Eddie Johnson named new principal at Dougherty High School
Current Albany Middle School principal is replacing Jeffery Ross in January
The Dougherty County School Board was recently recognized as a Board of Distinction by the Georgia School Boards Association. Shown front row from left are board members Melissa Strother, Velvet Riggins and Geraldine Hudley. Shown back row from left are Superintendent Butch Mosely and board members James Bush, Dean Phinazee and Robert Youngblood. (Staff Photo: Terry Lewis)
By Terry Lewis
ALBANY — The Dougherty County Board of Education voted Monday to accept a recommendation from Superintendent Butch Mosely to realign the leadership at Dougherty Comprehensive High School and one of its feeders — Albany Middle School — as soon as teachers and students return from the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
In the move, Dougherty principal, Jeffery Ross will join the district’s Academic Services Department and oversee the system’s high school math curriculum. Albany Middle School Principal Eddie Johnson was approved as Ross’ replacement.
Albany Middle Assistant Principal Angelica Fowler-King will assume the duties of principal at Albany Middle on an interim basis for the remainder of the year.
After emerging from a closed session, the Board voted 6-0 to approve the superintendent’s recommendations.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to take on this challenge and look forward to working with the students, the talented staff at Dougherty, and their dedicated alumni to make it the best high school in Dougherty County,” Johnson said. “I’ll certainly miss the team we’ve been able to put together at ‘the Middle,’ but am excited for Mrs. Fowler-King to continue the momentum that we’ve created.”
According to sources within the DCSS, the shift at Dougherty had been considered for some time, with the system planning to having then-Dougherty Athletic Director Harley Calhoun replace Ross. Those plans, however, were changed earlier this month when Calhoun was named as the new principal of Worth County High School.
“We’ve been observing the situation at Dougherty for awhile and we finally came to the conclusion that there were some issues (Ross) was not going to be able to change,” Mosely said. “We were afraid of losing faculty (at Dougherty) and were concerned Harley would come after some of our best teachers. But Eddie Johnson is a proven leader and we are comfortable with our decision.”
Dougherty High faculty and staff are scheduled to meet in the Media Center after dismissal on Wednesday to discuss the matter.
The Christmas break begins Monday, with teachers and administrators to return Jan. 3. Students resume classes Jan. 5.
In other action, the board approved buying 10 new school buses. Five of the buses, which will be paid for through a state bond and SPLOST funds, are committed to pre-K and exceptional students and will have seat belts.
The next board meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9 at the School Administration Building, 200 Pine Ave.
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