The Houston County Board of Education approved the Superintendent’s recommendation for several key positions at the monthly meeting held on January 13. Mrs. Alyson Keenom was named as the Assistant Superintendent of School Operations. She will begin this new role in June following the retirement of Dr. Cheryl Thomas. The Board also named two new Directors of School Operations. Ms. Alicia Conner and Dr. Amy Barbour will also begin their new roles in June, filling the positions of Mrs. Keenom and Dr. VaRee Harrell, who will retire at the end of May.

Mrs. Alyson Keenom has been with the Houston County School District since 2004, serving most recently as a Director of School Operations. She is a graduate of the Houston County School District and began her teaching career at Houston County High School as a math teacher. After nine years of teaching in the classroom, she was selected as Assistant Principal of Instruction at Houston County High and was in this role for six years. Mrs. Keenom served as the Principal at Bonaire Middle School for five years before joining the School Operations department.

“I am grateful to Dr. Rogers and the Board of Education for this opportunity to serve as the next Assistant Superintendent of School Operations,” said Keenom. “The Houston County School District helped shape who I am today, and it means so much to serve a community I care deeply about. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to support our schools, staff, students, and families.”

Keenom earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from Valdosta State University. She obtained a master’s and specialist degree from Georgia College and State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate at Columbus State University. She and her husband, Chris, have two children – Chace and Colton. 

Ms. Alicia Conner currently serves as the Principal of Matt Arthur Primary School. She began her teaching career in 1997 at David A. Perdue Elementary as a second grade teacher. She also taught kindergarten at Lake Joy Elementary before being named as the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Linwood Elementary in 2006. In 2013, she helped open C.B. Watson Primary as the Assistant Principal of Instruction. In 2016, Conner was named Principal of C.B. Watson Primary, and she was named the principal of Matt Arthur Primary School in 2023.

“I am truly honored to accept the position of Director of School Operations, and I want to thank Dr. Rogers and the Board of Education for their trust and confidence in me,” said Conner. “I look forward to working alongside our dedicated school principals and district leadership to strengthen operations and to support our schools, students, and families.”

Conner holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southwestern State University, a Master of Education from Georgia College and State University, and an Elementary Education Specialist from Troy University. She received her Educational Leadership endorsement from Mercer University.

Dr. Amy Barbour has served as the Principal of Veterans High School since 2018. Before that she served as the Assistant Principal of Instruction at Veterans High since 2010. She began her career as a high school English teacher in North Carolina and Alaska before coming to Houston County High School in 2004. She served as an Assistant Principal at Houston County High before joining the Veterans High leadership team.

“I am excited for the opportunity Dr. Rogers and the Board of Education have given me to serve our district in a larger capacity as the Director of School Operations,” said Barbour. “It has been an honor to live, serve, and educate my children in the Houston County School District, and I look forward to supporting our schools and community as a whole as we continue to do great work every day.”

Barbour received a bachelor's degree in English with secondary education certification from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned a master’s degree and a specialist degree in School Administration and Leadership from Georgia College and State University. In addition, she has a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Leadership from Columbus State University. She is married to Colonel Stephen Barbour, and they have two children, Hannah and Landon.

For additional information about the Houston County School District, visit www.hcbe.net.