Dr. Joseph (Jody) C. Barrow, Jr.

Fayette County Schools

Dr. Barrow began his career in education in 1980.  He is the (Retired) Superintendent of Fayette County Schools, having also served previously as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent across the K-12 spectrum in several Georgia school systems completing 40+ years of dedicated service.  He has been awarded multiple honors during his career; including being named the Georgia Association of Educational Leader’s Outstanding Educator, the prestigious Georgia School Superintendents Association’s Bill Barr Leadership Award, and being named the Georgia Partnership for TeleHealth Champion of the Year. He has been recognized by the Georgia Senate and House for his efforts in Educational Excellence, and was chosen as Superintendent of the Year for Georgia's Head Start Program and the Georgia Superintendent of the Year in 2017. 

During his career, Dr. Barrow’s accomplishments include improving student achievement, increasing graduation rates, and implementing/advancing cutting edge technology. He served as President of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) and of the Georgia School Superintendent’s Association (GSSA). He served on the National Governing Board and a member of the Executive Committee of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). Dr. Barrow has led construction projects that have received national recognition, established School Based Health Centers (SBHC), and led his district to being named the Georgia School Board's Association's (GSBA) Governance Team of the Year.  These accomplishments have been reached while dealing with massive budget issues and pandemic challenges. Dr. Barrow truly strives to be a “Champion for Children” in all endeavors, and works to put children first in every situation. He has most recently been appointed as Deputy Director for the Georgia School Superintendent's Association.