Dana Bedden took over as Richmond County schools superintendent Aug. 1 -- a permanent replacement for Charles Larke, whose decade in that job ended with a drawn-out and often cantankerous departure.

During the past 12 months, Dr. Bedden has focused on rebuilding community ties, establishing business connections and overhauling the school system financially and academically.

On the eve of his anniversary, Dr. Bedden spoke with The Augusta Chronicle , reflecting on his time in Richmond County.

Here are excerpts from that interview:

Q: What has been your biggest challenge?

A: "Attitude. I don't think anybody could have gotten me to understand what a challenge it would be to have people think positively about education. ... I'm surprised at the number of people who are negative about Richmond County schools and partly negative about inaccurate information that they don't even seem to be interested in finding the factual information before they are quick to judge, and who are holding on to the past."

Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment?

A: "I think the number of teachers, administrators or educators who work in the school system who have successes every day in spite of limitations that are placed upon them or exist around them, and I had nothing to do with that. That's just what existed already. They do that every day on a regular basis. There are more people who do that than don't, and they just seem to go unnoticed on a regular basis."

Q: What has been the biggest surprise?

A: "The attitude, that was a surprise, but the financial structure, the limitations, all of these exceptions that are placed on Richmond County that are different from other jurisdictions. We get, I think it's 16 or 17 million in Title I dollars. That sounds like an awful lot of money, doesn't it? ... (But) that means we've got more challenges to overcome to be successful (because Title I funds are given to educate low-income students).

"People often say, 'Oh, we're oversized at the central office,' or 'We over-tax.' Well, I would love to lower taxes, but you see when we compare the real data to all these jurisdictions where we sit. People try to compare us to our neighbor. ... But when they do that, they don't consider: Do we get the same resources or access to resources? So, that's what amazes me sometimes."

Q: What was the best advice you received in your first year?

A: "I think the recurring theme is: Do what you know is right. ... As I've told people about this whole tax thing, the conversation's not popular, but I'm going to tell you the truth about how we compare to other school districts. I would be remiss in being the chief education officer here by not pointing it out. If I don't point it out, who will?"

Q: How has the school system compared with what you expected to find?

A: "I still don't think the system is broken. I think we do a lot of things well with a lot of good people, and I've seen worse. I've actually been in what's been broken before."

Q: What has been the funniest experience so far?

A: "I think people still talk to me about the luau or when I got the pie in my face. There was a story that wasn't supposed to get out. Teachers were amazed that in a suit and a tie I was on the floor talking to an elementary kid who had become disengaged in the classroom. People said they were amazed ... but I was actually helping run a track meet as a superintendent."

Q: How have you compared with your predecessor, Dr. Charles Larke?

A: "I remember at a previous job I had where people would compare me to an administrator I had replaced who had been there 25 years, and the best comment I heard was someone advising me. He said, 'You have to understand something. People really want you to be different from all of the things they didn't like about that previous administrator, but they want you to keep things they like.' So, I approach the job understanding that. It comes with the job. I've been trained as a superintendent to avoid making comparisons with predecessors because the average tenure in a lot of school districts is about three years."

Q: What will be your top priority in the coming year?

A: "The retooling of our teachers and understanding how to teach in a standards-based classroom, understanding standards-based schools, standards-based instruction. That's why we have through a partnership with the state increased the number of schools that we've got into raising standards early as opposed to when they are mandated."

Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE SUPERINTENDENT

- "(I've been) very impressed with the things I've seen so far ... I'm excited about Richmond County schools. I really feel we're on the verge of making one of those dramatic turnarounds." -- Jimmy Atkins, the school board president

- "He's really had a tough year because we've had a lot of curve-balls thrown at us, and he has kept the school system moving forward." -- Alex Howard, the chairman of the school board's human relations committee

- "I think he's a breath of fresh air. I think the community was looking for a change and certainly got that." -- Dr. Richard Harrison, the dean of Augusta State University's College of Education

- "I feel strongly that Dr. Bedden is doing an exceptional job under very difficult circumstances. Having gone through a similar situation after first being elected, I fully understand that change does not come easy. It is my firm belief that he needs the support of the entire community as I have faith that he will have an extremely positive impact on our school system when his full vision is implemented." -- Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver