Meet Everton
Meet Everton
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Educator. Fighter. Son of Georgia.
Born and raised in Gwinnett County, Georgia, Dr. Everton Blair Jr. is an educator, lifelong resident of Georgia’s 13th Congressional District, and a proud son of Jamaican immigrants.
As a student in Gwinnett County Public Schools, Everton saw how opportunity can be unevenly distributed. When his classmates had to share outdated textbooks, he bought new ones for the entire class, a quiet act that reflected a lifelong instinct: if something’s broken, you fix it.
That instinct carried him into public service. After teaching high school math in Atlanta Public Schools, Everton served on the Gwinnett County School Board, where he quickly became Board Chair. His tenure was defined by transparency, collaboration, and results, as he governed one of the state’s most complex public systems through the COVID-19 pandemic with steadiness and integrity.
Before serving locally, Everton worked on President Obama’s White House Initiative on Educational Excellence, training school leaders nationwide to govern with both courage and compassion. He holds a bachelor’s in applied mathematics (B.A.) and a Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) from Harvard University and a Master's in Policy, Organization, and Leadership (M.A.) from Stanford University.
Serious, Proven Leadership
Everton is not new to leading during crisis or across lines of difference. In 2018, he made history as the first person of color and the youngest-ever member elected to the Gwinnett County School Board. He entered office as the only Democrat and the youngest member by 40 years, but that did not stop him from fighting for the community that raised him. On day one, Everton went to work delivering for students, educators and families.
He used his platform to recruit new school board candidates. They won and replaced two Republican seats on the board, creating a Democratic majority. Not long after, Everton was unanimously elected Board Chair by his Democrat and Republican colleagues. As Board Chair, Everton led the Metro Atlanta COVID-19 pandemic response, while successfully raising teacher pay, expanding student services, and overseeing the county's most historic superintendent transition. That's the kind of proven, effective leadership Everton will bring to Congress.