During a called meeting of the Decatur County Board of Education Tuesday night, Fred Rayfield, current superintendent of Cook County schools, was chosen from a field of 24 applicants as the only finalist to become the next Decatur County superintendent.

The vote was unanimous.

Rayfield is slated to replace Ralph Jones, whose retirement is effective June 30 after serving eight years at the helm of the school system.

Rayfield, 44, was the only applicant to receive a second interview with the board after being one of six, from the total applicant pool of 24, which the board chose to interview initially.

A native of Alabama, Rayfield earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Auburn University in 1988, a master’s in agricultural education from the University of Georgia in 1993, and a Doctorate of Education in Agricultural Education, specializing in educational administration from Oklahoma State University in 1995.

Superintendent of Cook County Schools, headquartered in Adel, Ga., since 2003, Rayfield was the career, technology and agricultural education director at Cook High School for one year in 2002-2003 and a regional education specialist for the Georgia Department of Education from 1998-2002.

Rayfield and his wife, Tresa, have two daughters, Charley, 13, and Bailey, 9.

Heavily involved in the local community in Adel, Rayfield serves on the Adel/Cook Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Cook County Family Connection board of directors, Cook County Board of Health, Cook County Arts Council board of directors and the Cook County Economic Development Commission.

Sydney Cochran, chairman of the Decatur County Board of Education, praised the board’s choice of Rayfield.

“We are excited about the selection of Dr. Rayfield as our finalist. He ranks among the best superintendents in Georgia and has the qualities and experience we were seeking in our next superintendent,” Cochran said. “I also appreciate how well the board has worked together through the search process. The selection of Dr. Rayfield was unanimous and all board members were excellent participants in the process. I also appreciate the help and guidance of our search firm, King-Cooper and Associates.”