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Clarke Central High Principal Maxine Easom Receives Johnnye V. Cox Award Writer: Matthew Hunt, 706/583-0811, ugadawg8@uga.edu Contact: Maxine Easom, 706/357-5200, EasomM@Clarke.k12.ga.us
Easom (R), who has served as Clarke Central High School principal since 1999, receives award from Cathy Sielke, coordinator of UGA's educational administration and policy program.
Maxine Easom, principal of Clarke Central High School in Athens, recently received the Johnnye V. Cox Distinguished Service Award from the University of Georgia College of Education in recognition of her significant contributions as a supervisor and leader in state and local organizations and institutions.
The award, which is presented annually by the college’s program of educational administration and policy, recognizes an individual for significant contributions in supervision and leadership. It is given in honor of Cox, who became a UGA faculty member in 1946 and was considered a trailblazer as one of the most preeminent early supervisionists in the state and served as mentor to many other icons in the field of instructional supervision. She retired from UGA in 1971.
Easom began her career in education with Clarke County Schools as an assistant teacher in 1966, soon becoming a full-time teacher at Barrow Elementary School.
She returned to UGA to earn a master’s degree in elementary education and then an Ed.D. in curriculum and supervision.
Returning to Clarke County Schools, she taught at Barnett Shoals Elementary for several years, before being named principal at Gaines Elementary. She also served as an adjunct instructor in UGA’s department of curriculum and instruction during the late 1980s. She was named the first principal of Fourth Street Elementary in 1990, and W. R. Coile Middle School in 1995. She was named principal of Clarke Central High School in 1999.
“When I came to the university in 1999, the word was, ‘If you want to see a leader, visit Dr. Easom,’” said Sally Zepeda, an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy.
Easom is an active member in the Georgia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Educational Sorority and Phi Delta Kappa. She has also been involved in such organizations as the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals, and has served as vice president for the District L Association of Secondary School Principals.
“Dr. Easom’s efforts at school improvement have been recognized by the number of schools and school systems that have sought her counsel about instructional development,” Zepeda said. “She has worked tirelessly to improve education for the children of Clarke County, taking leadership roles in the development of after-school programs for at-risk children and she has presented the results of many of her initiatives throughout the years at statewide conferences.
Easom has also held leadership positions outside of her field, serving as vice-president of the Athens Hospital Authority for two of the six years she was involved.
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