During a meeting that lasted late into the evening, the Richmond County Board of Education approved a new middle school name, appointed district leaders, and mentioned improving student SAT scores.
Langford-Tutt Middle School and the Griffins Approved
Following months of community input, the board officially voted to name the district’s new middle school Langford-Tutt Middle School with the Griffins as its mascot.
The decision followed a recommendation from a naming committee that included parents and district officials.
“We were intentional and thoughtful about the name and mascot for this new location,” said Aletha Snowberger, who spoke to the committee. “It reflects both community history and the excitement for what’s ahead.”
Dr. Tommy Welch named deputy superintendent
The Richmond County Board of Education approved Dr. Tommy Welch as deputy superintendent of school improvement and strategic initiatives during Tuesday’s meeting.
Superintendent Dr. Malinda Cobb commended Welch, highlighting his strong background in education leadership. He previously served as chief culture and community officer at The Lovett School in Atlanta.
Before that, Welch worked in Gwinnett County Public Schools as chief equity and compliance officer and as a principal, earning recognition as Georgia Principal of the Year.
“Dr. Welch will play a critical role in aligning our instructional and organizational improvement efforts across the district,” Cobb said, superintendent of schools. “This position was created to ensure we are not only setting ambitious goals, but also building the systems and accountability structures needed to achieve them.”
“We look forward to working with him as we strengthen how we support schools and measure success,” Cobb added.
The appointment was approved unanimously by board members.
District names new principals
The Richmond County Board of Education approved two new principal appointments during Tuesday’s meeting.
Rischa Sturgis was named principal of Belair Middle School, following her leadership in opening the new campus earlier this school year.
Dr. Katherine S. Herrington was approved as principal of Gracewood Elementary School. Herrington previously served as assistant principal at Barton Chapel Elementary and has held instructional and leadership roles across the district.
Both appointments were unanimously approved by the Board.
SAT and ACT scores show steady progress
Director of Advanced Studies, Charlie Tudor, reported encouraging trends in the district’s college readiness exams.
The average SAT score for Richmond County’s Class of 2025 rose from 953 to 964 which is an 11-point increase from the previous year. This year also marked the highest number of test-takers since 2019, with 643 students participating.
Eight schools improved their averages, with Davidson Fine Arts and A.R. Johnson performing above both state and national means
ACT scores dipped on average in the county. However, Cross Creek, Glenn Hills, Hephzibah, and Josey all posted increases
Tudor attributed much of the progress to focused instruction and new initiatives.
“This past year, our curriculum department, in collaboration with ELA and math, came up with this idea of Test Tip Tuesdays,” Tudor explained. “Every Tuesday, in grades six through 12, students complete short SAT-style practice questions that build familiarity and confidence.”
He added that teachers, counselors, and administrators continue meeting regularly to expand preparation resources and promote college testing opportunities across all schools.
