The Oglethorpe County Board of Education, which oversees Oglethorpe County elementary, middle and high schools, consists of five board members and one superintendent. Each member serves a four-year term and is elected to represent one of five districts.
The BOE holds regular work sessions and meetings once a month. The next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m Tuesday Nov. 10 at the main office (735 Athens Road, Lexington), which is across from the OCHS softball field.
The Oglethorpe Echo asked each Board of Education member to answer questions via email or text about themselves and their position.
Comments have been edited for length and clarity.
District 1: Guillermo Camacho
Camacho, who represents District 1, has served since 2024.
Q: What is something that you have seen change throughout the school system?
A: Going from a primary and elementary school to one big elementary school.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: Being involved and working together as a team to make the best decisions for the kids, staff and community.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
A: I attended 13 different schools in 12 years because we moved around a lot when I was a kid.
Q: What is something that you would like to see in the next few years within the school system?
A: The blue roof and trim on the multipurpose building painted to match the new elementary school. I also would like to see grass at the elementary school.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: Spend time with my family at the lake or at our farm.
Q: What is the craziest/coolest thing that you have done?
A: I served in the Marine Corps.
District 2: Tim Poole
Poole, who has represented District 2 since 2021, declined to be interviewed.
District 3: Susan Robinson
Robinson, District 3 representative, has been in the position since 2023.
Q: What is something that you have seen change throughout the school system?
A: I grew up in, graduated from and retired from teaching in Oglethorpe County, so I have seen many changes over the years.
Q: How have you seen the school system grow over the past few years?
A: The school system has grown from two schools to the three that we have now. The enrollment has grown, and the diversity of students has changed. Since I taught here, I have seen so many former students grow into wonderful adults. Meeting them at community events and hearing about what they currently are doing is so much fun. Many of my former students now teach in our school system and are teaching my grandchildren!
Q: What is something that you would like to see in the next few years within the school system?
A: I would like to see our system continue to focus on students and staff. So many people — nutrition workers, bus drivers, custodial staff, maintenance workers, teachers, support personnel, administrators and their staff, central office staff, parents — pour into our students and often do not receive the recognition they deserve.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I enjoy reading, camping and spending time with my family.
District 4: Jake Willcox
Willcox is the BOE vice chairman. He has represented District 4 for the last six years.
Q: What is something that you have seen change throughout the school system?
A: The updating of the facilities has been the biggest change I’ve seen.
Q: How have you seen the school system grow over the past few years?
A: The updated facilities, instructional materials and teacher professional development have raised the bar for the education our students receive.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: Being able to support our teachers, students and system with the things they need to be successful.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
A: I made a living in the rodeo entertainment business for 12 years before selling real estate became my primary job.
Q: What is something that you would like to see in the next few years within the school system?
A: I’d like to see our system compete academically at a state level.
Q: What is something that people may not know about you?
A: I grew up in OC and graduated from here in 2005.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: My wife and I compete in roping competitions and have several horses and a herd of cows.
Q: What is the craziest/ coolest thing that you have done?
A: I asked Lauren to marry me on stage at a Lonestar concert after a rodeo in front of 10,000 people.
District 5: Becky Soto
Soto is the District 5 representative for the BOE and its chair. She has been in the position since 2017.
Q: What is something that you have seen change throughout the school system?
A: Since joining the BOE, I have witnessed so many changes and growth. The team has changed, we built a beautiful new school, we improved our academic facilities and our athletic facilities.
Q: How have you seen the school system grow over the past few years?
A: I believe the school culture has improved in many ways, more students are graduating, we have seen our student-athletes bring home multiple state championships and I think the pride inside and the reputation from others have improved. We aren’t afraid of having the hard conversations about where we are or what we need to get there.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: Hands down my favorite part of being a member of the BOE is the kids and having a front row to their success. Performances, reward ceremonies and graduation.
Q: What is an interesting fact about you?
A: I love traveling, but I’ve only left the country twice. Last year, I took a planned trip to Disney and was only away from home (for) a total of 36 hours. It was so fun!
Q: What is something that you would like to see in the next few years within the school system?
A: In the next few years, I hope that our school system will be more competitive with our local teacher supplements and our students’ success will continue to rise and be recognized and respected more.
Q: What is something that people may not know about you?
A: I’m pretty transparent, but people may not realize that I can be a very sensitive introvert when my social battery gets low.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I don’t have a lot of free time, but if I am home, I love to watch Netflix and chill with my favorite living being! My mini golden doodle, “Gus Gus” is a great lazy day partner.
Q: What is the craziest/coolest thing that you have done?
A: The craziest and coolest thing I’ve ever done is run for public office three times! Despite the crazy, it’s been a heck of a rewording ride, and I’m proud of our schools and our Patriots.
Superintendent: Phillip Powell
Powell has been superintendent of Oglethorpe County schools since July 2026 and has 22 years of experience in education.
Q: What is something that you have seen change throughout the school system?
A: We’ve implemented a strategic plan focusing on attainable outcomes with a what, why and how we will achieve the goal.
Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
A: Implementing a vision that Oglethorpe County Schools can be the top rural school district in Georgia.
Q: What is something that you would like to see in the next few years within the school system?
A: Our school system being ranked in the top 5 districts in Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) and among the top 40 districts in the state.
Q: What is something that people may not know about you?
A: I was an organic chemistry major and heading to medical school before going into education.
Q: What do you like to do in your free time?
A: I like to paint, hike and camp.
Q: What is the craziest/coolest thing that you have done?
A: I got tased as a middle school principal when my students achieved some of the highest scores in the state on milestones. We made a bet. I lost.