Henry County Board of Education Earns Prestigious 2025 GSBA Exemplary Board Recognition

HENRY COUNTY, GA – The Georgia School Boards Association recently recognized the Henry County Board of Education as an Exemplary Board for 2025.

“It is an honor to receive Exemplary Board recognition from the Georgia School Board Association,” said HCS Superintendent Dr. John Pace III. “Our governance team is guided by the conviction that a highly effective school district starts with a highly effective board. That philosophy is at the root of everything we do, ensuring we fulfill our vision to ensure a high-quality, world-class education for every student and our mission to empower all students with exceptional opportunities and access that lead to success in a global society.”

GSBA’s annual Recognition Program uses a three-tier system with Quality, Distinguished, and Exemplary levels to inspire and celebrate exceptional board governance.

Exemplary Board recognition is the highest mark of distinction in GSBA’s Recognition Program, presented to Georgia school boards that have met or exceeded rigorous criteria, including demonstrated commitment to maintaining high governance standards and creating a thriving culture of success for students and their communities.

The designation further acknowledges the board’s dedication to maximizing opportunities for all students through continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration. The standards for Exemplary Boards are designed to ensure local school boards provide outstanding leadership and accountability in service to their communities.

The 2025 honor is the board’s fifth Exemplary Board award since 2020. Additionally, in 2023, the board was named Governance Team of the Year for Large Districts.

Current members serving the Board of Education are as follows:

• Chair Sophe Pope (Dist. 4): sixth year of service
• Vice Chair Annette Edwards (Dist. 2): 10th year of service
• Dr. Pam Nutt (Dist. 1): 28th year of service
• Jennifer Carter (Dist. 3): 10th month of service
• Makenzie McDaniel (Dist. 5): fourth year of service

Adherence to a unified governance model provides the foundation for impactful strategic initiatives benefiting students and employees in every building across HCS. The result has been several noteworthy successes under the district’s current 2021-2026 Community-Inspired Strategic Plan.

Recent accomplishments include early construction on the 171,855-square-foot, state-of-the-art Henry County STEM High School set to open in fall 2027. Additionally, targeted investments in school safety and security, as well as highly effective personnel and cutting-edge resources, have influenced student outcomes in improved graduation rates and performance as measured by testing systems such as the College and Career Ready Performance Index and Georgia Milestones Assessments.

The district’s governance model and prioritization of the community’s voice underscore a collaborative, proactive, and student-focused approach that has been key to its consistent appearance on the GSBA’s list of top-performing boards.

“We are so proud to have earned this esteemed recognition once again,” said Pope. “This honor reflects our commitment to responsible stewardship and our promise to Henry County families that we will prioritize their hopes, dreams, and aspirations for public education, so they have confidence in our work to ensure bright futures begin in Henry County Schools.”

Henry County Board of Education and other Exemplary Boards will be honored at the 2025 GSBA/Georgia School Superintendents Association Annual Conference held in Atlanta in December.

GSBA established the Board Recognition Program in 1998 as one of the first programs in the nation to set clear, measurable standards for local boards of education.