Henry County’s school board is looking to a South Florida educator to lead its district.
John Pace III has been named the sole finalist to lead Henry County Schools as the district’s next superintendent, the Board of Education for the south metro Atlanta school system announced in a specially called meeting Monday.
Pace is a deputy superintendent of 331,500-student Miami-Dade County Public Schools — Florida’s largest school system — and oversees the operations of all traditional K-12 schools in the district, the system’s technical colleges and the Office of School Leadership and Performance. He earns about $195,000 annually.
“Thank you to the Henry County Board of Education for this opportunity,” Pace said Monday in a news release. “I am humbled and honored to be considered and selected as a finalist for the superintendent of Henry County Schools. I look forward to working with the students, parents, employees, and community in the continued ‘Pursuit of Exceptional’ in HCS.”
The Henry school system has 44,000 students.
Pace was not in attendance at Monday’s meeting.
The Henry school board will wait 14 days, as required by state law, before holding a final vote on whether to hire him, at which time they will set his contract and start date. The district plans to hold a meet-and-greet to introduce Pace to Henry citizens, though a date has not been finalized. Henry’s school year starts Aug. 1.
“Participants in our survey wanted a superintendent with experience as a principal, teacher, and assistant superintendent,” school board Chairwoman Sophe Pope said, referring to an online questionnaire the district used to gauge what the public wanted in the school system’s next leader. “Dr. Pace checks all those boxes.
“They wanted a leader who promoted vision, culture, and instructional leadership, with a background in operations, resource, and personnel management. He has extensive experience in all those areas.”
Board member Makenzie McDaniel said, “Dr. John Pace III is a teacher’s teacher, one that brings a plethora of knowledge and experience that will propel this district forward in growth and exceptionalness.”
If Pace is confirmed, he will replace interim superintendent Carl Knowlton, the district’s first Black leader. Knowlton was tapped to lead the system in February after Mary Elizabeth Davis left to become leader of the Cherokee County school system.
About John Pace III
Pace holds a doctorate of education from William & Mary and a master’s in music education from Florida International University. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Miami in 2000 in music business and entertainment industries, said a bio he provided to Henry Schools.
His career as an educator includes stints as a music instructor and band director, an assistant principal, a principal and a region superintendent. He was named chief operating officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools in 2021, a job he held until being appointed deputy superintendent in July 2022.
