At the regular session of the Coffee County Board of Education meeting on May 11, the board recognized Dr. Morris Leis for an award he recently received from GSSA.
Dr. Leis received the 2023 Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) President’s Award. This prestigious honor is awarded to superintendents for outstanding leadership in their school system and community, and was presented to Dr. Leis at the GSSA 2023 Superintendent Conference.
Dr. Leis was nominated by the Okefenokee RESA Executive Director, Dr. Greg Jacobs, who cited that Dr. Leis was leading the way to make the transition from a traditional high school to “Wall to Wall Academies” model.
He went on to say, “Dr. Leis is an excellent example of an educator who focuses on students first and then plans and directs based on the needs of students and high-quality strategies that address the defined needs of the students.”
In the nomination, highlights of Dr. Leis’ accomplishments as Superintendent of Coffee County Schools were shared, including, Raising graduation rate to the highest ever in Coffee County, implementing a systematic phonics program in all 8 elementary schools, being named Charter System of the Year in 2018, creating a Police Department, partnering with CRMC for a school based clinic and telemedicine, many innovative construction projects including the Billy Walker Ag Center, Broxton and Nichols school constructions, and the Clayton Mathis Performing Arts Center, along with being recognized as an exemplary school board every year since 2015.
Dr. Leis currently serves as the Chairman of Okefenokee RESA Board of controls, AASA Governing Board, Charter System Foundation, executive board member, Douglas Coffee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Boys and GIrls Club Board of Directors. He participated in the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, GSSA Superintendent Executive Leadership Program and AASA Urban Superintendents Academy.
Dr. Jacobs ended with, “ I know him well, he is a good father, husband, and community member of Coffee County.”
This current accomplishment, follows along with many awards and recognitions Dr. Leis has received through innovation he has spearheaded as the leader of Coffee County Schools.