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2021 GSSA President’s Award
Walton County School District Superintendent Dr. Nathan Franklin was awarded the 2021 Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) President’s Award at the spring Bootstrap Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Nominated by the Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (NEGA RESA) executive director, Keith Everson, Dr. Franklin was selected as the 2021 recipient by members of the GSSA Board, including GSSA Executive Director John Zauner.

“Dr. Franklin is the definition of an active, engaged school district leader," wrote Dr. Everson. "He believes in being at the table and part of the decision-making process on matters related to public education. He is a humble leader and credits his Walton County team with the success of the school district.”

Dr. Franklin is serving in his fifth year as superintendent of the Walton County School District. Since beginning his education career in 1996, Dr. Franklin has also served as a teacher, associate principal, athletic director, assistant principal, principal and assistant superintendent.

During his tenure as superintendent, the Walton County School District has continued to achieve academic excellence and reach higher levels of success each year. Since 2016, WCSD has seen a 10 percent increase in its graduation rate, achieving a graduation rate of over 90 percent in 2020. The graduation rate for students with disabilities increased by 20.3 percentage points in 2020 and has doubled since 2016. In addition, the district has over 70 percent of Advanced Placement students scoring a 3 or higher on AP exams, over 1000 dual enrollment courses taken and all schools holding a 3 or higher on the State’s Star Climate Rating with 14 schools having 4 and 5-stars, achieving the highest state rankings for positive school culture.

Through his involvement with a variety of state and national professional organizations, Dr. Franklin serves public education in many capacities. He is a member of GSSA and the National School Superintendents Association (AASA). In addition, he is a Leadership Georgia alumnus (2019), serves as the 2020 vice-chair and 2021 chair-elect of the NEGA RESA Board of Controls and sits on the GSSA Board of Directors as well as the Georgia School Boards Association Risk Management Fund Board of Trustees.  

At the local level, Dr. Franklin is an active member of the Walton community serving on a wide range of committees and boards including United Way of Walton County, Walton County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Walton County Board of Health, Foothills Education Charter High School Board of Control, Walton County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, Walton County Community Development Board and Leadership Walton Alumni Association.

For more on GSSA visit www.gssaweb.org.