Return to Headlines

Henry County Schools Celebrates School Board Appreciation Week March 11-15

Henry County Schools Celebrates School Board Appreciation Week March 11-15

HENRY COUNTY, GA – Henry County Schools (HCS) proudly celebrates Georgia School Board Appreciation Week from March 11-15, recognizing the invaluable service of its dedicated and visionary Board of Education.

The five-member team has emphasized collaboration and responsible stewardship in answering the call for a continuous “Pursuit of Exceptional” in Henry County Schools. This strategy has been fundamental to the Board’s success in recent years, earning it the title of Georgia’s Large System Governance Team of the Year last November.

“I am proud to see how the Board’s growth and commitment to unified governance has facilitated the district’s progress,” said Interim Superintendent Carl Knowlton. “We extend our deepest gratitude to all five members for their dedication, vision, and advocacy on behalf of our students, teachers, and staff. The Board’s guidance and leadership have been key to ensuring we can continue to provide high-quality educational opportunities for all students.”

The Board has been instrumental in shaping the district’s direction through policies that promote a positive learning environment and emphasize student success and achievement. Elected board members serving in 2024 include:

A pledge to remain a high-performing, proactive, and innovative board has led to notable achievement results, such as an increase in students accessing advanced coursework, the graduation rate for students with disabilities significantly outpacing the state, and HCS students outperforming the state and nation on the SAT.

The Board’s focus on advancing opportunities, access, and outcomes for all students has been central to its accomplishments over the years, which also include accolades such as Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) Governance Team of the Year and finalists, as well as GSBA Exemplary Board recognition for four consecutive years, and numerous GSBA Leading Edge Awards.

“It has been my absolute honor to serve on the Henry County Board of Education,” Pope said. “We are committed to operating under a unified governance framework and maintaining student learning as our top priority. We strive to anchor our work to the community’s voice to ensure the best outcome for every student, and we are grateful for the opportunity to do so.”

Throughout School Board Appreciation Week, including at Monday’s regularly scheduled board meeting, HCS acknowledges the vital contributions of board members in generously giving their time and expertise to support the growth and well-being of students and staff across the district.  

“Our board members lead the way in ensuring Henry County Schools keeps ‘Winning for Kids’ – every kid, every minute, every day,” Dr. Knowlton said. “I am grateful for their service in helping us to meet our community’s needs in one of the fastest-growing counties in Georgia.”

About Henry County Schools

Henry County Schools (HCS) is the eighth-largest school district in Georgia, consisting of 52 schools, including two academies, located about 20 minutes south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Over the past 20 years, our community has grown in population from 113,000 residents to over 244,000 residents. Since 1999, student enrollment has grown from 21,000 to 43,000 students, and our number of employees has grown from 3,000 to 6,000.

HCS is “In Pursuit of Exceptional,” taking action to advance opportunities, access, and outcomes so that every student in our school district has Exceptional Support, Exceptional Access, and an Exceptional Future. In 2020, our Board of Education adopted our 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan and laid out a clear vision and mission for Henry County Schools. Our vision is to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student, and our mission is to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.

###