The Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP) has honored Dr. Josh Purvis, principal of Willie J. Williams Middle School (WJWMS), with the prestigious Jerry Davis Georgia Distinguished Principal Award.
Established in 2011, this recognition celebrates exemplary middle school principals across Georgia who demonstrate exceptional leadership and an unwavering commitment to student success.
As Dr. Purvis was unable to attend the GAMSP annual Fall Conference where the recipients were first announced, Cheryl Riddle, Executive Director of GAMSP, presented the award at WJWMS on Friday, November 14th. The presentation took place in front of school and district personnel, marking a special moment of recognition for Dr. Purvis's achievements.
Superintendent Dan Chappuis praised Dr. Purvis's impact:
“We are incredibly proud of the work being done at Willie J. Williams Middle School under the direction of Dr. Josh Purvis. This prestigious award acknowledges the school's measurable, positive results in academic growth and school culture. Dr. Purvis has been instrumental in cultivating a collaborative culture focused on learning. We are excited about the future of student achievement at Willie J. Williams under his continued leadership."
Dr. Purvis has led WJWMS since 2023. His previous roles include principal of Sunset Elementary, assistant principal at Stringfellow, and a teacher. Under his leadership at WJWMS, the school has achieved significant milestones, including:
- Designation as a Capturing Kids' Hearts Showcase School.
- Reduction of discipline incidents to an all-time low.
- The highest Georgia Milestones scores on record for the school.
The award nomination highlighted Dr. Purvis's strategic approach to school improvement: "The approach taken by Dr. Purvis toward school improvement at the middle school has included a collaborative team approach to identifying school needs through Tregoed, situation appraisals (root cause analysis) and periodic checks during the year with the staff to make sure concerns are being addressed regarding climate, culture and academic issues.”
Dr. Purvis is an active leader within the state educational community, serving as an officer for GAMSP and as a Principal Mentor through the Georgia Association for Educational Leaders. He has also completed the Georgia School Superintendent Association’s District Office Professional Development Program and the Finance and Planning Institute, and is a frequent presenter at various educational conferences.
Upon receiving the award, Dr. Purvis shared his appreciation:
"I am thankful to serve in the Colquitt County School District with what I believe are the best educators and students in the state. I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition, but the real credit belongs to our teachers and students. Their dedication, teamwork, and belief in one another make everything we accomplish possible. This honor represents the collective heart of our school, teachers who give their all and students who inspire us every day. I am blessed to serve in this amazing community"
About the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals
GAMSP is the organization of and state voice for middle grades principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders in Georgia. The organization is an affiliate organization of the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders. Their mission is to improve middle grades education in Georgia by providing members with high-quality leadership development, a resource network, and advocacy at the capital.