Alumni Spotlights

Debbie Clark

Debbie Clark (B.S.Ed. ’83, M.Ed. ’86) is currently in her forty-third year as an English/language arts teacher in the Hall County School System in Gainesville, Georgia. A graduate of the College’s Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy, her certification areas include marketing education, reading, English as a second language, and administration.

Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.

With decades of experience in the classroom, Clark considers the successes of her students to be her greatest accomplishments. She recalls receiving a message from a former student who shared that he became a middle school math teacher because of her influence. She also had the opportunity to meet President George W. Bush, who encouraged her to “not give up on our students,” a message that became her teaching motto.

In addition to her work in education, Clark enjoys writing and has published several books, including “‘Twas the Year of the World Series,” which received the 2024 National Family Choice Award, the 2024 Royal Dragonfly Book Award for Excellence in Literature, and the 2025 Purple Dragonfly Book Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature.

Laurie Barron

With three decades of experience in education, Laurie Barron (B.S.Ed. ’96) is the current superintendent of Evergreen School District in Kalispell, Montana. After graduating from UGA, she spent 17 years in Georgia—six years as a high school English teacher, two years as a middle school assistant principal, and nine years as a middle school principal—before beginning her current role in Montana. Her work and collaboration with local boards, staff, students, parents, and communities have earned her numerous awards, including Montana Superintendent of the Year (2021, 2026) and the UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Practitioner Award (2022). Added: Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.

As a student, Barron was active in organizations including Phi Kappa Phi, Blue Key, SPAGE, and Kappa Delta Epsilon, helping host college events, meeting with the dean, and connecting with educators beyond her major. She also studied abroad at Oxford University through UGA, an impactful experience that later inspired her to backpack through Europe while reinforcing the importance of involvement and collaboration.

A proud Georgia Bulldog, Barron rarely missed any football games as a student, and nearly 30 years later, still holds season tickets and returns for at least one game each year. She remains connected to the College of Education through her service on the Alumni Awards Committee and the Board of Visitors/Alumni Board. Barron makes yearly financial contributions to the College of Education Fund and is passionate about encouraging current students to get involved and find their place at UGA. She lives part time in an off-grid cabin in northwest Montana, sharing the woods with grizzly bears, mountain lions, moose, and wolves. Clark began teaching in 1983 and attributes her time at UGA with preparing her for the classroom. She credits her professors with making sure she had everything she needed for a successful start. As a student, she served as an officer in the collegiate chapter of the Distributive Education Clubs of America, where she developed as a leader and educator. Later in her career, she participated in a UGA-sponsored study abroad trip to Xalapa, Mexico, where she engaged in local schools’ cultural activities and took conversational Spanish classes at the University of Veracruz.