Newton County Schools Procurement Department Earns National Excellence Award for Third Consecutive Year
Newton County Schools’ Procurement Department has once again earned national recognition for excellence in public procurement, receiving the 2026 Achievement of Excellence in Procurement (AEP) Award from the National Purchasing Institute.
This marks the third consecutive year Newton County Schools has received the prestigious award and the 13th time since 2012 that the district’s Procurement Department has earned the designation.
The Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award recognizes public and nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a commitment to procurement excellence and meet established best-practice benchmarks in areas including innovation, professionalism, e-procurement, productivity and leadership.
Newton County Schools is among a select group of organizations receiving the honor this year. In 2026, the district was one of only 31 school districts nationwide and one of just 15 public entities in Georgia to earn the AEP Award.
“Receiving this recognition for the third consecutive year is something our entire Procurement team can be proud of,” said Cory Craver, Director of Procurement for Newton County Schools. “Our work is ultimately about supporting our schools and students by ensuring that district resources are managed responsibly, efficiently and with the highest level of professionalism. This award reflects the commitment of our team to continually evaluate our processes, embrace innovation and maintain strong standards for public procurement.”
The Newton County Schools Procurement Department manages purchasing and procurement processes while working to ensure district funds are used responsibly and in accordance with applicable policies, regulations and industry best practices. The department also supports district operations through property and inventory management.
Joining Craver on the award-winning Procurement team are Carolyn Hill, Administrative Assistant; Tony Smith, Property and Inventory Supervisor; and Daniel Millner, Procurement Specialist.
Dr. Michael Barr, Chief Operations Officer for Newton County Schools, said the department’s sustained recognition demonstrates the importance of strong operational practices throughout the school system.
“Earning a national award once is an accomplishment, but receiving this recognition year after year speaks to the consistency and quality of the work being done by Mr. Craver and his team,” Dr. Barr said. “Effective procurement is critical to the successful operation of a school system. Our Procurement Department works diligently to protect taxpayer resources while ensuring our schools and departments have the goods and services they need to serve students effectively. We are extremely proud of this team and the high standards they continue to uphold.”
The AEP Award program was established by the National Purchasing Institute to recognize organizational excellence in public procurement. The program encourages the development of excellence as well as continued organizational improvement and recognizes entities that demonstrate a commitment to innovation, professionalism, productivity, leadership and sound procurement practices.
For Newton County Schools, the 2026 award continues a history of national recognition for its procurement operations while highlighting the department’s focus on responsible stewardship, continuous improvement and support of the district’s mission of educational excellence for all students.