Hart Co. School Superintendent Sole Finalist Named

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The Hart County Board of Education has its sole finalist for the job of Superintendent of Schools.

At a called meeting last month, the board named Jay Floyd as its single finalist.

Hart County Interim School Superintendent Jennifer Carter said that after reviewing applications and interviewing a number of excellent candidates, the Hart County Board of Education determined that Floyd is the best applicant for the position.

Floyd is a native of Hart County and graduated from Hart County High School.

Carter said Floyd currently serves as the principal of Lowndes High School in Valdosta.

“From my understanding, that high school is very large,” Carter said Tuesday. “They pretty much have the number of students in their high school we have in our entire school system. They have about 3,000 students. He has eight assistant principals working under him. So, it’s actually a very large school compared to our high school.”

The Hart County Board of Education selected Floyd from a pool of 23 applications received from across Georgia and the southeast.

Carter said that in making its decision, the board specifically sought a superintendent who would work with all elements of the community and school system to establish goals and who would lead the Hart County School System to achieve those goals over time.

Also, Carter said board members relied on input from teachers and the community regarding the traits needed for a school superintendent.

She said among those traits was a superintendent with prior success as a classroom teacher and a willingness to listen to parents and staff, as well as an ability to be a visible part of the schools and the community.

According to Carter, the Hart County school board was also looking for someone with an ability to direct the system’s financial affairs and a strong work ethic.

Floyd earned his Bachelor of Science degree and his Master’s degree from Carson-Newman College and holds an Education Specialist degree in school administration from Lincoln Memorial University.

He began his teaching career as a teacher and coach at West Rome High School in 1989.

Floyd will be working with Carter in the coming weeks to achieve a smooth transition of leadership.

She said she is looking forward to working with Floyd.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with him,” Carter said. “Everyone has great things to say about him. So, I look forward to working with him and learning from him.”

The Hart County Board of Education must now wait the required 14 days before officially hiring Floyd and expects to vote to hire Floyd at its meeting in mid-August.

Carter said an official start date has not yet been determined.