About the Superintendent:

Mr. Kenneth Dyer was selected in February 2017 by the Dougherty County Board of Education to become the district’s superintendent after having served as Associate Superintendent and Chief Financial Officer.

Dyer earned his Bachelors and Master’s degrees in the areas of accounting and business administration (finance), respectively, from Albany State University. Dyer’s 23-year professional career includes experience in municipal government, commercial construction and as a small business owner; but, he is most known for his experience as an educational leader.

Serving over 18 years in leadership roles at the secondary and post-secondary education levels, Dyer served as the vice president and chief financial and operations officer at three colleges/universities prior to joining the DCSS in 2011. 

Driven by an insatiable desire to improve the lives and livelihoods of students and families in Dougherty County, Dyer has worked to build a culture of leadership in the district rooted in service above self, innovative thinking, continuous improvement, relationship building and community collaboration. 

A student of visionary leaders like John Maxwell, Dyer has structured his vision for the district around a strategic plan that was developed in collaboration with district and community stakeholders in 2020. This plan, titled “The Way Forward: Rigor, Relevance, Relationships and Resilience,” focuses all district efforts and resources in five priority areas: 

• Early Literacy

• Academic Rigor and Relevance

• Social/Emotional Wellness and Learning

• Investments in Human Capital

• Family and Community Engagement

With the support of the Dougherty County Board of Education, Dyer has worked to establish a culture where district priorities are rooted in one of those five priority areas.

Under his leadership, the district has rebranded itself as a district on the move. Since becoming superintendent in 2017, the overall district graduation rate has reached the highest level in district history at 87.1%. The district’s rate has also topped the state average five of the last six years. 

As of the start of the 2024 school year, data shows that the district’s focus on early literacy is having a positive impact. English/Language Arts results for third grade students on the Georgia Milestones, for example, show that the number of students scoring proficient or higher has improved beyond pre-pandemic levels and is the highest in district history.

Dyer has also made educational relevance a key component of the district’s academic focus. Through creative and innovative partnerships, the district has been able to develop programs that will resonate with students but also be more impactful in making a difference in their lives. Examples of this concept in action include a renewed focus on collaboration with local business partners for paid internships for students, new work-based learning opportunities and realignment of CTAE pathways with local industry needs and high-demand career fields.