Carl Prescott hired as JCHS principal

Carl Prescott was driving a bus of students home from an afterschool program when he received the call offering him the position of principal at Jefferson County High School. There on the side of the road Prescott, a native of Girard and graduate of the Burke County High School, agreed to take over as the fourth principal at JCHS in the last 27 years.  

Prescott will be taking over from Dr. John MacAfee, who has served as principal for the past three years and steered JCHS through the COVID pandemic.  

This fall MacAfee will be taking over as principal of William James Middle School in Bulloch County.  

“I refer to any high school principalship and especially my time at Jefferson County as the toughest job you’ll ever love,” MacAfee said. “It has been a great experience. It really has been amazing, it’s jut that some other doors opened.” 

MacAfee said that he is proud of what he was able to accomplish while at JCHS. 

“We were on a state school improvement list and we’ve been able to get off of that list,” MacAfee said. “That’s a huge accomplishment and all the credit goes to the teachers and staff. I think we boosted some school climate and culture and I think I’m leaving with the school in good shape financially. Especially getting off that needs improvement list. That says we handled COVID better than a lot of schools in the state.” 

Jefferson County School Superintendent Dr. Sam Dasher said that the school board chose Prescott from a pool of 10 applicants.  

“We started advertising for this position just after spring break and I think we had a great group to choose from,” Dasher said. “We talked to the high school’s administrative staff and teachers about what they wanted to see in the next principal and built our interview questions around what they said. 

They said that they wanted someone who would be empathetic with the staff and students, who would not be afraid to share their opinions, but not try to reinvent the wheel; someone who would be a team player, who can be vulnerable and trust the teachers to do their jobs; someone who would be Jefferson County first, who could withstand pressure from stakeholders, be visible and present in the community. 

“I think his (Prescott’s) heart and passion for rural Georgia stood out during the interviews,” said Assistant Superintendent Stacy Arnold. “Educators made a difference in his life. That came through loud and clear. He seeks to give back. He has expectations but he’s relatable. I feel very strongly that he’s the right fit for us.” 

Prescott has been an educator for the last 17 years, serving as classroom teacher, middle school assistant principal, high school assistant principal and an interim principal at the middle school level. He is currently an assistant principal at Hephzibah High.  

“I’ve worked at all aspects of school,” Prescott said. “I’ve been a substitute teacher. I’m dually certified in special ed and general education. I’ve taught honors history, AP classes, special ed classes. We needed bus drivers and so I got my CDL.” 

He has coached five sports, served as master of scheduling, building coordinator, an administrator over a science and social studies department, health and physical education and even worked on his school’s cafeteria serving line when it was short staffed. 

A native of Girard and graduate of Burke County School District, Prescott received his undergraduate degree from Morris Brown College; his Master of Arts and Specialist degrees from Cambridge College. 

Dasher said that it was unanimous among the hiring committee that they wanted Prescott for the job, adding that he feels Prescott understands the rural community and what the system wants to provide through its schools. 

“There’s a difference in poverty in the rural area and poverty in the city,” Prescott said. “In the rural area we’re really heavy on family and the village-type mentality. For a lot of students, even in the city, the school was the only thing they had. They were guaranteed warm breakfast and lunch, enrichment activities, people who cared, sporting events. The school is a big part of the family structure. You’re getting the parents out there. You’re exposing the kids and parents to colleges.”  

Prescott said that he is excited about getting started in July when his contract begins. He wants to increase the school’s 90.5 percent graduation rate, work on subject mastery and focus on student achievement, climate and culture. 

“I believe that especially at school, everybody matters,” Prescott said. “It’s not just about students, it’s about everyone. In order for the students to be at their best...somebody has to clean up behind them, somebody has to teach them, when they’re sick someone has to take their temperature. Everybody in the school matters. And I really believe that in order to have a successful school you have to care about everybody.” 

He and his wife, Ricquetta, are the parents of three children, Aniyah, 18, Chloe, 16 and Cameron, 15. He and his family attend Old Storm Branch Baptist Church.  

The school system will hold a special welcome reception for him on Sunday, June 4, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Jefferson County High School.