COVINGTON, Ga. - Newton County Board of Education members Trey Bailey, Shakila Henderson-Baker, and Abigail Coggin were sworn in by Superior Court Judge Horace Johnson Monday, Jan. 7 to begin their new terms of office. All three were re-elected without opposition in the November 2018 general election.

Mr. Trey Bailey-District 1 Representative

Bailey will begin his first full term on the Newton County Board of Education this year. He was appointed by the Newton County Board of Education on March 15, 2016 to replace Stan Edwards after he resigned to run for Board of Commission District 1. Mr. Bailey ran unopposed in the general election in November 2016 to complete the remainder of that term. A native of Newton County and a graduate of Newton County High School, Mr. Baily currently serves as the Executive Pastor at Eastridge Community Church. He is a proud graduate Newton County High School and Mercer University. 

Mrs. Shakila Henderson-Baker-District 3 Representative

Henderson-Baker will begin her third term on the Newton County Board of Education, having originally been elected in 2010 and then re-elected in 2014. She is the District 3 representative on the school board. A Newton County native, Mrs. Henderson-Baker is a graduate of Newton County High School. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Fort Valley State University and holds a Master of Science degree in psychology and counseling from Troy University.

Mrs. Abigail Coggin-Vice Chair and District 5 Representative 

Mrs. Abigail Coggin will begin her third term on the Newton County Board of Education, having originally been elected in November 2010 and then re-elected in 2014. She currently serves as the vice chair and District 5 representative on the school board. A life-long resident of Newton County, Mrs. Coggin is a 1992 graduate of Newton County High School. She continued her education by graduating from Oxford College and Emory University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Mrs. Coggin is an employee of the Arts Association in Newton County. 

“Congratulations to Mr. Bailey, Mrs. Henderson-Baker, and Mrs. Coggin as they begin their new terms,” Samantha Fuhrey, NCSS superintendent, said. “I appreciate the hard work and commitment of our board members; the work of the school board is integral to the success of our students and our school system. The members of the Newton County Board of Education work tirelessly to ensure that the school system continues its forward progress. It is exciting that this team will continue to work together on behalf of our children and employees.”