Moultrie Calendar 2020/2021 | Page 38

414507-1 Superintendent Howell announces retirement By Kevin C. Hall [email protected] MOULTRIE, Ga. — Colquitt County School Superintendent Doug Howell announced plans to retire at the end of the upcoming school year during a Monday evening Board of Education meeting. The 30-minute meeting was carried live on Facebook, and a video remains on the school system’s Facebook page. The bulk of the meeting was discussion about plans to reopen the schools in August. The schools were closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and many questions remain about what sort of health environment will be in place when the new school year is scheduled to start. After that discussion and other business, Chairman Robbie Pitts closed the meeting for an executive session for the purpose of the superintendent’s annual review. After the vote to go into executive session, the video ended. Following that closed meeting, a second video began with Pitts calling the meeting back into session. He said Howell had presented the board with a letter during the executive session, and Pitts read it aloud. “It is with much gratitude that I notify you of my intention to retire from the Colquitt County School System effective July 1st, 2021,” the letter read. “My last day on the job will be June 30th, 2021.” He thanked the board for the privilege of serving as superintendent. “I am most grateful and humble to have been in a position to positively impact thousands of students and families over the last 35 years,” Howell wrote. “Any success that I might have enjoyed was the direct result of the hard work, expertise and professionalism of the many Colquitt County teachers, administrators and staff members that I have worked with along the way.” Howell was praised by Pitts and by board members Mary Beth Watson and Trudie Hill. “It was a great comfort to know that things would always be done the right way,” said Watson, who was board chairman when Howell was hired as superintendent. Howell was himself a graduate of the Colquitt County School System. After years in business, he became an elementary school teacher and worked his way up. In addition to time as an assistant principal, he served as principal of Hamilton Elementary School, 1995-1999; Odom Elementary, 1999-2006; and Williams Middle School, 2006-2014. In 2014 he became director of student services, and in July 2016 he was named as interim superintendent upon the departure of Superintendent Samuel DePaul. About six weeks later, he was hired as superintendent on a permanent basis. In addition to his backgrounds in business and education, Howell is a retired lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force Reserve. DOUG HOWELL Colquitt County Board of Education 710 Lane Street Phone: [phone] Website: www.colquitt.k12.ga.us The board consists of six non-partisan members, each elected by district. Terms are four years and staggered so that half the board is up for election every two years. Members vote once a year for chairman and vice-chairman. The Colquitt County Board of Education has maintained the status of “Exemplary Board” as designated by Georgia School Boards Association, since 2015. District 1 Trudie Mae Hill 1313 Bayleaf Drive, Moultrie, GA 31768 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Hill, a retired teacher from Colquitt County High School, took office in June 2004. District 2 Dr. Dede Megahee-Hall, Vice Chairman P.O. Box 285; Norman Park, GA 31771 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Megahee, a retired Colquitt County CTAE Director, took office in January 2017. District 3 Mary Beth Watson P.O. Box 2167; Moultrie, GA 31768 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Watson, a vice-president of accounting and administration, took office in January 2013. District 4 Robby Pitts, Chairman 2012 2nd Street S.E.; Moultrie, GA 31768 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] home; (229) 2215-1500 work. Pitts, a financial advisor, took office in January 2015. District 5 Patricia Anderson P.O. Box 57; Funston GA 31753 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Anderson, a retired Colquitt County teacher, took office in January 2011. District 6 Kevin Sumner 242 Jonathan Road; Moultrie, GA 31788 Email: [email protected] Phone: [phone] Sumner, a registered nurse, took office in January 2013. Administrators James D. (Doug) Howell is the Superintendent of Colquitt County Schools; Dr. Brad Gregory is the senior assistant superintendent of finance and business services; Dr. Marni Kirkland is assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction; Dr. Irma Townsend is the assistant superintendent of student services, and James Harrell is the assistant superintendent of human resources. They supervise a school system of 13 schools, one alternative program, and one gifted program serving approximately 9,300 students with an approximate annual operating budget of $100 million. 11 - 8TH AVENUE, N.E. 818 WEST CENTRAL AVE. 501 VETERANS PARKWAY SOUTH 3 Moultrie Locations to Serve You! Hometown Proud Family Owned and Operated Since 1940 414356-1