As Chairman of the Liberty County Development Authority and your State Representative, I have worked for years to create jobs, attract investment, and expand opportunity in our community. One challenge will shape our future more than any other: literacy, our children's ability to read.
Literacy is not just an education statistic; it is a predictor of future success or struggle. And it is not only a challenge in our county but across the state and the nation.
While we can all point to many student success stories, the facts cannot be denied. In 2025, only about 32% of Liberty County’s third graders were reading at or above grade level (Public School Review), and roughly 35% statewide (Marietta City Schools – GA Milestones 2025). More than two-thirds of our eight- and nine-year-olds are already behind in one of life’s most essential skills.
If a child cannot read, they cannot learn. If they cannot learn, they will not achieve their potential. Literacy is not just an academic issue. It is a community issue. It impacts every aspect of a person's quality of life and in direct reflection, the quality of life in a community.
Research shows that students who cannot read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. They are less likely to pursue higher education, more likely to face unemployment, and at higher risk for poverty and incarceration. The inability to read affects health outcomes, civic engagement, and the ability to participate fully in our democracy.
We already know what works:
Early Intervention and Proven Reading Instruction – The earlier we identify and address reading challenges, the better the outcomes. Phonics-based instruction, targeted reading specialists, and small-group interventions can make a tremendous difference.
Empowered Teachers – Our teachers are our greatest asset. Investing in ongoing professional development, especially in early literacy, equips them with the tools and strategies to help struggling readers catch up and strong readers advance.
Engaged Families and Communities – Reading must be reinforced at home and in the community. Parents, grandparents, faith leaders, nonprofits, and businesses all have a role to play, whether it is reading to a child daily, coordinating group read-aloud events, volunteering at a school, or sponsoring a book drive.
Data-Driven Accountability – We must set clear, measurable goals for literacy and track progress publicly. If something is not working, we adjust quickly. Transparency builds trust and drives improvement.
The Liberty County Development Authority’s LINK Liberty strategic plan calls for broad community collaboration to strengthen our economy and workforce. Literacy must be a central pillar of that work. We cannot prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow if they lack the reading skills to learn, adapt, and grow.
Imagine a Liberty County where every child leaves third grade with the reading skills and confidence they need to succeed, where our proficiency rates climb year after year because the entire community is working together to lift them. That vision is within reach if we make literacy a true community priority.
We cannot keep doing the same things and expect different results. This is why this moment is so important. Our school district is at the end of a search process for a new superintendent. This decision will shape the trajectory of education in Liberty County for years to come. We need a leader who will make early literacy a top priority, who will set measurable goals, support teachers, hold the system accountable for results, and partner with families, businesses, and civic organizations to ensure every child has the tools to succeed.
We need a change agent, and the final named candidate from the Superintendent search, Dr. Kendra V. Johnson, appears to fit this bill. Objections to her candidacy seem personal, unnecessarily argumentative, and not fact-based. The longer we delay, the more likely this candidate will no longer be available or interested in bringing her skills and demonstrated expertise to Liberty County. And the longer our children suffer in the absence of a unified vision and leadership.
The time to act is now, and the responsibility belongs to all of us
State Rep. Al Williams is chairman of the Liberty County Development Authority.