Dr. Jim Hawkins is one of seven superintendents in the state of Georgia who is being recognized for his excellence. He was honored during June’s Dalton Board of Education meeting for the accomplishment.
There are 181 superintendents in the state of Georgia, and every RESA (Regional Educational Service Agency) representative nominates a candidate from their region.
Dr.
Hawkins was nominated by the North Georgia RESA executive director, Larry Harmon.
“It’s an opportunity to nominate anyone in the service area who we feel is doing an exemplary job in their role,” Harmon said of those who are nominated for the award. “They’ve shown leadership, expertise in the job, and have made contributions to the community.”
Mr. Harmon said he nominated Hawkins because not only did he possess everything the award stood for, Harmon believes there is no one better for the DPS superintendent than Dr. Hawkins.
“He’s doing an exemplary job,” Mr. Harmon said of Dr. Hawkins. “He really seems to be the right person at the right place at the right time.”
Dr. Hawkins’s nomination was also to be a surprise. Harmon got all information needed to the award and wrote a nomination letter. “If I did a good enough job writing the letter, I knew he’d get it,” Mr. Harmon said.
The winners were announced in April, and out of the 16 state RESAs, Dr. was named as one of the seven winners.
“My first emotion was surprise because I did not know about the nomination,” Dr. Hawkins said. “I was not at the conference when it was announced and first learned about it when I received a ‘Congratulations!’ text from my friend Michele Taylor, superintendent in Calhoun City Schools. My second emotion was a rush of thankfulness at where I am and the great teams I work with in Dalton Public Schools.”
When Dr. Hawkins was recognized at the June meeting, Mr. Harmon told those in attendance about the President’s Award and also presented Hawkins with a valuables box.
“It was an easy choice,” Mr. Harmon said of nominating Dr. Hawkins, “because of all he’s done for the community and the teachers. Dalton Public Schools always has good administrators, and he’s just another example.”