school superintendent in Jackson County: Philip Brown will replace April Howard, who is retiring at the end of the current school year.

From the Jackson Co School District website…

After an intense search that began in November, the Jackson County Board of Education has named Dr. Philip Brown as the finalist for the Superintendent of the Jackson County School System. Dr. Brown has nineteen years of public education experience and has served as the principal of North Oconee High School for the last eleven years.  He has also been a teacher, coach, assistant principal, and middle school principal while working in the school systems of Oconee County, Echols County, and Camden County.

The naming of the finalist culminates four months of search activity by the Jackson County Board of Education.  In November, the Board employed search consultants King-Cooper and Associates.  With the help of the search firm, the position was advertised, and eighteen applications were reviewed. The candidates were screened and vetted. Lengthy interviews were conducted for a select group of applicants.  With the naming of the finalist, the Board must now wait at least fourteen days before taking an official vote to employ Dr. Brown.

Dr. Brown is a graduate of Valdosta State University with a B. S. Degree in Middle Grades Education with a focus in Math and Science.  He has a Master of Education in Instructional Technology and an Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State University. Dr. Brown obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Georgia in Middle School Education in 2013.  Dr. Brown participated in the prestigious Superintendent Professional Development Program (SPDP) sponsored by the Georgia School Superintendent Association.  Participants in this two-year program must be nominated and selected by GSSA.

Dr. Brown has done an outstanding job of leading North Oconee High School for the last eleven years.  Under his leadership, North Oconee is ranked as one of the top five high schools in the state according to the state’s CCRPI. North Oconee was recognized as one of America’s Best High Schools by numerous national publications including U.S. News and World Report and received national recognition for being one of the best STEM high schools in the country.  The current graduation rate for North Oconee is 98.9%.  North Oconee is an Advanced Placement (AP) School of Distinction and is one of the few high schools in the state to offer the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma.  The leadership of Dr. Brown has extended outside the classroom.  Consistently ranked as one of the top public schools in athletics by the Georgia High School Association, North Oconee was ranked as the top public school in 4A for the past school year. NOHS is also an award-winning fine arts school.

Dr. Brown has a reputation of being an advocate for all students.  He leads with the belief that “Everything Matters, and Everyone Matters!”  Dr. Brown has a passion for students and public education.  He is known for his dedication to instructional excellence, work ethic, and passion for continuous improvement. Dr. Brown is an excellent communicator who understands that listening is the foundation for all communication.  He desires to foster unity throughout the system and county through communicating openly, building relationships, and collaborating with stakeholders across the county.  By working together and putting students first, Dr. Brown believes in capitalizing on past successes and enhancing the educational experiences for all in Jackson County.

Dr. Brown is married to Dr. Katherine Brown who serves as the principal of Oconee County Primary School.  They are proud parents to four children, Landon (10), Owen (9), Lincoln (6), and Annabelle (three weeks).

The Board must now wait fourteen days before taking the vote to officially name Dr. Philip Brown as Superintendent.  In conjunction with naming Dr. Brown as the sole finalist, the Jackson County Board of Education is officially releasing his biographical information.

Mr. Don Clerici, Chair of the Board of Education, stated the following: “All candidates went through a very deliberate and thorough search process.  In the end, Dr. Brown was the top candidate. The Board believes that Dr. Brown will quickly earn the respect of the staff and community.  I appreciate how hard the Board has worked through the entire search process.  We are excited to work with Dr. Brown.”

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