Beth Simonds is the Assistant Principal for Harmony Elementary School, and has been teaching in the Pickens County School System since 2004.  At the beginning of her career, she adopted a teaching philosophy which has remained a priority in her approach: “Prepare not the path for your child, but prepare your child for the path,” – anonymous.  This concept has been the foundation for building solid instruction, and has inspired a desire for students to independently discover learning opportunities in life.

Before helping to launch Harmony Elementary as an administrator in 2006, Mrs. Simonds served as a teacher for more than 20 years in many elementary grade levels and was selected as Teacher of the Year several years, Coca Cola Teacher of the Year, and Who’s Who Among American Teachers. Mrs. Simonds is a member of several local, state and national organizations including P.A.G.E., a nonunion association of more than 72,000 teachers, administrators and support personnel with the purpose of promoting better education for the children of Georgia.  She is also a member of the International Reading Association, Georgia Reading Association and former membership chair of the Pickens County Reading Association; all of which aim to provide effective reading practices locally and around the world.    

Mrs. Simonds received her Ed.S., summa cum laude, in Educational Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.  She earned a M.A.T., magna cum laude, in Early Childhood Education from Piedmont College and her B.S., cum laude, in Early Childhood Education from Brenau University.  Throughout the course of her career, Mrs. Simonds continually sought further educational opportunities by acquiring the Teacher Support Specialist Endorsement and Gifted Endorsement. 

Mrs. Simonds met her husband of more than thirty years while attending college, and has two daughters, both of whom are college graduates.  Her older daughter is a wife, mother and an educator and the younger is a public relations and marketing specialist. 

Mrs. Simonds remarked that it is an honor to work each day with Harmony’s faculty, students and the community.  She believes it is important to teach our students to fly like eagles as our mission statement says:  “Successful Outstanding Achievement for Responsible Students (SOARS).”