Rick Townsend
Golden Isles College & Career Academy- Chief Executive Officer
Rick Townsend's career in education spans over two decades. During this time, he has served as a teacher, coach, career-technology supervisor, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and acting superintendent. His career includes working with all levels pre-kindergarten through twelfth, rural to suburban, and economically disadvantaged to wealthier systems around the State of Georgia. He is in his eighth year at the Golden Isles College & Career Academy.
Dr. Townsend is a graduate of Reinhardt College, the University of Georgia, and the State University of West Georgia. He completed requirements for a Doctor of Education in School Improvement from the State University of West Georgia in 2011.
Dr. Townsend is a member of many professional organizations. He was recently selected to serve on the Ford Next Generation Learning National Council. Dr. Townsend was also selected previously for the Georgia Leadership Academy's Institute for New Leaders and the Superintendents Professional Development Program, a two-year executive level program. He has also participated in the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, the Georgia School Superintendents Association Human Resources Institute and was inducted into the Phi Delta Kappa educational honor society.
Dr. Townsend has been active in many community and philanthropic organizations, which include Kiwanis, Lions Club, and United Way. Recently, he was selected to attend the Kiwanis International Conventions in Toronto, Canada and Tokyo, Japan as a voting delegate and is past-president for Brunswick Kiwanis Club.
He lives on St Simons Island with his wife Carolyn, and their three daughters, Haley, Emily and Molly.