MCBOE Named GSBA Exemplary Board

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The Montgomery County Board of Education (MCBOE) was recently recognized for its effectiveness and excellence in governing the school system through the Georgia School Board Association (GSBA) 2025 Exemplary Board Recognition.

This recognition is the highest level of achievement in the GSBA’s recognition program, and acknowledges the Board’s steadfast commitment to effective governance, continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration, all of which contribute to fostering strong schools and maximizing opportunities for every student in the district.

To earn this distinction, the Board had to meet 9 rigorous criteria that tested the Board’s strategic planning, vision, selfassessment, superintendent, board training, board norms and protocols, accreditation, board members’ ethics, and fiscal responsibility. The standards for Exemplary Boards are designed to ensure that local school boards provide outstanding leadership and accountability in service to their communities.

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Ronda Hightower commented on the achievement. “Receiving this recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our governance team,” she remarked. “We are committed to making decisions that reflect what is best for students first and foremost.” This board has demonstrated time and time again their belief that “The right decision becomes clear when the focus is on students.”

The GSBA Board Recognition Program was developed by Georgia superintendents and school board members, based on the State Board of Education’s Standards for Effective Governance. Established in 1998, it was one of the first programs in the nation to set clear, measurable standards for local boards of education.