A new principal will take the helm at the Elbert County Comprehensive High School come August.
Current ECCHS Principal Renee Padgent is set to retire at the end of the school year, and yesterday evening at a called meeting the Elbert County Board of Education approved her successor.
Elbert County School Superintendent Chuck Bell said there were about 15 total applications for the position, but one in particular stood out; current school superintendent Jason Kouns of Gilmer County.
Bell, after the called meeting, said they are looking forward to Kouns joining the school system, and that he feels the high school won’t miss a beat.
“We’re excited that Jason is joining our administrative team here in Elbert County. He’s got a multitude of experiences, and we can be excited that he is going to be able to step into this role and take the current initiatives that are already underway and keep them moving forward without losing a beat”, said Bell.
Kouns talked about what led him wanting to vacate his role as superintendent in Gilmer County.
“I really wanted to get back into the opportunity of working with students, working with faculty. Elbert County provides that opportunity in that they are making progression and are doing so with positive positive growth”, he said.
Kouns said one of the biggest factors that led him to Elbert County was the size and scope of the local community, which he said was very similar in size to Gilmer County.
“I want to really get out and become a part of the community. Really looking to facilitate how can I become what they want a high school to be”, said Kouns. “We are just privileged to be able to serve, we’re privileged to be able to work with their kids through out the day. We are a community school and that is what we are going to continue to optimize as we move forward.”
He did say that he and his family will indeed be moving to Elberton before the new school year begins.
The Elbert County Board of Education approved the hiring of Mr. Kouns with a 4-1 vote, as Board Member Jeff Burden voted in opposition of the hire.
After the meeting, Burden stated he voted against the hiring only for the reason that he felt there were plenty of local candidates that were qualified for the high school principal position.