GEORGIA - The Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) announced today that Newton County School System (ncss) superintendent, Samantha Fuhrey, is one of four finalists for 2018 Georgia Superintendent of the Year.
According to John Zauner, executive director of GSSA, 20 nominations were submitted for this year’s competition. In addition to Fuhrey, Dr. Steve Barker, superintendent of Coweta County Schools; Dr. Michael Duncan, superintendent of Pike County Schools; and Wes Taylor, superintendent of Lowndes County Schools, were also named finalists.
“Each have been singled out for their leadership abilities and their excellent skill set in working with their boards, staff, and local communities,” Zauner said. “Having outstanding communication skills seems to be a theme amongst this distinguished group of experienced educational leaders. They all face challenges and do so with high integrity and dynamic and supportive leadership styles. They have risen to the top of their profession for a very good reason. They all strive to create a kinetic and innovative educational environment for students to be successful.”
“It is a tremendous honor to have been nominated and selected to be one of the four finalists among my esteemed colleagues,” Fuhrey said. “I have an amazing team and I am proud of all that we have accomplished over the last several years. We are not where we wish to be but we are well on our way. I look forward to the continued successes of our district and community and truly appreciate this recognition.”
Mrs. Fuhrey is in her fifth year as superintendent for Newton County Schools. The first female school superintendent in county history, she has received four contract extensions from the Newton County Board of Education. In 2016, Mrs. Fuhrey was awarded the GSSA President’s Award.
She previously served as the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for NCSS. She has extensive leadership experience at the executive level as she previously served as the Executive Director for Secondary Education, the Director of Secondary Education, and the Director of Professional Learning for Newton County Schools. Before becoming a district administrator, Mrs. Fuhrey was the principal of Indian Creek Middle School in Newton County from 2005 to 2008 after having been promoted from assistant principal, a position she served from 2001 to 2005. Prior to her employment with Newton County Schools, Mrs. Fuhrey worked for the DeKalb County School System as an assistant principal and an English teacher.
Mrs. Fuhrey earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English from Marywood University in 1991 and her master’s degree in educational leadership from State University of West Georgia in 2000. She added an education specialist’s degree in educational leadership from Georgia College and State University in 2006.
“Mrs. Fuhrey has proven she has the leadership qualities we want in our school superintendent,” Almond Turner, chair of the Newton County Board of Education, said. “Her reputation as an outstanding leader in public education is known and has been recognized throughout the state. She is an excellent educator and administrator who is focused on our school system’s two non-negotiable goals—increased student achievement and more effective teaching. We are fortunate to have a superintendent who is truly devoted to making sure we provide the very best educational opportunities to the children in our school system. The board members and I are grateful for the work Mrs. Fuhrey has done and proud of her for this accomplishment. She is an outstanding leader and most definitely worthy of the Georgia Superintendent of the Year award.”
