Balsz School District Governing Board names Dr. George Barnes as new superintendent
The Balsz School District Governing Board has selected Dr. George Barnes as its next superintendent. Dr. Barnes will begin his new role on February 1, leading a district of approximately 2,400 pre-kindergarten through 8th grade students and a faculty and staff of 260.
“We are very pleased to select Dr. Barnes as our superintendent and we look forward to working with him as he takes the helm of Balsz Elementary School District,” said Balsz Governing Board President Gail Knight.
“We had three very strong finalists competing for the job, and in the end, Dr. Barnes’ breadth of experience and vision for the district really set him apart,” Knight said.
Dr. Barnes has served in leadership roles in education for 15 of his 20 years in the profession. He has worked in Arizona as an administrator in schools at all levels and as a professor at the Arizona State University Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College.
Recently, as an assistant superintendent at a school district in a St. Louis suburb adjacent to Ferguson, MO., Dr. Barnes helped address academic and social opportunity gaps by leading with a philosophy that schools are the epicenter of change, and he worked hand-in-hand with community partners to address the needs.
Dr. Barnes earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Butler University, a Masters of Education in School Administration from Indiana University and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.
About the Balsz School District
The Balsz Elementary School District’s four exceptional schools in east Phoenix are Brunson-Lee, Crockett, Griffith, and Pat Tillman Middle School. In addition, Balsz is home to five early childhood learning centers, online academy, and a pediatric health clinic.
We value excellence, achievement, innovation and community and our mission is to nurture the unique skills and abilities of all learners. We focus on creating safe, inclusive and diverse learning environments to empower students to be globally competitive and innovative thinkers who contribute to their community’s sustainability.
Our highly trained teachers including many nationally certified educators work with parents and families to provide the best pathway for success for our students. For more information, visit www.balsz.org.
