Brown to retire as Lumpkin's superintendent

On a weekday morning at the Lumpkin County School System home office, Dr. Rob Brown was still conducting business as usual.
But soon Brown will pursue a different daily routine—that of retirement.
The Superintendent is moving on after seven and a half years at the helm of the Lumpkin public school system. He has chosen to transition during the middle of the school year and feels that plan is going smoothly.
“I have been trying to soak in the moment in recent weeks,” Brown said. “For example when we watched the field goal that won the football playoff game in double overtime.”
Brown’s years in Lumpkin have been filled with many fond memories, but he remembers when he first visited town.
“On the day of my interview it was snowing in Dahlonega,” Brown recalled.
That day, Brown’s wife Betsy visited several places in town and met people to get an idea of what the town was like.
His positive impression of the school board and the inviting atmosphere in Dahlonega assured him that he had found the right place for his family.
One challenge at the beginning was that Lumpkin already had a successful school system, so Brown had to find ways to improve things even more.
He began by listening to the local employees to gather information.
“All that guided our strategic efforts,” he said.
Brown’s strategy was essentially to hire great people and let them do their jobs—from the teachers, coaches, nutrition and facilities staff members and others.
“They take great pride in their work,” he added.
Brown is proud to have seen success at each school and credits the teachers and other staff for those accomplishments.
He pointed to the improvements in graduation rates (second highest in the state at 99.5 percent last year), as well as achievements in many of the extracurricular programs, including basketball, wrestling, baseball, football, JROTC, literacy and many others.
He pointed out one recent award that is particularly meaningful as Lumpkin was named the state Charter System of the Year.
Still displayed in his office were degrees and more than one University of Alabama football souvenir.
“Those are the last things to be taken down,” he laughed.
Brown’s enthusiastic support of the other SEC school has often been the subject of may jokes during his time with the school system.
But during his years as superintendent, Brown displayed the same enthusiasm for all things relating to Lumpkin County.
“None of our successes were because of me,” he said. “It’s the collective efforts of everyone in our school system.”
Brown said that they plan to move to Florida to be closer to family. “That will be our home base.”
But for the time being, they are planning to live much of the year in Peachtree City, as Brown has accepted a part-time position with the Georgia School Superintendents Association that will allow him to advocate for support of public education at the state capital.
When the legislative session is less busy in the fall, Brown will also dedicate some of his time to working with new superintendents.
He expressed gratitude for his wife’s support at every turn of their journey.
“My wife has been a trooper,” he said. “Before we came here she told me ‘Where you go, I go.’”
When not working during retirement, the Browns plan to spend more time with family and hopefully take in a few more Kenny Chesney concerts and college football games.

Former Deputy Superintendent Sharon Head will step up as the new Superintendent of Lumpkin County Schools.