Norman C. Sauce III named literacy as his top priority in his first interview as DeKalb County's permanent superintendent.

Sauce, who previously served as principal of Chamblee High School, also said the district's review of more than two dozen under-enrolled schools will move into a community engagement phase in January 2027. Which schools are under consideration has not been publicly disclosed.

In an interview published Tuesday, Oct. 6, by WSB-TV, Sauce said the district's literacy push would span pre-K through graduation and include parents in the process.

"First and foremost, our priority is elevating literacy instruction in our school district," Sauce said.

The focus is not new for him. The DeKalb Schools Educational Foundation's 2026 State of the District, held March 25, featured grant programs aligned with his priorities of strengthening literacy and supporting student wellness, according to the foundation's website. The foundation also co-hosted a literacy roundtable in 2025.

Sauce pointed to the district's highest-ever graduation rate of 83.3% as a sign of progress but said the work is far from finished.

School consolidation timeline

The district is weighing whether to close or repurpose more than two dozen schools with low enrollment. Sauce told WSB-TV it is "still too early to say how many schools might be consolidated" but said a second phase of the review will bring the district closer to communities affected by under-enrollment starting in January 2027.

DeKalb County School District serves more than 92,000 students across 138 schools and centers, making it Georgia's third-largest school system, according to the district's website. No community engagement schedule for the January 2027 phase has been announced.

Career and technical education

Sauce also highlighted the district's expansion of career and technical education, or CTE, courses. He cited programs in agriculture, business, computers, barbering, welding, auto mechanics and aviation.

Sauce's appointment

The DeKalb County School Board voted 4-1-1 on Monday, Oct. 5, to confirm Sauce after he served 11 months as interim superintendent, Decaturish reported. Board members Allyson Gevertz, Whitney McGinniss, Deirdre Pierce and Andrew Ziffer voted yes. Tiffany Hogan voted no, vice chair Awet Eyasu abstained, and Diijon DaCosta was absent. No other candidates were interviewed for the role.

Sauce stepped into the position after former Superintendent Devon Horton was federally indicted in October 2025 on charges stemming from his time leading a school district in Illinois. Horton resigned from DeKalb on Nov. 15, 2025. As we reported Oct. 5, Horton pleaded guilty to three federal charges the same day Sauce was confirmed. Horton's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2027, according to CBS News.

The district's January 2027 consolidation engagement phase is the next major milestone for families watching how enrollment shifts could reshape DeKalb schools.