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Barron

University of Georgia College of Education alumna Laurie Barron, of Coweta County’s Smokey Road Middle School, has been named a finalist for the 2012 National Middle Level Principal of the Year Award.

Barron, who was named Georgia’s 2012 Middle School Principal of the Year in February, met with representatives from the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), which sponsors the award, in Arlington, Va., July 23-24.

Barron (BSEd ‘96), of Newnan, is one of six finalists from which one middle level and one high school National Principals of the Year will be chosen. Both winners will receive $5,000 grants. The four finalists will receive $1,500 grants. All finalists will be recognized on the NASSP’s web page and in a fall edition of NewsLeader magazine.

“I am very fortunate to work with a group of people who make things like this possible, and I am very honored to represent the state of Georgia in this process,” said Barron.

An educator for more than 17 years, Barron taught English at Newnan High School for six years before becoming an assistant principal at Arnall Middle School and moving to the helm of Smokey Road. She earned her bachelor’s from UGA, her master’s in administration and supervision from the University of West Georgia, and her specialist and doctorate degrees in educational leadership from the University of Sarasota.

Barron has served on the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education Partnership Council and the Governor’s Education Advisory Board for Principals, and she is an active member of both GASSP and NASSP. She has been the recipient of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders Outstanding Middle Level Educator Award and the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals Exemplary Leadership Award.

National Board-certified, Barron was Newnan High School’s Teacher of the Year in 1999 and NHS STAR Teacher in 2000 and 2001. Smokey Road Middle School is a State of Georgia Title I Distinguished School and a Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals Breakout Middle School.

Barron received her bachelor’s degree from UGA in English education.  Her husband, Daniel, is also a UGA grad (BSEd’93) in exercise and sports science. He spent 12 years in education and was assistant principal at East Coweta Middle School, when he decided to enter the private sector. He now works with Southwest Airlines in the maintenance and engineering department with technical operations.

“My husband and I both graduated from the University of Georgia and are still avid fans and supporters. We enjoy spending fall Saturdays in Athens with our football season tickets, and we try to get back a few times a year for other events,” said Barron. “I am looking forward to being there this December when the Smokey Road Middle School Wind Ensemble performs as a guest band at the 22nd Annual University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival.”

The NASSP will announce the national high school and middle school principals of the year in September 2012.

NASSP profile of Laurie Barron

2012 National Middle, High School Principals of the Year Finalists Announcement