Finalist Announced for Stephens County School Superintendent

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

The Stephens County Board Of Education has announced its choice for new School Superintendent.

The board has named former Gilmer County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey as the sole finalist for the job out of a candidate list of 31 applicants and five finalists.

By State law, the board must now wait 14 days before making his hiring official.  Dorsey is replacing Sheri Whiten who retired last Friday.

“I do feel like he is going to work very well with our people. He has a desire to work well with everyone and I think he will help us tremendously in increasing our graduation rate and in helping us with any financial difficulties that we have.  I was very pleased with him, his desire to do a good job,” said School Board Chair Dr. Beth Pinkerton.

Dorsey served as the Superintendent of Gilmer County Schools from 2010 through September 2013.  His contract there was bought out last year.

Prior to his time in Gilmer County, Dorsey also served as the principal of White County High School and of Berrien County High School.

“It is certainly an honor to be designated,” said Dorsey.  “I think there is a lot of quality leadership on the board and in the school system.  I know they have a great staff of teachers and support staff and I am certainly looking forward to serving the students, the staff, and the community of Stephens County. Being familiar with the community, having been a principal in White County, and knowing the quality of the school system and the area itself and all that Stephens County has to offer certainly was something that was very attractive to me.

Dorsey said he has also been impressed by the work of his predecessor.

He said Whiten did an excellent job in moving the Stephens County School System forward during her time as superintendent.