TIFTON, Ga. (WALB) — [UPDATE 6:15 P.M.] The Tift County Board of Education has voted to terminate the Tift County Superintendent’s contract.

The school system released the following statement.

“The following action was taken by the Tift County Board of Education during a special called meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.

The board’s contract with Superintendent Natalie Gore has been terminated. Jennifer Howell, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, will serve as Acting Superintendent."

[ORIGINAL ARTICLE] The Tift County Board of Education is holding a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The meeting is set for 5 to 7 p.m. at the Tift Schools Administrative Offices, located at 506 W 12th St. in Tifton.

Meeting outside regular schedule

According to the board’s 2026 monthly meeting calendar, the board’s next scheduled work session is set for Sept. 8, followed by a regular board meeting Sept. 10. Wednesday’s specially called meeting falls outside of that schedule, with the regular board meeting following the next week.

One resident said the timing was unusual and said it must be important if the board scheduled it ahead of the regular meeting the following week.

WALB reached out to all seven Tift County Board of Education members and the district’s public information officer for details on the purpose of the meeting. As of publication, none had responded.

WALB will speak with community members before and after Wednesday’s meeting.

Superintendent announced retirement in July

The specially called meeting comes about two months after Superintendent Natalie Gore announced her retirement in a letter to district stakeholders dated July 6. Gore said her retirement is effective April 1, 2027. Gore began her role as superintendent in January of 2024.

In the letter, Gore said the decision marks the conclusion of a 30-year career in education, including 22 years as an administrator and four years as superintendent of Tift County Schools.

Community members have raised staffing concerns

Some community members have raised concerns on social media in recent weeks about staffing levels at Tift County schools, saying teachers have left and classes are full within the first month of the new school year.

Four board terms expire this year

The Tift County Board of Education includes Chairperson Jonathan Jones, Vice Chairperson Marilyn Burks, Pat McKinnon, John Waddell, Jamie Hill, Sam Wright, and Rusty Harrelson.

Jones’ term began Jan. 1, 2017 and expires Dec. 31, 2028. Burks’ term began July 1, 2017 and expires Dec. 31, 2028. Waddell’s term began Aug. 1, 2016 and expires Dec. 31, 2028.

McKinnon’s term began Jan. 1, 2020 and expires Dec. 31, 2026. Hill’s term began Jan. 1, 2019 and expires Dec. 31, 2026. Wright’s term began Jan. 1, 2019 and expires Dec. 31, 2026. Harrelson’s term began Jan. 1, 2019 and expires Dec. 31, 2026.

Four of the board’s seven seats — held by McKinnon, Hill, Wright, and Harrelson — reach the end of their terms Dec. 31.

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