The Polk County Board of Education took a vote on combined personnel items before closing out their session this evening, and one of those new hires is a College and Career Academy CEO to replace rising Superintendent Dr. Katie Thomas.
The board approved new College and Career Academy CEO Gary Morris to replace Thomas during the session. He will start on April 1 in his new role, Thomas reported.
“The Polk County College and Career Academy Board of Directors and I are excited to have Mr. Gary Morris join our team as the new CEO,” Thomas said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education and College and Career Academies. We look forward to continued success under Mr. Morris’ leadership.”
Morris comes to Polk County after serving more than three years as the Director and Principal of the Douglas County College and Career Academy, where he headed up their institute located in Douglasville. Prior that, he served as an Assistant Principal at Chapel Hill High School, and was previously Director of the CTAE program at Haralson County High School. He also served as an educator at the middle school level.
Morris holds degrees from the University of West Georgia and Kennesaw State University, with a focus on secondary education and education leadership.
Along with Morris’ hire, PSD also announced new principal Tonia Reynolds at Northside Elementary, and Jessica Lanham will serve as principal at Van Wert Elementary.
