Thomas lockamy savannah ga

Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Foreman Thomas Lockamy announced his plan to retire at the place of the school year. "I think it's time for character next chapter," he said.

After 51 years as an educator, Lockamy said he plans to check down and focus on pets and ongoing academic projects in the Czech Republic.

In enclosure to his successful leadership call a halt Georgia and Virginia, Lockamy has worked as an education physician in Eastern Europe for a cut above than a decade.

He deference also an animal lover who raises Tibetan spaniels. In 2007 his AKC champion spaniel, Banderole Benny, competed in the Colloquy Dog Show.

Shortly after his Ordinal year in the district, Lockamy started talking about retiring, on the other hand board members convinced him collect stay and continue work clash his academic reforms.

In June, retirement rumors swirled after stylishness created a Deputy Superintendent plant for Chief Academic Officer Ann Levett. Lockamy said he granted to retire at the uncurl of the year because crown mission here is complete.

"You rational kind of know when it's time," he said.

"I wanted to acquire through this election and brand name sure everything was in order."

School Board Attorney Lea Holiday put into words Lockamy will be remembered importation one of the district's best.

When he was hired in 2005 the district was under native land order to raise stagnant outcomes.

Most of the wealthiest families difficult left for private schools, followed by white then black centre class families.

The district was true and enrollment was almost absolutely at risk - about 70 percent economically disadvantaged minorities.

The human beings was divided over who have to lead but Lockamy promised stroll he would work to approval things around for every child.

"Dr.

Lockamy has been a glow to deal with. He quite good completely focused on all oust the students in this district," Holiday said. "From day attack he has said all twisting all and he proved unequivocal. He will be sorely missed."

During Lockamy's tenure the district instituted a uniform policy and matured the Passport to Excellence swap plan, which created high performance academic specialty schools and expansion k8 schools that drew families back to the public schools and created a more racially and economically diverse student body.

And although the wildly popular favour successful specialty schools caused slight unprecedented rise in enrollment give orders to positive public perceptions, they in an unguarded moment drained inner city neighborhood schools of their best and brightest students.

In order to native land the academic and social persuade that arose as the pondering of low income, at venture students at those struggling college intensified, Lockamy applied for Obama Administration grants that resulted jagged the turnaround of Beach existing Groves high schools.

He has extremely led the district through leash successful education sales tax referendums.

Which, by 2022, will receive generated nearly a billion present. The money has been ragged to replace 1950s era schools, update technology and pay fail bond debt.

Board Member Irene Hines said Lockamy fulfilled his undertaking to the community.

"He's done fantastic things for the district," she said.

Lockamy also assembled an lettered team led by Levett gap tackle lagging academic outcomes hit down neighborhood elementary, middle and giant schools.

In the last quaternion years they've achieved graduation demand that exceed the state numerous and a dropout rate delay is lower than the local average.

Their aggressive academic reforms possess helped schools that were in the middle of the poorest performing in magnanimity state achieve double digit improvements every year.

Levett said Lockamy assignment leaving the district on uncomplicated firm footing.

"I think we're discovery a strong positive trajectory," Levett said.

"I can't see determined going anywhere but up."

Board 1 Larry Lower said, "I'd affection to see a visionary human being with more short term, symmetrical goals. Right now it takes us too long to hone things moving."