The Oglethorpe County Board of Education named Phillip Powell as the sole finalist for superintendent on Tuesday.
Powell will replace Beverley Levine on July 1, pending the approval of his contract at the BOE’s work session on March 31, Board Chair Becky Soto said.
“Ms. Levine has laid an unbelievable foundation, along with our board, and it is up to me to make sure we don’t let them down,” Powell said after the BOE’s unanimous approval.
Powell began as a high school physics and chemistry teacher. He spent the majority of his 22-year career in education in Commerce, where he was assistant principal of Commerce High School and then principal of Commerce Middle School. Currently, Powell is the chief academic officer for Commerce City Schools.
After being in Northeast Georgia for the last decade, Powell said he decided to pursue the Oglethorpe County superintendent position because of the district’s "opportunity and potential to grow.”
“It was just the right fit; the right opportunity at the right time,” Powell said.
Powell was joined at the meeting by his wife, Joni, and daughter, Anna Kate.
“I have a number of years left, so I plan on staying for the long term and making a difference,” Powell said.
Soto described the board of education’s search as “extensive.”
“We were all humbled by the quality of the candidates that reached out to us,” Soto said.
Levine announced her retirement in November 2025, after a 11-year career as Oglethorpe County Schools superintendent. Levine started as a teacher in 1987 and also served as an assistant principal and principal before becoming the superintendent in 2015.
There were also a number of personnel changes, including the retirement of assistant superintendent Kanya Cornish, effective June 30.
That means the Oglethorpe County School System will have turnover at its top two positions, and the BOE will have a new chair with Soto deciding not to run for reelection after 12 years on the board.
In addition, resignations included Steve Mason, who is Oglethorpe County High School’s boys wrestling coach, and boys basketball coach Carlos Strong. They were in their positions for two years.
Samantha Mathe, a teacher at OCES who implemented the Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety (C.H.A.M.P.S.) program in the schools in 2021, also has resigned.
All resignations are effective in May, according to the personnel update.
In other news, the BOE:
- Recognized the Young Georgia Authors System Level winners. They include Maddie Caldwell (kindergarten), Remi Rankin (first grade), Oaklyn Anderson (second grade), Lakelyn Kotch (third grade), Juliette Graham (fourth grade) and Sophia Marchette (fifth grade).
- Approved OCES and OCMS recommendations for contracts for 2026-27.