The Clarke County School Board recently named Interim Superintendent Dr. Xernona Thomas as the new superintendent for the district. We asked Thomas her reaction to having both backing from the board and community support.
“Humbled, honestly is the word. This is not what I had ever expected to be my career path. My purpose is just to provide some consistency and continuity during a time of significant transition.”
With 28 years’ experience, the native Athenian has a unique perspective of the system.
“I recognize the dichotomy that exists within our community, and there’s such a spread in those who have access and those who lack access. It’s something that I'm very aware of, and that keeps me awake at night.”
Dr. Thomas says leading during a pandemic presents its own set of challenges.
“But that's the most challenging part is that no day, almost, is ever void of some new decisions, some new problem that has to be solved, decision that has to be made, that you never had to make before. When came out in March, we first had to determine, how are we gonna feed our children? Ok, now how are we going to help them learn?”
Thomas says she’s ready to continue working on behalf of Clarke County students.
