Superintendent

Superintendent Dr. Ben Desper
Dr. Ben Desper was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Rome Georgia, where he graduated from Coosa High School. He attended Shorter College on academic scholarships where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. Dr. Desper has three advanced degrees, a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from the State University of West Georgia and his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has served students as a science teacher, assistant principal and a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He also served previously as the Superintendent of Trion City Schools. Dr. Desper’s schools have earned recognition as a Georgia School of Excellence, a Pay for Performance School, and as a Georgia Lighthouse School. His schools also have been recognized as a Georgia High Performing School and as one of the top five schools in the state for improved student achievement. Prior to becoming Superintendent of Pickens County, Dr. Desper served as the Associate Superintendent of the Bartow County School System. Dr. Desper and his wife Laura have been married for 30 years. They have two sons, Benjamin, a University of Georgia graduate and graduate student at Georgia College and State University, and Tyler, a senior at the University of Georgia.

Superintendent Dr. Ben Desper

Dr. Ben Desper was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, and was raised in Rome Georgia, where he graduated from Coosa High School. He attended Shorter College on academic scholarships where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology.
Dr. Desper has three advanced degrees, a master’s degree and a specialist’s degree from the State University of West Georgia and his doctorate degree in educational leadership from Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He has served students as a science teacher, assistant principal and a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. He also served previously as the Superintendent of Trion City Schools. Dr. Desper’s schools have earned recognition as a Georgia School of Excellence, a Pay for Performance School, and as a Georgia Lighthouse School. His schools also have been recognized as a Georgia High Performing School and as one of the top five schools in the state for improved student achievement.
Prior to becoming Superintendent of Pickens County, Dr. Desper served as the Associate Superintendent of the Bartow County School System.

Dr. Desper and his wife Laura have been married for 30 years. They have two sons, Benjamin, a University of Georgia graduate and graduate student at Georgia College and State University, and Tyler, a senior at the University of Georgia.