After 46 years of tireless dedication to public education including 16 years leading Carroll County Schools, Superintendent Scott Cowart announced his plan for retirement to the Board of Education on Thursday, March 19. Cowart plans to serve through the end of June 2026, or until the Board officially appoints his successor, ensuring a seamless transition.
Superintendent Cowart's career is a reflection of his deep commitment to public education and to the students of Carroll County. His journey began as a teacher and coach at Central High School where he was then promoted to assistant principal and eventually principal, serving a total of 21 years.
Cowart left Central to deepen his impact and experience by serving as Superintendent of Monroe County Schools for eight years. He next joined Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement where he lectured, coached, and mentored school districts across the state regarding their leadership practices. Leveraging this experience, Cowart returned to Carroll County in 2010 to lead the district he calls home.
Since taking the helm at Carroll County Schools, Cowart has guided the district through a period of historic growth and remarkable achievement. His visionary “24STRONG” efforts to unify and elevate the district have been a daily commitment to making Carroll County a premier school district by positively changing lives every single day.
“Serving the students, staff, and families of Carroll County has been the greatest honor of my professional life,” Cowart said. “For the last 16 years, our mission has been to ensure every student graduates and is successfully enrolled, employed, enlisted, and engaged in their community. I am incredibly proud of what our team has accomplished together, and I know that the foundation we have built is strong enough to support even greater heights.”
“The success we’ve achieved belongs to the phenomenal team of dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff who commit themselves to our children every day,” he said. I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support of our Board, and especially to our community – our parents, businesses, and local partners – for embracing our efforts. Our shared vision of becoming a premier school district was only made possible through this shared spirit of cooperation for the greater good of every child.”
Key Achievements and Growth
Superintendent Cowart’s 16 years of leadership, in close partnership with the Board of Education, are defined by systemic changes and landmark achievements:
System Alignment: Cowart facilitated a unified strategic direction, successfully aligning instructional and operational goals across five clusters of schools and transitioning the district from a “System of Schools” to a cohesive School System.
Historic Graduation Growth: The district achieved historic graduation growth, raising the rate from below 70% to a record high of 97.7% in 2025, consistently outperforming the state average.
Focus on Post-Graduation Success: The district developed “G+” Certification, which ensures every graduate moves beyond receiving a diploma and leaves high school with a verified plan for his or her next step in life – enrolled, enlisted or employed.
National STEM Distinction: Carroll County Schools became the largest district in the nation to secure National STEM Certification across all 23 campuses, highlighting a commitment to future-ready education.
First Choice District Strategy: The district instituted a unified long-range strategy, aligning all schools and operations to establish the district as a First Choice educational option for all families.
Performing Arts Center and Fine Arts: Cowart championed the design and construction of the Carroll County Performing Arts Center and an expansion of Fine Arts Programs across all grade levels in the system.
Infrastructure Improvements: Under his leadership the system has completed monumental facility modernizations, improvements and upgrades, ensuring every cluster – Bowdon, Central, Mt. Zion, Temple, and Villa Rica – offers state-of-the-art learning environments for students.
The Path Forward
With Superintendent Cowart’s announcement, the Board of Education will schedule a meeting to discuss a timely process for selecting the next superintendent. This process will be designed to honor the strategic direction and culture of success that has been established over the last 16 years, ensuring Carroll County Schools continues to build upon its vision to be recognized as a premier school district.
“The Board is deeply grateful to Mr. Cowart for his visionary leadership and his unwavering dedication to our students,” Board Chairman Kerry Miller said. “The improvements we’ve witnessed across every aspect of our school system during his tenure are nothing short of remarkable. Our focus now is on creating a seamless transition and upholding our commitment to the continuity of direction that will build on the good work of the last 16 years. We will ensure our process is designed to find a leader who will continue to elevate our district to the next level.”
Once the Board selects up to three finalists, it must wait a minimum of 14 days following that announcement before taking a final vote to officially appoint the new superintendent.
As he prepares for his transition in the coming months, Mr. Cowart emphasized that his relationship with the district is not ending, but merely changing.
“I look forward to being a lifelong Advocate, Ambassador, and Ally for Carroll County Schools,” he said. “My heart will always be 24STRONG, and I will continue to help this system positively change lives every day.”