Dr. Craig Pouncey Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Selected as Alabama’s 2018 Superintendent of the Year

October 23, 2017

Montgomery, AL, October 23, 2017-- School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) and Classworks, an SSA Diamond Level Business Member, are proud to announce the selection of Dr. Craig Pouncey as the 2018 Alabama Superintendent of the Year. Dr. Pouncey was selected from among nine district finalists, each of whom is an outstanding superintendent.  He will be honored at the SSA Superintendent of the Year Luncheon on January 9, 2018 held during the association’s Legislative Conference in Montgomery.  Classworks will provide Dr. Pouncey with a Superintendent of the Year ring plus travel expenses to the American Association of School Administrators (AASA-The School Superintendents Association) National Conference on Education, to be held February 15 - 17, 2018, in Nashville, TN.  At the National Conference, he will receive a bronze medallion with the Superintendent of the Year emblem, and a plaque from AASA, SSA’s national affiliate and national sponsor of this program. Each state’s winner will be recognized during the opening General Session where the national winner will be announced.

 

While serving in many capacities within education during the last 37 years, Dr. Pouncey has served the last three years as Superintendent of the Jefferson County School System. Early in Dr. Pouncey’s career, he served as a teacher in Montgomery and Crenshaw County School Systems from 1980-1994; as Assistant Principal in Crenshaw County Schools from 1994-1995; and was elected superintendent of Crenshaw County Schools in 1995 where he served until 2003. In July 2003, Dr. Pouncey became the Director of Administration and Finance for the State Department of Education. He then served as Assistant State Superintendent from February 2005-May 2010; as Deputy State Superintendent from June 2010-December 2011; and as Chief of Staff from January 2012-June 2014.

 

Dr. Pouncey holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Samford University; an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Auburn University Montgomery; an Administration Certificate; an M.S. in Elementary Education; and a B.S. in Elementary Education, all from Troy University.

 

“We are very pleased to have Dr. Craig Pouncey representing Alabama as our Superintendent of the Year. I first met Dr. Pouncey when he was a local superintendent in Crenshaw County and an influential leader in this association, but it was after his move to the State Department that I really had the opportunity to work with him side by side on important issues dealing with budget and policy. In a phrase, he is a “superintendent’s superintendent.” He understands the enormity and complexity of the work, and he wants every local system to succeed in providing opportunities for children. It is no small achievement that Dr. Pouncey led the state’s finances during the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression, and he was able to help everyone stay afloat. More recently, since he has returned to local work in Jefferson County, he has shown the unique ability to pull together multiple schools systems to stabilize the tax base and ensure great school facilities and programs for years to come. We are very pleased to have Dr. Pouncey representing us on the national stage.”, says Dr. Eric Mackey, SSA Executive Director.

 

Members of the State Board of Education who represent school systems within Jefferson County had the following remarks upon hearing that Dr. Pouncey had been selected:

 

Stephanie Bell: “Dr. Pouncey is an outstanding choice who has served at every level of education from the classroom to superintendent to State Department of Education. I witnessed his expertise firsthand and enjoyed working with him when he was at the Department because he could explain complicated finances in simple terms for the community to understand. Many superintendents have mentioned to me how much they appreciate Dr. Pouncey. Over the past three years, Jefferson County has seen many improvements under his leadership, and he will represent our state well as he advances to the national competition.”

 

Jeff Newman: “Dr. Pouncey is an excellent representative for Alabama superintendents. I have been impressed with him since I was a local superintendent in Lamar County. He has had a successful career wherever he has worked. As a local elected superintendent, he became one of the most well-respected superintendents, even though he was from a small system. Then, as deputy state superintendent, and now as superintendent of one of the state’s largest and most successful systems, he still works on behalf of children every day. Local superintendents have tremendous respect for Dr. Pouncey. He knows his business, and people constantly tell me that he always calls them back and that he shows the same respect for someone struggling in a poor, rural county or a larger, wealthier area. Alabama superintendents can be proud to have Dr. Pouncey representing them as Superintendent of the Year.”

 

Dr. Yvette Richardson: “Dr. Pouncey is very deserving of this honor because of his knowledge of education in every part of the state. Ultimately, he is the definition of a true professional.”

 

Dr. Pouncey serves on the Heart Association’s Board of Directors; served as Treasurer of the Alabama Forestry Association; was a member of the Crenshaw County Forestry Planning Committee; served on the South Central Alabama Child Development Council; on the Extension Service Advisory Committee; and was President of the Luverne Kiwanis Club.

 

Nominations for this award were submitted and voted on by members in each SSA District. Each finalist is known as an outstanding leader and held in high regard by other superintendents as well as by his or her board, staff, community, and parents, and has distinguished himself or herself through stable leadership, innovative ideas, student achievement, or leading through difficult situations. Other Superintendent of the Year finalists include Dr. Aaron Milner, Saraland City Schools; Mr. Kyle Kallhoff, Demopolis City Schools; Mr. Ted Watson, Andalusia City Schools; Mr. Joe Windle, Tallapoosa County Schools; Mr. Mitchell Guice, Cherokee County Schools; Dr. Keith Davis, Winfield City Schools; Dr. Trey Holladay, Athens City Schools; and Mr. Matt Massey, Madison County Schools. Each of these superintendents does an outstanding job and deserves the recognition through this program.

 

School Superintendents of Alabama (SSA) provides a united voice for superintendents in our state. SSA pro- motes public education in Alabama and the nation; is the leading advocate for children and youth in our state; provides a forum for discussion of educational issues; provides professional development for superintendents and their leadership teams to promote the efficient and effective operation of the school system and the achievement of students; and is the organization for superintendents to influence policy makers and legislators.

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Diane Black

Member Services Manager

(334) 262-0014

For more information, contact Jennifer Treichler at jtreichler@classworks.com