The Dougherty County Board of Education voted recently to name Barbara Harvey as the principal at Martin Luther King Jr., Elementary School.

Harvey, who is currently the assistant principal at Robert H. Harvey Elementary School, will take over school operations on July 1.

Harvey is known as a results-oriented leader whose ability to motivate and inspire students has shown incredible results alongside Dr. John I. Davis, III at Robert Harvey Elementary School.

A 20-year veteran educator originally hired with the Dougherty County School System as the coordinator of Albany Early College, Harvey has earned a reputation as a leader who, while sensitive to the challenges students face outside the school, can motivate them towards finding their passion and meeting their potential.

A graduate of Worth County High School in Sylvester, Harvey earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Albany State University. In 2004, she was awarded her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership also from Albany State University.

She believes that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring and stimulating environment in order to grow and mature emotionally, physically and socially.  It is her desire to help her students meet their fullest potential in these areas.

“Mrs. Harvey’s leadership experiences allow her to be flexible within any situation. She has the charisma, passion, heart and poise to make a difference in the students’ lives. I have enjoyed working alongside her for the past two years as her loyalty, attention to details and dedication to ‘teaching & learning’ has been evident “everyday,” Dr. John I. Davis, III, principal at Robert Harvey Elementary School, said.