Atlanta Public Schools administrator picked as next Bibb County chief

Dan Sims, shown in this 2006 file photo from his time as principal of Paul D. West Middle School in Fulton County Schools, has been named the sole finalist for the Bibb County School District  superintendent position. (CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC FILE PHOTO)

Credit: AJC

Credit: AJC

Dan Sims, shown in this 2006 file photo from his time as principal of Paul D. West Middle School in Fulton County Schools, has been named the sole finalist for the Bibb County School District superintendent position. (CHARLOTTE B. TEAGLE/AJC FILE PHOTO)

An Atlanta Public Schools administrator has been named the sole finalist for the top schools job in Bibb County.

The Bibb County Board of Education announced Thursday that it selected Dan Sims, an APS associate superintendent, to lead the 21,000-student district in Macon.

Georgia law requires school boards to wait at least 14 days after announcing a finalist before voting to officially hire someone. A date for that vote has not yet been released.

Sims has worked for APS since 2016. His duties have included overseeing Atlanta’s nontraditional high schools, single gender academies and schools in north Atlanta.

From 2010 to 2016, he worked as principal of Tri-Cities High School in the Fulton County district. Before that he led Paul West Middle School. He previously taught math.

In a post on Twitter, Sims said he’s grateful to be selected for the Bibb County job.

“We will do great things together for our students and families! Just wait!” he wrote.

Sims received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctor of education degrees from Georgia State University.

Bibb County officials said the board received 33 applications for the job, about half of which were from in-state candidates.

“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,” said board president Thelma D. Dillard in a written statement.

The board launched its superintendent search to find a leader to succeed Curtis Jones Jr. who is retiring in June.