Clarke County schools superintendent gets national honor

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) A national school administrators' group is recognizing the superintendent of Clarke County schools.

The Athens Banner-Herald reports Clarke County Superintendent Philip Lanoue was named National Superintendent of the Year by the American Association of School Administrators.

He and three other finalists were honored Thursday at the National Conference on Edcucation in San Diego.

Lanoue learned he was one of four finalists for the national honor shortly after he was named Georgia's Superintendent of the Year in December.

Clarke County Board of Education Chairman Charles Worthy says Lanoue deserves the honor. Worthy says one of Lanoue's biggest accomplishments has been narrowing the achievement gap between low-income students and those from wealthier families.

Lanoue moved to Clarke County in 2009 from Cobb County, where he was an assistant county school superintendent.