Special Week honors Rockdale County Board of Education

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is joining in a statewide celebration this week to salute the efforts of local school board members. The week of March 10 – 14, 2025, has been proclaimed School Board Appreciation Week in Georgia. The weeklong observance calls attention to the contributions of local boards of education.

“During this week of appreciation, we pause to honor and show our gratitude to each of our Board members,” said Acting Superintendent Shirley Chesser. “Collectively, this Board has maintained Exemplary status for each eligible year, a total of eight times. They are focused on continuous improvement for our district and provide the leadership and resources to propel us forward. Our Board members regularly attend district and school-level activities demonstrating their commitment to supporting all students, staff, and families. We are sincerely grateful for their commitment and the hours they contribute to making RCPS a great school system.”

Board members are elected to be the community’s voice on education and represent a continuous commitment to local citizen control and decision-making in education.

The men and women serving our school district and their years of service are:

Sandra Jackson-Lett (Chair)                    6 years (January 2019)
Janie Jones (Vice Chair)                          2 years (January 2023)
Pamela J. Brown                                      8 years (January 2017)
Larry Cox                                                3 months (January 2025)
Heather Duncan                                    8 years (January 2017)
Justin T. Kenney                                      Almost 2 years (April 2023)
Akita Parmer                                           4 years (January 2021)

As constitutional officers of Georgia, school board members are responsible for setting educational policies, employing school personnel, providing buildings and equipment, operating a transportation system and disbursing school funds. As community leaders, school board members serve as advocates for the children in local public schools and must study, evaluate, and decide what actions are in the best interest of those students.

The Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA) sponsors the celebration. The mission of GSBA is to ensure excellence in the governance of local school systems by providing leadership, advocacy, and services, and by representing the collective resolve of Georgia’s 180 elected boards of education. For more information, visit www.gsba.com.