After serving as an assistant principal at two Bartow County schools for a combined eight years, Judson Smith is stepping into the role of principal at Allatoona Elementary School.
“I was honored and excited to receive the call from Superintendent Terza offering me the principalship,” said Smith. “Serving as a principal has been a professional goal of mine and learning that district leadership had confidence in me was both humbling and energizing. Bartow County Schools has a rigorous and thoughtful selection process, and I take seriously the trust placed in me. I am committed to upholding that trust by always making decisions that are in the best interest of our students.”
Smith brings with him more than 21 years of experience in education, all of which have been spent serving students, families, and educators in Bartow County Schools. His career reflects a deep commitment to student success and a wide range of instructional and leadership experience across grade levels and learning environments.
Smith began his educational career teaching Emotional Behavior Disorder (EBD) classes, followed by four years as an inclusion special education teacher. He then spent seven years as a fifth-grade general education teacher, instructing students across all subject areas. His instructional excellence was recognized when he was named Pine Log Elementary’s Teacher of the Year.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to serve on several county subcommittees, including helping write the grant for Bartow County Schools’ first 1:1 student laptop initiative and serving on the district’s Instructional Technology Committee following its implementation,” said Smith. “I also supported Pine Log Elementary’s application to become a Model PLC school and worked closely with a dedicated team to achieve State-Certified STEM School recognition.”
For the past eight years, Smith has served as an assistant principal, seven years at Pine Log Elementary School and one year at Emerson Elementary School. In these roles, he worked closely with students, staff, and families while supporting school operations, instructional improvement, and school culture. He credits his time working under Principals Mrs. Tracy Alford and Mrs. Paige Bennett as instrumental in shaping his leadership philosophy and reinforcing the importance of keeping student well-being at the center of every decision.
“Allatoona is a great community, and the school has shown strong gains over the last few years,” said Smith. “First and foremost, I want to continue building on that success. Students are our future, and my goal is to ensure they are well prepared as they move forward in their educational journeys. Providing students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to pursue their dreams is one of the most important responsibilities we have as educators.”
Smith says that while Bartow County continues to grow, it still maintains a “small-town feel,” something he values deeply. He enjoys investing in the community he calls home with his wife, Darla, an educator at Taylorsville Elementary School. The youngest of their four children attends school in Bartow. When the Smith family isn’t traveling, Smith can often be found at the grill, cheering on the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Bulldogs, and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“My path to education has been shaped by a variety of experiences, from growing up on a multigenerational family farm, to time spent in the business sector working in aircraft interiors following 9/11,” added Smith. “Those experiences reinforced the values of hard work, problem-solving, and service, which continue to guide me as a leader. I’m excited to bring that perspective with me as I serve our Wildcat family.”