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CONYERS, GA – The Rockdale County Board of Education has earned the Georgia School Boards Association’s (GSBA) 2026 Exemplary Governance Team Recognition, the highest level of achievement in GSBA’s Governance Team Recognition Program. This marks the 11th year the Board has received GSBA’s highest distinction.
The recognition honors the governance team’s exceptional commitment to effective governance, continuous improvement, transparency, collaboration, strategic leadership, and accountability, all of which support strong district leadership and student success.
“Receiving GSBA’s highest governance recognition for an 11th year reflects the Rockdale County Board of Education’s sustained focus on principled leadership, thoughtful decision-making, and meaningful collaboration,” said Superintendent Stephanie S. Johnson. “This distinction affirms the Board’s commitment to keeping students at the center of its work while strengthening the systems, supports, and opportunities that help every student thrive.”
To earn the Exemplary Governance Team Recognition, the Rockdale County Board of Education successfully met the rigorous criteria established by GSBA. These criteria reflect the highest standards of effective governance, strategic leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement. The Rockdale County Board of Education also earned Exemplary recognition in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. The recognition program was paused in 2017 and later revised to require an even higher level of commitment from school boards and individual members.
GSBA’s Governance Team Recognition Program was established in 1998 by Georgia superintendents and board members and is based on the State Board of Education’s Standards for Effective Governance. As one of the first programs of its kind in the nation, it recognizes Georgia school governance teams for their commitment to effective governance and continuous growth.
The GSBA Governance Team Recognition Program includes three levels: Quality, Distinguished, and Exemplary. Achieving the Exemplary level represents the highest level of recognition within the program.
For more information about GSBA’s Governance Team Recognition Program, including recognition levels and criteria, visit the GSBA Awards and Recognition webpage at gsba.com/awards/.
