Dr. Jason L. Branch has been named the recipient of one of the most prestigious honors from the Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) – the Bill Barr Leadership Award. The award is named for and designed in honor of the highly-respected first executive director of GSSA, and is among the top public education awards in Georgia.

“This award is an acknowledgment of the collective work of over 1,000 staff members taking place daily. It is also a reflection of our world-class students, teachers, parents, and community,” said Dr. Jason L. Branch. “I am deeply honored to receive the Bill Barr Leadership Award and also to serve as superintendent of Oconee County Schools.”

Branch was nominated for this award – unbeknownst to him – by several of his colleagues from across the state. The award recognizes a superintendent for leadership excellence within his or her school system, as well as in their mentoring of other superintendents or those aspiring to the superintendency.

“Dr. Jason Branch is very deserving of this prestigious award for his leadership in the school system, among state superintendents, and within GSSA,” said Oconee County Board Chair Tom Odom. “The Board commends him for his leadership and for receiving this very fitting recognition.”

Branch has served as superintendent in Oconee County Schools since 2012. Under his leadership, the district has regularly been ranked as the top county system in Georgia, as well as the state’s top system for financial efficiency. During his time as superintendent, the system has built tremendous leadership capacity within schools and at the central office. The system has a 97.7% graduation rate, a 90% employee retention rate, and nearly all schools have achieved the state’s highest school climate rating,

Dr. L.C. “Buster” Evans, retired superintendent of Forsyth County Schools and current director of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, remarked, “As superintendent of one of Georgia's highest achieving school districts, Jason Branch has emerged and leads as one of Georgia's finest and most highly regarded school superintendents. In keeping with the legacy of the Bill Barr Award and its recipients over the years, Dr. Branch’s success has been enhanced by working effectively with a team of highly capable leaders. Oconee County Schools has repeatedly been among the highest achieving school districts in both curriculum-based assessments as well as the SAT. While I am certain Dr. Branch would deflect the praise for such achievements, I feel strongly that these accomplishments reflect highly on the leadership of Jason and his leadership team's influence on the district.”