Posted August 15, 2025

It was during her time in Spain that the idea sparked—an experience that ultimately led her to Brown University. That’s the thing about life: when you learn to go with the flow, you might be surprised by where it leads you.

During her time at Apalachee High School, Holly McCauley always had a plan. She was focused, driven, and knew exactly who she wanted to be.

She was heavily involved in a wide range of activities that helped shape her leadership and character. Holly served as drum major for two years—a role she had aspired to since her first year in band.

"Band was my favorite part of school," she shared. "I knew I wanted to be a drum major from the start." Her time in band brought exciting opportunities: traveling to Disney, performing in parades, competitions, and attending a summer camp at the University of Georgia.

Beyond band, Holly was active in several honor societies, including BETA Club, National Honor Society (where she served as President), Tri-M Music Honor Society, English Honors, and Social Studies Honors. She also played tennis for one season and was a member of the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy. “Since my mom worked at the school, I was often there after hours. I figured I might as well get involved—and I’m so glad I did.”

She graduated in the top ten of her class in 2019 and went on to attend the University of Southern California. There, she enrolled in the Thematic Option Honors Program—an alternative to the traditional education path. "I started college with plans to go to law school, but as I studied, I realized I wanted something different."

Inspired by her high school teacher, Mrs. Trice, who had taught English abroad, Holly pursued her own dream of teaching overseas. “I always wanted to teach abroad, and Mrs. Trice made that seem possible.” That dream became reality when she taught English in Spain and discovered a passion for working with teenagers. “I fell in love with the experience—it sparked something in me.”

That spark led her to pursue a Master’s in Secondary Education and Teaching at Brown University, where she is currently enrolled and set to graduate in Spring 2026. Her long-term goal is to move to New York and teach, combining her love for education with her interest in publishing.

Advice for Students:

“Don’t waste your life trying to plan it all out. The fun is in figuring it out along the way—being wrong, discovering new things you didn’t expect to love. Learn to go with the flow.”
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted April 14, 2025

For Toni Brandon, the ability to care for others has always been a gift she cherished.

"I love taking care of others. I always knew that I wanted to become a nurse someday," said Toni.

During her time at Apalachee High School, Toni was an active member of the Future Health Professionals (HOSA) club and played the clarinet in the high school band for all four years.

Her journey through Barrow County Schools began at Kennedy Elementary, continued at Westside Middle, and culminated at Apalachee High, where she graduated in 2006.

After high school, Toni traded her Wildcat marching band attire for the iconic Georgia Redcoat Band uniform. She continued to play the clarinet during her time at the University of Georgia, fulfilling a dream.

"It was a dream to be a Redcoat! I love watching college football, I love Georgia, and of course, I loved being in the band. It was such a big part of my life," Toni recalls.

Eventually, it was time for her to hang up her uniform and focus on nursing school. She became a Registered Nurse and worked at Piedmont Athens for ten years. Throughout the pandemic, Toni's dedication never wavered, but she knew it was time for a change afterward.

Ready to return to her roots, Toni became the school nurse for Bear Creek Middle School and has not looked back since.

"I love working with the kids! I love this age group. I chose Barrow County because this has always been home for me," she explains.
 

Advice for Students:

"Stay focused, make a goal, and don't give up until it is finished."

We are proud of our BOLD Alumni. Thank you, Toni Brandon, for sharing your story.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted March 12, 2025

From playing on golf courses at the age of 12 to designing them years later, Amanda Barbee discovered a passion that led her to a fulfilling career.

Amanda moved to Barrow County during her sixth-grade year, where she found a passion that would stay with her for years to come. She attended Winder-Barrow Middle School and Russell Middle School for her seventh and eighth-grade years.

Amanda loved sports and making new friends. She began cheerleading in sixth grade and continued through her senior year. She also played softball for a few years.

When her family moved to Chateau Elan during her sixth-grade year, Amanda began taking golf lessons and later played for her high school team.

"When I played on the WBHS Golf team, we were good. We actually went to State two or three times as a team when I played." 

After graduating from WBHS in 2003, Amanda attended the University of Georgia.

"I originally wanted to become a veterinarian, but I realized that it was not for me. Instead, I got my degree in landscape architecture." 

After graduating from UGA, Amanda resumed playing golf whenever she could. She moved to Florida and started working on traditional landscaping projects.

Today, Amanda is a Senior Design Associate with Beau Welling Design and a Design Consultant for TGR Design by Tiger Woods. She is also pursuing her Master's Degree in real estate from Georgetown University.

"I am one of fewer than ten women in the world who are course architects. I'd love to see more women in the field." 

Amanda has worked on nearly 30 projects in the four years she has been with the company.

Her advice for students?

“If you have a skill in school, continue to pursue it even afterward. The activities that I loved doing back then eventually led me to a career that I love.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted February 26, 2025

The great thing about reading is that it’s for everyone! Belinda Outwater, Auburn’s Library Manager, strives to share her passion for books with others.

From a young age, Belinda and her grandmother would get lost for hours in a good book at the library. Reading was an outlet for her, a passion she carried throughout school and into her adult life.

Belinda attended Auburn Elementary and Russell Middle School before graduating from Winder-Barrow High School in 1995. “The library pretty much raised me during my middle and high school years,” she recalls.

Heavily involved in the journalism club, Belinda loved the fast-paced environment and the competitiveness of being the first to break a story. “It taught me time management and how to meet deadlines,” she says. These skills stayed with her long after graduation.

After WBHS, Belinda attended Brewton-Parker College in South Georgia. She then worked at a bookstore for 10 years, a job she loved until the store went out of business. This led her to start volunteering at the library, which eventually turned into a part-time job and then a manager position. “I have no regrets; I’ve enjoyed every moment of my journey,” she says.

Belinda earned her Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of North Carolina. She is now a member of the School Governance Team (SGT) for Bethlehem Elementary School. “I love being involved with the schools and being able to give back, letting them know what the libraries can offer,” she says. “Barrow County libraries have phenomenal relationships with the Barrow County School System.”

“It is such a good thing for our students. We want to help get them excited about reading and playtime.”

Belinda collaborates with media specialists in the Apalachee cluster, aiming to help parents become their child’s first teacher.

Her advice for students? 

"My advice for students is to not compare your journey to others. Success looks different for everyone, and what is most important is to follow your heart and do what makes you happy."
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted January 28, 2025

What does a full-circle moment look like? For Sarah Currey, it was stepping into her first classroom as a teacher. This was the same room where she made some of her best friends, shared countless laughs, and created lasting memories. Now, it was her class, and she had the opportunity to watch her students form new friendships and learn.

In sixth grade, Sarah moved from Augusta, GA, to her new home and attended Haymon-Morris Middle School (HMMS). She found a sense of belonging in the Barrow County community and she completed her early education here, graduating from Apalachee High School (AHS) in 2020.

For the past four years, Sarah's days were filled with studying and playing soccer at Truett McConnell University. "This is the first year not playing soccer since I was five," she said.

Soccer was always Sarah's outlet. She played club soccer for Athens United in middle school and continued throughout high school.

This year, instead of being a player on the field, she’ll be a coach at Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy (BASA), working alongside her high school soccer coach. "It is special to be able to work with some of the wonderful individuals that I was able to call my teachers and coaches," said Sarah.

As a first-time teacher, Sarah has enjoyed connecting with her students and colleagues.

Her advice to students is heartfelt:

"Do not be afraid to make mistakes. You have the chance to make those mistakes mean something and to learn from them. You’ll never start or get to where you want to be if you are too afraid to take chances."

Sarah exemplifies what it means to be a Barrow BOLD Alumni. She is a proud alumna and strives to serve others.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted December 18, 2024

From the basketball courts of Winder-Barrow High School to the pages of children's books, Stan Tucker's journey is a story of dreams, education, and the power of kindness.

Stan Tucker graduated from Winder-Barrow High School in 2002. During his time at WBHS, he participated in basketball and football. In his senior year, the team ranked number one in the state.

In his senior year at WBHS, Principal Rob Johnson instilled a dream in him to someday return and become a principal like Johnson.

After high school, he received a scholarship to attend Piedmont College and play basketball. "I had hoop dreams at the time, but I wanted to become an educator," he said. Stan graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education and became an elementary school teacher.

He enjoyed his time teaching, but eventually, he sought a new challenge. Despite leaving the classroom, Stan's passion for education never waned. He envisioned a way to teach kids about the importance of literacy—the ability to read and write—outside traditional settings. This vision led to the creation of the Read n’ Roll, a bookmobile where children earn books through acts of kindness.

"The kids earn books through acts of kindness. It’s important to read, but it’s also important to teach kids the importance of how you treat others," he explained.

The whole concept is that kindness is the currency to earn a book from the bookmobile. "Anyone can afford a book off my bookmobile because anyone can be kind," Stan said. One day, while stacking books on the Read n’ Roll, he thought to himself, "How great would it be to have a section on this bookmobile of books written by kids?" This led him to develop a writing program called ‘Share Your Story,’ with the goal of inspiring the next generation of storytellers.

"The cool thing about being the author of your own life story is that you decide how it goes," Stan said.

Stan wrote his first book in 2019, titled ‘Stan the Man.’ It’s about his father and him, and about living a life that makes our loved ones proud, even when they are not here. "I lost my dad when I was in third grade, and through this book, I try to teach kids to live a life that makes others proud by treating people with kindness and respect, giving our best effort in all that we do," he shared.

"The reason I write children’s books is to give them a message that they can implement in their own lives," Stan added.
 

Fun fact: Stan was on The Ellen Show in 2019. He played the Holy Roller game for a chance to win $25,000 for the bookmobile.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted November 4, 2024

In 2009, the Barrow County community elected a new Sheriff - Jud Smith. A local resident, Smith began his law enforcement career in Winder in 1999 after graduating from Winder-Barrow High School (WBHS) in 1994.

During his time at WBHS, Smith played basketball until his junior year and baseball throughout high school. The WBHS baseball team was ranked number one in the state at the time.

“I was blessed to be on a talented team with skilled teammates. Scouts were coming to watch us play, and I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to Middle Georgia College,” said Smith.

Smith started his college journey in the fall of 1994 at Middle Georgia College, where his team won a National Championship. He later transferred to Columbus State University (CSU) and played baseball for a year before an arm injury ended his baseball career. He then pursued a degree in criminal justice, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from CSU.

After completing his education, Smith began his law enforcement career in Winder. “I wanted to blaze my own path. I have always felt the call to serve others. I have been blessed to do it for over 23 years now,” said Smith. “I’ve been blessed to be elected by the good citizens of Barrow County.”

Smith is deeply rooted in the Barrow County community. He married a fellow WBHS graduate, and together they have raised two children in Winder. “We are very supportive of all Barrow County Schools and the community,” said Smith. “We’re Barrow Bold for a reason, and we want our students to be BOLD. Take chances and do the right thing.”

We are proud of our BOLD Alumni. Thank you, Sheriff Jud Smith, for sharing your story.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI

Posted July 15, 2024

The time you spend in school is intended for students to discover their passions. For Power Evans, he discovered just that at a young age.

“In eighth grade, I began learning about Georgia’s history, and I was fascinated by the political side of it. I knew I wanted to be in politics from a young age,” said Evans.

He currently serves as the City of Winder’s Councilmember for Ward 3—a dream come true for young Evans.

Evans’s time in Barrow County Schools was filled with passion and involvement.

“I enjoyed my time in school; it was a lot of fun. It was a blast being part of the marching band and performing during halftime on Friday nights,” said Evans.

Evans’s commitment to his school extended beyond music. He actively participated in various clubs, including the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), where he served as Vice President. “I was involved in the Student Council as well, serving as my class president from freshman year to senior year. It was an honor, and I enjoyed having that responsibility,” he said.

His dedication to leadership didn’t stop there. Evans also contributed to the School Governance Team and the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee. “I loved being involved. It was a family tradition to attend Winder-Barrow, and I hope that someday my kids will graduate from there as well,” he expressed.

Through his various roles, Evans developed skills that prepared him for life after high school.

“Participating in public speaking competitions in FBLA taught me how to be comfortable speaking to larger groups,” he explained.

After graduating from Winder-Barrow, Evans attended the University of Georgia, where he earned a degree in Political Science in May 2022.

“I am very fortunate to have graduated from UGA and Winder-Barrow. It has opened up many opportunities for me,” said Evans.

Evans encourages current students to cherish their time in school. His piece of advice to students is to explore the world.

“When you graduate, go out and see the world. Gather experiences that will give you different perspectives, and consider returning to apply what you’ve learned to this amazing community.”

Power Evans’s journey from a passionate student to a dedicated councilman inspires young leaders in Barrow County and beyond, demonstrating the profound impact of education and community involvement.

We are proud of our BOLD Alumni. Thank you, Power Evans, for sharing your story.
 

NOMINATE A BOLD ALUMNI