Jim Surrency is a Florida Native and career educator.  He has decades of experience in education as a coach, teacher, principal, and district level administrator.

 Jim started his career in Gilchrist County as a teacher at Trenton High School, where he also served as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director.  He then became Assistant Principal of Trenton High School and later Principal.  Jim served as Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Programs for twenty years implementing reforms in board policies, instruction, standards, and accountability.  He oversaw the programs which enabled Gilchrist to become the first county in Florida to have every school graded an “A” by the Florida Department of Education. 

Jim was then selected by 15 area school superintendents as the Executive Director of the Northeast Florida Educational Consortium (NEFEC) – an educational agency serving 15 North Florida rural school districts, including Gilchrist County.  For the past three years Dr. Surrency has served as the Director of Special Programs for the Gilchrist County School District. 

Jim holds a Doctoral Degree in Educational Administration from Nova Southeastern University, a Master’s Degree in Education from Murray State University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from Murray State University.  He has 46 years of experience in education at all levels.  Jim lives in Trenton Florida with his wife, Connie.  They have three grown children, all educated in the Gilchrist County School System, Brad, Jason, and Kara, and seven grandchildren.