Shawn Arévalo McCollough

Appointed December 14, 2006, Shawn Arévalo McCollough serves as the Greene County School District Superintendent. His focus resides in transforming the district into a “high performing organization that empowers children to be great.”

Before his work in Greene County, McCollough committed his entire career to helping the most needy kids and families in Phoenix, AZ. As Superintendent of the Maricopa County Regional School District, he proved to be a perfect match for the NCLB era, balancing a passion for the social welfare of students with a rigorous focus on academic performance and accountability for results. In fact, during July of 2005, Shawn was recognized by US Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings as she called him a "Warrior for our Kids."

Positioned as the first Hispanic principal in North Georgia at the Gainesville Elementary School, McCollough believed that all children will rise to your level of expectations. With his simple recipe of high expectations, hard work, and love, he was able to steer his diverse school against the dangerous stereotypes that often cripple our minority children.

Further, Shawn holds leadership appointments on a number of national and state boards including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Advisory Committee for Family Support, the Coalition for Accountability in Education Advisory Board, the Governor's Latino Education Committee of Georgia, the Executive Board for the League of United Latin American Citizens of Georgia, and the University of Georgia Latino Advisory Council.

McCollough’s leadership and efforts have been featured nationally in several articles including, but not limited to: the New York Times, Associated Press, ABC World News Tonight, and CNN en Español. His extensive honors and acknowledgments range from the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options to recognition by CSPAN from Former US Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Additionally, McCollough’s notable efforts were even singled out during President George W. Bush’s 2004 acceptance speech.

Working as a consultant to school districts in a number of states, Shawn has helped leaders transform failing urban schools by focusing on accountability, standards based curriculum reform, and data disaggregation. Having made his way up through the ranks of seven school districts in both secondary and elementary at-risk schools as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent, Shawn's front line experience is extremely relevant and timely.