About Randy
Biography
Randy Scamihorn - Accomplished Educator and Recognized Leader
Randy's Biography
As a young child, Randy grew up understanding the value of education and how it can impact a child’s life. Randy grew up in a loving home that struggled to make ends meet many times and quickly realized the path to a successful life would be through a quality education. With this educational focus constantly on his mind, Randy developed an intense desire to improve his own life through a strong education.
After leaving high school, Randy married his wife of 54 years and was ‘asked’ by Uncle Sam to join the military, where he spent the next 26 years serving our nation. Retiring as a veteran in the United States Air Force, Randy continued his desire to serve his community by entering the educational profession. After 5 years as a valued classroom teacher, he was asked to serve his school by becoming a school administrator. While reluctant to leave the classroom, Randy accepted the offer to become a full-time school administrator for an additional 9 years. As an administrator, Mr. Scamihorn used his experience as a recognized leader to assist other teachers become more proficient in their professional lives. Something he still treasures today.
Leaving the school system as an accomplished educator and recognized leader, many community members asked Randy to continue his service to our community by running for the Cobb County School Board. His leadership was evident by the fact that as a brand-new member of the Cobb County School Board, he was asked, over far more experienced board members, to immediately become the chairman of the school board! He accepted the challenge and set a course of success for our community and schools.
Randy took on that challenge with enthusiasm. Drawing upon his successful experiences as a retired leader in the military and the leadership knowledge that he received in his graduate-level education, Mr. Scamihorn was able to develop a strategy for providing a classroom-focused environment while remaining a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars. Through his leadership, our schools re-focused on providing our community with a world-class education, protecting the schools’ assets, while defending our schools from unwarranted attacks.
Cobb County School Board Leadership
- Elected by his peers to be the chairman 4 times -the first time was his first year on the school board.
- Elected by his peers to serve as Vice Chairman.
- Successfully guided the passage of Educational SPLOSTS initiatives which have allowed our property taxes to remain lower than the surrounding counties. The community has overwhelmingly supported Cobb County Board of Education leadership by passing the latest Ed-SPLOST, with over 71% of voters supporting this initiative.
- Served as School Board liaison to the Facilities and Technology committee numerous times.
- Regularly meets with local and state officials to advocate for our students and school system. Served on former Governor Deal’s Educational Advisory Committee.
Education & Professional Training
- Extensive military training
- Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University. -Major in Electronics Engineering
- Teaching certification from Ga. Southern University
- Master of Education -Leadership from Central Michigan University
- Education Leadership -Add-On Certificate Jacksonville State University
Personal Life
- Married to wife Debbie for 54 years -also a life-long educator.
- 2 adult children with their own families. A son and daughter -also a full-time classroom teacher.
- A resident of Acworth for 45 years.