Dalton native Randell Trammell believes change is needed in Georgia education. He is one running as a Republican in the Georgia State School Superintendent race with the party primary coming up May 19.
Trammell graduated from Reinhardt University in Waleska with a business degree and has a doctorate in education. He and his family have called Bartow County home for 10 years and his wife is a teacher in a local elementary school. He runs the non-profit the U.S. Center for Civic Engagement, which works in middle and high schools how government works.
“I’m running for my three kids,” Trammell said. “Georgia is number 38 in the nation for education. When I heard that, I thought that can’t be right.”
He found out that Mississippi, which typically has been lower than Georgia in education stats at 49 in the U.S., is now in the top 10 in the country. Alabama has done better than Georgia. Trammell felt that the status quo needs to change to improve educational opportunities for Georgia students.
Gov. Kemp appointed him as chair of commission for civics education in Georgia. His non-profit works with the U.S. Department of Education. Trammell said his education experience and his connections with legislators make him a good fit for the job.
“I really felt like it was a good time to jump in,” Trammell said.
Trammell said Mississippi showed the country that going back to basic learning systems like phonics with one-on-one instruction works. He said basic literacy learning that includes phonics has made its way to Georgia beginning with legislation coming out of Houston County with funding following.
He said literacy is highly important to student success and affects other aspects of state wealth and business. Businesses locate where they can pull workers from an educated population. People growing up in an area will be more likely to stay if there are good jobs. Trammell said it’s critical to teach children to read well by third grade.
Trammell said the majority of those incarcerated have little to no reading skills.
He said one problem to tackle is for students to learn basic skills like managing personal finance, understanding the basics of government, and how to do things like do their taxes.
“I think our kids should be prepared for life,” he said, adding that more opportunities for other trade skills should be more available. “I’m a big fan of career tech.”
He said students graduating from high school should be ready to be employed, enroll in higher education or a career tech school, enlist in the military, or become an entrepreneur.”
Trammell also talks about parental choice in education, standards for teachers, and handling tough subjects like bullying. Click here for the full interview.
Melody Dareing is a freelance writer for publications in the U.S, Canada, the UK and Germany. She is a former news director of Adelphia Channel 4 and WBHF Radio. She is on Facebook, X, YouTube, content on Substack, and has a podcast on Rumble.