Throughout his 16 years as a member of the Newton County School Board, Almond Turner feels he has done a lot for the students of his community.
As the calendar rolled over to 2016 he decided he wanted to continue that trend.
Turner announced he is running for re-election as a member of the school board recently.
“During my tenure on the board, we have made great strides in improving the quality of education in our school system,” Turner said. “I am running for re-election because I want to make sure we continue the great things we are doing to improve our schools.”
While Turner has been on the board, the school system has installed VIEWPATH and SAFE in almost all schools, decreased discipline referrals and expanded professional learning options, earning recognition by Howard University. The system has also installed stop arm cameras on buses, increased graduation rates from 73 percent in 2013 to 83 percent in 2015.
“We have a lot of great things we’re doing now and I want to make sure they’re followed through,” Turner said.
Along with serving on the school board, Turner is also the deputy chief of the Covington Police Department, having served with the department for 43 years.
He is a 1968 graduate of the R.L. Cousins School, attended Fort Valley State College as a music major, DeKalb Community College where he received an Associate of Art degree in Criminal Justice and Troy University where he earned a bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He is a 1982 graduate of the FBI National as well as 2002 graduate of Columbus State University’s Command College.
Turner is a member of the Georgia Association of Chief of Police and the International Association of Chief of Police.
Turner is married to Anita (Franklin) and they have three children Dwahn, Shaye, Shundra and eight grandchildren. He is a member of the Springfield Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon and director of security.
“It has indeed been an honor to have the support that I have received from the community as we work to make our school system the best it can be.”