Walnut Grove High School Principal Lindsey Allen was recently named statewide Principal of the Year for 2025 by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals. Photo Credit Stephen Milligan | The Tribune
Lindsey Allen is quick to push the spotlight onto others at Walnut Grove High School, highlighting the staff and students for the many achievements and accolades the school has seen in the last five years.
Nonetheless, he couldn’t avoid the spotlight this time, as he was officially named the statewide Principal of the Year for 2025 by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.
He certainly tried, though.
“It seems like an individual award, but it’s really not,” Allen said. “I don’t get this award without the hard work of the community and staff and students here. You don’t become Principal of the Year without that support.”
Still, he must be doing something right. Since he came to Walnut Grove in 2020 in the teeth of the pandemic lockdown, Allen has seen his school’s graduation rate hover above 90% and test scores increasing each year.
“We only offered six (Advanced Placement) courses when I came here,” Allen said. “Now we offer 17 AP classes. Last year, we also had more students accepted to the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech than ever before.”
And Allen said the high school continues to move forward, adding new construction classes for additional career pathways and pushing to increase both participation and scores in AP classes and dual enrollment courses.
Allen has been in education for 27 years, starting as a teacher at Lanier Middle School in 1998 and working his way through administrative jobs at Barrow and Gwinnett schools before becoming principal at Buford High School, where he served until he took the job at Walnut Grove in 2020. He’s also been the hearing officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools and the executive officer of secondary school for the Bibb County School District.
He’s coached softball at the recreational level, joined civic groups such as the Monroe Rotary Club and taught Sunday school.
He holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College & State University, a master’s degree from Brenau University and an educational leadership certificate from the University of Georgia.
Allen said he’s felt especially at home at Walnut Grove, though, and has felt like the community has embraced his push to make the high school as great as it can be.
“It’s been five years since I’ve come here and I feel everyone has really bought into the vision for Walnut Grove,” Allen said. “This award shows the impact of our community partnerships. We have a strong relationship with the Walnut Grove City Council, with Monroe Mayor John Howard, with Teri Smiley and the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. I couldn’t do this without strong support from the Walton County Board of Education and former Superintendent Nathan Franklin and now Superintendent Chip Underwood.”
Allen said the school’s success has come in the teeth of great challenges, starting with COVID when he first arrived and the long recovery process educators have had to do in the wake of the pandemic ever since.
“We continue to move forward even through the challenges,” Allen said. “It’s been the most disruptive time in education, but our staff and students have weathered it and shone all the brighter.”
Allen said that’s what he truly values about the award, that it reflects the work everyone in the school has put in.
“It reflects the pride I have in Walnut Grove,” Allen said. “I’m so proud of our staff and our kids, too.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.