LANETT — Springwood School in Lanett has a new Head of School, according to a news release from the Chattahoochee Valley Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.

Lowrie McCown was announced late Tuesday evening by the board of trustees as the new Head of School, effective July 8. He will replace Rick Johnson, who is leaving for another job after seven years at the post.

McCown’s most recent educational experience includes seven years as the Associate Head

of School at King’s Ridge Christian School in Atlanta. King’s Ridge is a private school that grew from 620 to 850 students during McCown’s tenure and is co-founded by former Braves pitcher John Smoltz, according to the news release from Springwood.

“His experience in an independent school setting, with an emphasis on academic excellence and extra-curricular enrichment, is a perfect match with Springwood’s mission,” the news release stated.

Tom Oswalt, trustee chair, said the board is excited to see McCown’s vision to keep Springwood academically strong begin to play out.

“Springwood has a reputation as being an academically strong institution with students ranking well above the national ACT averages,” he said in the news release. “The Board is eager for Mr. McCown to continue to strengthen our mission as a college preparatory school, providing a quality education in a nurturing environment, focusing on mind, body, and spirit.”

According to the news release, McCown was the international executive director and senior vice president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before working with King’s Ridge. Springwood says he was involved in launching the first international division of the FCA and founded the training program 360 Sports, which has trained more than 10,000 leaders from 60 different countries.

Jim Donovan, Point University Education Department chairman, said he’s seen the results of McCown’s work first hand.

“I have known Lowrie for the last 9 years and have seen the result of his superlative leadership at King’s Ridge Christian School,” he said. “I am excited about not only the future of Springwood but for the possible enhanced partnership with Point and our students.”

McCown will join Springwood with his wife Randi, with whom he has four children — Taylor, Nathan, Hannah and Zach. They also have two daughters-in-law, Caitlyn and Kellie, and one son-in-law, Cody, who have added seven grandchildren to their family in the past 5 years.

McCown will work with Johnson through a transition period during the summer into next year. Johnson has said in the past that he plans to stay with the school into the start of the academic year while the new headmaster is settled and then will move on to his employment with Harvester Christian Academy in Douglasville, Georgia as Head of School.