On April 21st, the Bibb County Board of Education took the next step in its search for the Bibb County School District’s next Superintendent, formally announcing Dr. Dan Sims as its sole finalist for the position. Dr. Dan A. Sims is a proud native of Georgia with a lifelong commitment to public education. He brings 27 years of faithful experience to the success of students and has demonstrated passion for community service throughout his professional career.

Dr. Sims is a three-time graduate of Georgia State University and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics, a Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership, and a Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership. In 2020, he graduated from the Urban Superintendent’s Academy through the University of Southern California. His primary training and development outside of his formal education include Results Coaching certification and summer learning experiences with the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Relay Graduate School of Education.

He has served as an Associate Superintendent of Schools in the Atlanta Public School (APS) System for the past six years, where he directly leads and supports principals and other leaders as they push for excellence in student achievement. His key experiences in this position include assisting in the creation and implementation of the District’s strategic plan, active participation in establishing and monitoring District-level budget priorities, coordinating strategies for aligning departments and resources to support schools, and overseeing the operations of District athletics, ROTC, and adult education.

Under his leadership, the District’s graduation rate increased by 12.1 percent in five years, while achieving an all- time high 83.1 percent graduation rate. This was due in large part to his tenacious commitment to collaboration, data-driven strategic thinking, and capacity building of all leaders. Dr. Sims also played a key role in utilizing all of his responsibilities to restore community trust and foster a positive culture within the District and its surrounding communities. He has built a reputation of high expectations, high regard for people and high energy and know-how to execute the business at hand. Read more about Dr. Sims at www.bcsdk12.net.


Information on the finalist can be accessed at the following link on the Bibb County School District’s website: https://www.bcsdk12.net/news/what s new/superintendent search update.
The decision regarding the sole finalist came after a nationwide search conducted by the Georgia Schools Boards Association (GSBA) that yielded more than 30 applicants for consideration. The Board of Education voted on October 21, 2021, to enter into a contract with GSBA to conduct the Superintendent search following a presentation by GSBA on September 30, 2021. The application window opened in December 2021 and closed in January 2022. Overall, 33 applications were received – 16 applications from candidates in Georgia and 17 applications from candidates outside of Georgia.

As part of the search process, GSBA conducted a community survey in which more than 800 individuals provided input regarding the strengths and qualifications they hoped to see in the Bibb County School District’s next Superintendent. Of those 812 respondents, 46.8% were a BCSD employee, 44.95% were parents/guardians of a BCSD student, 30.54% were community members residing within the district, 7.76% identified themselves as members of the business community, 5.05% were students, 4.43% did not indicate a group, and 7.02% specified another group. (This totals more than 100% as respondents could choose more than one category. For example, an employee who is a parent may have selected both as their stakeholder status.)

Bibb’s School Board members reviewed the feedback from the survey, the applications received, and GSBA’s analysis of the candidates in determining the field of candidates to be interviewed. The candidate interview process, which included two rounds of interviews — conducted March 14 and 25, and April 7 — yielded a sole finalist who brings an accomplished background with a wide range of experiences and many years of service to public school systems.

Board President Dr. Thelma D. Dillard said, “The Board received more than 30 applications from qualified candidates from around the country. Through this process, Board members have had the opportunity to get to know the applicants and to learn about their experiences and their interest in public education. I am confident in our decision to follow the process and identify a Superintendent who will be a strong leader for our District and guide the work necessary to help students excel and become model citizens.”
In compliance with Georgia law, the Board of Education must wait a minimum of 14 days between announcing a finalist for the position of Superintendent and making the appointment official. Once Board members make their selection, negotiations will be solidified regarding the reporting date and salary.

The Board will announce a date for a Called Board Meeting, which will be scheduled to take place following the minimum 14-day guideline, to vote to appoint the Bibb County School District’s next Superintendent. Dr. Curtis Jones Jr., named National Superintendent of the Year in 2019 by AASA, joined the Bibb County School District as Superintendent of Schools in April 2015 and is set to retire in June 2022. The Board and Superintendent are committed to ensuring a seamless and effective transition for the start of the next school year.