Marietta High School Gets New Principal

MARIETTA, GA — A 20-year education veteran has been named the new principal of Marietta High School. Keith Ball, formerly a principal and assistant principal at Etowah High School, Cherokee High School and Woodstock Middle School, was named to the role by the City of Marietta Board of Education.

Ball, the board says, "was responsible for significant academic and cultural transformations" at those schools.

"Principal Ball fits perfectly with the Board of Education’s mission and vision for Marietta City Schools," said Board Chairman Jason Waters. "While principal of Etowah High School, he brought innovative programs to the campus that reached the needs of both excelling and struggling students, took the four-year graduation rate up to almost 90 percent, and earned awards nationally from College Board and locally from the Georgia Department of Education."

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Ball earned a bachelor's degree in social studies and U.S. History and a master's in secondary social studies from University at Albany, State University of New York. He holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.

His experience as an educator spans the middle school, high school and secondary levels.

"Having a leader that has served as a successful classroom teacher, beloved middle school administrator, athletic coach, and nationally award winning high school principal is a win for everyone in the system," said schools Superintendent Grant Rivera. "His most recent work in the private sector around collegiate admissions and scholarships only enhances his understanding of what students need to be successful during and after high school."

Ball replaces Gabe Carmona who served as the district’s high school principal from 2016 until this school year. Carmona announced in March he was leaving to become principal at North Paulding High School.

Photo courtesy Marietta City Schools