TRENTON, Ga. — Josh Ingle grew up in a home where education was revered and public service was a way of life.
“My parents were always involved with our education when we were growing up,” said Mr. Ingle, who will replace Billy Millican as principal of Dade County High School when the latter retires at the end of the school year.
Mr. Ingle, 35, is a native of Trion, Ga., where his mother was well known in business and his father was a school board member, city councilman and now mayor.
“A lot of the talk we heard around the dinner table centered around education,” he said.
His older brother was a teacher and coach in a South Georgia system, and his career was appealing to Mr. Ingle.
“I wanted to work with kids and sports together, and so I thought in order for me to do that I needed to be in education,” he said.
Mr. Ingle spent six years as a sixth- and eighth-grade social studies and math teacher and coach at Chattanooga Valley Middle School in Walker County. Then he became assistant principal at Dade Elementary, and he moved this year to Dade County High as assistant principal.
Dade high faces some significant changes next year.
The class schedule will go from four blocks to seven periods each day, he said. The school is seeking an improvement grant for classroom instruction and to help create partnerships with higher education institutions.
With the grant, Dade High can “become an early college campus so that students can receive college credit on our campus while they’re still enrolled in high school,” he said.
Dade Elementary principal Cherie Swader said Mr. Ingle was the top candidate when she interviewed 23 applicants for the assistant principal’s post.
“He’s probably one of the most mature and focused young men I have had the opportunity to work with,” Mrs. Swader said.
He has great rapport with the children, and he’ll do a great job as the high school’s principal, she said.
Longtime friend Sam Smartt said Mr. Ingle brings a “strong work ethic” to his job.
“He’s got a clear head,” Mr. Smartt said. “He’s got a quiet, strong leadership style.”
PERSONAL GLANCE
Name: Josh Ingle
Occupation: Newly named principal at Dade County High School
Family: Wife, Ellie, son, Garrison, 5, and a son expected in June
Something people don’t know about me: “My wife and I have been in a couples’ Bible study for almost eight years with six other couples. Between us and the other couples, 15 children have been born since we started.”