Media release from Rome, GA City Schools:
For a third consecutive year, the Rome City Schools Board of Education has been named an Exemplary School Board for 2025 by the Georgia School Boards Association (GSBA).
This recognition highlights the board’s commitment to continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration, all of which play a key role in enhancing educational opportunities for every student in the district. The Georgia School Boards Association honors school boards that demonstrate strong governance, helping to create a positive educational culture that supports student learning and achievement.
Rome City Schools Board of Education met or exceeded the criteria set forth by GSBA to earn the honor.
RCS board members include Board Chair Faith Collins, Vice Chair Will Byington, Toni Blanchard, Pascha Burge, Dr. Melissa Davis, Jill Fisher, and Alvin Jackson.
“I am very excited to hear that our school board has been named an exemplary board for the third straight year. We continue to work hard as a board so that we can better serve the students, parents, and staff of Rome City Schools,” Board Chair Faith Collins says. “This is an honor, but it also means that we need to keep working to help ensure that Rome City Schools remains one of the best school districts in the state.”
The Georgia Board of Education developed state standards for governance that formed the foundation for GSBA’s tiered awards and recognition program. The program provides additional ways for school boards to increase their effectiveness. Exemplary status is the highest level of distinction and requires boards to meet several criteria, such as providing evidence of a system strategic plan, demonstrating accreditation compliance, and exceeding the minimum training requirements.
The GSBA Governance Team Recognition Program was developed by Georgia superintendents and board members based on the state board of education’s standards for effective governance to recognize exemplary leadership.
In 1998, the Georgia School Boards Association was one of the first school board associations in the nation to develop a program of standards for local boards of education.
The GSBA Board recognition program is a three-tiered program. For more information on the GSBA award categories, you may visit the GSBA website for awards and recognition to view the criteria for all tiers of the program.
