.........Cole Pugh, Ed.D., Superintendent
Departments
Office of the superintendent
100 North Davis Road
Building C
LaGrange, GA 30241
706.812.7900
Office hours 8am - 5pm
Summer hours M-Th 7am - 5:30pm
Abbreviated Biography:
Dr. Cole Pugh took the helm as Superintendent of Schools for Troup
County School System in February of 2011. Dr. Pugh comes to Troup
County from Fort Worth, Texas where he was most recently
superintendent of Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School
District.
He has spent a total of 38 years in public education, 28
of those as a superintendent. During his career, Dr. Pugh spent
almost a decade in the classroom as a teacher before advancing to
the role of school principal. He has led several school districts
as superintendent. He received his undergraduate and master’s
degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas. He
acquired his doctorate in Administration and Supervision from the
University of Houston.
Dr. Pugh has taught graduate level courses
in public school finance and curriculum management at the
University of Houston-Clear Lake and Angelo State University in San
Angelo, Texas. He is one of approximately 25 people in the country
certified as a Curriculum Management Lead Auditor, and he leads
teams of educators in a thorough analysis of a school district and
how it is organized to support curriculum and instruction. Dr. Pugh
published articles on the benefits of a curriculum management
audit, implementing curriculum management audit report
recommendations, and performance-driven budgeting. He has presented
information on improving student achievement, curriculum and
instruction, budgeting, facilities long-range master planning, and
focusing resources on priorities on national, regional, and state
levels.
Dr. Pugh is married to an educator and has an adult
daughter and two teenage children.
Philosophy on Education:
The board and superintendent must function as the leadership team
to provide the vision, direction, and support necessary for a
successful school system. Comprehensive planning should be used to
focus resources on priorities. Two-way communication with district
stakeholders is a vital component, along with family and community
involvement. There should be a focus on the academic performance of
students. Educators must ensure that students perform well on state
and national accountability measures. This calls for quality
written curricula, effective teaching practices, formative and
summative assessments, and data analysis.
We must go beyond
existing levels of accomplishment to prepare students to function
as effective citizens, live personally satisfying lives, and
contribute to and improve society. It is also important to provide
a comprehensive program for students including academic and
extra-curricular activities in a safe environment. Skilled
employees should be provided with resources such as facilities,
technology, and professional development. Most employees do the
best job that they can every day based on their current level of
knowledge and skill. It is the responsibility of the district to
provide quality professional development opportunities for all
employees.
