The Pickens County Board of Education has announced Dr. Rick Townsend as the next Superintendent of Pickens County Schools. Dr. Townsend will assume his leadership duties beginning April 27, 2020.
“Dr. Townsend brings a wide array of educational experiences which is of great importance tothe Board,” Chairman Tucker Green stated. He went on to share, “Dr. Townsend’s experience at multiple levels, coupled with his proven track record of improving schools and school districts, was appealing to the Board. The Board also believes that Dr. Townsend is uniquely capable to provide clear leadership from the district level to the school level.”
Dr. Townsend’s interest in the community was piqued during his visits to local points of interest while attending Reinhardt. He shared that he is looking forward to working closely with staff and being an integral part of the community that he and his family will call home.
With Dr. Townsend beginning his work on Monday, his immediate goals are to facilitate a strong finish to the current school year and begin planning for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Additionally, he wants to support school leaders in providing the deserved recognition for the Pickens High graduating class of 2020.
Dr. Townsend expressed his appreciation to the entire staff for the excellent job they continue to do in educating children and providing for families during this uncertain time. In looking ahead to next year, Townsend shared, “We need to continue supporting our core beliefs that all children can learn, that all stakeholders are accountable for student learning, and that we will continue to strive for continuous improvement in student achievement.” He intends to collaborate with community members and staff to support students in the classroom as well as in their extracurricular activities. In addition to supporting students, support should also continue for the dedicated staff and community members who help our students in and out of the classroom.
“It is the expectation of the Board that academics and student achievement will be a top priority in the district, and under Dr. Townsend’s leadership and in collaboration with district and school leaders, we believe student achievement will begin to soar in Pickens County,” Chairman Green stated.
Dr. Townsend expresses his gratitude to the Board for choosing him to lead and serve as Superintendent of Schools for Pickens County. He reiterated that a focus on core beliefs together with accountability of all stakeholders, will allow Pickens County School District to rise and become a top performing system within the state of Georgia.