Lee’s Dowling GASSP Principal of Year

LEESBURG, Ga. — Lee County High School Principal Kevin Dowling has been named the Georgia High School Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.

Dowling learned of the honor in a surprise announcement in the school’s cafeteria on Monday, surrounded by staff and teachers.

“For the first time in my life, I am actually speechless,” Dowling, who has been LCHS principal since 2006, said. “I usually wear a tie four days a week to work, and I don’t wear one today and run into all these cameras.

“This goes beyond shocking.”

Dowling then heaped praise on his teachers.

“This award really belongs to everyone at this school,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor. I really don’t know what else to say.”

Dowling was informed of the award by GASSP Executive Director Melton Callahan.

“I cannot tell you how proud all of us are for Kevin and the Lee County School System,” Superintendent Larry Walters said. “This is quite an accomplishment. There are 425 high school principals in 185 districts in Georgia. This is a wonderful honor for Kevin and the system as a whole.”

Dowling will attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in the fall and will represent Georgia in the national High School Principal of the Year competition for the National Association of Secondary School Principals.