COE Alumnus named Georgia Superintendent of the Year

January 17, 2017

Alumnus Joseph (Jody) Barrow Jr., Ed.D.

Georgia Southern College of Education Alumnus Joseph (Jody) Barrow Jr., Ed.D., was named Georgia’s 2017 Superintendent of the Year during the December 2016 Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) and Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) Winter Conference in Atlanta.

Barrow is serving his fourth year as superintendent of Fayette County Schools. He began his career in education in 1980 and has since served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal and superintendent across the K-12 spectrum in several Georgia school systems.

“There are many amazing superintendents across Georgia, so being selected by one’s peers is truly humbling,” said Barrow. “I believe the recognition really is more about the reflection of the wonderful students, parents, teachers, administrators and community partners I have the pleasure of working with every day in the Fayette County School system. I am just fortunate enough to get to be one of the lead cheerleaders.”

Barrow has been awarded multiple honors during his career. He received the prestigious Georgia School Superintendents Association’s Bill Barr Leadership Award, was named the Georgia Association of Educational Leader’s Outstanding Educator and named the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth Champion of the Year. He was recognized by the Georgia Senate for efforts in educational excellence and was chosen as Superintendent of the Year for the Georgia Head Start Program in 2012.

In 2015, Barrow was selected as the College of Education Alumnus of the Year. He also serves as a member of the College’s Board of Advisors.

A Double Eagle, Barrow earned both his B.S.Ed. and M.Ed. in Health and Physical Education from Georgia Southern University.  

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research University founded in 1906, offers more than 125 degree programs serving 20,674 students. Through eight colleges, the University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs built on more than a century of academic achievement. Georgia Southern is recognized for its student-centered and hands-on approach to education. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.