Peach Tree Times

Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin will lead the new Office of Rural Education and Innovation at the Georgia Department of Education.

Ragan-Martin has served as superintendent of the Early County School System – a district serving approximately 2,000 students in rural Southwest Georgia – since 2013, the Georgia Department of Education said in a July 28 press release announcing Ragan-Martin's selection.

“This is awesome news!” Jennifer L. Owens, president and CEO of children's advocate HealthMPowers, wrote on Twitter. “Dr. Ragan-Martin has been a fabulous advocate for her students down in beautiful Early County and will be a great champion for rural GA in this new role. Congrats!’’ 

Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin | Facebook

Ragan-Martin led the district to multiple recognitions from the Georgia School Boards Association, including Quality, Distinguished and Exemplary board status along with the Leading Edge Award in 2019, the Department of Education noted in its release. 

Her team will work hand in hand with school and community leaders to address gaps that were brought to the forefront during the pandemic, the release said. 

“Our rural schools and districts face unique challenges and resource gaps – and many of those challenges have only intensified due to the pandemic," state School Superintendent Richard Woods said in the release. “That's something I understand personally, as a former teacher and administrator in a rural Georgia school district. There is also, though, an opportunity for a transformational investment in rural Georgia that could change the lives of children and the course of their communities. That's what I'm tasking our new Office of Rural Education and Innovation with working toward. I'm thrilled Dr. Ragan-Martin has agreed to lead this work – her experience, commitment, and deep roots in rural Georgia make her the perfect fit for this role."

The Department of Education reports that the Office of Rural Education will work with low-wealth school districts with low student populations in high poverty/distressed regions of Georgia.