Mr. Clayton Parrish – Head of School

A native of Lincolnton, Georgia, Head of School Benson Clayton Parrish earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from Clemson University and his Master of Arts degree in Education from Augusta State University.

                Mr. Parrish has been a member of the staff at Briarwood Academy for over twenty-eight years.  He taught health and physical education from 1996 to 2009 and middle and high school mathematics from 2008 to 2013. He served as Athletic Director from 2003-2009 and Principal from 2003-2012. In addition to being a teacher and administrator, Mr. Parrish has been an accomplished coach for men’s & women’s basketball programs and women’s track for more than a decade.   His honors include coaching 4 state championship teams, being named Georgia Independent School Association Coach of the Year 4 times , being named The Augusta Chronicle  Basketball Coach of the Year five times and being selected three times to coach the GISA North/South All Star Basketball Game. In the summer of 2021, Mr. Parrish was awarded the Brent Cribb Distinguished Service Award by the GISA Coaches Association

                Now in his twelfth year as Head of School, Mr. Parrish continues to work toward his goal of making Briarwood Academy a premier academic option for all K-12 students throughout the CSRA while maintaining the time-honored traditions, strong Christian values, and family–friendly environment that make Briarwood such a rewarding place to attend school.  Specifically, under the leadership of Mr. Parrish, Briarwood Academy has implemented the modernization of the technology available to students and teachers.   He bolstered Briarwood Academy’s academic credentials by increasing the Advanced Placement opportunities available to students to nine classes including Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Literature/Composition, Language/Composition, Government/Political Science, Music Theory, Psychology, and US History. He continues to add well-qualified academic instructors to an already reputable teaching staff.  In 2022 Briarwood was admitted for full membership with both the SAIS and Cognia accreditation agencies which will supplement Briarwood Academy’s existing GAC accreditation. Finally, Mr. Parrish will look to continue upgrading the classrooms and athletic facilities to accommodate a growing student body.

                Mr. Parrish and his wife, Valerie, have two daughters, Mackenzie, who is a Briarwood first honor graduate and junior at Clemson University and Abby, who is a junior at Briarwood. The Parrish family resides in Evans, Georgia.