High Shoals Principal Ready to Meet New Faces

Billy Heaton has come home.

The new principal, who went into education as a second career, is excited to begin the school year in the district where he started in the industry. Heaton, a 1989 graduate of the University of Georgia, later earned a master’s degree from Piedmont College after 10 years in the electrical contracting business.

In April, by the Oconee County Board of Education to replace , who retired. He had been the principal at Colbert Elementary in Madison County the previous three years.

Mentors who gave Heaton jobs and promotions in education said he excels in curriculum, and they noticed early on that he had leadership potential.

“It didn’t take long to figure out he was going to be a leader,” said Nannette Varela, the principal at ,  where Heaton began his career and later taught third and fifth grades.

Andrea Roper, the principal at , had Heaton as an assistant principal for three years. Roper said Heaton implemented system initiatives to track students’ progress, and she could tell he was preparing to become a principal.

“I knew from the get-go his time here was going to be limited,” said Roper, who added that it’s a bonus to have Heaton come from another school district because he brings fresh ideas.

Some of Heaton’s career accolades include being named Teacher of the Year at Oconee County Elementary in 2003, and last year Colbert Elementary was given a Platinum Award by the Governor's Office of Student Achievement for exceptional improvement in student performance.

But Heaton also dealt with budget struggles at Colbert, and in his first six months as principal carried out a reduction in force plan of three teachers and transferred two others. Madison County’s close-knit community compounded the difficult nature of that situation.

“The budget situation in Colbert was a challenge. I learned a lot from that,” he said. “I really had to forget all that (community) stuff and focus on what was best for kids and instruction, and make those hard decisions. As awful of an experience as it was, I think I grew a lot as a principal just because of that.”

Heaton said one of his priorities at High Shoals is differentiating instruction between gifted and high achieving students, and those who struggle. The former educator said he realizes the importance of teacher morale.

“If you’ve got a happy teacher, you’re going to have happy kids,” he said. “I want to make sure all of the teachers come to school wanting to be here, excited to teach kids, because that’s what it’s all about.”

Varela added that’s some of the advice she has given him.

“To get to know the faculty and staff, their strengths and needs,” Varela said. “You’ve got to get to know them, and you’ve got to connect.”

Another of Heaton's priorities is for teachers to set goals for students and give assessments throughout the year to ensure they are on target to meet or exceed expectations.

Heaton’s return to Oconee County was also in part due to his eldest daughter’s  health problems. Caroline, 16, was diagnosed with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, when she was 12. Heaton said Caroline also deals with epilepsy, and a seizure issue that hasn’t been controlled. Caroline has graduated from , but continues to attend for socialization, Heaton said. Heaton said his job change would allow him to be closer to Caroline, and his other daughter Holly, 16, who attends . Heaton also has a son, Wilson, 21, who lives in Atlanta.

With the first day of school less than a month away, Heaton said he’s ready for the transition to a new school.

“Getting to know the kids,” he said. “Getting to see the kids’ faces and parents...(I'm) just looking forward to getting to know everyone.”