Dr. Josh Purvis Named Middle School Principal of the Year

Dr. Josh Purvis, principal of Willie J. Williams Middle School in Moultrie, Georgia, has received the prestigious Jerry Davis Georgia Distinguished Principal Award from the Georgia Association of Middle School Principals (GAMSP). This honor, established in 2011, recognizes exceptional middle school principals throughout Georgia who demonstrate outstanding leadership and a commitment to student success.

The award was presented on November 14, 2025, at Williams Middle School, where Cheryl Riddle, executive director of GAMSP, acknowledged Purvis’s achievements in front of school and district personnel. Dr. Dan Chappuis, Superintendent of the Colquitt County School District, expressed pride in Purvis’s leadership, stating, “This prestigious award acknowledges the school’s measurable, positive results in academic growth and school culture.”

Under Purvis’s leadership since 2023, Willie J. Williams Middle School has achieved significant milestones. These include being designated as a “Capturing Kids’ Hearts Showcase School,” experiencing the lowest discipline incidents in history, and recording the highest scores on the Georgia Milestones assessments to date. Purvis has implemented a collaborative approach to school improvement, using tools such as Tregoed and situation appraisals to address school needs effectively.

Purvis’s background includes prior roles as principal of Sunset Elementary and assistant principal at Stringfellow, along with experience as a teacher. He has also taken on active leadership roles within the state educational community, serving as an officer for GAMSP and as a Principal Mentor through the Georgia Association for Educational Leaders. His commitment to professional development is evident through his participation in the Georgia School Superintendent Association’s District Office Professional Development Program and the Finance and Planning Institute, alongside frequent presentations at educational conferences.

Upon receiving the award, Purvis expressed gratitude for his role in the Colquitt County School District, emphasizing the collective effort of educators and students. “This honor represents the collective heart of our school, teachers who give their all and students who inspire us every day,” he stated. “I am deeply humbled and honored to receive this recognition, but the real credit belongs to our teachers and students.”

The GAMSP serves as the voice for middle grades principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders in Georgia, focusing on improving middle-grade education in the state. They provide members with leadership development, a resource network, and advocacy at the state level.

Dr. Josh Purvis’s recognition as Middle School Principal of the Year highlights the impact of effective leadership on academic success and school culture, setting a benchmark for educational excellence in Georgia.