Bibb County School District Chief of Staff Keith Simmons was named Superintendent of Griffin- Spalding County School System during a called meeting of the Griffin-Spalding County Board of Education on Tuesday, January 19. Mr. Simmons, who has served as Chief of Staff for the Bibb County School District since 2015, was appointed to the position unanimously in a 5-0 vote.

“Today, the Griffin-Spalding County School System announced Keith Simmons, our Chief of Staff, will be their next Superintendent. I have known Mr. Simmons for almost a decade, and I am very excited about his promotion. He will excel, and he will make those of us who know him in Bibb County very proud. Congratulations to Mr. Simmons,” Bibb County School District Superintendent Dr. Curtis Jones said.

“I am thankful for the opportunity to have worked with and served with excellent team members while in Bibb, and I am excited about what the future holds in Griffin-Spalding,” Mr. Simmons said.

Mr. Simmons is a career educator who is committed to serving students, their families and his staff. He currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the Bibb County School District, which has 37 schools and programs and more than 20,000 students. In this role, Mr. Simmons is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school district, including specific oversight of multiple departments related to operations as well as the District’s principal supervisors. During his time with the District, Mr. Simmons has helped develop and monitor the District’s Strategic Plan and Balanced Scorecard, managed the District’s accreditation process by AdvancED (now Cognia), worked directly with the District’s instructional leadership team to guide the school improvement process, and advanced the District’s work in providing equitable access to resources and supports that impact student achievement.

Prior to joining the Bibb County School District, he was a principal for six years, serving at Griffin High School (2010- 2015) and Monroe County Achievement (2009-2010). During his tenure as Principal of Griffin High School, Mr. Simmons was instrumental in transforming the school’s climate and culture. Driven by a commitment to increase students’ access and exposure to academic rigor and CTE programs, Griffin High School saw dramatic increases in student attendance, student achievement, graduation rates and community partnerships.

Vision: Each student will demonstrate strength of character and will be college or career ready. Mission: The Bibb County School District develops a highly trained staff and an engaged community dedicated to educating each student for a 21st century global society.

Before being appointed a Principal, Mr. Simmons held positions as a high school Assistant Principal in Bibb and Monroe Counties. He began his educational career in his hometown of Kissimmee, Fla., where he held positions such as dean of students, special education teacher, and coach in Orange and Osceola counties (Florida).

Mr. Simmons received his Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Barry University in Florida. He also holds an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Walden University. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Georgia, studying education policy, with anticipated completion in spring 2022.

Mr. Simmons has been associated with numerous professional development activities in the area of racial equity, school/district improvement, and leadership development. His leadership preparation includes completion of the AASA Howard University Urban Superintendents Academy, as well as the Superintendent Professional Development Program through the Georgia School Superintendents Association.

Additionally, Mr. Simmons participated in the Public Education Leadership Project Summer Institute at Harvard University, with a focus on developing district policies and practices for improving student attendance. He has presentedbefore national, state and regional audiences on topics includingschool improvement, strategic planning, organizational management, leadership development, racial equity, diversity and inclusion, school transformation, at-risk youth, P-20 collaboration, PBIS, stakeholder communication, and supporting schools during COVID-19.

Mr. Simmons is engaged in numerous professional and community organizations. He is a member of AASA, The School Superintendents Association; the Georgia School Superintendents Association; Georgia Association of Educational Leaders; and Phi Delta Kappa. He has served on several community boards, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Georgia, Bibb Community Partnership, and Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful.

He is married to Donna and they have two children.