Details
Post
Dublin City Schools’ Lead Learner, Dr. Fred Williams, has been named the 2024 Georiga Superintendent of the Year. Sponsored by the Georgia School Superintendents Association, this distinction recognizes district leaders across the state who are making a positive difference in the lives of the students they serve. The announcement was made during today’s Georgia School Boards Association/Georgia School Superintendents Association Winter Conference.
Each year, school board members, Regional Education Service Agencies, business organizations, and education professionals nominate leaders for Superintendent of the Year. Following a rigorous process, a committee of former award winners and education administrators selects a winner.
As Georgia Superintendent of the Year, Dr. Williams will now compete for National Superintendent of the Year. The School Superintendents Association will award the title in February 2024 at their annual conference in San Diego, California.
Dr. Williams said the recognition belongs to the thousands of students, staff members and families that make up the Fighting Irish Family.
“This high honor is extremely humbling yet exciting,” said Dr. Williams. “I am so proud of how this recognition speaks to the work of the internal and external stakeholders of Dublin City Schools. Thank you so much for all you do!!! I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Dr. Williams has been Dublin City Schools’ superintendent since 2015.
Under his leadership, the district has embraced its charter flexibility, carrying out several innovative practices such as the Irish Gifted Academy, the Big Green Reading Machine, Baby Irish, and the Dublin City Schools College and Career Academy. Because of his vision, leadership and ability to make tough decisions, Dublin City Schools was named Georgia’s Charter System of the Year in 2019 and received the Charter System Foundation’s prestigious Leadership Development Award in 2023.
With the strategic plan as his guidepost, Dr. Williams is committed to preparing “all students to be effective communicators, problem solvers and lifelong learners.” He believes in high achievement and success for all students, and under his leadership, the high school graduation rate has increased by 27.4 points. In fact, the Class of 2023’s was Dublin City’s highest ever at 97.7%.
Dr. Williams’ love and desire to support every child as they reach their full potential is what first drew him to public education. A member of the Fighting Irish Family for more than 30 years, he began his career in 1993 as Susie Dasher Elementary’s health and physical education teacher and coach for the Dublin High School Football Team. During his DCS tenure, Dr. Williams has served as assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent.
Above and beyond his continued commitment to Dublin City’s students, staff, and families, Dr. Williams is a:
- Legislative Committee Member and serves on the Georgia State School Superintendent Board of Directors.
- Georgia High School Association Executive Committee Member.
- Georgia Department of Education Charter Advisory Committee Member.
- Part of the Georgia Charter System Foundation’s Board of Directors.
- Georgia School Board Association Superintendent Advisory Board Member.
- Heart of Georgia RESA Board of Control GSSA Representative.
- Heart of Georgia RESA Board of Control Legislative Committee Member.
A community-minded leader through and through, Dr. Williams is also:
- Chairman of the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority
- Part of the Middle Georgia State University Board of Trustees
- Part of Communities in School of Laurens-Twiggs County Board of Directors.
- A member of the Dublin Rotary Club.
- A member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated Omicron Mu Chapter.
- An ex-officio member of the Dublin Laurens County Chamber of Commerce.
He is also the pastor of Turkey Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
In addition to this impressive recognition, Dr. Williams received the inaugural Georgia School Superintendents Association Marvin E. Lewis Sr. Trailblazer Award in 2023, the 2023 Cognia Excellence in Education Award, the Georgia School Superintendents Association President’s Award in April 2017 as well as the Dublin Laurens County Black History Festival’s 2016 Man of the Year Award and 2022 Pastoral Excellence Award. He was also inducted into Clark Atlanta University’s Football Hall of Fame in August 2012 and named the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year in 1993, 1994, 1998 and 2001.
Dr. Williams earned a bachelor of science degree in Health and Physical Education from Clark Atlanta University, his master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Troy University and a doctor of education in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. He is also a recent graduate of the Griffin RESA Dyslexia Endorsement Program, where he was the lone superintendent exploring the critical components of language, literacy development and neurobiological origins that assist in defining the needs of students with dyslexia.
Above and beyond his many well-deserved accomplishments, Dr. Williams is known for living out his signature motto of “I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.” He received today’s award alongside the Dublin City Board of Education, his staff, family and loving wife, Melissa. Together, they are the proud parents of three children: Whitley, Frederick II, and Gracelyn. And, in September 2022, he became a first-time grandpa, joyfully welcoming his grandson, Carter Grayson Williams, to the family.
Dr. Williams was recognized alongside the three other finalists during today’s event. The remaining finalists for Georgia Superintendent of the Year were Dr. Mary Elizabeth Brian of Henry County Schools, Dr. Marc Feurbach of Cartersville City Schools and Dr. Bubba Longgrear of Candler County Schools.