Facilities Director Mike Satterfield builds schools where education can thrive.
In his role, Satterfield oversees the maintenance of existing facilities, and he also is the point man for new construction and renovation projects. He is in charge of the long-term planning for the school system’s facilities, and he works with local municipalities and the county government to ensure we can accommodate population fluctuations.
As many hard hats as he wears in his job, the best part is taking a school from drawings to a safe structure for students.
“I enjoy seeing something go from bare ground to a completed project,” said Satterfield. “It may sound a little corny, but I really think building schools for educational purposes is kind of a higher calling.”
He found his calling building for the school system that helped build him. A 1974 graduate of Fayette County High, he was surrounded by design at home. His dad was an engineer for Delta, and together they completed many home building projects.
“I always knew I wanted to be an engineer,” he said. “I always had that desire to remodel.”
He originally focused on nuclear engineering as a student at Georgia Tech. He met his future wife while in college, and the prospect of serving in the Navy didn’t seem as appealing anymore.
“I decided I preferred to go home with her every night versus being on a submarine.”
He switched to a building construction major and went on to own his own construction company for about 16 years. They built residential, light commercial, churches, restaurants, and other structures, but he had a different calling waiting on him.
He was hired by Fayette County Public Schools in July 1994 to oversee an ambitious $90 million construction program. It included two high school buildings, one middle school, three elementary schools, and a lot of building additions. They went from 1.5 million square foot of buildings before he was hired to now more than 4.5 million total.
With any build, Satterfield’s goal is to get the most bang for the buck for the taxpayer’s dime.
“We are not trying to win architectural awards, we just want to build the best facility for the instruction of our students,” he said. “We answer to the taxpayers. We all work for them, so we’ve got to be wise in how we spend their money.”
He credits his crew of nearly 50 people for being really sharp and making his task easier.
“I love my job. I look forward to getting up every morning and coming to work,” he said. “it’s been a great ride for me. This is my 30th year, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Posted 8/20/2024
