Business & Finance

Fulton County (Ga.) district chooses reigning National Superintendent of the Year as its new leader

Philip D. Lanoue, now superintendent of Clarke County (Ga.) schools, is the sole finalist for the top job in the 96,000-student Fulton County system outside Atlanta. 
Feb. 5, 2016
2 min read

The Fulton County (Ga.) school board has chosen Philip D. Lanoue, the 2015 National Superintendent of the Year, as its sole finalist to become the system's next superintendent.

Lanoue,  superintendent of the Clarke County School District in Athens, Ga., will succeed Robert Avossa, who left Fulton County last year to become superintendent in the Palm Beach County (Fla.) district.

The Fulton County district in suburban Atlanta has about 96,000 students. Clarke County has about 13,000 students.

"Dr. Lanoue's background and experience match what is important to our community," Fulton County Board President Linda McCain said in a news release. "He brings an unparalleled level of credibility with 38 years of educational experience. Dr. Lanoue's leadership experience transcends geographical regions and has included rural, suburban and urban settings.

In selecting Lanoue as superintendent of the year, AASA, The School Superintendents Association singled out the administrator for creativity in meeting the needs of students; for strength in both personal and organizational communication; for improving his administrative knowledge and skills and providing professional development opportunities and motivation to others; and for active participation in local community activities and an understanding of regional, national and international issues. 

Lanoue has received other accolades during his career. He has been named one of the Top 50 Technological Innovators in Education by the Center for Digital Education and Converge, as well as Boston Northwest Principal of the Year, National Association of Secondary School Principals Vermont Principal of the Year, and Hockey Coach of the Year.

Prior to becoming Clarke County School District's superintendent in 2009, Lanoue was an area assistant superintendent for the Cobb County (Ga.) School District. Before that, he served as principal for 18 years in four high schools in Massachusetts and Vermont.

Lanoue is expected to join the Fulton County district on May 1.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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