How Alisha Thomas Searcy’s early education, a career of service, and in-depth experience have prepared her for the role of State School Superintendent

By Rebecca Aqua and Sheri Panovka

“I don't believe that children are Democrats or Republicans. They are children who deserve to have access to a high-quality education. And when I'm superintendent, I'm going to be their champion every single day.”

Alisha Thomas Searcy knows qualified teachers and inspiring mentors early on are crucial for children to enjoy school and thrive. When she was growing up in Miami, her parents valued a strong education, and before enrolling their children in school, they researched schools with the best resources available for their students. So even at a young age, Searcy absorbed the powerful reality that attending an excellent school was essential—though not necessarily accessible for every child. 

Formative Experiences

Her mother, a registered nurse, exposed Searcy and her brother to a variety of extracurricular activities so they could explore and develop different skills and find their passion. From piano and violin to baton twirling and pageants, Searcy grew up trying new activities and honing her talents—talents that took her to the New World School of the Arts, a prestigious and selective performing arts public high school in Miami. She admits she wasn’t accepted to this competitive school after her first audition, but—convinced this was the school for her—she was determined to get in. 

Being accepted after her second audition (to start as a sophomore) made an impact, not only because she learned what it took to achieve her goal but because of what she experienced when she got there.  

“For three years, I was surrounded by diverse, talented, bright students who wanted to learn, grow and be in school,” she says. “And we were taught by dedicated, passionate, effective teachers who loved what they did. It should be every Georgia student’s experience to find joy in learning every day, and it should be every Georgia teacher’s experience to find joy in teaching.”  

Reflecting on her parents’ encouragement and drive to ensure she had a strong academic and creative childhood affirms her conviction that every child in Georgia deserves to receive the same opportunities. As Georgia’s next state superintendent of schools, Searcy will work to ensure all of Georgia’s children have the solid formative experiences necessary for them to grow into educated, successful, impactful adults. 

The Power of Her Voice

Inequalities in education and civic opportunities became clear to Searcy when she participated in the NAACP’s youth leadership as a teenager. That was when she truly understood the power of her own voice. 

“The elders encouraged the young people to participate and lead,” she says. “That taught us about issues that are, unfortunately, still relevant today, including voter access and educational inequities. And it showed us why it is so important for our youth to be invested in their futures. As superintendent, I will make training and emboldening young people—rather than side-lining them—a top priority. Involving students in their education does not always occur, but it is paramount if we want them to participate in the process and use their voices to create change.”

Searcy’s academic and creative successes and her volunteerism continued at Spelman College, from which she graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and drama. In addition to the double major (and a GPA that earned her a cum laude distinction), Searcy continued her involvement with the NAACP and rose within the organization to the role of president of the Georgia Youth & College Division. Through her prominence on campus, she met renowned city leaders in the civil rights movement, including Dr. Joseph Lowery.

“Dr. Lowery was a true mentor to me,” she says. “He reaffirmed the power of my mind and voice as he taught me how to establish relationships and connect with people in the faith-based, business and educational sectors.”   

A Career of Service

Immediately post college, Searcy joined the nonprofit sector, serving underrepresented groups and learning about community organizing, policymaking and lobbying, and training young people to organize campaigns to stop gun violence. At 21 years old, she knew of the economic power of home ownership, so she set out to buy her first home and landed in Austell. When she settled in, she looked around her community and saw the need for stronger representation in local government. Rather than waiting around for others to raise their hand, fearless Searcy ran for state representative in the Georgia General Assembly for the 39th District. And, in 2002 at age 23, Searcy was the first African American to be elected in this Cobb County district, home of 56,000 residents from many backgrounds. She was reelected five more times for a total of 12 years in office.

“I truly believe I won because of the authentic connection I have with my constituents,” she says. Searcy led more than a hundred Town Hall meetings and credits her ardent and effective representation of them. “I think my successes were grounded in my ability to be both passionate and unapologetic as well as collaborative and connecting. I’m able to reach across the aisle and work with the other side. Working with bipartisan support, she won passage of one law that increased funding and improved after-school programs and another that enables parents to choose the right public school for their children within their district. The law gives parents more control and choice over their children’s education, just like Searcy experienced growing up. 

Both as a legislator and over the next decade of her professional and personal life, Searcy has been committed to a comprehensive understanding of Georgia’s public school systems. Her 22 years of education-focused experience includes earning two advanced degrees in education (a master’s in educational leadership and a certificate in public school financial management); working as peer reviewer on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education; serving as the executive director and superintendent of a network of single-gender charter public schools; and starting a nonprofit organization whose mission it is to disrupt generational poverty through programs to teach financial literacy and provide financial and other types of support for students to access college. Searcy’s expertise takes her around Georgia and across the United States to consult and speak on topics related to K-12 education, and she frequently appears in the media as an expert on such topics as literacy, curricula, faculty evaluations, recruitment and retention, and standardized testing. 

Searcy will enter the position of state superintendent of schools with broad experience and knowledge of our Georgia school systems including all levels of the academic, financial and operational systems that comprise a school district.  “Alisha T. Searcy is the choice for Georgia students,” says Anthony Wilson, Executive Director, Equity in Education, a nonprofit advocacy organization focused on advancing leaders and policies committed to eliminating injustices across the Atlanta public education system. “As a former superintendent of schools, Alisha understands the challenges that families encounter, and her passion for student success lends itself to real outcomes. Alisha’s unmatched commitment to public education is the reason so many leaders—like myself—have committed to bolstering our support for her. It is Alisha’s dedication to students coupled with her policy-making and education leadership experience that afford her the ability to serve as Georgia’s next state school superintendent.” 

“I have a long-standing record of being an ally you can always count on. That won’t change. You want a state superintendent who will unapologetically fight for this community. Let’s win for kids. All of them.” - Alisha Thomas Searcy