Clint Terza, a veteran Cobb administrator, has been named principal at South Cobb High School.
Terza comes to South Cobb from Smitha Middle School, where he spent five years. Previously, he spent seven years as principal at Austell intermediate school.
“Some of the students from Austell still remember me; but they are not knee high anymore, I’m looking up at them,” he said.
He began work as principal, June 1 and was able to meet every department before staff left for the summer.
“It is my goal to ensure all students graduate from South Cobb High School, and will possess all the necessary skills to either continue their education or two or four-year college, or to graduate with a career pathway, which will provide them with an opportunity to begin immediate employment with competitive salary,” he said.
Terza’s goal is to connect with the community and staff. “I get my direction and my drive from the staff.”
“They love the community and the family feel you get here on campus. The kids are super friendly.”
Fall enrollment is expected to be slightly more than 2,000 students.
South Cobb is one of several magnet schools in Cobb. The Academy of Research and Medical Sciences at South Cobb High School focuses on opportunities in research and medical sciences.
“We have some 150-200 students in the magnet program,” Terza said. “They are the cream of the crop.”
He said school staff is meeting with the school district on how to grow the program, up to 400-450 students. The school has put funds into medical equipment and built partnerships with local hospitals and universities, such as Morehouse and Mercer.
“It is important for parents to understand their students are going to get an excellent education here at South Cobb High School,” Terza said. “We are focused on student success, academically and socially. We have an actively involved staff and they love the kids.”
“At South Cobb High School we believe all students should be challenged daily with a rigorous curriculum so they are successful in the next phase of their lives,” Terza said.
He and his wife, Lauri, live in west Cobb and have three children.
Terza had praise for former South Cobb Principal Dr. Ashley Hosey who was transferred to Pitner Elementary. “Ashley had a lot of good things in place, we just have to fine tune them,” the new principal said.
From the August 2016 issue of The Bright Side, Cobb County Georgia’s Newspaper covering Smyrna, Vinings, Mableton, Powder Springs and Austell, GA.
