Dublin City Schools’ Dr. Fred Williams named finalist for National Superintendent of the Year
Dublin City Schools says Dr. Fred Williams, the 2024 Georgia Superintendent of the Year, was selected as one of four national finalists from a pool of more than 13,000 candidates.
DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Dublin City Schools Superintendent Dr. Fred Williams is now one of four finalists for National Superintendent of the Year.
A Dublin City Schools news release says Williams, the 2024 Georgia Superintendent of the Year, was selected as a national finalist from a pool of more than 13,000 candidates.
Dr. Williams credits the honor to the district’s students, staff members and families.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m proud to have the chance to represent the students, staff and families that makeup Dublin City Schools on the national stage,” he said.
Under Dr. Williams’ leadership, Dublin City Schools has embraced charter flexibility, launching several initiatives like the Irish Gifted Academy and the Big Green Reading Machine. The district earned the title of Georgia’s Charter System of the Year in 2019 and the Charter System Foundation’s Leadership Development Award in 2023. The district’s graduation rate has soared by 27.4 percentage points under Williams’ leadership, rising to 97.7% for the Class of 2023.
Dr. Williams began his journey in 1993 as a health and physical education teacher at Susie Dasher Elementary and a coach for the Dublin High School football team. He served in several district roles, including assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent before his appointment as superintendent.
The National Superintendent of the Year program, now in its 37th year, bases its evaluation on leadership, communication, professionalism and community involvement. Dr. John Gothard of Minnesota, Dr. Kimberly Rizzo Saunders of New Hampshire and Martha Salazar-Zamora of Texas are the other three finalists.
Dr. Williams will join the other finalists at a national briefing at the National Press Club in Washington, DC in January.
The National Superintendent of the Year will be announced at the School Superintendents Association’s annual conference in San Diego in February.
According to the School Superintendents Association, a $10,000 college scholarship will be presented in the name of the 2024 National Superintendent of the Year to a student in the high school from which the superintendent graduated or the school now serving the same area.
