Dr. Ron Saunders, a 1970 graduate of Auburn University's College of Education, has been selected by the Georgia School Superintendents Association (GSSA) as the 2008 Georgia Superintendent of the Year.   Saunders, superintendent of Barrow County Schools, was unanimously nominated by the Barrow County Board of Education for this honor.

He has served as Barrow County's Superintendent since 1998. Under his leadership, the school system has dramatically increased its teacher retention rate, drastically reduced its student dropout percentage, and increased the professional learning opportunities for teachers almost tenfold.  In May 2007, the school system received an "exemplary" rating from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS/CASI).

Saunders was also named one of the nation's top ten most tech savvy K-12 executives for his outstanding ed-tech leadership and vision by eSchool News.  Among the many reasons he was selected were establishment of the "Direct to Discovery" program that dramatically expands learning opportunities for middle and high school students and his work in creating long-term educational partnerships with the Georgia's three tier-1 research universities.

Saunders currently serves on the College of Education's National Advisory Council, where he is a member of the academic affairs committee.