Superintendent

 

Kenny Garland is currently serving in his sixth year as a Superintendent in Jasper County.  Mr. Garland began his career in education as a classroom teacher in 1988 immediately upon graduation from college. His career spans across four school districts in two states.  He began his career at Nantahala School in Macon County, NC.  After serving one year, he moved to Hiwassee Dam High School in Cherokee County, NC where he served as a 9-12 mathematics teacher, head volleyball coach, assistant men’s basketball coach and substitute bus driver.   In 2004, Mr. Garland was named as the Principal of Hiwassee Dam High School.  After a successful six-year tenure of HDHS, Mr. Garland was promoted to become the Executive Director of Human Resources/High School Curriculum/District Athletic Director for Cherokee County (NC) schools.  In 2011, he was named the Associate Superintendent of Cherokee County Schools. On July 1, 2014, Mr. Garland was selected to become the Superintendent of Whiteville City Schools in Columbus County, North Carolina.  He served in the role from 2014-2019 where he relocated to Georgia to become the Superintendent of Jasper County Charter System.  The 2024-2025 school year will be Mr. Garland’s eleventh year as a Superintendent.      

Mr. Garland has continued to grow by participating in various leadership development programs, serving with special regional and state committees, and presenting to colleagues in various formats.  In 2014, he completed the Aspiring Superintendent Fellows Program located at Wake Forest University and was selected as the first person in the cohort to become a Superintendent in North Carolina.  He is credentialed with level six certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission in the following fields; Superintendent, Educational Leadership (Tier II), and mathematics 6-12.  

Currently, Mr. Garland serves on the Executive Board of the Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, Jasper County board of Health, and Middle Georgia Regional Service Agency Board of Control.

Mr. Garland believes in providing a pathway for student success beyond high school.  He understands public schools helped him to become the person he is today and hopes to provide a quality educational experience for all students in Jasper County Charter System.

Family is very important to Mr. Garland as he is very proud of his wife and children’s educational and professional accomplishments.  His wife, Carmen, is a 25-year veteran of education and has served as a classroom teacher, school and district administrator.  She is currently serving as the Principal of Peachtree Elementary School in Cherokee County, NC. His oldest son, Lucas, is a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a degree in Public Policy will be graduating in December 2024 from Ole Miss School of Law.  His youngest son, Camden, is a 2020 graduate of Jasper County High School and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in Georgia in Spring 2024 majoring in exercise and sports science.  He will be attending medical school at Mercer University in the fall.  Also, Camden was recently married to his beautiful bride Sarah Kate Mills.  

Mr. Garland’s hobbies are following college football, attending sporting events, golfing, travel, and enjoys spending quality time with family and friends.