THOMASVILLE- Thomasville City Schools Board of Education announces the appointment of Dr. Fred H. Rayfield, Jr. as the interim superintendent, with an official start date of July 1, 2023.
“Thomasville City Schools was first chartered in 1900. We have an incredible history and it is important to remain true to our values of strong academics, arts and athletics—helping students achieve personal excellence, whether they enter the workforce, a trade school or college” said Board Chair Kejar L. Butler. “We were very fortunate to find an excellent interim superintendent who shares our vision. Dr. Rayfield not only has an impressive career in education but has also served as a leadership mentor for educational administrators across Georgia. We know his experience will strengthen support for our teachers who are so important to us.”
Fred Rayfield grew up on a family farm in Coosa County, Alabama. Dr. Rayfield earned a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education from Auburn University in 1988. He came to Georgia and worked for the University of Georgia in Terrell and Tift counties while earning his M.S. degree in Agricultural Education from the University of Georgia. In 1993, he moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma where he completed his doctoral degree in Agricultural Education and Educational Administration. Dr. Rayfield served as Assistant Professor and Department Head for 4-H Youth Development at Oklahoma State University from 1995 until 1997.
In 1997, he returned to Georgia to work as an educator for Tift County Schools and as a Career and Technical Education Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education. Dr. Rayfield transitioned back to the local level in 2002 as the Career, Technical, Agriculture Education Director, and Assistant Principal for Cook County Schools. In 2003, Dr. Rayfield became the Superintendent for Cook County Schools and served as a school superintendent for the next 15 years in Cook, Decatur and Union counties until retiring in 2018. He came back into public education in 2019 and has served as the CTAE Director for the Tift County School System for the past four years. Dr. Rayfield has also served as a leadership mentor for educational administrators across Georgia and an adjunct professor in educational leadership and administration for Piedmont College.
Dr. Rayfield has been married to his wife Tresa, a native of Adel, GA, for 30 years and they have two daughters Charley, 26 and Bailey, 22. In his free time, he enjoys working on the family farm and cattle operation and spending time with his family.