Key Points:
• Norman Sauce was announced as the acting DCSD superintendent on Oct. 9.
• He previously served as DCSD chief of student services in February 2024.
•Sauce also served as principal of Chamblee High School.
In the midst of a 17-count federal indictment of its top educator, DeKalb County School District officials are making a plea to parents and community members to support the school staff and students.
On Oct. 9, DCSD Superintendent Devon Q. Horton was indicted on 17 charges by the U.S. Attorney for acts he allegedly committed while serving as the superintendent of Evanston-Skokie School District 65 in Illinois. Between 2021 and 2023, the 37-page indictment, which was obtained by the Evanston Roundtable, alleges that Horton accepted and approved contracts with business partners that he would financially benefit from, to the tune of more than $85,000 in kickbacks, according to the indictment.
Hours after the indictment charges were announced, the DCSD board placed Horton on leave and appointed Dr. Norman Sauce, the chief of student services, as the acting superintendent.
After the indictment, Sauce, in a video released on Friday, appealed to parents and community members to stay focused on the school system’s mission, noting that “schools are operating as normal.”
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“Even in times of challenge or change, our commitment to our students and our mission remains steady,” Sauce said. “When we say, I stand with DCSD, we’re not just sharing words, we’re showing our unity through action, compassion and collaboration. So today, I invite you to stand with us.”
Sauce has served DCSD as chief of student services since February 2024. He supported and supervised the district’s exceptional education, English language learners, gifted education, and early learning and pre-K departments in that role. He also served as DCSD area superintendent for high schools.
Andrew Ziffer, District 1 board member, said he and his colleagues made the decision to place Horton, who has led the district since 2023, with “heavy hearts.” Though graduation rates have increased and other milestones have been met during Horton’s tenure, he fears “this moment may overshadow some of that progress.”
“DeKalb’s story is not defined by a single day or a single person,” Ziffer said in a written statement. “It’s defined by the 14,000+ staff members who believe in our students and show up for them every single day…I’m asking all of us to stand with DeKalb County Schools. Stand with Dr. Norman Sauce, who will lead our district during this difficult time. Let’s support our educators, our children, and our community with grace and empathy — not with harsh words.”
More on Sauce:
Sauce, who is a husband and father of twin boys, also served as principal of Chamblee High School within DCSD and as an elementary principal within Fulton County Schools. He previously taught social studies and was an assistant principal in Southern California before moving to Georgia in 2011.
He earned his doctor of education degree from the University of Southern California, his master of education degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and his bachelor of arts degree in history from California State University Long Beach.