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Superintendent Dan Sims and convocation hosts presented an extended list of individual school teachers and finalists across grade bands and specialty roles. The district also named Monique Christian of Howard Middle School as the district’s 2026 Emerging Educator of the Year, an award the convocation describes as recognizing teachers who are pursuing professional certification while teaching.

The convocation listed school-level and district honorees including nominees and winners across elementary, middle and high schools. The program named finalists for district teacher of the year (including Aaron Allen, Bruce Elementary; Luciana Green, Central High; Aleazar Dan Hall, Howard High; and Stuart Harding of Hutchings), along with many school-level teachers of the year. The event also recognized media specialists, counselors, social workers and athletic directors for their contributions.

Outgoing district teacher of the year Sarah Mallet Burzo delivered an inspirational message that reflected on lessons learned while representing the district. “If you remember nothing else from today, remember this, your presence is powerful,” she said, urging staff to protect joy and build community in classrooms and schools.

The convocation was largely ceremonial and celebratory; awards were announced from the stage and no board votes or formal personnel actions were taken at the event. The recognitions included educators from across the district’s schools and programs and were presented alongside student performances and testimonials that illustrated the educators’ classroom impact.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Convocation 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Bibb County convocation the district recognized emerging and district teachers of the year, announced finalists and honored a long list of school-level awardees and staff who support student success.","taxTitle","Bibb County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",15356,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6149720,"Bibb County superintendent outlines 'Push 2028' with literacy and attendance at center",4023,4034000,8057000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5510859-6caeb33154a380bb4c793762f6ed8c85&start=4034&end=8057","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5510859-6caeb33154a380bb4c793762f6ed8c85/thumbnail_4034000.jpg","/articles/6149720/Georgia/Bibb-County-superintendent-outlines-Push-2028-with-literacy-and-attendance-at-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6149720-fe87f376fa0b4d83def3084b9a3997f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643043&Signature=FNcKs82ZBYB8ba4xTBxnPRpQ4lHu92XvDFhR4skI28SXFjpChSVO4kG2X82DQyKZ1KX~OXE-4C~xyrHcDzk5XZEdYrmDtD4KpyH7Zw32u7SlbiEwZCQGBLCXSkQvfsni2nT2~8My1xeskJyp95NcnwOTvugYd9K8D0TU~BOBB~ZNRaYsoO75p3048gjn5oQWIYmZ~CWzsQ~3l-2vsdBfddiqSYcSkRIaVHX3~690wX1D-qUZ1w3kS2y9a0H--gHXkXJugZn9glEB-Ai4sIl5cTIlOu5GGPZU--P1IL0pWFFbwzFapv~8or7AeVP0pY52JYdnVDydLGi~8HTgOI~3tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dan Sims on Thursday used the Bibb County School District's convocation to roll out “The Push,” a multi-year effort the district will use through 2028 that places literacy and attendance at the center of its strategy for raising student outcomes.

Sims told attendees at the start of the 2025–26 school year that the plan rests on three actions: align adults' efforts to established standards and student needs, adopt rigorous approaches, and deliver with “unshakable commitment.” “If adults in our system align our efforts ... and if we deliver with unshakable commitment to achieving success at high levels for all students then we will achieve unprecedented outcomes for the students who rely on us,” Sims said.

The superintendent framed the push as a districtwide cultural effort rather than a program limited to classrooms. He identified five emphases—clarity, conviction, coalition, culture and capacity—and repeatedly invited noninstructional staff and community partners onstage as a symbolic demonstration that the effort must include bus drivers, custodians, nutrition workers, safety staff, custodial and maintenance crews, paraprofessionals, nurses, counselors, technology and procurement staff, and others.

Sims cited recent district metrics as the basis for the push: he said the district’s graduation rate rose from 80.98% to just over 87% and that three high schools reached graduation rates above 90%. He also said dual-enrollment participation reached roughly 1,500 students and that the number of advanced-placement exams administered rose from 471 to 803, a 70.4% increase. At the elementary and middle-school level, Sims said the district recorded gains in state testing for two consecutive years, with 27 schools improving in English language arts, 28 in mathematics and 21 in science. He also said seven schools were recognized by the state for exceptional academic progress and two were identified as Title I distinguished schools.

Sims told staff that literacy and attendance will be the two primary drivers of district activity this year, and that the district will work to make expectations and resources clear for families and staff. “Literacy because we need for everybody to be at least reading on grade level or above ... Attendance because we clearly see that when students come to school they do significantly better than the ones who miss school,” he said.

District leaders also said they have invested in facilities, technology, public-safety resources and expanded extracurricular and advanced-course opportunities as part of the effort to raise student performance. Sims urged staff and partners to adopt a single-minded focus—“like the push” on a football play—so that the district's resources and people move in the same direction.

The convocation included student and staff presentations illustrating programs Sims cited, including arts performances, JROTC-style instruction referenced by a high-school presenter, FFA participation and a poetry performance. Sims closed by asking attendees to translate the convocation’s rhetoric into daily practice in classrooms and school operations.

The superintendent's speech laid out goals but did not propose new policy or request board action at the convocation. District leaders said implementation details and specific programmatic or budget actions will be handled through the district’s usual administrative and school-site processes.","Superintendent Dr. Dan Sims used the district convocation to launch 'The Push' — a three-year effort emphasizing literacy and attendance, calling on every school employee and community partner to align efforts, adopt rigorous approaches and commit to delivery to raise student outcomes.","actionData","errors"]

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Bibb County names Stuart Harding 2026 Teacher of the Year; dozens of educators honored at convocation

Bibb County superintendent outlines 'Push 2028' with literacy and attendance at center