Dr. Tommy Welch is Deputy Superintendent of School Improvement and Strategic Initiatives for Richmond County School System in Augusta, Georgia. A seasoned education leader, he previously served as Chief Equity Officer for Gwinnett County Public Schools and as Regional Superintendent for Boston Public Schools, bringing experience across district leadership, equity, school transformation, and systems-level improvement.
Welch was named Georgia Principal of the Year and was later recognised as a National Principal of the Year runner-up and national finalist. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.
At Richmond County, Welch is leading the shift from “school improvement” to continuous improvement: a mindset that treats data as a tool for growth rather than a verdict on a school, educator, or student. His work includes rethinking grading, strengthening mastery-based learning, and helping the district respond to artificial intelligence as a core instructional reality rather than a side initiative. In a community marked by both extreme wealth and extreme poverty, Welch is focused on building agile systems that expand opportunity, support innovation, and prepare students for long-term success. His guiding charge to educators is simple and urgent: empower every learner, every day.
