Keith L. Ball

About Keith L. Ball

Award winning, experienced educational leader with a demonstrated, sustained history of success. Highly skilled and well trained in effective learning and teaching practices, operations, emergency management, leadership, and employee training. A passionate educator that works tirelessly to serve the best interest of all students and staff.Over the course of two decades, Mr. Ball has successfully held multiple positions in both the public and private sectors as an executive, administrator, teacher and coach. His career has yielded prestigious honors such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award, Valedictorian Teacher of the Year, Georgia Principal of the Year and National Principal of the Year Finalist. Keith has taught and led diverse groups of students including those served via Title I, in the global International Baccalaureate Programme and career-technical in a state accredited, college and career academy. A recent highlight of Mr. Ball’s career was his bold plan during the darkest days of the pandemic to build an evening school to directly address the “labor over learning” challenge. To this day, M.E.S.H, Marietta Evening School Hours, still provides students with a path to graduation.An enthusiastic, fierce advocate for all students, Mr. Ball’s experience includes opening two new schools, and leading one of Georgia’s oldest public schools, Marietta High School as the Principal and IB Head of School where he was named Georgia Principal of the Year and National Finalist.Whether rural, urban or suburban, affluent or economically disadvantaged, gifted or exceptional, through the ‘Great Recession’ and a global pandemic, Mr. Ball has positively impacted communities and families from New York to Florida and in Georgia. After a successful tenure as principal for 14 years in Cherokee County and Marietta City at both the middle and high school level, Mr. Ball served at the district level as an Executive Director and Operations Specialist. His ground breaking work in school safety was lauded at the county and state level, helping Marietta City Schools become the model for effective safety and security planning.Mr. Ball\'s newest challenge is serving as the Executive Director of Capital Improvements and Facilities for Georgia\'s 3rd largest school district, DeKalb County Schools. Keith will help lead all new construction projects, renovations and facility improvements across the district.

Experience

1. Executive Director

   DeKalb County School District

   Jul 2024 — Present · Tucker, GA, US

   Leadership and strategic integration of new capital construction, renovations, modernizations, safety, security and maintenance of 150 district properties. Responsible for planning, developing and executing all projects funded by SPLOST, federal sources and the district general fund.

Education

• University at Albany

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Education

  1993 — 1997

• Ramapo High School

  High School Diploma

  1990 — 1993

• University at Albany

  Master of Arts - MA, Education

  1997 — 1998

• Lincoln Memorial University

  Specialist, Educational Leadership and Administration, General

  2003 — 2004