The Clarke County Board of Education has unanimously approved a contract with Dr. Demond Means to begin Jul. 10 as superintendent of the Clarke County School District. Dr. Means first met with the community Apr. 3 at Whitehead Road Elementary School, during a two-week due diligence period required under Georgia Law. Met with strong community support, Dr. Means signed a three-year contract with the school district at its May 4 work session.

“The Board of Education is very pleased to officially announce Dr. Demond Means as the next superintendent of the Clarke County School District,” said Board President Charles Worthy. “Dr. Means has a track record as a visionary leader, as well as being an innovative and creative leader. I cannot imagine a more ideal incoming superintendent for the Clarke County School District and the Athens community.” 

Dr. Means is currently the superintendent of the Mequon-Thiensville School District in southeast Wisconsin. Under Dr. Means’ leadership the Mequon-Thiensville School District has been recognized as the best K-12 school district with an enrollment of 3,000 or more in Wisconsin by the state accountability system report card for three consecutive years. 

"I am ecstatic to join the Clarke County School District and the Athens community, and want to also thank the Mequon-Thiensville School District and surrounding community for their support over the last decade,” said Dr. Means. “I am excited to continue the trajectory the Clarke County School District has set in being a national leader in closing achievement gaps. I also look forward to rallying around the shared values of the Board of Education, community members, educators, parents and students in order to take the school district to new heights in the near future.”  

Dr. Means earned three degrees in Wisconsin: a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Concordia University, in addition to both a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Cardinal Stritch University. In 2015, he completed the American Association of School Administrators National Superintendent Certification Program. 

Means has over 23 distinguished years in education, having served in the following positions: superintendent, assistant superintendent, university adjunct professor, director for human resources, principal, associate principal, assistant principal and social studies teacher. 

This announcement follows a national search that drew 75 applicants from 19 states. The process also included three days of the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates meeting with 50 diverse community and school district focus groups. The search firm also assessed the results of a superintendent search survey that had nearly 1000 responses. The Board of Education conducted two rounds of interviews, which culminated in a unanimous decision to strongly support Dr. Means as the final candidate.