Boling steps into position at Valdosta High School

By Rabyn Ratliff

VALDOSTA — New Valdosta High School principal Gary B. Boling is stepping into his administrative role this week, after being named for the position Monday, and looks forward to working with the Valdosta school system and community to educate and train successful students.

Joining the school system and local community from North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Boling has several years of experience in different areas of school administration. In addition to his 10 years as a middle and high school principal, four years as an assistant principal, Boling, 50, spent 11 years in the classroom as a Social Studies teacher and coach.

“My belief has always been that we teach and coach children,” Boling said. “We don’t teach math, social studies, or coach football, we teach and coach boys and girls. All these things are important, but the most important thing is to build a relationship with the students. If a student has a teacher, or an administrator, or a coach who cares about them, then they are going to get a good education.”

Coming into the school system amid a time of academic change, which includes the implementation of an International Baccalaureate program and Early College Education Program at the high school, Boling looks to share his administrative experience in similar programs with the Valdosta School System.

“During my time as a middle school principal I did train in the IB program because we were a feeder school to an IB high school,” he said. “I believe it is phenomenal program — recognized around the world as the absolute best high school diploma you can acquire.”

Additionally, during his time as principal at North Cobb, Boling added a magnet school, The North Cobb School for International Studies, and looking to the vision behind the VECA (Valdosta Early College Academy) program, he foresees success for the student-targeted venture.

“From what I’ve heard about the VECA program, it will be an excellent opportunity for our students as well,” Boling said. “It allows them to get a vision of what they can do and who they are capable of being, inside a wonderful structure which also allows them to receive college credit.”

The new high school principal has Georgia Educator Certificates in educational leadership and history. Boling graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in history and later received his masters in history from The State University of West Georgia. He received his educational specialist degree in educational leadership from the University of Alabama.

He also presided over multi-million dollar renovations and facility additions. In addition he assisted the North Cobb High Business department in receiving industry certification, making it the only Cobb County school to obtain this designation. Among many other accomplishments, Boling was named STAR Teacher as well as Teacher of the Year.

Since coming to the area, Boling has been impressed with the show of “Southern Hospitality,” and the enthusiasm and support of the VHS family and school system.

“I have been really impressed by Dr. Cason’s leadership and stewardship over the school system, and I see that he is very much passionate about helping the school system prepare children for the workforce and life,” Boling said. “Already, he is a great mentor, and the members of the school board have also been very welcoming and supportive as well.”

As a new member of the Valdosta community, Boling is grateful for the welcome and hospitality he has seen, as he awaits the move of his family to the area.

“My wife Cindy (who is a former math teacher, now working with the Cobb system now as a media specialist) and I have been married for 26 years, and in that time, I’ve never been away from her for more than three days, so this week hasn’t been that easy,” he said smiling.

The two have three children, Jeremy, Brianna and Patrick, two of whom are in college, and the youngest, a senior in high school.

As Boling prepares for the upcoming school year, he looks forward to meeting system parents and friends. He can be reached at Valdosta High School at 229-333-8540.

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