Craig Herrington, Chairman
Craig has been serving as the Post 3 Board member for 24 years. He serves as Chairman of the board and also serves as the board’s representative on the Keep Hall Beautiful Board. Craig is a native of Hall County and a graduate of Johnson High School. He was employed by Duplicating Products of Gainesville straight out of high school and has 47 years of service with them.
Craig and his wife, Lisa, have two children and three grandchildren. They all have been or are currently students of Hall County Schools. Lisa has worked in the education field for 34 years and is currently working for the Hall County School System in the Technology Department. Their daughter, Heather graduated from Brenau University with a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently a fourth grade teacher at Sardis Elementary School. She along with her husband and children live in the Chestatee School District.
Their son Michael and his wife Tabitha live in the East Hall School District and Tabitha is employed at the Hall County Schools Transportation Department.
Craig Herrington, Chairman
craig.herrington@hallco.org
Bill Thompson, Vice Chairman
Bill Thompson has begun his 4th four year term as the County At-Large Board member. He retired from the Hall County School System after serving 32 years. His most recent position was that of Principal of Chestatee High School. His love for the students and staff throughout his career as a teacher and an administrator made the job fun and not a “job.” “This is my 46th year with the Hall County School System and my wife Linda’s 44th year. We are both so proud of our years of service and grateful for what it has provided for our family.” Three of his five children have worked for the Hall County School System at one time or another.
Bill Thompson, Board Member
bill.thompson@hallco.org
Dr. Debra Smith, Board Member
Dr. Debra Jones Smith is in her first term on the Hall County Board of Education. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Chip Smith, and they are both life-long residents of Hall County. Dr. Smith and both of her children attended Hall County Schools. She has six grandchildren with four currently attending Hall County Schools.
Dr. Smith spent her entire career in Hall County. She served as a High School Science Teacher for 12 years. She then became a Middle School Assistant Principal for 10 years and was promoted to Principal for 4 years. The last 12 years her time was spent as an Elementary Principal. Currently, she is an instructor at UNG in the Educational Leadership Program.
Dr. Smith received her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science from UNG. She completed a Specialist Degree in Leadership from UGA and a Doctorate in Leadership from NOVA University.
Dr. Smith has a passion for education and for kids. Education has been her life and she has the desire to continue working towards educational excellence for all of the students of Hall County.
Debra Smith, Board Member
debra.smith@hallco.org
Brian Sloan, Board Member
Brian Sloan serves as the Post 2 board member. He has 12 years of experience in this position as he served from 2007-2018. He returned to the Board as the Post 2 member after an appointment from the board in April 2024 to fill the vacated seat.
“This appointment comes as a very unexpected turn of events, but I am deeply honored to have been asked to return and serve. It is my prayer that together, we will make wise and sound decisions in the months and years ahead.”
Brian is a native of Hall County, a graduate of Johnson High School, has a degree in Education from University of North Georgia, and attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Brian served in several full-time church ministerial positions in Hall county, his most recent at Chestnut Mountain Church, 1998-2019.
Brian and his wife have three grown children and 5 grandchildren. His wife, Annette, is a long time healthcare administrator and a current physician recruiter with Piedmont Healthcare. All three of their children were educated in the Hall County School District and they now have a granddaughter who has entered the first grade in our school district.
Brian has been a strong advocate through the years for helping build more options in career pathways for our students and for strengthening safety in our schools.
Brian Sloan, Board Member
brian.sloan@hallco.org
Beau Sheppard, Board Member
Beau Sheppard is in his first term on the Hall County Board of Education.
While raised in Middle Georgia, he moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech and later became a stockbroker for Morgan Stanley. After living in Atlanta for 10 years, Beau met his wife, Angela. Eventually, they moved to Angela’s hometown of Gainesville, where Beau transitioned into the banking industry.
Beau and Angela have two daughters, Addie and GraceAnne, who attend North Hall schools.
Beau has worked for Ameris Bank for 14 years and oversees Public Finance for the bank’s footprint as well as Public Funds for Georgia and South Carolina. He enjoys being active within the Hall County community and currently serves as Board Chair of United Way of Hall County, having been on the Board for the past five years.
Additionally, Beau sits on the Investment Assistance Committee of the Hall County Chamber of Commerce and serves as Treasurer of the North Hall Community Education Foundation. He is also a current member of the Leadership Georgia Class of 2025.
When not working or engaged in Board activities, Beau can be found cheering for his daughters, who are active in sports. In his free time, he enjoys being on the lake, fishing, and cooking.
He is excited about the opportunity to serve on the Hall County Board of Education and looks forward to continuing to contribute to the community.
Beau Sheppard, Board Member
beau.sheppard@hallco.org