Dr. Duncan believes that the goal of schooling is to develop independent thinkers and problem-solvers through deeply engaging, meaningful, and empowering learning experiences that build mastery, mindsets, identity, and community. Workforce readiness and economic prosperity will depend on a learner’s ability to transfer conceptual understandings to new and novel situations and make meaning of emerging patterns and trends. The outdated industrial model of schooling reinforces passivity, stifles creativity, and promotes learned helplessness. He feels strongly that educators and leaders must elevate student voice and co-create learning experiences that encourage collaboration, iteration, and public displays of learning.
Michael Duncan became superintendent in June of 2005. He is currently one of Georgia’s longest continuously serving school superintendents. He is the winner of the 2018 Georgia School Superintendents Association’s Bill Barr Leadership Award, a 2018 and 2019 Superintendent of the Year Finalist, the 2021 Superintendent of the Year Winner, and a 2012 recipient of the Georgia School Superintendents President’s Award. Before arriving in Pike, Michael was a high school principal, high school and middle school assistant principal, and a middle school teacher. He earned a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Georgia in 2004. He is married to his best friend Melanie and they have two sons, Josh and Alec.
After appearing as a finalist for the third time in four years, Dr. Duncan won the award for Georgia's Superintendent of the Year in 2021.
Dr. Duncan won the Bill Barr Award after being nominated as a finalist for Superintendent of the Year for the first time in his career.
Dr. Duncan was awarded the Superintendent President's award for his successful introduction of the Portrait of a Graduate Curriculum.
