Superintendent's Office

Dr. Philip Brown started on June 1, 2022 as the Superintendent of the Jackson County School System.

Since his arrival inside Jackson County, JCSS has seen tremendous growth in all aspects. As the fastest growing school system in the state of Georgia, Dr. Brown has overseen the construction and opening of two new schools -- Legacy Knoll Middle School (opened in Aug. 2023) and Heroes Elementary School (opened in Aug. 2024). Those two schools were constructed and opened without the Jackson County community incurring any new debt due to fiscal responsibility of the system by using E-SPLOST revenue, State Capitol outlay and General Funds to complete the construction. Additionally, Dr. Brown oversaw the system pass a General Obligation Bond and renewal of E-SPLOST in March of 2025, paving the way for the construction of three new schools in Hoschton. Those schools will open in August of 2027 and 2028.

Jackson County Schools has seen tremendous academic growth, improving in content mastery at all grade levels since 2022. Additionally, JCSS has seen a tremendous growth in students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses, with a record 1,029 students set to take 1,662 exams in 2026. That is compared to just 451 students and 676 exams taken in 2022. Furthermore, JCSS posted its highest graduation rate of all time in 2024 at 96 percent.

Since Dr. Brown's arrival, schools have received multiple awards. Five schools -- East Jackson Elementary School, Maysville Elementary School, East Jackson High School, West Jackson Middle School and South Jackson Elementary School -- have been named Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse Schools. East Jackson Elementary School and West Jackson Elementary School were named to the U.S. News & World Report's Rankings of Best Elementary Schools, while West Jackson Middle School was named to the Best Middle Schools list in 2024. East Jackson High School and Jackson County High School have continuously been named to the Best High Schools list, including in August of 2025.

Additionally, schools are regularly honored by the Georgia Department of Education for various achievements that include Title 1 Rewards Schools, Literacy and Math Leaders, PBIS Distinguished  Schools and AP Honors.

With a growing student enrollment, JCSS is committed under Dr. Brown's leadership to continuing to provide students opportunities. The Empower College & Career Center has added multiple new pathways since 2022, including heavy machinery, graphic design, and a new automotive lab that opened in August 2025.

Since Dr. Brown's arrival, Jackson County Schools has adopted a new five-year facility plan and a new five-year strategic plan, along with receiving a new accreditation from Cognia. The Jackson County Board of Education has also been named an Exemplary Board by the Georgia Schools Boards Association, the only times the Jackson County BOE has earned the honors.

Dr. Brown has served in a variety of roles in four different districts including as a middle school mathematics and science teacher, varsity head basketball and baseball coach, middle school assistant principal, middle school principal, high school principal, and superintendent. 

Prior to his role as Superintendent, Dr. Brown served as the principal of North Oconee High School for 11 years. While at NOHS, the school became regarded as one of the top high schools in Georgia, including being named as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. With a 98.9% graduation rate and A-rating from the Georgia Department of Education, North Oconee High School's overall performance and students' academic growth were higher than 99% of schools in the state. On numerous occasions by different publications, NOHS was named the top traditional high school in Georgia.

Dr. Brown has been published in numerous books and journals including Principal Leadership, Principal Matters, Gifted Child Today, AMLE Magazine, Middle School Journal, Middle Ground, and Techniques. Along with his publications, Dr. Brown has presented at over 50 educational conferences across the country.

In April 2025, Dr. Brown was named the Georgia Schools Superintendents Association's Presidents Award winner for Northeast Georgia RESA. In 2022, Dr. Brown was awarded the prestigious Jim Puckett Outstanding Education Award by the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders and Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. In 2013, Dr. Brown was named an Emerging Leader in the field of education by Phi Delta Kappa International, and Valdosta State University named him as the Graduate of the Last Decade in 2010.

Dr. Brown and his wife, Katherine, have four children, Landon, Owen, Lincoln and Annabelle.

Degrees and Certifications:

Doctor of Philosophy — Middle Grades Education, The University of Georgia
Education Specialist Degree — Educational Leadership, Valdosta State University
Master of Education — Instructional Technology, Valdosta State University
Bachelor of Science — Middle Grades Education, Valdosta State University
Superintendent's Professional Development Program — Georgia School Boards Association
District Office Professional Development Program — Georgia School Boards Association

Superintendent's Office

Amanda Hewell | Executive Assistant to the Superintendent
Email: ahewell@jcss.us