Robert Freeman, 84: Led DeKalb Schools through desegregation

Longtime DeKalb County Schools Superintendent Robert Freeman died Friday in Alpharetta.

The DeKalb County School District sent a note to employees about Freeman’s passing after hours Tuesday.

Freeman, 84, led the district from 1980 to 1996. He ushered the district through desegregation as the demographics changed, where minority students became the majority of those attending school in the district. The district’s administration building is named in his honor.

According to his obituary, Freeman also served as a superintendent in Menominee, Mich., Mishawaka and Muncie, Ind., and Pueblo, Colo, before coming to Georgia.

“Not only was he a great leader, he was a great person and he believed in educating and teaching his staff to be great leaders,” DeKalb County Board of Education Chairman Melvin Johnson said. “His greatest talent was developing strategies to overcome challenges. And we had several.”

Johnson was among those who went to interview Freeman for the superintendent role. At the time, Johnson was a school principal. The men bonded after both showed up for the interview in the same blue striped suit. Johnson rose through the ranks under Freeman’s leadership to deputy superintendent.

“To learn and be a student of his,” Johnson said, “I’m extremely grateful.”